SAND.

tion of editor of one of the brightest Stars
which ever shed a literary gleam of re-
ligious light, he has wended his way
since being numbered with God's noble
servants in the South.

It is a little over two years since Elder
Sears reported for duty at Chattanooga,
and was assigned to labor in the East
Tennessee Conference.. During that time
he has labored diligently and vigorously
for the spread of truth, that he might
assist the Father in the establishment of
His righteous purposes on the earth. The

early days of his missions were spent as
canvassing Elder, after which he la-
bored as a training Elder, and when El-
der F. B. Hammond was appointed to
succeed President W. E. Dawson, Elder
Sears was chosen as a counsellor and aid
in the responsibility of presiding. Pres-
ident Petersen also recognized his ster-
ling qualities, and chose him as first
counsellor, which position he held until
called to labor in the Office in the month
of January last.

No. 43.

When Elder L. R. Anderson was released in the latter part of March, the work of editing the Star devolved upon Elder Sears, and, as in all other labors, he proved himself adequate and equal to the task. He filled the office with signal ability,

energy and integrity, being prompt, punctual and zealous in the good work. He succeeded in keeping up the good standard which the paper had reached under his most worthy, industrious predecessors.

When the telegram from Elder Meacham was received on Thursday, Sept. 13th, bringing the sad news of Elder J. D. Frankland's sudden demise, it became absolutely necessary for some good, reliable man to go down to Montgomery, Ala., for the purpose of accompanying the body of the corpse home. Elder Sears was asked to perform this labor of love; he cheerfully responded, leaving the work he was engaged in, and in about three hours from the time he was notified he was on his way to the State Capital of Alabama.

Elder Sears is of a rather reserved and quiet disposition, being calm and deliberate in all his undertakings, and faithful and true until the work in hand is finished. Nothing rash or rabid in his nature, but a careful, painstaking spirit signalizes all his work. A favorite motto practiced by him is, "What's worth doing at all is worth doing well," and by ever keeping this in mind, he works well, acts well, lives well, and does well. As a preacher of righteousness, he is very spiritual, forceful, plain, and explicit, being humble, submissive and lowly. He has made hosts of friends wherever he has gone, friends who love him for his goodness and childlike simplicity. Like most Elders who journey in the South, he has met with mobs who expelled him from their midst, being willing to entertain the devil, rather than the Mormon Elder.

Brother Sears is a cartoonist of no mean repute, having studied art in New York, prior to his ministerial career. We shall all miss him, but we rejoice to know that we have met him and have been privileged to enjoy his society. We wish him success, joy and peace, and pray the blessings of heaven upon him.

Elder Sears sends a fond "good-bye" to all his friends, together with a hearty "God bless you ever."

Mrs. J. D. Frankland, Salt Lake City, defense, a shadow from the heat of fiery

SOWING AND REAPING.

BY ELDER J. S. STERLING.

THE SOUTHERN STAR.

We are told, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

We have all been placed on this earth for a purpose, and that is "to work out our own salvation with fear and with trembling."

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Corinthian Saints, said: "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall Let us pause a few moments. reap also bountifully." (II ix:6.) Do we This find as many today devoting their time we know to be true, because we have and talents, as much to the serving the seen it verified time and time again, with Savior of the world, as they do to serving our own eyes. We behold a man who Mammon? No! we do not, for we would earns his bread by the sweat of his face, have a far different in the field, sowing the seeds; if he sows condition in the world than exists today, if we were only sparingly he will reap sparingly, if he trying to overcome the works of the sows bountifully he will reap bountifully. flesh, by the fruits of the Spirit, using We see a person who expects to sow more of the spirit of love, gentleness, his seed, in the ground, going forth get-goodness, and temperance to bring the ting his ground in shape, and carefully world to a higher plane, so we, the inpreparing it so it will yield a harvest, habitants, could rejoice more in the "Holy and he expects, if he gets his ground One of Israel.” properly tilled and planted, and is ever watchful over his coming harvest, to reap bountifully. Another thing we watch him doing, is carefuly selecting his seed, because if he sows oats, he expects to reap oats, if he sows corn he expects to reap corn, etc. He fully realizes the truth fulness of Paul's letter to the Saints of Galatia, wherein he plainly says, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." (Gal. vi:7.) He is sowing the very same kind of seed that he expects to reap. Do we fully sense the quotation given above, together with the one following it, for we are told "He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." We are given to understand that if we sow to our flesh, we shall of our flesh reap corruption, but if we sów to the Spirit we shall of the Spirit inherit or reap life everlasting.

