Having been called from the midst of the congregation to address this
assemblage this afternoon, I feel my inability personally to do
justice in the performance of this duty, unless I am aided by the
spirit of the living God. I earnestly solicit that you will exercise
faith for me while I shall occupy this position, that I may be able to
speak through the influence of that power, and truthfully present the
principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which the Latter-day Saints
have embraced in their faith and practice, so far as they understand
them.
There are a great many subjects connected with the plan of redemption
that are of interest to all who are seeking for salvation in the
kingdom of God. The field is so wide, in fact, that there is sometimes
great difficulty in selecting the class of matter best suited to the
circumstances that immediately surround us. There is, however, one
phase of this work that I think is specially interesting in connection
with it. I hold in my hand a volume which is known for good or evil
throughout the entire civilized world—the Book of Mormon. The
Latter-day Saints claim that this book is a record of peoples that
dwelt anciently on the face of this continent, and that it was brought
forth in this generation, through the instrumentality of a great
Prophet, namely: Joseph Smith. This book has not been generally
received in this light; in other words, it has been, so far as the
great bulk of the world is concerned, repudiated as not properly
authenticated, not what it claims to be. In my travels in the world,
however, I have found very few people who could give an intelligent
reason for the repudiative stand they have taken in reference to this
record, I have asked a great many of them—and I presume that numbers
of the Elders besides myself have done the same thing—whether they had
perused this book and endeavored to make themselves acquainted with
its contents, and also to make themselves familiar with the
evidences in favor of its authenticity. In the majority of instances
these have never as much as seen a Book of Mormon. Now, it appears to
me that this is not a proper position to be taken in regard to any
subject by an intelligent person. If a matter is worthy of
consideration at all it should be intelligently investigated. This is
the only method by which we can arrive at correct conclusions in
reference to religion or any other subject.
We claim this book is a record or history of the ancient inhabitants
of America, the remnants of whom are now scattered on various portions
of this continent. Numbers of them surround us in these valleys, and
are known as the aborigines of America. It is unnecessary for me to
more than allude to the fact that there did exist, in the ages of the
past, peoples on this land who had arrived at an advanced stage of
civilization, and who cultivated the arts and sciences. The ruins of
vast cities, among which are the remains of great structures, giving
ample evidence of this fact. This testimony is presented before the
world and is being constantly produced for the consideration of the
reading public. Then there was a people anciently upon this continent
who were in a condition of advancement; this is universally
acknowledged, I believe, by those who have considered this question.
When Jesus came to offer himself up as an atonement to satisfy the law
that had been broken by mankind, and to organize his Church in the
land of Palestine, he did so organize what he called his Church. It
was composed, so far as its officers are concerned, of men who were
inspired of God, and who were directly authorized and commissioned by
Him to act in His name and to administer the principles of life and
salvation wherever they went. What was the nature of their commission?
He said to His ancient Apostles whom He commissioned: "Go ye into 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." The Apostles, according to the power that was given to them,
and according to the nature of the commission with which they were
thus entrusted, went into various parts of the world and made this
proclamation, calling upon all men everywhere to repent of their sins,
to obey the everlasting Gospel that they might be saved in the Kingdom
of God, to come into the true fold of Christ. Nobly did they perform
the great work that was entrusted to them. But, so far as we are
aware, they did not extend their labors to this part of the world; for
the peoples who dwelt on the eastern hemisphere were ignorant of the
existence of this continent. Yet the Lord Jesus Christ said to His
Apostles: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." Now,
seeing there was a people here on this continent, surely they were
entitled to the benefits of the Gospel of the Redeemer as well as
those who lived on other parts of the earth. We find that so far as
the Book of Mormon is concerned, an explanation is given in regard to
how the people who lived on this portion of our globe were visited and
administered to in the things of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even as
those ministrations were manifested in other parts of the world.
Sometimes we allude to the Scrip tures and select passages to
substantiate those things that are written in the Book of Mormon. I
will now draw the attention of the congregation to a passage that we
consider has reference to this subject, which is found in the 10th
chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, the 15th and 16th verses:
"As the Father knoweth me" —these are the words of the
Savior—"even so
know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other
sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and
they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
shepherd." What is the necessary conclusion to be arrived at from this
remark of the Savior? It is very plain and simple. There were other
sheep who were not of the fold at Jerusalem, and it was necessary that
they also should hear the voice of the Savior and be brought into the
fold of Christ, that there might be one fold and one shepherd.
