Virtue: Teachings of Joseph Smith

Virtue

1 Certainly, then, those two classes of men [virtuous and wicked] could not hold the reins of the same government at the same time in peace; for internal jars, broils, and discords would rack it to the center, were such a form of government to exist under such a system. The virtuous could not enjoy peace in the constant and unceasing schemes and evil plans of the wicked; neither could the wicked have enjoyment in the constant perseverance of the righteous to do justly. That there must be an agreement in this government, or it could not stand, must be admitted by all. Should the king convey the reins into the hands of the rebellious the government must soon fall; for every government, from the creation to the present, when it ceased to be virtuous, and failed to execute justice, sooner or later has been overthrown. And without virtuous principles to actuate a government all care for justice is soon lost, and the only motive which prompts it to act is ambition and selfishness. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 2:10-11)

2 Now for a man to consecrate his property, wife and children, to the Lord, is nothing more nor less than to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widow and fatherless, the sick and afflicted, and do all he can to administer to their relief in their afflictions, and for him and his house to serve the Lord. In order to do this, he and all his house must be virtuous, and must shun the very appearance of evil. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 3:231)

3 We think that truth, honor, virtue and innocence will eventually come out triumphant. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 3:292)

4 Therefore we beseech of you, brethren, that you bear with those who do not feel themselves more worthy than yourselves, while we exhort one another to a reformation with one and all, both old and young, teachers and taught, both high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, male and female; let honesty, and sobriety, and candor, and solemnity, and virtue, and pureness, and meekness, and simplicity crown our heads in every place; and in fine, become as little children, without malice, guile or hypocrisy. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 3:296)

5 Brother Hyrum and the Twelve present bore testimony that they had never heard me teach any principles but those of the strictest virtue, either in public or private. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 4:582-83)

Report of Eliza R. Snow: He [Joseph Smith] said . . . if you do right, there is no danger of your going too fast.

He said he did not care how fast we run in the path of virtue; resist evil, and there is no danger. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 4:605)

7 Report of Eliza R. Snow: He [Joseph Smith] said . . . there is now a day of salvation to such as repent and reform;—and they who repent not should be cast out from this society [the Relief Society]; yet we should woo them to return to God, lest they escape not the damnation of hell! Where there is a mountain top, there is also a valley—we should act in all things on a proper medium to every immortal spirit. Notwithstanding the unworthy are among us, the virtuous should not, from self importance, grieve and oppress needlessly, those unfortunate ones—even these should be encouraged to hereafter live to be honored by this society, who are the best portions of the community. Said he had two things to recommend to the members of this society, to put a double watch over the tongue: no organized body can exist without this at all. All organized bodies have their peculiar evils, weaknesses and difficulties, the object is to make those not so good reform and return to the path of virtue that they may be numbered with the good, and even hold the keys of power, which will influence to virtue and goodness—should chasten and reprove, and keep it all in silence, not even mention them again; then you will be established in power, virtue, and holiness, and the wrath of God will be turned away. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 5:20)

8 Report of Eliza R. Snow: [Joseph Smith] said it is no matter how fast the society [Relief Society] increases, if all the members are virtuous; that we must be as particular with regard to the character of members now, as when the society was first started; that sometimes persons wish to crowd themselves into a society of this kind when they do not intend to pursue the ways of purity and righteousness, as if the society would be a shelter to them in their iniquity. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 5:23)

9 Every honest man who has visited the city of Nauvoo since it existed, can bear record of better things, and place me in the front ranks of those who are known to do good for the sake of goodness, and show all liars, hypocrites and abominable creatures that, while vice sinks them down to darkness and woe, virtue exalts me and the Saints to light and immortality. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 5:290-91)

10 With the smiling prospects around us at present, success seems certain; and, with the blessings of Jehovah, we shall reap the reward of virtue and goodness. I go for the good of the world; and if all honest men would do so, mean men would be scarce. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 6:55-56)

11 The whole earth shall bear me witness that I, like the towering rock in the midst of the ocean, which has withstood the mighty surges of the warring waves for centuries, am impregnable, and am a faithful friend to virtue, and a fearless foe to vice,—no odds whether the former was sold as a pearl in Asia or hid as a gem in America, and the latter dazzles in palaces or glimmers among the tombs.