We fully realize with Job, "They that plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same," and we should ever be careful to sow good seeds, and be every mindful that our salvation depends on the seeds sown by us, while here in this mortal state. One may ask, "Does the Book tell us what the seeds of righteousness

Do we find mankind worried so much
about their future salvation as they are
about making money? No! they are

not.
minds because they cannot perhaps meet
We find people troubling their
an engagement, to make a little money,
but they are not troubled so much about
meeting their "Maker;" they don't worry
nor strive near
thing, to keep the commandments of God,
as hard, as a general
as they do to enjoy themselves. Do we
find people taking as much pains to
serve their Maker on the Sabbath day,
as they do to get ready to go on a pleas-
ure trip? No! "We need some pleasure
on Sunday, we need to rest our bodies:
we'll go on a pleasure trip next Sunday."
But it is seldom
"Well, Sunday will soon be here, we'll
we hear them say.
have to make
church."
preparations to go to

We think it is terrible to walk a mile
on Sunday to go to church, but we could
take interest in walking three miles to
see some old friend. Which way is our
mind being trained?
those who "push the ox in the mire on
Are we among
Saturday to pull him out on Sunday?"

339

plant our seeds in 'good ground, that it We should be striving at all times to may come forth and yield an hundred fold, and not be content with receiving thirty or sixty, but labor while the day is here, and we have the chance.

Let us have our seeds sown on well prepared ground, not on the stony ground, nor among the thorns, such as the cares. of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things, or allow affliction or persecution to choke our good seeds, but to endure to the end that we may be saved.

And as the poet has said:

"Ours the seed time. God alone Behold the seeds of that is sown; Beyond our vision weak and dim, The harvest time is hid with Him." The time is coming and we know not how soon it will be, when we will have harvest time. to rest in our grave, and wait till the

The words of the poet are indeed true, which says:

We are sowing, daily sowing,
Countless seeds of good or ill,
Seeds that sink in rich brown furrows,
Scattered on the level lowland,
Cast upon the windy hill;
of the dry unyielding plain.
Soft with heaven's gracious rain;
Seeds that rest upon the surface

say, when that time comes, as Paul said,
that we may enter into life, and feel to
So let us ever sow seeds to our spirit
"I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith; hence there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness."

Abstracts from Correspondence.

The spirit of mobocracy and intolerthe following letter written by Elders ance is not dead, as will be seen from A. O. Smoot and W. G. Atkins:

Connelly's Springs, N. C., Sept. 12.
Ben E. Rich, Chattanooga,

President

Tenn.: Dear Bro.-We take this opportunity to inform you that we have just been run out of Statesville, N. C., by a Christian (?) mob of about twenty men. They were all business men of the place, and were led by a Christian (?) minister.

are?" We say yes, also of unrighteous- "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy They met us on the street while we were

ness.

We find recorded in the Epistle to the Saints at Galatia, v. 19 to 21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, laciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God."

Now for the works of the Spirit. We find in the 22d and 23d verses of the same chapter, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." We have now seen what the fruits of the Spirit and the works of the flesh are, and we can ask ourselves the question, which are the seeds the people of the world today are sowing most, and devot ing most of their time to?

