The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-03-17
Nothing short Of this will redeem us
as nation. Vote IS you pray.
OPEN LETTERS
March IL, 1903.

|
the caption of Return Of the Prodi-
lgal," great Misrepresentation obtains.
I now ask you to grant little space
| in your valuable paper SO that ], an
American citizen of this boasted land
Of the brave and the FREQ and the land
of free speech, be allowed to correct
few of the errors In the article al
ready spoken Of
wish To say first that am not an
elder of any church. neither do be-
long 10 the Mormon church nor am
Il a follower OF Brigham Young. nor
was ever member of the orgarl-
zation instituted by, presided over or
led by Brigham Young or any of his
SUCCESSORS.
| I make no, denial that there has been
some unpleasantness in my domestic
circle.
Now Mr. Editor, want to ask a
question; rs trouble of domestic char
actcr stranger to the world, and to
all sects and denominations irrespect-
i've of name? Echo answers mo-"
Then why should my religion appar-
emily be made responsible for trouble?
II had belonged to some of the great
and popular churches Of the land,
would the faith have been mentioned
and made solely responsible for the
trouble? hardly think SO. Now let
me tell you what belong to. II is the
reorganized church of Jesus Christ OF
the Latter Day Saints, who arc as dis
tinct and separate from Brigham
ism in organization doctrine and prac-
tice as the Methodist. Baptist or Pres.
byterian churches. The church to
which I belong never did believe in,
or practice polygamy. but on the con-
trary. has always and everywhere de-
nounced such an abomination.
i will now give you the epitome OF
faith and doctrine and ask you to
kindly insert that your many readers
rlay see what / do believe and that
my FAITH is not such a boogaboo
after ALL
We believe in God. the Eternal
Father and in His Son Jesus Christ
and in the Holy Ghost. y,s0 49,
| We believe that men will be pun
ished for their own sins, and not
for Adams transgression.
We believe that through the
atonement Of Christ, all men may
be saved by the obedience to the
laws and ordinances of the Cos
pei.
We believe that these ordinances
are: First. Faith in God and the
Lord Jesus Christ. Second Re-
pentance.- Third Baptism by i'm
mcrsion for the remission of sins.
Fourth. Laying OH of the hands
for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Fifth. We believe in the Resurrec-
tion OF the body, that the dead 10
Christ will rise first. and the rest
of the dead will not live again un-
til the thousand years are expired.
Sixth. We believe in the doctrine
of Eternal Judgment. which pro-
vides that men shall be judged, re.
warded, or punished, according to
the degree Of good, or evil, tbsy
shall have done.
| We believe that a man must be
Called to God. and ordained by the
laying on of Hands of those who
are In authority, to entitle him to
preach the Gospel and administer
in the ordinances thereof.
We believe In the same kind OF
organization that existed In the
primitive church, viz: Apostles,
Prophets. Pastors, Teachers, Evan
gelists. etc.
We believe that in the Bible is
contained the word of God, so far
as 1t is translated correctly We
believe that 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.
We believe in. the powers and
gifts or the Everlasting Gospel,
viz: The gift of faith. discerning Of
spirits, prophecy, revelation. heal
| ing, visions, tongues and the in
/ terpretation Of tongues, wisdom,
charity. brotherly love, etc
We believe that Marriage is or
i dained by God: and that the law OF
I God provides for but one compan- 4
] ion in wedlock. for either man or
4 woman, except in cases where the
| contract OF marriage is broken by
i death or transgression.
| We believe that the doctrines of
a plurality and community OF
i wives are .leresies, and are op-
| posed to the law of God.
i We believe that the religion of
i Jesus Christ. as taught in the New
II Testament Scriptures. will, II its
4 precepts are accepted and obeyed,
j make men arid women better in
i the domestic circle. and better cit
liens Of town. county and state.
L ><-- ----- -.~Al - NJ