PREFACE TO VOLUME FOUR

 

We have the satisfaction of offering to the Saints and the public the Fourth Volume of the Journal of Discourses.

It would be altogether gratuitous and uncalled-for, on our part, to write a commendatory preface to the Discourses of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of this Church. To the Saints their words are as the words of God, their teachings fraught with heavenly wisdom, and their directions leading to salvation and eternal lives.

We believe that the present Volume is the most important of any yet placed in the hands of the Saints. It contains Discourses, Remarks, and Exhortations, delivered at the time of the great Reformation among the Saints of Zion. It shows the noble and mighty efforts of the authorities to purify the children of Zion, and prepare them for the great day of redemption. It is the written embodiment of the fire of the Almighty that burned in His Prophets and Apostles at that momentous epoch in the history of the Latter-day Church. The influence of that Reformation was felt by heaven earth, and hell. It called down power and blessings from the celestial world to rest upon the Anointed Ones. It strengthened the union of the Saints, and added brightness to their faith. It made Satan and his hosts rage and tremble.

Besides those delivered at the Reformation, the Fourth Volume contains Discourses and Remarks full of new ideas, improved schemes relative to emigration and other matters, and counsel and instructions suitable to the advanced and peculiar condition of the people, and the development of the work of the last days. Moreover, throughout the whole Volume, we see signs that the day of God's power is at hand, and that the fire of the Almighty is proceeding forth from the leaders of Israel.

To complete the present Volume, we have been under the necessity of introducing Discourses reported by J. V. Long, which are distinguished in the Index by an asterisk (*).

 

THE PUBLISHER.

 

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