The Book of Mormon, from page 501 to 540, gives an account of the
fulfillment of this inspired utterance of the Redeemer. It tells how,
after he was crucified in the flesh, at Jerusalem, and showed himself
to many of his disciples, He, in fulfillment of this assertion, that he
had "other sheep," that he must visit them, and that they also must
hear his voice and be brought into the fold, visited the ancients on
this land and established His fold amongst them. He performed that
work on this continent, among the people of whom the Book of Mormon is
a history or record. What is the fold of Christ? It is the Church of
Christ. What is the Church of Christ? It is an organized body, at the
head of which stand Apostles, and Prophets. That was the Church of the
Redeemer in ancient times, it was the Church established by himself in
Palestine, and it always will be the Church as long as there is a true
Church of Christ—not a revelationless, uninspired, dead formula,
"having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," but an
organization wherein there is authority to act in the name of him
whose Church it is. Men are reasonable upon most subjects, it appears
to me, excepting when it comes to matters of religion. A great many
people seem to be willing that anything should do for them in the
shape of religion, so long as it does not give them much trouble. But
there is nothing by which humanity can be sanctified unless it be the
truth; and no church can offer salvation except it be the true Church
of Christ, for in it alone is the power of God unto salvation. It is a
strange thing that people can read the record of the New Testament, of
the sayings of the Apostles, the description of the organization of
the Church as it existed in its primitive completeness and power, and
then be prepared to accept of a church of a different description
entirely. This is a day when revelation is denied, when Prophets and
Apostles are stated to be no longer needed. This is the position of
the whole of so-called Christendom. But what do the Scriptures say
these inspired teachers were given for? Paul says they were given "for
the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" —and
if we say that such officers are no longer needed, then we must also
assume the position that the ministerial work can be safely abolished
and that the body of Christ which is the Church, requires no more
edification; for this was the means established by Jesus Christ for
its edification and instruction. Another purpose for which
these inspired teachers were given was that we might be all brought to
a unity of the faith, and yet it is stated that those officers who
were placed in the Church for that purpose are no longer needed. If
that assertion were correct, unity would be unnecessary in the Church,
or else the Church has arrived at that condition of unity, when the
means for bringing about that result is entirely unnecessary and can
be dispensed with, But no person can claim this latter position. Those
who call themselves the Church of Christ cannot consistently assume
this position; for if there is a subject upon which men and women are
divided in their views and practices, and engender towards each other
feelings of bitter animosity, it is religion, and that also which is
claimed to be the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus Christ, who
came to fill the hearts of His disciples with peace. This was His
motto, this was the proclamation that ushered in his birth, "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." We
claim that it requires the same today to save men and women as it did
in ancient times.
But, to return to the Book of Mormon. Portions of Scriptures can be
cited, to substantiate, or tend to substantiate at least, the validity
or authenticity of this book. But there are other evidences that are
more potent in their character, in my estimation and these evidences
are contained within the book itself; it speaks for itself. Its
teachings are in the strictest harmony with those of the Scriptures of
eternal truth; its morality is faultless; its religion will bear the
closest scrutiny in comparison with the instructions of Jesus himself
and the Apostles, as contained within the lids of the Bible, the
record that is accepted by Christendom as the history of the early
Church. But there is internal evidence of the Book of Mormon being
what we claim it to be, and to have been brought forth by the power of
the living God. What is the character of this evidence? It is
prophetic in its nature. I will draw the attention of the congregation
to one passage that occurs to my mind, which will be found on page 122
of the latest edition. It gives the words of the Prophet Nephi: "And
now I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the
Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come
forth" —that is the coming forth of this book—"and be written unto
the
Gentiles and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which
shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them
forth to the remnant of our seed. And then shall the remnant of our
seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that
they are descendants of the Jews. And the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall
be declared among them; wherefore they shall be restored unto the
knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ,
which was had among their fathers. And then shall they rejoice; for
they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God;
and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and
many generations shall not pass away among them save they shall be a
white and delightsome people. And it shall come to pass that the Jews
which are scattered, also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they
shall begin to gather in upon the face the land; and as many as shall be lieve in Christ, shall also become a delightsome people. And
it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among
all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, to bring about the
restoration of his people upon the earth." A portion of this
prediction has received a literal fulfillment, while the remainder is
in process of verification. The tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints
render the prophecy that many shall "believe the words of the book" an
accomplished fact. The inspired utterance purports to have been spoken
over two thousand years ago. The unbeliever may repudiate the claim
regarding the ancient character of the record, and assume that it
originated with Joseph Smith. But this would not much improve the
position of the skeptic, for as the Book of Mormon was published
before the Church was organized, Joseph Smith had no ordinary means of
knowing that many would believe in the divine authenticity of the
book.
