Arizona republican., 1898-10-03

claim frequently pitt f9rth that all ths Christian sects are right is 6 palpable absu-dity. Truth is always consistent with itself. It is error that causes con- fusion. Two opposing systems cannot both bs eeJraet. They nay both be wrong, but it is impossible for both to be Tigi.la- There may be some truth in every religion that has basn foistea iipoa the world, Indeed, without that no system could have continued exist | ence It is that portion Of each relig- i
 ion which is true that kesp5 it alive | and makes it's error plausible.
 This condition Of affairs caused the | founder Of OUT religion to reflect and to sack the truth.
 Tt has been shown that the gospel as taught and administered by Christ
 and his apostles tagtired-tirst. faith in God and Jesus Christ; second, re i pentance, which included reform of
 conduct; third, baptism by immersion fer the remission Of sins; fourth, the reception Of the Holy Ghost by the lay ing on Of the hands of divinely author l ized men; and that obedience to these 1 brought the gifts of the spirit, includ- ! ing love, joy, peace, patience, brotherly
 kindness, charity. healings, tongues, i interpretations, discerning Of spirits
 miracles, prophecy, revelation and the
 unity in one body of all who were hap
 tized into the church, no matter what
 had been their previous beliefs. Also that the ordinances of the gospel were administered by men inspired cf God,
 who were in communion with him, and
 who were ordained to act for and in be- half of Deity, SC that what they per
 formed by that authority on earth was acknowledged and sealed in heaven. Here is where the great deficiency lies
 in different sects. Men are preaching
 the gospel and are exercising this, that
 and the other offices of 8 priest without
 the proper authority. They are self authorized The true gospel admins - tered by divinely authorized and in spired men existed during and for a
 time subsequent to the coming Of Christ.
 , Divine authority must come from the god-head, which consists of three
 distinct persons, God the father, God the son and the Holy Ghost. While } separate and distinct, yet they act in unison, and what one does has the ap- proval Of all. Many were properly au- thorized by Jesus Christ to go forth : and preach the gospel to others, that they li1SLI k-iCN tue tlutA-
 ! The falling away commenced in 5 the time Of the apostles.
 7 'sIn tha.5 same vision John the be - loved saw the church in the form of 2 ! woman. clothed with the sun, the moor - under her feet, and 8 crown Of twelv' q stars in her head taken away into ths = wilderness to remain for Q heightened + pericd, and in her place he saw "a wo l man sitting upon scarlet-coloret ,, beast, full Of names of blasphe1ny,' anc = though decked with gold and precioa 'f stones, she held in her hand a goldel ;. cup Of abcmirat-oEs, and the nam T upon her head was Mystery. He saE
 further that all nations were made t = drink out of that golden cup, by wnic l. they were made drunken. (See Rev -e xii:1-6; xvii:1-5; xviii:2-3O
 $ Tt is clear from these predictions ] IS the New Testament, and others tha c- might be cited, that the departure frol le the purity, simplicity and unity of th sr gospel Of Christ wss to ba universal 2T and that these prophecies were flu | filed we have .he testimony Of u 5 Church of England. In her hoDlily c -d the periIs of idOlatry she declares le Clergy and Iaity, learned and GnlearT CT ed, nen, women and children, Of Q Q. ages, sects and degrees, Of whole Chrl: ld tendon, a most horrible and dreadf1 n thing to think, have been at once bu T. jed in the most abOElinable idolatr 1e and that for 800 years CT more Tn n- being rue. how is it possible to bslieI f- that the church Of Christ had any 6. I'd istence cn earth after that long-co- 1n tinued darkness and apostacy? He te could there be any remnant left Of U oOl1 Nv D. and priesthood Of the original Chri es tian church."
 g. Then" I Interrupted, "yoI ccnte1 Fl that the continuity Of divine authcri O. has long ago ceased. If such is u nd case and your church considers divil st- authority essential to the principles
 Q true religion, how can you account f co g. church that has been established ks the present century having any su 'ac authority?"
 i'll we eve cur existence to 0 e. prophet, Joseph Smith.
 tc Tt was predicted long ago that c ae the end came all would be set right g. mt that the gospel would be understood ah it's true light.
 Of After . lapse Of many years, t ter revelation has come, and the gospel ro- again being preached by divine allthc nd ity, it having bsen restored.
 ne How has divine authority been w. stCred?" 1 inquired.
 ,- THE REVELATION TO SMITH. tes It was in the year 1923 that the 2 ion gel spoken Of by John tha Rsyelai
 10 came with the everlasting gospel tc ipe young man scarcely IS years of age, 91s obscure though respectable parenta n i and without tho learning of the schOC }cd lis name, tco, was common, and the occupation that cf 8 farmers boy.
 sepn Smith, whom the Lord raised
 to receive his word, establish
 church anu prepare the way for tho redeelner's second coming, was led ids, inquire cf the Lord through reading
 Scriptures for the purpose Of fndi ded out which Of all the disputing rei ths ions was right Coming to the Epis ab- of James, first chapter and fifth yer ele- he read: If any Of you lack wisdt re- let him ask CT Gcd, that giveth to pa men 3i5era!iv and uphra;deth not;