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 hope of correcting misreprc
scr1ta ticn. and OF eSta blshing a more
perfect understan ding respecting our
selves and our religion. we, the officers
and members Of the Church OF Jesus
Christ of I.atter-day Saints, in general
conference assembled. issue this de-
claratipn.
Such an action seems Imperative.
Never were our prin clples or our pur-
poses more widely misrepresented.
more seriously misunderstood Our
doctrines are distorted, the sacred or
chances of our religion ridiculed, our
Christianity questioned, our history
fsIsified our character traduced- and
our course of conduct as people rep
related ana condemned.
Trnth about Mormonisrn-
an answer to The charges made
against us. for ourselves and for those
who. under divine direction, founded
our refgfo and our Church, for our
losterity, to whom we shall transmit
the faith. and into whose Keeping We
shall give the Church OF Christ, and
respect we solamnly declare the truth
To be.
our religion is founded on the reve-
lations OF Cod The gospel we pro-
claim is the gospel of Christ restored
t. earth in This the dispensaton OF
the flllness 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 d.
rection. Its name WAS prescribed by
tc. VaSpI
Christ
The religion OF this people is pure
ChristIanity Its creed Is expressive
Of the duties OF practical life. Its the
ology is based ON tho doctrines of the
Isedeemer.
IL 1t be tiue Christianity to accept
Jesus Christ in person and in mission
as divine, 10 revere Him as the Son
~ God. the crucified and risen LORD.
through whom alone can mankind at
tain salvation, to accept His teachings
RS a guide, to adopt as standard and
observe as Il law the ethical code He
promulgated; to comply with the re-
nuirements prescribed by Elm as es-
sentia1 TO membership In His Church,
namely, faith. Tepentance. baptism by
Immersion for the remission of sins
and the laying on OF hands for the
gift OF the Holy Ghost---f this be
Christie nifty. then ATE we Christians,
and the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter.day Saints is Chilstlan ca usch.
The theology OF our InurSh IS .,,s
theology taught ny Jesus snTlst aiu
His apostles, the theology OF sctipture
and reason 1t noI only acknowledges
ihe saeredness OF anclcnt scripture
and the binding forec 81 dlVinely-ln-
splred acts and utterances IA ages
past: hut also declares that Sod now
speaks to man in this ilnal gospel uis-
pensatlcn-
We believe IN the Gedhead, COM
prislne the three indiNldual person
ages, Father son and tiolS dnosti
we holu thal man IL verify llie Ui'ils
Of God, formed Ia His Image, endowed
with divine attributes: and possessing
power TO rise q ! me gross deslhes
o. earth 10 the N.llcbllng aspirations
OF heaven
we believe IN the pre-cNistcnee "
man AZ a splrlt, and IN IutuIe stalr
o. lhniNnnM existence IN whleh every
toui SHAH Hnd Its place. as Determines
py Justice and mercy With opportuani.
.les ~ endless PROGRESSION, III en"
Natusa evpnitlohs ~ ETERNITY
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