Читать книгу Essentials in Church History - Joseph Fielding Smith - Страница 18

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Unto Abraham also was the Gospel preached and the Lord made covenant with him that through him and his posterity should all nations of the earth be blessed (Gen. 22:18). This same Gospel was also declared to the children of Israel in its simple truth; but they proved unworthy to receive it in its fulness, due to their long sojourn in Egypt, where they had partaken of the customs, traditions and theology of the Egyptians, and therefore “the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 4:2). The Lord endeavored to establish the fulness of his Gospel and authority among them, which Moses plainly taught, and he sought to sanctify the people, “that they might behold the face of God; but they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence, therefore the Lord in his wrath (for his anger was kindled against them) swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory” (D. & C. 84:23–24).