I combat the errors of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority; I cut the gordian knot of powers, and I solve mathematical problems of universities, with truth—diamond truth; and God is my "right hand man."

And to close, let me say in the name of Jesus Christ to you, and to presidents, emperors, kings, queens, governors, rulers, nobles, and men in authority everywhere, Do the works of righteousness, execute justice and judgment in the earth, that God may bless you and her inhabitants; and

The laurel that grows on the top of the mountain

Shall green for your fame while the sun sheds a ray;

And the lily that blows by the side of the fountain

Will bloom for your virtue till earth melts away.

(Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 6:78)

12 Where is the virtue of our forefathers? and where is the sacred honor of freemen!

. . . Must we, because we believe in enjoying the constitutional privilege and right of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own consciences, and because we believe in repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, the millennium, the day of judgment, and the Book of Mormon as the history of the aborigines of this continent,—must we be expelled from the institutions of our country, the rights of citizenship and the graves of our friends and brethren, and the Government lock the gate of humanity and shut the door of redress against us? If so, farewell freedom! adieu to personal safety! and let the red hot wrath of an offended God purify the nation of such sinks of corruption; for that realm is hurrying to ruin where vice has the power to expel virtue. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 6:91, 92)

13 With the strictest scrutiny publish the facts, whether a particle of law has been evaded or broken: virtue and innocence need no artificial covering. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 6:218)

14 Truth, virtue, and honor, combined with energy and industry, pave the way to exaltation, glory and bliss. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 6:425)

15 Sir:—We understand that you have been cut off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and feeling an ardent desire for the salvation of the souls of men, we take pleasure in feeling after you; and therefore would, in the sincerity of men of God, advise you to be rebaptized by Elder Nickerson, one of the servants of God, that you may again receive the sweet influences of the Holy Ghost, and enjoy the fellowship of the Saints.

The law of God requires it, and you cannot be too good. Patience is heavenly, obedience is noble, forgiveness is merciful, and exaltation is godly; and he that holds out faithful to the end shall in no wise lose his reward. A good man will endure all things to honor Christ, and even dispose of the whole world, and all in it, to save his soul. Grace for grace is a heavenly decree, and union is power where wisdom guides. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 Vols. 6:427)

Footnotes

2156. Letter to the brethren scattered from Zion, Kirtland, 22 January 1834.

2157. Letter to the Church from Liberty Jail, 16 December 1838.

2158. Letter to the Saints from Liberty Jail, 20-25 March 1839.

2159. Letter to the Saints from Liberty Jail, 20-25 March 1839.

2160. Nauvoo, 6 April 1842.

2161. Remarks to the Relief Society, Nauvoo, 28 April 1842.

2162. Remarks to the Relief Society, Nauvoo, 26 May 1842.

2163. Remarks to the Relief Society, Nauvoo, 9 June 1842.

2164. Letter to the editor of the Times and Seasons, 1 March 1843.

2165. Letter to Horace R. Hotchkiss, Nauvoo, 12 October 1843.

2166. Letter to James Arlington Bennett, Nauvoo, 13 November 1843.

2167. Letter to the "Green Mountain Boys" in Vermont, appealing for their support, Nauvoo, 29 November 1843.

2168. A pamphlet containing the Prophet's political platform, entitled Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States, Nauvoo, 7 February 1844.

2169. Letter to Joel Hamilton Walker, Nauvoo, 1 June 1844.

2170. Letter of the Prophet and Hyrum Smith to Mr. Tewkesbury (Abijah R. Tewksbury), Nauvoo, 4 June 1844, seeking to restore him to fellowship.