Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-05
CHURCH OF LATTER DAY
SAINTS IS DEDICATED
DOCTRINE OF ORGANIZATION is
GIVEN BY PASTOR
Speaker Points to Unique Place Held
by Followers of the Sect and ln-
vites Any Teacher to Occupy the
Pulpit

Impressive services were held on the
occasion of the dedication of the Re-
organized Church Of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints yesterday morning
at the new church, lila Wall street.
Elder II. w. Williams. the pastor,
preached the sermon. He said in part:
1.-THE Latter Day Saints occupy a
unique place in modern history. Ours
is distinctly an American institution.
We have been pioneers along many
lines. While the whole religious world
were spending their energy in gath
aring faggots to perpetuate the fires
of hell we alone beat back the flame.
denouncing the teaching as a libel on
God. Today the man who affirms the
doctrine that God delights in the suf-
fering of any being finds himself in
class all his own and his mentality
is in dispute.
1--WE were the first people to de-
nounce the doctrine of total depravity,
predestination and foreordination as
enunciated by Calvin as a libel on
God.
I'VE have recognized that 1t was all
a ruthless waste Of energy to attempt
to rave the soul of men when at the
same time their physical environments
were such that it was impossible for
truth to gain the ascendency, while
the body was bound and shackled as
a result of the hereditary vices and
customs hedging it in on every hand.
We have ever affirmed that salvation
must include the body as well as the
soul. That spiritual aScendency is
ever dependent upon physical equili-
brum. We believe 1t folly to try to
brium. We believe it folly to try to
time perpetuate conditions which make
1t impossible of accomplishment. En-
vironments affect character and it has
been the purpose Of this church to
hlend the interests of it's membership
SO that they would be identical.
1--WE have erected this building with
view that truth may have oppor-
tunity of expression at least in one
chuch in this city. It Is not dedicated
to any ism or any creed. Its occu-
panty is not restricted to any indi-
vidua! We believe IN an open Bible
and free pulpit. Every man posing
as a teacher among men is invited to
come and deliver his message here.
This building is dedicated for the pur-
pose of calling the attention of the
world to Christianity as 1t was revealed
by Christ.
1--WE maintain that the same organi-
cation, the same laws promulgated by
the Apostles are applicable now. Again,
we affirm that if Christianity is any
thing it is practical that like cause
will ever produce like effect and if
men only enforce the teachings of
Jesus the results will be ever in evil
dence. We affirm the personality of
God and the responsibility Of man.
1--WE affirm that it is what a man
does that counts, not what he processes
to do.
1--WE hold to the gospel as taught
by Christ; with all of it's attendant
ordinances and blessings.
1--WE say that the chaotic conditions
among men are not the result of de-
cree, but human infraction; that pain
is not by divine edict. but rather
through mans perversity. We are
working for a heaven on earth, not in
the skies. We believe that Christian
ity was to prepare men to live, rather
than to die"
The sermon was followed by feel
irg and earnest dedicatorial prayer by
Elder Joseph Il. Burton, lately returned
from Papeete. Tahiti, an island Of the
Pacific.