And They Stoned Stephen – Sunday, October 6, 1940
“And Jesus made as though he would have gone * * * But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” (Luke 24:28-29) And blessed are they who abide His coming as the gathering storm and the growing darkness of our times bring with them those events that move us on toward another eventide of which the prophets of all generations have spoken. And there is that about the record of prophecy which, even though it may not be pleasant to our ears, strikes conviction to our souls. For “all things must come to pass in their time.” (Doctrine and Covenants 64.32) Time and the relentless march of events brought by its passing have been portrayed in musical symbol by the composer Vierne, and we now hear “Westminster Chimes” moving with the sweep of the hours and the march of the years but “the day or the hour no man knoweth; but it shall surely come.” (Doctrine and Covenants 39:21)
And then Stephen said unto them: “As your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?” This accusing question could be asked of any generation, for men have always persecuted those who have seen ahead of their own time – whose vision has been enlarged and whose understanding has been quickened by that Spirit which giveth light to every man that cometh into the world, (Doctrine and Covenants, 84:46) – in all fields of thought and knowledge, pertaining both to things here and things hereafter.
The Isaiah, the Galileo’s, the Noah’s and the Columbus’s, the Peter’s and the Paul’s have never been popular in their own day – but they have been so right in spite of the unwillingness of their own Generation to believe them. And it would not seem to be popular to say now in our day that the unprincipled chaos in which we find our world was foreseen by the prophets of God and will find no cure and no lasting peace until men turn to Him and pattern their lives in accordance with His ways.
Mere lip service will not be acceptable, and the temporary repentance that is forced by immediate fear and present stress will not be mistaken for obedience and a contrite heart. Let the cynic enjoy his brief day; let the man without faith deny it, and let the unbelieving take such hope as they can find. But the unchangeable facts remain, and there rise to meet the dissenting chorus, the words of Stephen: “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart * * * And they stoned Stephen.” (Acts 7:51-59) “And he kneeled down and cried: To Thee 0 Lord I yield my spirit.”
This event of New Testament record was given musical setting by Mendelssohn in the St. Paul from which Richard Condie and the Tabernacle Choir now sing.
October 6, 1940
Broadcast Number 0,581