As well require faith from one having a perfect knowledge."

Use of Wine Forbidden.-The Latter-day Saints have been criticized for using water in the Sacrament; the Savior having sanctioned the use of wine both among the Jews and the Nephites. The explanation for the change is simple. The Church of Christ is not dependent upon books, nor upon tradition. It has an inspired Priesthood, led by immediate, continuous and direct revelation. The Lord has commanded his people in these days not to use wine in the Sacrament under existing conditions. This is the word they are under obligation to obey-not the word given to other peoples in former dispensations.§

Christ to Come Again.-Neither the Savior's resurrection, nor his ascension into Heaven' signalized the end of his personal ministry, the cessation of his labors in behalf of mankind. After his resurrection, He "went in body to minister to translated and resurrected bodies;"" and with these He will return when Enoch's City descends and all is ready for his glorious advent.

r, Too much reliance upon either the literal or the figurative in language, is apt to be misleading. An attendant in an art gallery or other public place where statues or paintings are on exhibit, might point out one and say to the visitor: "That is Caesar" or "That is Washington;" but the one addressed would not be likely to infer that Caesar or Washington was there in actual flesh and blood, or that the attendant meant to be so understood. Nor would the visitor need to be told that the statue or the painting represented the original. Such an explanation would be superfluous. The form of the Savior's instruction on the Sacrament—assuming that the correct translation has come down to us-may be accounted for in like manner. He knew that his disciples would understand him-and they did. They were not dependent upon the letter alone; the interpreting Spirit was with them to give it life.

ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE.

The Special Witnesses.

The Men Who Knew.-The Twelve Apostles were the special witnesses of Jesus Christ. As such they had to know, not merely believe that he had risen from the dead. And they did know, for they had seen him, and heard him, and had even been permitted to touch him, that they might be convinced beyond all question that he was indeed what he proclaimed himself-the Author of the Resurrection, the Giver of eternal life. It was their right to receive this rare evidence, owing to the unique character of their mission. But the world was required to believe what the Apostles testified concerning Him. If men desired salvation, which could come only through the Savior, they must receive in faith the message He had sent his servants to deliver.

The Case of Thomas.-One of the Twelve was absent when his brethren received their first visitation from the risen Redeemer; and when they said, "We have seen the Lord," he answered: "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Subsequently the Savior appeared to this Apostle (Thomas) saying: "Behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing." "My Lord and my God!" exclaimed the doubter -and was convinced."

Complete Qualification.-Thomas has been censured for demanding to see and to feel before he would believe. a, John 20: 24-28.

How much blame attaches to him for doubting, I will not presume to say. But this much seems clear: He had the same right as the rest of the Twelve to a personal appearing of the Lord-the right to come in contact with Him of whose resurrection he was required to testify. The others had seen and heard perhaps had even felt, for Jesus offered them that privilege.b Why should not Thomas share in the experience? What else could completely qualify him as a special witness?

ment.

A Peculiar Position.-Sign-seeking is an abomination, indicating an adulterous disposition. It is blessed to believe without seeing, a since through the exercise of faith comes spiritual development; while knowledge, by swallowing up faith, prevents its exercise, thus hindering that develop"Knowledge is power;" and all things are to be known in due season. But premature knowledge-knowing at the wrong time-is fatal both to progress and to happiness. The case of the Apostles was exceptional. They stood in a peculiar position. It was better for them to know—nay, absolutely essential, in order to give the requisite force and power to their tremendous testimony.

The Commission of the Twelve. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

"He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned.

"And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."e

b, Luke 24:39.

c, Matt. 16:4.

d, John 20:29.

e, Mark 16:15-18.

"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."f

The Promised Signs. Thus we see that certain miraculous "signs" were promised to "them that believe." But these signs were intended to comfort the Saints, not to encourage the sign-seeker; and they were to "follow," not precede, belief. It is not the sign, but the seeking, that the Lord deprecates, the motive being evil.s

Apostolic Activities.-Obedient to the divine mandate, the Apostles at Jerusalem, having been “endued with power from on high" went forth with their fellows, preaching "Christ and him crucified," calling upon men to believe, to repent, and have their sins remitted by baptism, that they might receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Great power accompanied their ministrations. Within the next half century the glad tidings borne by them had spread over the whole Roman Empire and into barbarian realms beyond.

Equality and Unity.-The Apostles must have known of Enoch's wonderful work. Jude refers to Enoch's

f, Matt. 28:19, 20.

g, Says the Prophet Joseph: "When I was preaching in Philadelphia, a Quaker called out for a sign. I told him to be still. After the sermon he again asked for a sign. I told the congregation that the man was an adulterer; that the Lord

had said to me in a revelation that any man who wanted a sign was an adulterous person. 'It is true,' cried one, 'for I caught him in the very act,' which the man afterwards confessed when he was baptized." (Hist. Ch. Vol. 5 p. 268). More than one "Mormon” missionary, pestered by sign-seekers, has applied the test furnished by the Prophet, with invariable and complete success.

h, Luke 24:49; Acts 2:1-4.

prophecy of the Lord's coming "with ten thousand of his saints." Possibly the Twelve had access to the Book of Enoch, one of the lost books of Scripture. At all events, they sought to introduce, among the earliest proselytes to the Christian faith, a similar order to that established in Enoch's day. Concerning the later attempt to "bring forth Zion." it is written:

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

"Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

"And laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."

"k

How long this condition lasted with the Jewish Saints, we are not told. Among their contemporaries, the Nephite followers of Christ, the splendid results flowing from the practice of the Law of Consecration are thus portrayed:

"The people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly, one with another;

"And they had all things common among them, therefore they were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift."

The Apostles Taken.-One by one the Apostles were taken. James was slain with the sword at Jerusalem. Peter,

i, Jude 14.

j, D. & C. 107:57.

k, Acts 4:32, 34, 35.

1, 4 Nephi 1:2,3.