LatterDayTruth.org

"As a religious body we are regarded as fanatical in regard to spiritual concerns. It is held by the great masses of the Christian world today, those that claim to believe in the Holy Scriptures, that the Spirit of God after its ancient manifestations and operations is not to be expected in these days; that it was the design of God that it should be limited chiefly to the apostolic age and that it then should pass away in its extraordinary and supernatural manifestations. That is about the way they put it; but I do not know of any natural manifestation of the Holy Spirit as contradistinguished from that which is supernatural. As a religious body we believe and so teach."

Radio sermon in the Hear Ye Him radio series of the RLDS Church. Given on Sunday, February 1, 1953 at 8:30 a.m. on KMBC and KFRM radio at Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Brother Fry states, "It was the spirit, and not the body of man that was made in the image of God. Because man is made in God's spiritual image, and contains a spark of the divine; he is akin to God; at his best he is capable of associating with God, talking with him, loving him and being loved by him, and living eternally with him. The spirit of man is the life-giving element. "The body without the spirit is dead," says James. It is the spirit, the intelligence of man, which has dominion over the material elements of the body, and over the earth, and over all lower forms of life on the earth. Spirit is the element which gives unity to the body. It determines that the body shall act as one--that every part shall cooperate with every other part."

Original script for sermon #5 of the Hear Ye Him radio series, a 13 minute sermon by Evan A. Fry about man's nature and destiny. "It was the spirit, and not the body of man that was made in the image of God. Because man is made in God's spiritual image, and contains a spark of the divine; he is akin to God; at his best he is capable of associating with God, talking with him, loving him and being loved by him, and living eternally with him. The spirit of man is the life-giving element. 'The body without the spirit is dead,' says James. It is the spirit, the intelligence of man, which has dominion over the material elements of the body, and over the earth, and over all lower forms of life on the earth. Spirit is the element which gives unity to the body. It determines that the body shall act as one--that every part shall cooperate with every other part."

Original script for sermon #24 of the Hear Ye Him radio series by Evan A. Fry. He states, "It was not God's will or intention that the church and the gospel which disappeared from the earth as a result of this apostasy should remain forever in the wilderness, lost to mankind. An indication of his purpose to restore them in due time is found in Revelation 14:6,7: 'And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountain of waters.' Several facts seem evident from a little study of this verse. If the gospel were still on the earth; if the gospel which had been preached on earth for 1900 years after Christ was the true and everlasting gospel, what need would there be for an angel to bring it again to earth in the last days? But the gospel was not to be found in any nation, or among any tongue or kindred or people; therefore the angel had to bring that gospel and restore it to earth again, that it might be preached for a witness in all the earth before the hour of his judgment -- or the end of the world -- should come."

Includes both Part 1 and Part 2.

Brother Blair states, "who has claimed manifestations like this that would answer to this prophetic description? Joseph Smith, the young seer; he claimed to receive angelic ministrations, not only from Moroni, but from various other angels in the founding and building up of the church of the living God. Jesus said that angels would administer in the latter times; John said that an angel would deliver the gospel in the latter times, and that, as we have just read, one would come down from heaven, having great power and would enlighten the earth with his glory. And now what are we going to do about these things? Will we believe them? God's precious word makes these promises."

62 minute sermon by Apostle Arthur Oakman. "My friends, tonight, I bid you to come with me to Calvary in the power of the Spirit. It won't be a pleasant sight; it'll hurt you. But if you're brave enough to stay you'll never be the same again. The center and the meaning of the universe rests in a figure on a cross so dreadful in his solitude and spiritual loneliness, so marvelous in his willing submission to those who killed him and for whom in his agony he prayed and so altogether glorious in his utter dependence upon his Father who did not leave his soul in hell, but delivered him. Can the Church in this day bear the site?"

Autobiography of Elder Charles Fry. He includes many experiences and testimonies.

Compiled by Frederick B. Blair from the Saints' Herald. Contains many testimonies and experiences of President W. W. Blair, a member of First Presidency of the RLDS Church.

49 minutes sermon by Patriarch Arthur Oakman called Men Find Life Only In The Word Of God. It was given at The Campus outdoor amphitheater in Independence, Missouri, USA in 1968. Brother Oakman states, "I'm reminded tonight that the first words ever uttered to Joseph Smith was this is my beloved son, hear him. And as you know this experience had a tremendous impact upon the lad and was the first of a number of such experiences which culminated in the organization of the Church. But hear ye him was not simply the answer to the boy's question, it was the statement of an eternal principal which applies to all mankind. It is a principle of life for all who listen and obey find life, and those who fail to listen and obey are destroyed. Only in the Word of Christ can men find life...The first revelation given before any specific commandment, in other words before ever our Heavenly Father tells us what to do, he tells us who he is! This declaration is first in emergence of time and also in order of purpose...I am the Lord thy God."

Message given through R.C. Evans on October 2, 1908.

Unpublished article by C. J. Hunt in which he discusses several individuals who have functioned with delegated authority as a "Mighty and Strong One."

15 minute sermon by Evan A. Fry on The Millenial Reign, given on November 22, 1953. He states, "Men have no power within themselves to overcome wickedness and sin and evil, alone and unaided, and bring about the golden age. Even if we grant that a group of very good men and women could perfect themselves as a group, there would always be those outside the group, if not within, who would make peace impossible and righteousness most difficult. Human wickedness must be restrained and judged in all its forms and in all places before we can have the golden age, This is a task for Deity. Man can help in many ways, through organized religion, through education, through various social and philanthropic organizations, through the efforts of government. Nevertheless history does not record the story of a single nation or group of people who alone and unaided have been able to build and maintain a golden age. On the contrary, Toynbee, one of the greatest of modern historians, says that sixteen out of the twenty-six great world civilizations known to history have already perished, that there is little hope for nine of the ten remaining, and grave danger even for the tenth one -- our own Western civilization. When men do reach the heights through their own efforts, leaving out God, they become lifted up in their pride and self-sufficiency, which inevitably lead them down to destruction. Jesus taught that his coming would usher in the millenial reign -- not follow it."

