Show n 1 I th W Grid Mormon Church l Iss Open Letter 5 Officers and Members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Sa Saints Declare Principles of Faith Later Day J in Answer ver ns to Lo Misrepresentation n I and Distortion i 1 Iii a voluminous Declaration pC or oC Principles Adopted by hu General General Conference Conference Friday the Church Issues cs I L t t the OI Following to the lie T j LI L I I p i. i f K R. R IUlio llio hoj hope of or and m of oC establishing a more moio 1010 it perfect Hh 1 respecting our our- J V the oC- oC O cl Ivos and O our l' l religion W we ant of the tiro Church of or l and members J Jesus JeLIs C Ch Christ of ca Latter day 81 Saints In r r. r 2 general conference n s this sue Sn Such li an a action HIJ imperative l e. 1 Nc Never ever r were our principles s or ur our pur- pur s more widely m tel Our moro maIo seriously IY misunderstood doc doctrines aro t distorted the sacred ordinances or or- 01 of ot out our Olt religion ridiculed our Ou Christianity fl questioned our hl history tor sl ft falsified lc our OU traduced and our r course sc of oC conduct as ii t people reprobated reprobated rep rep- ref ref- r bat l and ant condemned d J Truth About hott 3 O lill i In answer to the tho charges made malle u aln t us tu for Cor o ourselves scheM and for tho those tho-so who ho Iio under divine direction founded our and out our ou lluch for fO our or Ou po t rl to whom we sli ll transmit ti the faith and into ho whose keeping we wc I al give st c tho the Church ChUh I o of CIul l anti and whose opinions we we wc before mankind e solemnly declare the truth j l i we re J V to be bc r Out Our Ou religion Is founded on the revelations reve t 1 lations o of God Got The rite gospel lel we wo proclaim pro pro- laton r cl daunt claim lm Is the o lel of Christ Chri t restored to earth In this the dispensation of or the S of or times The Tho high claim caim o of ot the ch church is declared in in its its' title i t The Church o of Je Jesus ls t t of c La Latter Latter- tie r- r it divine Latter Latter- di direction U- U d lay day Saints hecl by ine dl i its Is name was as l by hy Him whose church it J is Jesus JJesus Jesus the Cull Christ R of this is pure iuro The religion i 0 people Christianity Us Its Js creed I is expressive il o of the tho duties of or practical l life Its Is the lie doctrines Of t p theology Is based basc on the Iho Redeemer i ic it be bc true ChrI to accept 1 Jesus Jeus Christ Chrt in person an and In ml mission slon as as divine to revere Him lm as aN tho the Son Soil 7 1 3 of God Gol tho the crucified anti and all ri risen en Lord through h whom alone can mankind attain at at- tain Lain salvation to accept His Ils teachings 1 sl aton standard and as a guide to adopt as a law the tho ethical code lie observe as a le J promulgated to comply with wih the tho re requirements re- re prescribed pi by Him as cs- cs to membership in Ills His church namely faith repentance baptism by Imm immersion jon for Cor the remission o oC of sins and ami the thc laying on of oC hands for the gift of ot the Holy Ghost Ghost ir if this be if Christianity then theil are c wo we Christians and amid the time Church of Jesus Christ of Lat Lat- Lat Lat- ant day ter-day Saints Is a Christian ChrIstan church church Theology of or or Christ r- r f l th of of oUr 0 r Is s tip f t 1 taught 1 y J iu Christ and di I His His- lIis apostles es tho l At t L sc sen rP pure ure r jet and 1 t not r- r I t I IJ PJ t t r r s nn l th tho tha bh binding iUn tOI br or r Tn J picc ed nets acts and ut utterances In Jn ages past hut aJ also o declares that God tod now l to 0 man in this final gospel dis dl- s t lou 0 n. n AVe We 0 believe ve ve bele-ve in the Godhead comprising com corn the three three individual ual personages person person- anti ami Holy Ghost ages Father SOil Sou Iol We c 0 hold that man Is crl verily veilly the child of ot God formed in His Image endowed en en- dowed with wih divine attributes and pos pos- O power to to il rise e from tho the gross l I desire of or earth to the ennobling as- as lons of heaven We believe In the pro existence of man as a and ant In a. a L state slate I o of individual existence in lil which which h er e every soul shall find its HI place a a. a i determined ed d by Justice and aid merc y opportunities of ot endless s progression sion In the varied conditions of of ct eternity Wo We believe in In the free tee agency of ot otman man and therefore in his Individual responsibility Wo Vo believe that hat h salvation is for fr 1 no 10 select few low hut bur but that hit aW allmen nl n may be hc sv saved d through h oh obedience rl nc to tc the ho la vp la and amid ordinances 8 o n of the J We c c affirm that thai to lster in the ordinances of or tb t the JoSIH gospel I authority must be given God Qt of God God anti and that this authority Is the tho power o of the holy priesthood Vo Wo affirm that through tho the ministration ministration minis minis- of Immortal personages the holy hoh priesthood has s ha been conferred upon men In Iii tho Iho present age and anil that under this divine authority the church chulch of Christ has ha been organized Vo Wo proclaim tho the objects of this or organization or- or to bo ho tho the IH o of the g gospel in all al the world tho the gathering