Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21

KwN HE QUESTION Is often asked,
7 IA what do the "Mormons' be-
n lleve, and wherein do their doc
trines differ from those OF other
N religious denominations. A re-
ply viii be found in the follow
"A ing epitome Of "Mormonlsnl,' or
rather Of its leading principles
for Il embraces all truth from every
source.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day saints is the proper name OF the
body Of religious worshippers common
" known as "Mormons,' 1t was or
qanlzed by the authority and COM
mandment Of God in the state OF New
York on the 9Th day OF April looV' II
derives all its doctrines ordinances,
discipline and order OF Priesthood from
direct divine revelation
FIRST PRINCIPLES.
The first principle of the Gospel as
taught by this Church Is talth. inns
embraces faith IN God the Father ana
in his son Jesus Christ ana IN the
Holy Ghost -.
The Father is a glorihed and perfect
peraon. and Jesus Christ the Son is III
His express image and likeness Vne
Is an individual as much as the other'
each is a spirit clothed with spirit
ual. yet tangible immortal body spirit
Is substance, not immateriallty' IL
Is eternal In It's essence ana so are
the elements of that which Is known
as matter.
The Holy Spirit is not parsonage
of tabernacle. and His influence per-
meates all things and extends through
ont the vast domain Of space, when
Is boundless and occupied by limitless
elements. and that Spirit, proceeding
from the presence of God gives HE
and light TO all things animate, ana
Is the power by which they are gov
erned. and by which the Father and
the son are everywhere present.
Man is a dual being, also in the
image of God, who Is the Father OIL
his shirt and the Creator OF his body,
Jesus was the first born In the spirit
and the -Begotten In the iiesh.
All men and women are the sons ana
daughters of God and Jesus Is their
Elder Brother BY obedience to His
G0spel In all things, mankind through
the redemption HIS has wrought, may
be exalted with Him as ioint-heirs TO
the eternal inheritance of the sons OF
God. and become like Him and reign
with Him In the lnefable Presence
forever.
Faith in God, the Father the Son
and thp Holy Ghost leads to the sec
ond principle OF the Gospel which Is
repentance That Is, conviction of SIN,
regret for its commission ana REFORM
alton by turning away from 1t, by ceas-
ing 10 do evil and beginning ana con-
tlnuing TO do well.
Repentance leads to remission OF
sins, which comes through baptism adj
mlnistered by one having authority
In the name OF the Father, and of the
Son, and Of the Holy Ghost Baptism
Is the third principle, and is immersion
In water in the likeness OF q burial,
succeeded by a birth, Becoming dead
10 sin by repentance, the believer Is
buried In the liquid grave and brought
forth from the womb Of waters thus
being born OF water to q new life In
Christ Jesus.
The repentant believer, thus bap-
tized, obtains the remission OF sins
through the shedding Of Chrst's blood.
He who knew no sin died that sinners
might be saved by obedience to His
commandments. He did that for them
which they could not do themselves,
what they are able to do is required or
them, in order that they may receive
the benefits OF His atonement.
Thus clcansed from sin, the new
born disciple Is prepared TO receive the
Holy Ghost. The fourth principle Is
the bestowal OF that gift by the laying
on OF hands Of men called and ordaln-
ed Of God to thus ofiiciate in His
name.
Born OF the water and OF the Spirit,
the regenerated soul becomes a mem
Der Of Christ's Church, and Is entitled
10 such spiritual gifts as he or she may
deserve and obtain through the eNer-
else of faith. Some OF these are Wis
dom knowledge. prophecy, visions,
speaking In tongues, Interpretation OF
tongues. discerning OF spirits, healing
The sick. ETC., etc. All the manifesto
lions of the power Of God enjoyed IN
former times may be and are enjoyed
in HIS Church IN latter times.
The gift Of The Holy Ghost opens the
avenue 10 an intelligence, That Shirt
grlldes into all truth and shows things
10 some. II IL the Comforter and