We find that many are indulging in, and daily and nightly sowing seeds to their flesh, which will be sure to bring condemnation to their own selves.

of

It seems as though they who are devoting their time to the workings Satan, are perhaps serving their master better than we, for they serve him Sunday and every other day. While we find many who only serve God on Sunday, and spend the coming six days in pleasure, or laboring wholly for the big dollar.

every

work," and while we are at work we can
be serving God, and be striving to obey
His commandments. We were told not
to live by bread alone, but by
word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of God." And let us be ever mindful of
this, and try to feed our spiritual body,
and labor as hard to maintain it as we
do our earthly tabernacle.

There is a day coming when we will
have to give an account of the deeds
done in the body, and then when we see
that we have spent so much time sowing
to the flesh, and so little in sowing to the
Spirit, we may regret it.

We may not realize the magnitude of the words of Paul now, with regards to sowing our seeds to our spirit. that we may reap life everlasting. but there is a time coming when we will, and then it will do us no good "to weep, and wail, and gnash our teeth."

There is a time to serve God, and that is on a week day, as well as on Sunday.

canvassing the business part of town, and showed us the road to the depot, giving us notice that our time was short. We made for our boarding house and had not time to get things packed up until they sent a man to inform us that our time was about up. We got ready. as soon as possible, and then made our way to the station. The mob followed us and gave us to understand that it was their turn to preach, and not ours. would open our mouths to say anything When we we were told to keep still. They said we had better not show up in Statesville any more, or we would see what love they had for the Mormon Elders. They told us to inform our brethren to keep out if they did not want trouble.

The Mayor of the city was quite friendly, and was willing that we should canvass the place, when we called on him yesterday; but one of the policemen stood by and beheld the mob march us down the street, saying never a word to restore peace and order, or to disperse the rabble.

We asked them for the rights of American citizens, but they gave us a

If we would wait till the horse was stolen, before we locked the barn door, some people would be liable to call us unwise, but what will we have to say to our dear selves if we do not devote more time to sowing seeds pertaining to eter-sharp reply that there would be a cheap nal life? funeral in town if we did not keep still, and get out, and stay out.

"Be it good and let us do it, giving soul and our strength to the deed."

If we wish to enter life we must keep the commandments.

"A good man's fortune may by chance de

cay,

But his soul's riches none can take away."

W. G. Atkins.
A. O. Smoot.

Books are preserved souls if sweet and wholesome, but pickled souls if acrid and pessimistic.-Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis.

ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF
LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

1. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

3. We believe that men will be punished for their own eins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3. We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordi. Dances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Oboot.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by "prophecy, and by the laying on of hands," by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordi. nances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church-namely, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, etc.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does new reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this (the American) continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. 18We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, "We believe all things, we hope all things," we have endured many things, and bope be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these iaga-JOSEPH SMITH..

IF WE ONLY KNEW.

There are gems of woudrous brightness
Ofttime lying at our feet,
And we pass them walking thoughtless
Down the busy, crowded street.
If we knew; our pace would slacken,
We would step more oft with care,
Lest our careless feet be treading
To the earth some jewel rare.

If we knew what hearts are aching
For the comfort we might bring,
If we knew what souls are yearning
For the sunshine we might fling;
If we knew what feet are weary
Walking pathways roughly laid,
We would quickly hasten forward
Stretching forth our hands to aid.

TWO SIDES TO THE MATTER.

the pure stream the sparkling water, and call forth those rare and best sensibilities of mortal man. As human beings we seem to be always suspicious of others, fearful of the worst, instead of hopeful for the best. The hardest and most difficult obstacles can be surmounted by that indomitable energy, called Perseverance. More force, more power, more sand, and then we can climb life's rugged incline. If we chance to take a fall, let us not remain down, but let us

You will always find that there are two sides to every question, one in favor of, and one against. Some of our good Christian friends do not seem willing or at all inclined to grant us an opportunity of speaking in our defense-they delight in fighting Mormonism to the exclusion of the Mormon Elder, and are perfectly satisfied to feed the gullible on "billingsgate" entirely, providing they can muzzle the Elder while the performance is go-get up, and try it again. "The fault is ing on. What we want is clear, calm, logical, Scriptural argument, from beginning to end. Don't forget that there are two sides to the matter, and that it is nothing but just and proper that you should hear them both before passing judgment. Would you say it was a just law that would condemn the prisoner at the bar upon the testimony of the prosecution alone? No, you would not. Then can it be a fair trial that would accuse and pass sentence upon the Mormon without an opportunity being given them to appear in their own defense? Let us be just and equitable to all, allowing all the same privileges we would crave ourselves.

