apr 6, 1843 - April General Conference

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Joseph Smith said in General Conference:
"Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations? Oh no! He spoke in the present tense. No man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour, but he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No, for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture, for the prophet says that God will do nothing, but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets.
Consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets, it will not come to pass; again we find Paul 1st of Thessalonians 5th Chapter expressly points out the characters who shall not know the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh. For says he; “it will come upon them as the thief or unawares”.
Who are they? They are the children of darkness or night. But to the Saints he says yea are not of the night nor of darkness, of that, that day, should come upon you unawares. John the revelator says 14 chap 7th verse that the hour of his judgements is come. They are precursors or forerunners of the coming of Christ.
Read Matthew 24 Chap and all the Prophets. He says then shall they see the Sign of the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven. How are we to see it? Answer: As the lighting up of the morning or the dawning of the morning cometh from the east and shineth unto the west—So also is the coming of the Son of Man. The dawning of the morning makes its appearance in the east and moves along gradually so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. It will be small at its first appearance and gradually becomes larger until every eye shall see it. Shall the Saints understand it? Oh yes. Paul says so. Shall the wicked understand? Oh no they attribute it to a natural cause. They will probably suppose it is two great comets coming in contact with each other It will be small at first and will grow larger and larger until it will be all in a blaze so that every eye shall see it."

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