The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-28


no pains to educate their children, and rs
a result while Utah is the youngest state
In the Union she already ranks third In
education, and expects some day to lead
the world
The Mormon church teaches that wo-
man is the equal of man and vastly SUI
perior to him in her sphere. Her in
fluence is uncompromisingly against the
saloon and immortality. So Mormonism
says woman should have the elective
franchise, and in Utah she votes right
along with her husband and brother.
The prosperity of the Mormon people Is
proverbial Wherever they plant their
feet the God of Israel manifests His
power in their behalf. In Utah they set
| tied in the midsts of desert, forsaken by
everything except a few half-starved In
dian tribes. Bancroft, the historian, says
| IL was one of the most desolate places on
! the face of the earth. But in answer to
| fervent prayer the desert was redeemed,
| and today blossoms as the rose
| The Mormon elders go forth as ambas-
| sadors of truth, with love and mercy in
their hearts. They receive no compen-
sation from the church that sends them
| forth, but pay their own way, depending
| upon the God of heaven to raise up
| friends in time of need
| AS q people the Mormons are temperate;
a revelation forbids the use of intoxi-
|
| are fewer paupers and criminals among
| them than any other community. They
| do not claim to be perfect themselves, but
| believe their religion to be a direct reVe-
lation from God Approaching their own
| imperfecticns they are not slow to recog-
nize the virtues of others.
| The basic principle of their religion is
the fatherhood of God, and the brother
hood of man. Following are their arti-
| cles of faith:
| /. We believe in God the Eternal Father
| and in His Son Jesus Christ, and In the
Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished
for their own sins, and not for Adam
| transgression.
g. We believe that through the atone
ment of Christ, all mankind may be
| saved, by obedience to the laws and ordi-
nances Of the Gospel.
| t. We believe that the first principles
| and ordinances of the Gospel are; First,
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second,
Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion
for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying
on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy
| Ghost.
3. We believe that a man must be called
of God, by prophecy, and by the laying
on of hands" by those who are in au-
thority, to preach the Gospel and admin
ster in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization
that existed in the primitive church.
namely: Apostles Prophets, Pastors,
Teachers, Evangelists, etc.
I. We believe in the gift of tongues, pro-
phecy, revelation, visions, healing, inter-
probation of tongues etc.
S. We believe the Bible to be the word
of God as far as it is translated correctly;
we also believe the Book of Mormon to
be the word of God.
| Q. We believe all that God has revealed,
all that He does now reveal, and we be-
lieve that He will yet reveal many Grea;
and important things pertaining to the
Kingdom of God.
TO- We believe in the literal gathering of
Israel and in the restoration of the Ten
Tribes that Zion will be built upon this
0he American) continent; that Christ will
reign personally upon the earth, and that
the earth will be renewed and receive its
paradsacal glory.
II. We claim the privilege of worshiping
| Almighty God according to the dictates OF
our conscience, and allow all men the
same privilege, let them worship, where
or what they may
II. We believe in being honest. true
chaste, benevolent virtuous, and in doing
good to all men; indeed, we may say thai
we follow the admonitlon of Paul, 1--WE
believe all things we hope all things
|, We have endured many things, and hope
to be able to endure all things. If there
is anything virtuous. lovely, or of good re-
port or praisewCrthy. we seek after those
things.-Joseph Smith.
OF course, Mormonsm is increa sing ant
, growing; truth is bound to spread in thi!
age of enlightenment and progress, M
matter how sharp the weapons nseC
, against it. Pclygamy is not the real is
sue, because it is dead, and has been 81
for nearly nine years, but it affords al
excuse a preteXt, under which to hid'
their criminal purpose of crushing out {
more successful church. We ask Chris
tian ministers to go forth in the spiri
: of love that characterized the Gospel o
Christ in His day. Distribute your lit
erature freely among the LatterDa!
Saints (or Mormons), preach to them
) | they will listen and treat you kindly; bu
because they cannot see as you do, don
! get angry, don't malign them, don't stool
| to slander and abuse. Christ never adopt
ed those methods. Follow His example
The Latter-Day Saints do so to the bes
: of their ability, although they have man.
I faults Truth will be vindlcated and al
will come out we'll in the end. The caus
of Christ will gain the ascendency, an
there will be no more mobbinGs, no mur
: derings, no more burning of heretics, n
more hearts wrung with agony and de
D spair under the sacred name of religion
, | Let us meet on the higher ground o
| | honest investigation and criticism. Trut
l will survive and error fade away.
]. T. Stewart, Jr.,
Elder of the Mormon Church.
Scranton, Oct. q.
L |