FAITH.

A contemporary makes the following
assertion: "Faith is the immediate con-
dition of sanctification, and God always
saves the moment true faith is exer-
cised." Let us see if this is in accordance
with the "law and testimony" of the
Prophets. Paul tells the Hebrew Saints
to "Go on unto perfection," and not lay
again the "foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith toward God."
(Heb. 6:1.) Why the need of exhorting
to "go on unto perfection," when they
"faith
had already exercised
toward
God," if "faith is the immediate condi-
tion of sanctification?" This would be
altogether unnecessary, and to no pur-
pose whatever. Again the same Apostle
"Let us draw near with a true
says:
heart in full assurance of faith," show-
ing, by this, that the full assurance of
faith "is the prompter or stimulus to ac-
tion, causing one to draw near unto
God." Peter says: "Add to your faith
virtue," and the other godly attributes
which go to make up the life of a true
and worthy Christian. Why any addi-
tion if faith alone "is the immediate con-
dition of sanctification?"

WHATEVER IS-IS BEST.

Could we but always feel in life, when surrounded with trials and afflictions, that, "whatever is-is best," we should experience a calm, sweet repose even in the midst of disaster and woe. We owe much to the inspired writers of poetry for the deep spirit of philosophical resignation inculcated in their poems. The poets whose verses find a repetition on almost every tongue, whose writings have become as household words, have been rested a men and women upon whom goodly portion of divine inspiration, and whom the Lord blessed with intelligence, wisdom, and understanding, that they might be the means of teaching to some extent at least, the higher way of living. To such we owe a great debt of gratitude for their soul-inspiring, elevating words. Ella Wheeler Wilcox, in her beautiful draws poem, "Whatever Is-Is Best," from the depths of sentimentalism the rich suggestions of brotherly love, and holy patience. Her poems breath an air After a man's jaw begins to swell, he of pure affection, an atmosphere of love realizes that silence is golden. unfeigned, bubbling with optimism, as

If we knew what friend around us
Feels a want they never tell,
That some word that we have spoken
Pained or wounded where it fell,
We would speak in accents tender
To each friend we chanced to meet;
We would give to each one freely
Smiles of sympathy so sweet.

-Sel.

not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall." Having a bright hope for the best, and the glad assurance that the results will be our victory, we can plod onward and upward to the goal we would gain.

We often mistake and misjudge the mo-
tives of our fellow-brothers, whom we
suppose are maliciously endeavoring to
do us wrong. Let us not journey in a
pathway of selfish friendship, but be
liberal, kind, loving and forgiving.
Mrs. Wilcox says:

"I know that each sinful action,
As sure as the night brings shade,
Is somewhere, some time punished,
Tho' the hour be long delayed.
I know that the soul is aided
Sometimes by the heart's unrest,
And to grow means often to suffer-
But whatever is-is best."

As

There can be no doubt that each wrong action-each evil thought-brings to the soul of man the corroding consequence of sin. Nor is it less true that sorrow oftentimes expands this life into higher aims and more nobler purposes. With the growth of the soul there comes also a consciousness that God is good, and all His ways are righteous and holy. He leaves us not in darkness to linger and grope, but He grants unto all the light of His Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us aright. His plan is perfect, eternal, unchangeable. This realization led the poetess to express herself thus:

"I know there are no errors
In the great eternal plan,
And all things work together
For the final good of man.

And I know when my soul speeds onward
In its grand eternal quest,

I shall say, as I look back earthward,
Whatever is-is best."