There have been many, I believe, even among the Latter-day Saints,
who, under the circumstances of the past, have found it all that their
faith could grasp to believe some of the words which I have just read
in your hearing—those relating to the Lamanites. Nearly from the
organization of this Church, and for many years subsequently,
missionaries, Elders of this Church, were sent among the remnants of
the ancient people of this continent, the aborigines, to endeavor to
bring them to a knowledge of their fathers. It appeared, however, as
if the efforts in that direction were fruitless—that these people had
fallen so low in the scale of being, so depraved that it seemed next
to impossible for the rays of truth to penetrate their minds. It
appeared as if we might as well despair of accomplishing anything so
far as they were concerned. But this is an inspired record, and these
words which I have read to you this afternoon were the inspired
utterances of a great Prophet, which must come to pass in the last
days, in connection with the great latter-day dispensation. They have
commenced to be fulfilled, not by the power of man, but by the power
of the living God.
About seven years ago there was a movement among some of the tribes of
the people to whom I allude. They came forth and made statements to
the effect that the Great Spirit had directed them to come to the
Elders of this Church and be baptized for the remission of their sins.
There is an Elder in this congregation, Brother George H. Hill, who
sits in the gallery, who has, as well as others, been instrumental in
doing much in this direction. As many as 300 of these people at one
time solicited of him the administration of this ordinance. Was it the
influence and power of man that accomplished this? No, it was not; it
was the influence and power of the living God, who, according to the
Book of Mormon, made a promise to the fathers of these people that he
would visit the remnants of their posterity and restore them to a
knowledge of their progenitors. This covenant was made with the
fathers at the solicitation of the latter, who knew by the spirit of
prophecy that their descendants would become dark and benighted,
through the influence of apostasy and wickedness. It is true that
comparatively few of that people have received the truth and forsaken
their idle habits and evil practices, and are endeavoring to live as peaceable and respectable citizens; but the work of reclamation
has commenced. It has a small beginning, but this is the case with
nearly all great results. But there is an element of growth in this
work, and it will increase and expand until it shall take many of this
portion of the House of Israel within the Gospel fold, and they shall
accomplish the great work that is predicted of them in connection with
this last dispensation of the fullness of times.
There is another thing in connection with this great work beginning
amongst the aborigines—a work that was to be contemporaneous with its
inauguration. It is predicted in the Book of Mormon that when the Lord
should remember the portion of Israel on this continent, and they
should begin to believe the words of this book, at that time,
contemporaneous with that event, the Father would commence to prepare
the way among all nations for the gathering of the house of Israel
from the four quarters of the earth to the lands which he had promised
to their fathers for an everlasting inheritance, to them and their
children forever. This was the sign given by the Savior when he
preached to the ancient inhabitants of this continent, and I will show
that this was the case, so far as the Book of Mormon records the
prediction. On page 527 are these words: "And when these things come
to pass that thy seed shall begin to know these things—it shall be a
sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath
already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath
made unto the people who are of the house of Israel." And again, on
page 529: "And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day,
even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this
people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the
Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the
tribes that have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of
Jerusalem. Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my
people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto
me, that they may call on the Father in my name. Yea, and then shall
the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing
the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their
inheritance. And they shall go out from all nations."
Here is a statement that is made in connection with this work; here is
a prediction that when the Lamanites should commence to believe in the
words of this book, the Father was to commence to gather the whole
house of Israel and to prepare a way amongst all nations. Is this the
case? If this be an inspired utterance, then the Lord is preparing the
way, and has been ever since this sign became a fact—for the gathering
of the Jews and the other branches of the whole house of Israel. Has
this been so?
I draw the attention of the congregation to recent events in the
political world, which point in that direction. Shortly after this
work commenced among the remnants of Israel on this continent, there
was warfare between Russia and Turkey, which culminated in what is
known as the famous Berlin Treaty, in the production of which Lord
Beaconsfield, himself a Jew, was the leading spirit. There are clauses
in that treaty that are favorable to the accomplishment of the work to
which I allude—the gathering of the house of Israel from the
nations of the earth to the lands that were promised to their fathers,
to them and to their children forever. Political freedom,
comparatively speaking, was, by that instrument, granted to the Jews
contiguous to Palestine—in Romania and other principalities of the
East. A short time subsequent to the formation and ratification of the
treaty, Great Britain assumed a protectorate over that part of the
world in which is Palestine, and the Jews have rights now accorded to
them that they have not enjoyed for many generations. But one of the
greatest evidences of all is the fact that the Jews themselves are
beginning to awaken upon this subject and are operating with a view to
the colonization of ancient Palestine by the house of Israel. A Mr.
