Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-23
THE ONLY WAY.

articles claiming that the Mormon
Church is the only true religion
We find the foregoing IN a paper that
oiroulates extensively In the Northwest
Wonderful isn't Il? We were under
the impression that everybody atall ac-
aualnted with religious movements In
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries,
was fully aware that this claim has
been set forth from the very beginning
Of the establishment OF that which IL
called the Mormon" Church. Any
religious organization which does not
make similar claim u.s. to say the
least. inconsistent II It does not as
sert lts superiority 10 other religious
Establishments, 1t proclaims at once It's
non-necessty and raises the question
OF the reason for It's existence.
When the Prophet Joseph Smith was
first favored with a communication
from the heavens, In the appearance to
him Of the Father and the Son, he was
told in response to his earnest inquiry
as to which q the religious denomina-
lions he should Join, that he was TO 30
after none OF them, for they had all
gone out Of the way, and were teach
ing for doctrine the commandments OF
men," The Church Of Jesus Christ
Of Latter-day Saints was organized
and set up for the Introduction, that is,
the restoration, Of the pure Gospel
without the interpretations and vagarles
Of men by which mankind had been led
astray for centuries. Every doctrine,
principle, ordinance, ceremony, ordina-
tion and commandment in this Church
has been received by communication
from heaven, by revelation inspiration,
aud the power Of the Holy Ghost This
is It's great distinction from all other
religious societies extant
This claim is the secret cause Of the
intense hostility towards it exhibited
by tho religious ministers Of the age.
They resent IL bitterly. They take II
as reflection, not only upon their
teachings but upon their pretense OF au-
thority II is true that none OF them.
with the exception Of the dlgnitarles OF
the church that claims direct success
sion from the original Apostles, pro-
fesses more than mental impressions
and intuitlons to themselves or others,
as the source OF their "call" 10 the
ministry. In fact, the cessation OF di.
rect communication from God TO man
10 recognized and made a tenet OF faith
throughout modern Chrstendom. The
denial, therefore, Of any actual author
Ivy from Deity to them, ought not 10
arouse In them the anger which they
manifest and certainly does not Jus
tify the hostile measures which
( they take towards q Church which as-
serts that divine authority has been
given to It by present revelation. They
may take Issue with this assertion and
seek TO controvert It, by proper means.
which do not include physical force,
misrepresentation or endeavors 10 in
jure those who entertain IT,
The so-called Mormon" Church
takes the ground that 1t has the only
true religion. IN the sense that II is Of
direct divine origin. 1t was set up by
Jesus Christ, the founder Of the prlm-
tive Christian faith. He declared when
on earth that all other systems but His
were wrong and His only was the way,
the truth and the life lie has made
the same declaration concerning His
trt aa Iuts t,sll gs. Al.
former Church restored In every partic-
ular. There Is no other rational posi-
ton that II can take. No matter how
much II may offend those who do not
agree with Il or admit It's claims, It
must be that or nothing more than an
other sect added to the mass OF hetero-
geneous. conflicting religious faiths.
II should be understood that
in taking this position the
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Lat
ter-day Saints does not deny or
seek to bellttle the good that has been
done by devotional and sincere work.
ers In the religious cause during the
past centuries, No matter what partlc-
ular church or society they may have
been connected with, wha tever OF truth
they have presented, or effort they
have made for the uplifting OF hu-
manlty, for the promotion Of faith In
God, for the prevalence OF morality, for
the cultivation OF that which brings
peace, kindness, brotherly love and
charity, which dIsperses the clouds Of
superstition. ln1delity and skepticism.
and that aids In the suppression Of
strife, selashncss. war and savagery,
ave commend them for and bid them
Godspeed IN their good works.
We believe that all truth and every
good thing comes from our Eternal
Father and we know that II harmon
ICES with that which we have received
from Him. But lie has Himself re-
vealed His word and His will in these
last days. and committed a dispensation
10 His servants, upon whom He has
placed authority to proclaim His truth
and administer in the ordinances OF Ills
house, declaring that what they per.
form In the way lie has appointed shall
be owned and recognized Of Him, ana
that what they seal on earth shall be
sealed Ia heaven, and what they loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven. In