of- of Israel anti and tho the preparation tion ton of nf a a people for tho the coming coining coring of or the tho Lord of or All l J Clas Clas e eek its il converts union among g all al classes and anti o of d and those who accept it am are among the tho best betl men and anti women of r tio the tho naton nations from which they come conic conic- V honest industrious virtuous and anil rev icv- crent In their community life Ifo they aro art peaceable law law abiding and auth ex ox- ox Their Instincts traditions and training arc are opposed to vice an and crime The Thc rol religion ion they they have o ha embraced embraced em em- CI- CI braced tho the church of which the they thuy aro are members condemns every ery c form Corm of or ovil and their lives with wih few eXCel eXCel- are arc exponents o of righteousness s MalY Of the early proselytes to 10 our faith were descendants of the tho ln and Puritans Joseph ph Smith Brigham Brigham Brig Brig- ham Young and other leaders leader among tho the day Latter LUc cay Saints traced their lineage line a ag age age- c to the founders and first defenders defend ers els of or the tho nation Jo Joseph Smith was wa-s wasn wasa n a native nativo of Vermont and by hy vocation a farmer All l hades ti-ades anti and ant professions profession w were rc drawn upon for or the membership of the church In Tn England its is first t foreign ml mission ion m Held ld it Ii I was mainly I tho the middle anti and orl working nl elates classes that hat responded cd to tho gospel ospel mc message ago All AI Allover ov over r tho flue world It has heon tho same q our X CUI fits corn lt have ha c b hc been n men and ami women of or r chal Intelligence ant anI and It t integrity There Them Is nothing In Mormonism llor Mor monism to attract the tue tie selfish or the thc vie vile Tho effort efort tf to differentiate tho the Mormon Mor mon priesthood and tue Mormon by hy allowing that the time latter nr fr a honest thou though h guided mis-guided ls folk While alleging alleging that their thel loaders leader an art anth th 0 of all al hl Is IJa bad badIs Is 13 a most ost futile one ole The great greut ma ma- jorty of or the tho male members of oC th the church hold the priesthood anc ane though constituting tho the bb 3 of ot the church th they are aro to a portion porton o othe othe 01 the te people IH I le Priesthood an and amid people ar aro Inseparable an and vindicated 01 om condemned stand together r. r 4 The charge that the church i upon pon duplicity In the tho propagation o n oher her doctrines and shuns L. L 0 l 1 ii COI contrary mry to tl reason anil ant fact Deceit and Hl fraud mud in hc IH perpetu perpetuation I atlon of or tiny ny religion must end Hl In failure A s system of religion ethics or philosophy to lo attract anil hold the tho attention of or men inca n must musi bo ho sincere In in doctrine and all ho onest est in Iii II That hat tho church h fIPo deceptive c method that slit lung one doctrine for Cor th the priesthood anti and another for forthe forthe 01 th the people that thal she toadies teaches 01 one set et etor of or principles to tn her nn in ZIon and ant another to tho tim world world world-Is is not true truC Enlightened investigation is 18 the tho thC very ei cry 1 means a 18 through which the church hopes to promote belief belef In her principles prin prIn- and ancl c extern eXtend the beneficent In- In of im r lu-r In 1 Irom Fromn om lh the lime he IJ hl nell I Investigation jn I has been heen one timing thing she he IjaS sou sought ht To secure thi slit slit- has sent her miI misI mis missionaries mis- mis I into all al parts or 01 the time world word to the centers of civilization c especially I and enlightenment where h lies her literature litera litera- lure ture has been freely dIstributed yet et her hr claims have h n tot too frequently calls disallowed without j investigation nut al and 1 jU judgment has been heen pronounced without without with wIh- wIh out a hearing At the tho the Columbian exposition ex ex- position which celebrated tho tlC four foyr hundredth annin anniversary of or tho the discovery discos discos' cry ery Cl of America 1 time lie religions o of the world ero represented in a great reat parliament par pal 1 lament for the purpose of showing shovIng ho ill in time the most Impressive 1 wn way what a ama ami 11 how many ninny important truths time the various religions hold and teach in common to set st forth h by those most competent to speak what are arc deemed the tho Important distinctive truths titus hold and taught i by hy each re religion re- re rC- rC ligion G to o Inquire what l light ht each cach religion has afforded or ormay ormay 11 may afford to lo time Iho otc other r religions o of tho tim world To 10 this gathering tho the Church o of Jesus Christ of LaUer-ca LaUer Latter tiny Saints though tho most distinctively American church was ns not mint Invited In nevertheless nC ne she sho sought Fought to opportunity to place side by sIdO with wih Ih the creeds reeds of o all al the great faiths a L Presentation presentation pre pre- of her IH principles and to 10 voice to mankind the truths she sho doomed doom ed od most important and anti most helpful This opportunity was denied the church except upon such uch terms as were humli humiliating and anti