Oliphant, not long since, applied to the Sultan of Turkey for the
privilege of purchasing portions of Palestine for this very purpose,
and organizations are being affected in various parts of the world
with no other object in view than the one to which I am now alluding.
There is another thing that I believe will aid this work of
influencing the ancient people of God to go to their own land, and
that is the circumstances by which they are being surrounded in some
of the countries of Europe. They are being persecuted in Germany and
Russia, and the condition of Europe is becoming so disturbed and so
broken up, and business matters are becoming so uncertain, that I
expect these circumstances will lead the Jews to consider the question
of establishing a Hebrew nationality before long; for we are living in
the very day when God will fulfil the promises he made to Israel. Let
the people hear it, for it has been uttered by the voice of
inspira tion, ancient and modern, and the words of the Lord, through
his servants, will not fall to the ground, but will be fulfilled to
the very letter.
Why, my brethren and sisters, are we not more familiar with the
contents of this book? No Latter-day Saint can intelligently
comprehend the signs of the times unless he is informed in regard to
the teachings of this record. In the early rise of this Church the
Lord manifested his displeasure with the Saints because they did not
pay sufficient attention to the revelations contained in the Book of
Mormon, and that book itself promises, and the revelations through the
Prophet Joseph promise, that, in the due time of the Lord, when the
people are sufficiently advanced to receive them, other records of
momentous importance shall be brought forth for the consideration of
the Saints; but I do not think we will receive anything additional to
what we have already obtained in this form until we have manifested a
suitable appreciation of that which has already been given to us. This
record and the revelations of Jesus Christ generally have been given
for the perusal of the people, that they may reflect upon them, upon
the principles that they make manifest, upon the law of God, that the
law may be written in their hearts, and that they may be men and women
of understanding. It must be pleasing, however, to every person who is
interested in this great work, to see that there is a fresh impetus in
this direction. The Saints are giving more attention to what God has
revealed for our acceptance and which is contained in the records
which have been given to this Church. I believe this spirit will
increase, because when the minds of the people are bent in that
direction, their appetites for the things of God are increased and
they desire more, which shall accordingly be given them.
How clearly is the condition of the nations of the earth today
depicted in this book! It is stated, near to the quotation which I
first made, that in these latter days God would create a great
division among the people, that the wicked would destroy the wicked.
There is a question on a subject that is clearly described in this
record, that is drawing the attention of the ablest minds of the age.
It is an influence that is shaking the governments and nations of the
earth from center to circumference—I refer now to the "secret
societies" that are filling the heads of governments with fear, that
commit all kinds of diabolical depredations among the nations, and
that are even threatening their very existence. These societies, which
are inspired by a desire to throw off every kind of legal restraint,
exist, in some form or another, in almost every nation under heaven,
and especially in those nations claiming to be civilized. Perhaps this
is what is meant by the great division among the people. This subject
was brought up before the mind of Moroni, the last man in whose
custody the plates from which this record was translated were, and who
was so highly privileged as to hide them up in the hill Cumorah, where
they were found by the Prophet Joseph Smith, in this age, being
directed to obtain them by the angel of the Lord. It was a habit with
Moroni, while making the closing portion of this record, to discourse
upon the subject matter, to speak with the peoples of the earth who
would live in this day in which you and I are living as if he spoke to
them face to face, as one man speaks with another, and warn them of
the evils that would exist among them and the destruction that would
fall upon their heads. He also called upon them, by the voice of
prophecy, to repent of their sins and accept of the plan of
redemption, that they might be saved in the kingdom of the Father.
Perhaps it would be interesting to you, considering the nature of the
times in which we live, to draw your attention to what he (Moroni)
says about this very condition to which he pointed by the spirit of
prophecy, a condition that was to exist in the day in which we live.
You will find it on page 588. He is now addressing the Gentiles who
would be living when this book would be brought forth, and the work of
the Father commenced. Hear his words: "And whatsoever nation shall
uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they
shall spread out over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for
the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be
shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance
upon them, and yet he avenge them not. Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is
wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby
ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous
combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and
gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you,
yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon
you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these
things to be. Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see
these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your
awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall
be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have
been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also
upon those who build it up. For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth
it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and
countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for
it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that
same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who
hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened
the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned
them, and cast them out from the beginning." Now here is a prophecy.
There is no ambiguity in reference to these words. This Prophet is
speaking as if he were speaking face to face with those who would be
living in this day, and he tells them to beware of these things, and
we witness the fulfillment of his words, for such things are among the
nations of the earth today, and are spreading everywhere and causing
anxiety and fear to take hold of the hearts of the people.
