Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-31
TIE LATTER DRY SAINTS
Worlds Conference Of the
Church to Be Held at
Lamont April 6.
Delegates From Many Countries
Will Come to Attend the
Session.
Something About the Church
Organization, Its Member
ship and Its Creed.
dol 10 Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Lamont, March 31.-The worlds con-
| ference Of the Reorganized Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
which convenes at Lamont April D.
promises to be one of the largest gath
erings of the church ever held. AMONG
the ministers and delegates already ar
rived are all the members of the quor-
UNI of twelve apostles, of whom Conner
T. Griffiths comes from England Il. =.
Evans from the Canada mission and
Joseph Luff from California.
This conference will be one of great
| interest to the church turnout the
world. The church was reorganlzed IN
! 1860, under the presidency of Joseph
smith. the Oldest son and legal success
sor of his father, who was killed at
| Carthage. Ill, June 81, 1914. The twelve
apostles have been in daily session
! since March 90 the special duty of the
| twelve being the oversight of the mis-
| sionary work turnout the world. The
first presidency of the church is COM
posed of Joseph Smith, president; A. II.
Smith and e. l.. Kelley, counsellors. A.
III. Smith also holds the office of patri-
arch and E. L. Kelley the office of bish-
OPP. The patriarch is on missionary
tour to the South Sea islands, Austria
liza, Honolulu and other parts and VIII
| not be in attendance at this session
The probability is that the foreign
missions will be better supplied with
missionaries than at any previous year.
They now have missionaries In the
South Sea islands, Australia, Hawaii.
England, Wales, Scotland, Denmark,
| Sweden, Norway, Germany and other
| foreign countries.
| The church believes in a complete or
ganization. as in the days OF Christ ana
the apostles, with all the gifts and
blessings of the gospel. AS means OF
special blessing and guidance of the
Holy Spirit during the coming confer
ence April has been appointed as
day of gene raj fasting and prayer, to
be observed by the membership of the
entire church.
The church is really organized with
tquorum of first presidency, twelve
apostles, high priests, also different
|
| teachers and deacons. 1t now has a
membership of $4,000 and a forcesof 400
in the general missionary field. The
people are still called a peculiar people
for their staunch belief in all the prin-
ciples of the gospel including faith. re-
pentance, baptism (by immersion), lay
ing on of hands, resurrection of the
dead and eternal judgment. They also
believe in present revelation.
They are strictly monogamic, being
bitter opponents of polygamy. the
abominable doctrine of the Utah church
as taught and practiced under the lead
ership of Brigham Young.
Here follow few extracts from their
statement of belief:
1--WE believe in God, the Eternal Fa-
ther and in His Son Jesus Christ, and
in the Holy Ghost.
I'VE believe that men will be pun
ished for their own sins, and not for
Adams transgression.
1--WE believe that thru the atonement
Of Christ all men may be saved by the
obedience to the laws and ordinances of
the gospel.
I'VE believe that these ordinances
are: First, faith in God and the Lord
Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third.
baptism by immersion for the remission
of sins; fourth laying on of the hands
for the gift of the Holy Ghost; fifth, we
believe in the resurrection of the body,
that the dead in Christ will rise first
and the rest of the dead will not live
again until the thousand years are ex-
| pired; sixth, we believe in the doctrine
of eternal judgment, which provides
that men shall be judged, rewarded or
punished according to the degree of
good or evil they shall have done.
1--WE believe that man must be
! called of God and ordained by the lay
ling on of hands of those who are in au-
thority, to entitle him to preach the
gospel and administer in the ordinances
| thereof
I'VE believe in the same kind of or
ganization that existed in the primitive
church, viz, apostles, prophets, pastors.
/ teachers, evangelists, etc.
1--WE believe that in the Bible is con-
tanned the Word of God, so far as it Is
translated correctly. We believe thar
the canon of scripture is not full, but
that God by His Spirit, will continue to
reveal His word to man until the end
of time.
1--WE believe in the powers and gifts
of the everlasting gospel, viz: The
gift of faith. discerning of spirits.
prophecy, revelation, healing, visions.
tongues, wisdom, charity, brotherly
love, etc.
I'VE believe that marriage is or
dained of God, and that the law of God
provides for but one companion in
wedlock, for either man or woman, ex-
i cept in cases where the contract Of
marriage is broken by death or trans
gression.
1--WE believe that the doctrines Of a
plurality and community of wives are
heresies and are opposed to the law of
God
I'VE believe that the religion of Je-
sus Christ, as taught in the New Testa
ment scriptures, will, If its precepts are
accepted and obeyed, make men and
women better in the domestic circle
and better citizens of town, county and
state and consequently better fitted for
the change which cometh at death.
1--WE believe that men should worship
God in spirit and in truth and that
such worship does not require VIOLA
ton of the constitutional law of the
land"