Mormon Musings

There is a class of persons that persecution will not drive from the Church of Christ, but prosperity will; and again, there is another class that prosperity will not drive, but persecution will. The Lord must and will have a company of Saints who will follow Him to the cross, if it be necessary; and these He will crown. They are the ones who will wear a celestial crown and have dominion, rule, and government. These are they who will receive  honor  of the Father, with glory, exaltation, and eternal lives. They shall reign over kingdoms, and have power to be Gods, even the sons of God. Those other classes will take different stations and possess inferior glories, according to their works in the flesh. That class who will altogether serve the world and disregard the cause of truth will become servants to the sons of God and be in servitude throughout eternity. What shall we do? I say, Cleave to “Mormonism,” work with all our might for the Lord, and love Him better than an...

Those intent on persecuting the Church of God today would do well to remember wise counsel given anciently:   34  Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named  a Gamaliel , a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;   35  And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men...   38  And now I say unto you,  Refrain  from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of   men , it will come to nought:   39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it;  lest  haply ye be found even to  fight  against God. Acts 5:34-39 (emphasis added)

Do you suppose I am sorry because of persecution? No: I never was in my life; but I have thanked God a thousand times that the Devil is not yet bound; for if he had been, the Saints would have gone to sleep; and if there could be such a thing, they would have been blotted out of existence, with all their intelligence, and the earth have received them into its bowels. Light, knowledge, truth, wickedness of every kind, the works of the Almighty, and the works of the Devil, all conspire to roll on the great work that the Lord Jesus Christ is doing upon the earth,—every person and power in their own order. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 6:270