These predictions and many others that are receiving a literal
verification, establish the inspiration and genuineness of this
record, which was brought forth by the instrumentality of Joseph Smith
to this generation. It is an inspired record, and contains within
itself the evidences of its authenticity. Men have but to give this
subject an unprejudiced investigation, considering it upon its merits
to come to that conclusion. Although people may not be willing to
admit that it is of divine origin, that it is an inspired record, they
surely cannot, at least, set aside the facts which it enunciates.
Let us, then, who belong to this great Church—the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints—prize that which God has given to us for
our instruction and edification, and let us not treat them as things
that are of no moment. We live in a great day, the greatest of all
ages, the greatest of all dispensations. It is a great privilege to be
associated with so noble a work as that with which we are connected,
and I believe that the time will soon come when this Church will go
forth clear, purified by the agencies which God will bring to bear
upon it for that purpose. I expect to see the time come when the
hypocrite in Zion shall tremble, being afraid because of the power of
God that shall be in the midst of the people who will be living as
they should live. I expect to see the day when there shall be less
worshipping of the god of this world, which wins the hearts of many
people from the worship of the true and living God. There is a sin
which God has denounced in every age; it is the sin of idolatry. In
ancient times, when people were less cultured than they are now, they
bowed themselves down before blocks of wood and stone, and golden
calves, and worshipped at such shrines, prostrating the powers that God
had given them before that which was dumb and unintelligent. But there
are different forms of idolatry. Whatever a person uses his powers
most to accomplish is that which he worships. If a man exercise the
gifts that God has given him exclusively in pursuing the object of
self-aggrandizement—the building up of self, to all intents and
purposes that individual is an idolater before the shrine of mammon.
God is a jealous God, and He wills not that any of His people
should have any other God than Him. Let the poor and the meek be
lifted up in their hearts and rejoice before God for He hath them in
remembrance, and let those who truckle to position and to wealth
beware, for the Lord will not suffer it long. Let the hand of
fellowship be extended to him who is cast down, that he may be
comforted. Surround him with a halo of love and friendship, and let
him know that he is not forgotten, and the Lord will remember those
who act this brotherly part. I am reminded sometimes of the weakness
of humanity, when called to the scenes of death which sometimes visit
us. We are called to the funeral of some man, some Elder in Israel, or
some sister or friend who has departed this life; and, O, how we love
to dwell upon their good qualities, to speak of their goodness and to
cast the veil of undiscerning charity over their faults. We should not
wait until our brethren and sisters are seized with the chill hand of
death, and their bodies are about to be laid in the cold tomb, to
recognize the good points in their characters. We should manifest a
little of that appreciation while we are surrounded by them. This
course would be much more consistent. Let us cultivate the spirit of
the living God, which leads to righteousness. Every sentiment of our
hearts that leads to good is planted there by the living God, and that
which leads to evil is placed there by the adversary of our souls.
There are but two sources, one of light and one of darkness. The Holy
Ghost, the Spirit of God, is given to us to cultivate in our hearts as
a well of water springing up to everlasting life. It can be so
cultivated in a human being that it can be listened to as a voice of a
familiar friend, in every time of difficulty and trial. Its voice is
known and distinguished as a voice of friendship, for that spirit is
the friend of every Saint who cultivates its acquaintance. It is a
searcher, a deep searcher, of the motives by which men and women are
inspired. If we merely have an outward semblance of righteousness and
our motives within are not of the godlike character they should be,
that spirit will depart from us, leaving us in greater darkness than
before we possessed the Holy Spirit. This Church is a brotherhood or
it is nothing. It is a unity; it is the highest phase of communism and
individualism combined. It cultivates man to perfection as a social
and individual being. It meets the legitimate wants and aspirations of
every class of humanity.
I pray that the power of God may increase in the midst of the people
from the head to the feet, throughout the whole of the body religious,
and that we may be successful in uprooting evils that are manifested
in our midst as a community or as individuals. God has revealed the
laws and principles for the purification of His Church. They are
contained in His statute books—in the Book of Mormon, in the Doctrine
and Covenants, containing the revelations of Jesus Christ, and in this
Bible. The Lord tells us we are to deal with all things according to
the laws of His Church. We know what these things are; they are
contained in these books to which I refer. Then I say that the law of
God and the power of God will ultimately correct every evil existing
in the Church of Christ, for it must ultimately become pure, and those
who will not purify themselves will, sooner or later, be cast off
from the body-religious, as not of that kind of material to be
used in the building up of the glorious kingdom of our Heavenly
Father.
I pray that we may be continually awake to the signs of the times in
which we live; that we may see the importance of every one attending
to his and her duties, according to the sphere in which each moves;
and that we may be on the alert, avoiding everything that is evil, is
my desire, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.