Evening journal., 1901-02-20
"MORMONISM Is
GOSPEL Oh GOD"
Elder John E. Baird Explains
the Doctrines Of His
Church

hiANN 50 t--~@ tif lt4htNAf anu uhl
hw people m the East are conyersant
with the true principles OF their re-
iglon
Mr. Baird who has been spending a
few days in Wilmington, has written
.hc following for the benefit of the
reaGas of the Evening Journal.
During the past century the pub
nc has been Cons derably excited over
che birth Of what is called "Mormcn-
ism, which is really the gosepl OF
Jesus Christ restored
t-Cm the day Joseph Smith
declared that he had seen
a vision every manner OF hction was
believed by uhe people Fortunes have
been mauc i'm books about the Nor
mons yet the world knows bat little
Iabout the real principles Of this Cs,th
for rle simpie reason that and-Mor-
mons have given forth the informl-
don. II is impossible to get correct
IA formation concerning q Ieopie from
their enemies For the benefit Of your
readers l shall briefly state what Nor
mons do believe
Flrst-We believe IN God the Eter-
nal Father, and in His Son. Jesus
]
Second-We believe that men Will
be punished for their cwn sins and
not for Adams transgress,on.
Third-We believe that through the
atonement of Christ all mankind may
be saved By obedience TO the laws
and ordinances Of the gospel.
We believe that the first principle
and ordinances OF the gospel ere.
First faith in the LoId Jesus Christ:
second, repentance. third. BAPTISM. by
! immersion for the remission OF sins:
fourth, laying on of hands for the gift
of the Hold Ghost.
We believe it necessary for a man
to have authority from God ITO preach
the gospel and administer in MS laws.
We believe in the organization
which existed in the primitive chtmch.
! viz: Apostles, proph5ts, etc. and that
the gifts OF the gospel. prophecy. heal
ing, visions, revelations. etc, should
sll exist.
We believe the Bible TO be the word
of God, we also believe the Book OF
Mormon TO be- a divine record Of the
ancient inhabitants Of America This
book stands biore the world and has
inever been dispr0ved The 3 bic fore
tells its coming forth. lEzek. 81. 15-
% lsa.. %; Jn2o TO-. 1861 and the dis
lcovsries OF prehistoric .ca con-
firm this book
We do not helieye that the canca of
lscTipture is full and that God has ceas-
ed to give revelation but we hhlieye
that revelation IS the foundation of
IGod's church, and where it ls denied
! the Lord does not sanction what Is
{ no. Eph. f. informs us that r-vtla-
ltors were to remain urtil all become
united and surely nc sane person can
Say Christianity is unitsd today The
livery fact OF division existing ibi-vea
the need Of revelation Eph 4 tells
us there is lone Lord, one faith and
one baptism" but in this day q is just
the reverse.
We believe in living honest ard
pure lives, and seeking the welfare of
others. Wherever truth is we seek to
make it our own, for the gospel en-
braces all truths.
We believe in being subject TO kings
presidents. rulers and magistrates in
lobeying, honOring and sustaining the
laws. Some people who believe the
stories against us. may disbelieys our
loyalty, but If they VIII consider the
true history of the claim TO make IL
will be different Since the organiza-
Ition. of the church, Mmmons have
done their part in fighting for their
country. The founders of Mormonism
were of the old pilgrim race and the
people know their character. Our his
tory has been written by enemies and
levery species Of crime charged against
us. These old stories have beon ex-
lplOded long since. and those who visit
Utah find there a frugal and home
loving people, unlike the sensational
reports.
We believe that Gods mercy does
not end at death. but in eternity the
gospel can be preached 10 sinners
lChrist breaches 10 the spirlts in pris-
Ion Il FIST g: 1920; A. Jnu 3 A.
We believe in different degrees oi
lglcry. and that our CIVILIZATION depend,
upon our actions here.
MormOnism Us tolsrant and fogi cir
ali truths. we have no controversy
W IN any creed. Our aim is 60 iiEach
the pure gospel even though we are
charged with preaching one thing here
and another al home This is false
we ars willing 10 explain our belief ans
judge the game by the Bible. If we ar'
wrong show us where.
Nformonism is somewhat Ike tn
pctatoes planted by a man who wa'
Ignorant Of how they grew When th'
; tops came forth he saw some smal
= green objects develop. He took then
: home thinking they were potatoes
hut when he ate them they were pro
, lnouncod bitter and useless He a
!, once said potatoes were no good bu
the following Spring in digging tn
ground ha found the substantial par
: of the plant and his opinion wa
changed. IL the world will dig Q liitl
deeper IT. will find MCrmonisr
much different from what the publi
lbeliaves.
ELDER JOHN E. BAIRD.
? Labor's Interest in steel Combine.
e Pittsburg. Feb. 2O.--The latest laho