Hope for the best, and rise above the clouds of sorrow on the wings of humble prayer until you can watch the sunshine play upon the silver lining. This requires effort and manly resignation, but such is the duty of all the sons and daughters of God. "Whatever is-is best."

A Word to Boys.

You are made to be kind, boys-generous, magnanimous. If there is a boy in school who has a club-foot, don't let him know you ever saw it. If there is a poor boy with ragged clothes, don't talk about rags in his hearing. If there is a lame boy, assign him some part in the game that doesn't require running. If there is a hungry one, give him part of your dinner. If there is a dull one, help him to get his lesson. If there is a bright boy, be not envious of him, for if one boy is proud of his talents and another is envious of them, there are two great wrongs and no more talent than before. If a larger or stronger boy has injured you, and is sorry for it, forgive him. All the school will show by their countenances how much better it is than to have a great fuss.-Horace Mann.

May I tell you why it seems to me a good thing for us to remember wrong that has been done us? That we may forgive it.-Dickens.

THE SOUTHERN STAR.

SALVATION FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

341

ing to their understanding of it--which
is very limited; and that there are peo-
ple of all sects and denominations who
desire to serve the Lord and walk in
His
ways, but who cling to the notions

Liberality of the "Mormon” Faith-A Discourse by Charles W. Penrose, Delivered in and ideas which have been handed down

the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, August 19, 1900.

(This sermon is published in tract form, and can be purchased from the Deseret News Publishing Co., Salt Lake City, Utah.)

I am thankful for the opportunity of meeting with the Latter-day Saints in this Tabernacle, and I trust that our assembling together will not be, in vain, but be profitable to all of us. I have been called upon to address the congregation. I desire to do so under the influence of that Spirit which guides into all truth, and which makes plain the things of God to the minds of men. trust that this Spirit will not only rest upon me, to enlighten my mind and to give me words which will be of benefit

I

to those who hear, but that it may also rest upon the congregation, that we may be able to see "eye to eye.'

comprehended to some little degree by
the congregation.

to them by tradition. We do not wish
to interfere with any of them in their
religious rights and privileges. We rec-
ognize the right of every man to worship
God according to the dictates of his own
conscience, and think that people ought
not to be molested in that worship, and
that they should be perfectly free to
long as they do not infringe upon the
carry out their religious convictions, so
rights and liberties of others. That is
the line we draw, and when men step
beyond that, then the secular law ought
to step in and protect people in the ex-

ercise of their rights, and from the de-
to infringe upon them.
signs and wicked acts of those who seek

