中英對照/教義和聖約/第127篇​

第一百二十七篇

Section 127

先知約瑟 • 斯密寫給在伊利諾，納府的後期聖徒的一封書信，包含有關代替死者洗禮的指示，日期是一八四二年九月一日，在納府〔教會史，5:142–144〕。

An epistle from Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Latter-day Saints at Nauvoo, Illinois, containing directions on baptism for the dead, dated at Nauvoo, 1 September 1842 (see History of the Church, 5:142–44).

1–4，約瑟 • 斯密以迫害和患難為喜樂；5–12，必須保存有關代替死者洗禮的紀錄。

1–4, Joseph Smith glories in persecution and tribulation; 5–12, Records must be kept relative to baptisms for the dead.

1 由於主已向我顯示，我那些在密蘇里和本州的仇敵再度追捕我；由於他們無^ａ故追捕我，他們那邊起意控訴我，連一點公道或正義的影子或色彩都沒有；又由於他們的說詞都是根據最惡毒的謊言，所以我認為，為了我自身的安全和這人民的安全，我離開此地一個短時期，對我而言是必要且明智的。我要對所有與我有業務往來的人說，我已將各項事務交給代理人和書記，他們會迅速而適當地處理一切業務，並確使我的一切債務，視情況需要，或環境許可，藉著變賣財產或其他方法，都適時清償。一旦我知道風暴已完全過去，我就會再回到你們那裡。

1 Forasmuch as the Lord has revealed unto me that my enemies, both in Missouri and this State, were again in the pursuit of me; and inasmuch as they pursue me without a ^acause, and have not the least shadow or coloring of justice or right on their side in the getting up of their prosecutions against me; and inasmuch as their pretensions are all founded in falsehood of the blackest dye, I have thought it expedient and wisdom in me to leave the place for a short season, for my own safety and the safety of this people. I would say to all those with whom I have business, that I have left my ^baffairs with agents and clerks who will transact all business in a prompt and proper manner, and will see that all my debts are canceled in due time, by turning out property, or otherwise, as the case may require, or as the circumstances may admit of. When I learn that the storm is fully blown over, then I will return to you again.

2 至於我被召喚去通過的^ａ危險，在我看來不過是件小事，因為在我一生當中，世人的^ｂ嫉妒與憤怒是常有的事；其原因非常奧妙，除非是我在世界奠基以前就為了某些好的或壞的目的，隨你們選擇去稱呼它，而被^ｃ按立。你們自己判斷吧。無論是好是壞，神知道這一切事情。不過，我已慣於在深水中游泳。對我而言，這一切已成為我的第二天性；我覺得像保羅一樣，以^ｄ患難為喜樂；因為到今日為止，我祖先的神已救我脫離這一切，今後仍必救我；看啊，看，我必勝過我的一切仇敵，因為主神已這樣說了。

2 And as for the ^aperils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the ^benvy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ^cordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God ^dknoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in ^etribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.

3 所以，所有的聖徒都要歡欣，並且要非常高興；因為以色列的^ａ神是他們的神，祂會把該受的報應，報在所有壓迫他們的人的頭上。

3 Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for Israel’s ^aGod is their God, and he will mete out a just recompense of ^breward upon the heads of all their ^coppressors.

4 還有，主實在這樣說：我^ａ聖殿的工作，和所有我已指定你們的工作，都要繼續，不要停頓；你們的^ｂ勤奮、你們的堅忍、耐心和你們的工作要加倍，你們絕不會失去你們的酬賞，萬軍之主說。他們若^ｃ逼迫你們，他們也這樣逼迫在你們以前的先知和義人。這一切，在天上都有酬賞。

4 And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my^atemple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your ^bdiligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they ^cpersecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven.

5 還有，關於代替你們^ａ死者的^ｂ洗禮，我要告訴你們一些話。

5 And again, I give unto you a word in relation to the ^abaptismfor your dead.

6 關於你們的死者，主實在這樣告訴你們：當你們任何人^ａ代替死者受洗時，要有一位^ｂ紀錄員，他要作你們洗禮的目擊證人，他要親耳聽到，使他能為事實作證，主說；

6 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning your dead: When any of you are ^abaptized for your dead, let there be a^brecorder, and let him be eye-witness of your baptisms; let him hear with his ears, that he may testify of a truth, saith the Lord;

7 使你們所有的紀錄，都能^ａ記錄在天上；凡你們在地上所^ｂ結合的，在天上也能結合；凡你們在地上所解開的，在天上也能解開；

7 That in all your recordings it may be ^arecorded in heaven; whatsoever you ^bbind on earth, may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed in heaven;

8 因為我就要把屬於^ａ聖職的許多事情^ｂ復興到地上，萬軍之主說。

8 For I am about to ^arestore many things to the earth, pertaining to the ^bpriesthood, saith the Lord of Hosts.

9 還有，所有的^ａ紀錄都要井然有序地保存，使其能放在我神聖的聖殿中的檔案保存處，世世代代被記得，萬軍之主說。

9 And again, let all the ^arecords be had in order, that they may be put in the archives of my holy temple, to be held in remembrance from generation to generation, saith the Lord of Hosts.

10 我要對所有的聖徒說，我渴望，懷著極大的渴望，在下一個安息日，從講台上對他們講代替死者洗禮的主題。但由於這是我能力以外所能做的事，我只好不時地就這個主題和許多其他事情，將主的話寫下來，用書信寄給你們。

10 I will say to all the saints, that I desired, with exceedingly great desire, to have addressed them from the stand on the subject of baptism for the dead, on the following Sabbath. But inasmuch as it is out of my power to do so, I will write the word of the Lord from time to time, on that subject, and send it to you by mail, as well as many other things.

11 現在我結束這一封信，因為時間不夠了；因為仇敵在注意，如救主所說，這世界的^ａ王子將到，但他在我裡面毫無所有。

11 I now close my letter for the present, for the want of more time; for the enemy is on the alert, and as the Savior said, the^aprince of this world cometh, but he hath nothing in me.

12 看啊，我對神的祈禱是你們都能得救。我以我自己是你們在主裡面的僕人，耶穌基督後期聖徒教會的先知和^ａ先見簽署這封信。

12 Behold, my prayer to God is that you all may be saved. And I subscribe myself your servant in the Lord, prophet and ^aseer of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

約瑟 • 斯密

Joseph Smith.