The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-05-18
Chapter on Mormonism.
BY MON.
WHY THEY ARE HERE,

A wise Creator must have had some
| object in view in the creation of the
earth and placing upon it His children
TO pass through what they are called
upon to do while in this probation. A
| knowledge of this object is almost posi-
| lively necessary to enable the human
! family to act well their part. Let us
| examine then what he had in view.
The primary object of mans ex-
| istence upon the earth is to obtain a
body of flesh and bone, for without this
| it is impossible to advance in the grand
scale of being in which he is to move in
the eternal world. 1t is necessary for
| him to learn by actual experience the
difference between good and evil, "And
the Lord said, Behold, the man is be
come as one of us, to know good and
| evil.' 1t is necessary that man taste
the bitter to enable him to appreciate
the sweet. No proper appreciation of
the value of eternal life could be arrived
at without having experienced its OPP
pOsite. A man must first feel the effects
of sickness to enable him to fully ap-
preciate health. He must feel the
effects of pain before he can enjoy i'm
munity there from. He must feel the
influence and power of death before he
can appreciate eternal life. There are
many experiences that he can gain in
the flesh that cannot be obtained else
where. There are ordinances to be per-
formed and etern0l unions to be per-
fected that in the wise economy of the
Great Creator, must be effected here on
the earth. Baptism for the remission
of sins, and marriage for eternity are
prominent features of duty that devolve
upon man in his second estate, order
iDOr bis avistanPa tho aorth
FAITH.
To enable man to perform any work
whatsoever, requires that he have faith
in the ultimate result of the work. No
farmer would plant unless he expected
to reap; no builder build unless he ex-
pected to inhabit, &c. So, likewise,
no commandment of God would be
obeyed unless there existed faith that
certain blessings should follow obedi-
ence. With this idea we can compre-
bend the assertion of st. Paul to the
Hebrews: "But without faitn it is i'm
possible to please him for he that
cometh to God must believe" &c
"Thy faith hath made the WHOLE" was
a common expression of the Savior.
The cultivation Of this principle of faith
is the first step in our duties in this life.
The second step is that of
REPENTANCE.
"Repent and turn from all your
transgressions." Repent every one of
you" Except We repent, ye shall all
likewise perish"
The third step to take to secure saliva
ton in the eternal world, is to be
BAPTIsED.
"He that believeth and is baptised
shall be saved" Here are four princi-
pies all classed together, all equally i'm
portant, all required at our hands, that
we may return back to the presence of
God and dwell with the true and pure
of all ages. The fourth step to take is
to receive
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
for the reception of the Holy Ghost.
This is q principle to great extent ig-
nored by the christian world, yet plainly
taught in the scriptures. "And He
lifted up his hands and blessed them"
Many texts are quotsd.-Ml
SONG.
For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth;
And withhold the recollection
OF my former friends and birth;
Yet oft times a secret something
Whispers, You're stranger here;'
And | felt that had wandered
From a more exalted sphere"
This is certainly grander conception
of mans origin than that of would-be-
philosophers, who advocate evolution
from a lower scale.
Three of the four principles laid
down are very familiar to many in this
country-first three.-M.