Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-04

A gentleman who has taken much In
.erest In the articles in the Deseret
News in reply to the attacks by the
Presbyterian convention upon the
Mormon" Church, writes TO US ol-
pressing his opinion that the 'News'
nad "the best Of the argument" but
wants 20 know whether the Latter-day
Saints 'reject Christianity In all its
branches. with all It's doctrines. despis-
ing the whole system and the gospel It
oroclaims"
The Church Of Jesus Christ OF Latter
day Saints does not take the position
set forth In this query. 1t accepts
Christianity, that is the Christianity Of
Jesus Christ, in all its branches and
with all It's doctrines But it regards
modern Chrlstendom, with Its multifar-
lous sects aud denominations and
preachers, and many Of its contradict
Tory notions, as entirely different from
that Christianity which Jesus OF Nag
areth and His Apostles promulgated.
There 10, however, some measure Of
truth In every religion extant; that we
certainly do not reject There are good
people In all the religious organizations
both in Christendom and in heathen-
aom; they, We certainly do not con-
denim.
The systems OF religion which men
have invented are human, and there
fore are not 20 be regarded as author
lied of God. Whatever good there may
be In any Of them is divine. That
which is erroneous is from mortal man
or from the EVIL One. None Of them
could continue In existence but for the
measure OF truth therein contained.
But they all embody errors that stamp
them as man-made and therefore unre-
liable. The Church OF Christ must come
from Christ and its doctrines must be
iueh as He reveals. not merely "the
commandments Of men" The good
which some men and women associated
with those systems are able TO accom-
push, we recognize and believe Il is ac-
neptable to God. But when men adj
minister ordinances and ceremonies in
the name Of Deity which they have not
been authorized by the Lord to per-
form, they assume a position which is
aispleasing to the Almighty, and their
oiiicial acts In His name are utterly
empty and void.
We do not despise or repudate any
principle Of truth that is to be found
IN any system Of religion. no matter
oy what name II may be called. Any.
ming that is true In theology, philos-
ophy, literature, science or art; In any
discovery, invention or project. we ac-
cept and 1t blends into the truths Of
religion which the Lord has revealed in
.hese latter-days, Just as separate
drops Of water unite In one mass as
soon as they coalesee. For Truth Is
truth where'er It's found. on Christian
or on heather ground" There are some
great truths in oriental non-Christian
religions as gell as in the sects that
can themselves Christian" None OF
uhese comes into repulslon with the
system now revealed from heaven. and
which is commonly dubbed Mormon.
ISM"
This idea is clearly set forth I'm sim
Die language in the Book Of Mormon
as follows:
Wherefore all things which a,e
bood cOmeth % God. and that which ,s
eva cometh Of the devil. for Tho devl
" an enemy unto God. ana fRbtetb |
against him continually. and inviteib |
anl tntlccth 10 sin and 10 do that
watch y evil continually But behold |
lnai which is Of God, lnyiteth ana an /
ueth 10 do GOOD continually. Ubrrr- 1
ioit, everything which invilefb ana |
ehilceih TO do good and 10 love odd |
ana 10 serve linn Is inspired OF God" |
We % not interfere, o. wish TO lnter.
iere' with the FORMULATION Of any. |
lining that is true and beneficial 10 !
mankind. no matter from whence # |
proceeds. We 40 not desire to beuttle +,
the Efforts Of good men ana women 4, |
elevate and improve humanity. on the !
contrary We wish them Godspeed. II |
they Lave anything better OF rnors ad.