Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-04-05
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS TO
THE WORLD.


THE WORLD.
Greeting
In the hone of correcting misrepre-
sontation, and of establishing a more
perfect understanding respecting our
selves and our religion we, the officers
and members OF tha Church of Jesus
Christ Of Latter day Saints in general
conference asse mbled, issue this de-
claration.
Such an action seems imperative
Never We're our principles or our puT-
poses more widely misrepresented
more seriously misunderstood. QUIZ
doctrines are distorted the sacred or
dinances of our religion ridicnled. our
Christianity questioned. our history
fRlsihed. our character traduced. and
our course of conduct as people rep
related and condemned
Truth l.bont MoEnonisan,
IN answer 10 the charges made
Hgains1 us for ourselves and for those
who, under divine direction. founded
our religion and orr Church, fur our
posterity. TO whom We shall transmit
tine faith, and into whose Keeping We
shall give the Church Of Christ; and
before mankind. whose opinions We
respect, we solemnly declare the truth
to be-
lations OF God. The gospel we pro-
claim is the gospel of Christ. restored
t., earth in this the disp ensaticn OF
the fmlness OF times The high claim
of the Church is declared in its title
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints, Established by divine di-
ma nrpgNI-I bed nv
Him whose Church 1t is-Jesns the
Christ
The religion of this people is pure
Christianity, It's creed IS expressive
of the duties of practical life Its the
uloey IL based on the doctrines of the
Rsdeemer,
If IL be true Christianity to accept
Jesus Christ In person and In mission
as divine; to revere Him az the Son
ri God the cruclfied and risen Lord.
through whom alone can mankind at
tain salvati ton: 10 accept His teachings
as a. guide to adopt as "a standard and
observe as law the ethical code He
promulgatcd 10 ply with the re-
nuirerments prescribed by Him as es-
sental to membership In His Church.
nameIy faith. repentance. baptism by
Immersion for the remission of sins
nnd the laying on of hands for thu.
gEft OF tile Holy Ghost--if this be
Christianity. then are we Christians,
and tho Church OF Jesus Christ of Lat
ter-day Saints is a Christian church.
The theology of our Church Is the
theology taught by Jesus Christ and
His anOstles the theology OF scrip ure
ma I,esl Son. Ii not only acknowledges
ihe sacredness OF ancient scripture,
snd INC bImdine force of dtvinely-in-
sntred acrs and utterances In ages
r,as,t. bt,t also declares THAI God now
treaks 10 man i'm this final gospel dis
,.ensotinn
WN heIIevc in The Godhead. COM
prIsIns the three lndiyidual person
ICES. Father SON and HOLY Ghost.
We hold that man is verify the child
of God. formed IN His Image. endowed
With aiv,ne nttributes. and possessing
mower To rise 4 the gross desires
~ earth ia The .nobiing aspiraiions
of heaven
WE LelIcve I'm Tho nro existence OF
man as a snirlt and I'm n future state
OF indivSdnaI existence, i'm which every
soul shall ind lis place, as determined
by iustice and mercy. With opportunL-
Ties OF endless progression. in the
varied cuunttlong ~ eternity
wv bali4ve in lbs free nEency Of
man, and therefore in his lndly dual
responsibility,
We believe that salvation Is for no
select few. but that all men may be
sawed through obedience to the laws
and ordinances Of the gospel
We affirm that 70 administer In the
ordinances Of the gospel authority