subversive sul e of or orthe the end sought a sought a wider publication and a more just consideration of oC her hr faith After fer such fuch an experience anti and others of like hike kind I though of varying de degree re e We subunit submit that it i Ill i becomes our accusers to chal charge c us with wilh shunning shun shun- ning enl enlightened investigation lo tu It I h ha has been charged that Mormon mon lam Tho hi hl- hl t r d ho ch ant 1 the pl precepts lo to o J e Is I's are alC a sufficient answer to 3 1 t q ot of ho j. j founded asa na as ni a student ns as did many of or his followers followers fol tol- lowers lower lu cI under tinder and nd influence Brigham Young Young- wIle who succeeded ed Joseph Jos Jos- eph Smith emulated emulate him a as a founder found found- er cr and amid patron of schools anti ami every ery sub subsequent quent Jre president Ident of the church his associates and amid the tho people peole generally gener genei- ally al have ha e been equally zealous J In that cause In the cour course of their exodus from Illinois our people In log hog school houses hOUSCH while hal halting In on n the Missouri rl er river then the frontier of ho tho nation naton and anti after ater they had hall traversed tra tra- vcr versed c a thousand miles mies of wilder wilder- nes liess less 3 anti and I 1 planted their Infant colony In n tho alc valley of or the tho Great Greal Salt Sait L Lake I school houses were among the first they erected Such has hns been the thic course l pursued In every Mormon colony The Thc state of v no ot Utah now dotted dottee dot dot- ted tei tee with wIh free schools academics colleges col cot leges and amul universities institutions which have given her marked educational lonal prominence furnishes Indisputable indisputable able ablo evidence that hot her hel people people mostly mostly Mormons aro aro friends and promoters romolI ers I 18 of education To ro tho ca Latter day Saints salvation It Itself elf under the time atonement of or Christ I Is a process of or education That knowledge Is a n menus means of of f eternal plO progress Ie was taught by hy Josefh Smith It I Is Impossible for or a aman aman aman man to be he saved sved in Ignorance A man manIs manIs mans Is s paved ed no lie faster fasler faler than ho gols utts t knowl knowl- cc edge e Tho rho glory glor o of God i is Whatever cl principles of Intelligence we C e attain to in this life lre will wi rise Iso 1180 with wih us ils is In e tl resurrection lb Ho who gains In n tills this lifo life moro more I knowledge go than another another an an- other will itac o much the advantage advantage advant advant- ant all US age In the thc world to It com compo come P. P These were aphorisms with wih tho the Prophet Joseph Smith Neither Is It I true as alleged that Is destructive of or tho the sanctity of oC tho the marriage i relation elation on the tho tho contrary It r regards the lawful lasful union of ff man fRn and woman as tho the means meals through h which they may realize their hl highest anti and holiest aspirations To Jo time thc lla Latter day Saints marriage o Is not designed esl nell by our Ol heavenly Fattier Fathel to he lie merely an earthly union tuition ulion but hil one that tt shall survive e the thc vicissitudes s oC uC time and endure for eternity bestowing bestow big ing honor bourn and joy In in this world glory and des eu eternal lives hives in the worlds to lo toCo Co come 0 Tho rho typical Mormon home homo is the temple o of the family In Iii which the members of the household gather morning and evening for Ol prayer anti praise e to God Cod God offered In tho time name namo o ol of Jesus Christ Cht anil in often ofen accompanied by the tho reading of 0 scripture anti And the singing or of spiritual of-spiritual Hero here songs l lo aro are taught anti and gently enly enforced the mora I precepts anti and alt religious rellous truths which taken alo altogether make mako nal nalup up that lint righteousness right right- which a nallon am anti and andI I ward off oc that that slit alii II which IK Is II a reproach to tn any people If l such con conditions are aro not nol a sufficient answer to tho the charge that our homes arc un Christian subI sub sub- I VC ivo o of moral loral Influence and destructive de de- of nr the lie states state's then thep I we e turn to the time present generations cl citizens citizen products oC of our 0 religion and ale our homes for Cor on our our vindication Hero aro mo our sorts sons am anti c daughters au Jh t el submit them thorn to any alY test or of Ison you will vl regard fo for truth ve for a age e reverence for God lovo hoVe o of man loyalty to country COUI- COUI coun coun- V try respect re lot for law Jaw aw refinement o of antI and lastly In lit this Issue Isue be between he- he tween us and our accusers accuses's the thc crownIng crowning crown crown- in Ing test tast of or all 01 purity o of mind am and anI 3 chastity o of oC conduct It I Is not Inordinate inorI inor Inor- I dinato self telf praise to say SY of or the tho Jen- Jen gen gen- of our oui people born and reared reared rear rear- t ed In Mormon homen homet that the they will wiIl wl favorably In the Christion Chris Chris- U tion n virtues virtues- and in tn ni all that makes fo for good citizenship with an |