The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-03-30
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
From Washington Township.

ED. SPIRIT: notice an article in the
issResefa March I'd from Perry town.
ship, processing to be an answer to an
article written by ''Lalone" found in the
issue of February 9th on "Mormonism."
But for some reason unknown to me,
omega has failed to bring forth any
scripture testimony against the doctrine,
as taught by the L. d Saints, therefore
the subject remains unanswered.
Omega turns his attention to Ger
tain teacher who has been so unlucky as
to become a member of the L. D. S.
church, which seems to be unfortunate
for him as we'll as his school. He has
not pointed out wherein the school has
suffered any loss but seems to think
the teacher in the worst condition.
Omega says ''the doctrine has, not done
for him what faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ will do" Has Omega exercised
that faith that brought the blessings that
Jesus Christ sci, in his church?
infer from Lalone's article that the
doctrine taught by the L. D. Saints is
the same as taught by Jesus Christ and
his Apostles and we think this teacher
has not gone so much out of the way
after all, but inasmuch as this teacher is
believer in this doctrine and member
of the L. D.. S church and it teaching
the doctrine taught by Jesus Christ and
bis Apostles, it is not strange that he
meets with persecution; for if Omega
will read his Bible, he will see that the
people in that generation prosecuted
those that believed the same doctrine
We. read that Jesus said that "men
should hate you, and say all manner of
evil about you, and would separate you,
cast your names out as evil;" and fur
ther it was said "they were sect every
where spoken against" Does Omega's s
Bible teach him otherwise?
He also asks why this teacher con-
tents himself teaching school, being an
ordained minister. 1t is true that it is
the duty of every minister to preach the
gospel of Jesus Christ to the unbeliev-
ing world; we understand also that faith
comes by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God. and how can man hear
without preacher3 and how can he
preach except he be sent? Jesus in
commissioning his Apostles, said s'go
yeinto. all the world and preach the
gospel, (not gospel) to every creature,
and he that believeth, and is baptized
shall be saved" By this we understand
that by preaching the gospel, men were
to be saved, that is. by hearing the word
preached produced faith, and obeying,
brought salvation, They were not com.
manded to work miracles to convince
the unbeliever, and produce faith in him
to salvation. On the contrary miracles
followed faith. Jesus said these signs
shall follow theubeliever Mark 16, II,
l8. Jesus would not commission men
to do that which he could not do. him
self; for We read that he (Jesus) could
not do many mighty works there, be-
cause Of their unbelief, and he further
said ga wicked and adulterous genera.
ton seeketh after sign, and there shall
no sign be given them. If souls were
not converted by preaching the gospel
and did not believe it for its glorious
truths; they would not believe were they
to see miracle. Admitting that the
gospel of Jesus Christ was established
by himself and Apostles for the saliva.
ton of men in that age, nothing less
than the same gospel will save man
to-day, and if so the same signs will
follow. In order to be a follower oI
Jesus Christ it is to believe the doctrine
that he taught; butt is certainly strange
that believing and obeying the princi
plies taught by the Saviour will bring
such persecution in this so called chris
tian age.
| A few thoughts on Omega's question
as Christs kingdom temporal or spir.
itual?' The kingdom of Christ is 8