Original script for sermon #47 of the Hear Ye Him Radio series, a 15 minute sermon by Evan A. Fry given on November 22, 1953. He states, "Men have no power within themselves to overcome wickedness and sin and evil, alone and unaided, and bring about the golden age. Even if we grant that a group of very good men and women could perfect themselves as a group, there would always be those outside the group, if not within, who would make peace impossible and righteousness most difficult. Human wickedness must be restrained and judged in all its forms and in all places before we can have the golden age, This is a task for Deity. Man can help in many ways, through organized religion, through education, through various social and philanthropic organizations, through the efforts of government. Nevertheless history does not record the story of a single nation or group of people who alone and unaided have been able to build and maintain a golden age. On the contrary, Toynbee, one of the greatest of modern historians, says that sixteen out of the twenty-six great world civilizations known to history have already perished, that there is little hope for nine of the ten remaining, and grave danger even for the tenth one -- our own Western civilization. When men do reach the heights through their own efforts, leaving out God, they become lifted up in their pride and self-sufficiency, which inevitably lead them down to destruction. Jesus taught that his coming would usher in the millenial reign -- not follow it."

Originally printed in The True Latter Day Saints' Herald vol. 9:50 (February 15, 1866).

Provides information on the City of Zion, or New Jerusalem, how it will be built, who shall inhabit it, etc. Originally printed in The True Latter Day Saints' Herald vol. 9 pg. 82 (March 15, 1866). Also contains a short article by T. W. Smith on salvation. Originally printed in The True Latter Day Saints' Herald vol. 9 pg. 136 (May 1, 1866).

46 minute sermon by Evangelist Arthur Oakman of the RLDS Church, given at the RLDS Stone Church in Independence, Missouri, USA in 1972. He states, "I was given to understand of the Holy Spirit, that our Heavenly Father has softened the hearts of the leaders of the nations for a season in order that we in his church may have the opportunity to strengthen ourselves in zionic endeavor."

"That Christ's principal object in performing miracles was not for unbelievers is evident from the fact that he always required faith on the part of the recipient of the cure. Further, the fact that he was so secretive about his miracles in trying to keep it from being spread abroad in many instances, affords strong evidence that they were designed only for believers or for his disciples."

Hubert Case served as a General Church Appointee for the RLDS Church starting in 1894. He and his wife Alice (Montague) Case traveled as missionaries to Tahiti in 1894. Many testimonies and experiences of Brother and Sister Case are shared, including an experience in which Hubert Case saw all of the Three Nephites. Brother Case labored in Oklahoma where many Native Americans were converted to the gospel.

Discusses claims about ancient civilizations in America and their relation to the Book of Mormon. Brother Stebbins states, "...the Book of Mormon is a history of God's dealings with a certain portion of the Hebrew race, an account of the wanderings and experiences of a colony which came to America before the Babylonish captivity. For the Lord had declared by Moses that he would yet scatter Israel 'from the one end of the earth even unto the other.' (Deut. 28: 64.)"

48 page pamphlet by Parley P. Pratt against L. R. Sunderland, editor of the Zion's Watchman paper. He states, "We propose in this work, to prove to every candid mind, that whether our principles be true or false Mr. Sunderland is guilty of the most glaring falsehoods, misrepresentations, and lying slanders, that ever disgraced humanity; and that he has palmed upon his deluded. readers, such wilful and barefaced imposition, that. he is justly ranked among dogs, sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, and idolaters; and no longer fit to fill any place in civilized society; much less to stand at the head of a paper, under the sacred title of 'Zion's Watchman.' If his readers do not dismiss his paper immediately, after coming to a knowledge of his wickedness, they will be set down as partakers of his evil deeds; and if they hold him any longer in fellowship either as a christian or a member of society, the proverb will be fulfilled upon them, 'that a man is known by the company he keeps.'"

Brother Blair states in this article, "The tenacity with which the Utah leaders cling to the law of Moses when defending polygamy, retaliation, blood atonement, divorce, and the like, is simply astounding when we remember that Jesus, and Paul, and Nephi, and King Benjamin, and Abinadi, and Alma, and Mormon, all declare the law, all of it, 'every whit,' abolished at the death and --resurrection of Christ, when 'the new covenant,' the gospel was authoritatively confirmed and made binding upon all the world. (Heb 9: 15-17)."

Quotes Isaiah 2:2 regarding the Mountain of the Lord's House and then states, "The foregoing prophecy is quoted by the Elders under the Presidency of Brigham Young, in support of their present location in the Territory of Utah, otherwise called the valleys of the mountains; and by a manifest perversion of the sacred scriptures, they have succeeded in persuading thousands of simple, honest hearted people to leave their peaceful homes, and abandon their relations and friends, to emigrate to the Rocky mountains; deluded into a belief that Utah is the place designated by the Lord, for the gathering of His Saints, the place whence the law of God is to proceed, the place of refuge and safety, the asylum of the oppressed, the home of the free, the Zion of God, where the Saints may be more fully instructed in the ways of life and salvation."

Revised edition of original tract number 26 [Tracts By Numbers].

Includes several letters of Joseph Smith, III.