A va

Let me say, first, that the book from which I am to read contains some of the Christ of Latter-Day Saints in this age revelations of God to the Church of Jesus of the world, and we regard these as Scripture. We believe in the Bible. We believe that "holy men of old wrote and spoke as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost." We also believe that the make plain the things of God exactly same Spirit in this age of the world will in the same way as they were revealed But One God and One Faith. in former times. In other words, we believe that the Spirit is the same in But while we recognize this, we do not all ages, and that God and Christ are lose sight of this one great fact, which "the same yesterday, today and forever." all people should consider; that as there If God could reveal His word through is but one God for us to worship, there Prophets in ancient times, certainly He can be but one true religion. can reveal His word, through Prophets riety of Gods might introduce a variety Characteristics of True Religion. in modern times. If not, why not? of creeds; but "there is one God even One mark of true religion is a regard What reason is there that God should the Father, of whom are all things, for the welfare of other people. True renot make manifest His truth in the and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom ligion does not make people selfish. It nineteenth century as well as in the first are all things." Therefore, the religion creates in their hearts a feeling of chari- century, or in times before the beginning of God and Christ must be one. Truth ty and a desire to bless; not to injure of the Christian era? Has the Eternal is not divided against itself. Truth and in any way, not to wish the downfall Father ceased to have power to make error will clash, but truth and truth Anything that or hurt of a fellow creature, but rather Himself manifest? Has He bound Him- will always harmonize. to desire his uplifting, and benefit, and self with an oath and promise that He God reveals must be true, for He is comfort, and joy. Our Heavenly Father would not speak again, after He revealed truth; and everything that comes by the created the earth upon which we live for Himself through the Prophets and Apos- way of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, the comfort and happiness of His creat-tles in the first age of the Christian must be true, for He is the way, the truth ures. The plan of salvation, which was No error will be introera and before that time. If so, where and the life. prepared before the foundations of the is His word and promise recorded? I duced into the world under the direction And world, was designed for the improvement, know of nothing of the kind in the book of the Father, or of the Son. the benefit, and the ultimate salvation of that is supposed to contain the Holy the Holy Ghost is "the Spirit of truth." all His sons and daughters. When we Scriptures. The Bible contains some few It guides into all truth. have a desire in our hearts to bless and things revealed by the Lord through His things of the Father and of the Son and It will not subbenefit mankind, we have the right side. servants in former days, and by reading reveals them unto men. When we feel a spirit of revenge, of reit carefully I find that it contains an stantiate or reveal any error; but it will taliation, and a desire to do harm, that abundance of promises that in the last manifest truth and make it plain. Therein the world, is not of God, but is from beneath. Our times, in the times of "the restitution of fore, all that is error Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are all things spoken of by the holy Prophets whether it be among Christians or patold, "came into the world, not to cosince the world began," in the "dispen- gans, is not of God, and is not recognized demn the world, but that the world sation of the fullness of times" in which of Him. It will not lead to God; it will through Him might be saved." That God is to gather together in one all not benefit mankind: but it will do inwas the purpose of the coming of our things that are in Christ, there is to be jury. It is the truth that exalts, that Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, and of more light, more revelation, more mani-ennobles, and that will save mankind. the atonement that He wrought out for festation of the power of God; greater Falsehood and error will not. Anything mankind by His death on the cross. The miracles and greater outpouring of the that is contrary to truth cannot be of spirit of Christ is the spirit of salvation, Spirit and the knowledge of God, until God, but may be of that Evil One, who the spirit of blessing, the spirit to do the time shall come when a man shall was "a liar from the beginning." good, to improve the condition of the not have to say to his neighbor, "Know Sincerity Not Conclusive Evidence of human race, and to prepare us all for ye the Lord, for all shall know Him, the presence of our Eternal Father and from the least unto the greatest," and to enjoy the glory of His Kingdom. "the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the great deep." so the prophets of old predicted. This being so there is nothing unscriptural or unreasonable in the idea that God should reveal His word in this age of the world as He revealed it in former times, and as it was customary with Him when He had any special work to perform among the children of men, or any special truth to reveal, to raise up a prophet or prophets through whom His word was communicated, that in the last days He should act in the same way, seeing that He is an unchangeable Be-existing in what is called Christendom. ing.

Universal Salvation.

One of the great differences between the faith of the Latter-Day Saints and that of most of the denominations called "Christian" is that the Latter-Day Saints teach that salvation is for all people, of all ages, of all races, of all colors, who can be saved. The doctrine that the Lord has revealed through His servant the Prophet Joseph Smith is that salvation is to come unto all, and that none will be lost who can possibly be redeemed; that the plan of salvation is as broad as the fall of man. Our first parents broke a divine law, and through their disobedience death came into the world. As by disobedience of one man sin, and death as the wages of sin, came into the world, so by the atonement and obedience of one, life and salvation will ultimately come to all the family of Adam. "As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive." This doctrine was enunciated by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians, The full meaning of that is not explained in the old scriptures, neither is it understood generally in the Christian world, but it was revealed in great plainness to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. I will not read to you the vision which was given to them, explaining this doctrine of salvation, but will perhaps read a few verses of it, so that the full extent of the plan of salvation may be

We testify that in the nineteenth century our Heavenly Father has been pleased to open the heavens once more, and to send His Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, with a message of life and light, similar to that which He proclaimed when He tabernacled in mortality. We testify that angels have come down from the courts of glory, bringing light and truth for the enlightenment and salvation of all the human family, and a message to be carried to "every nation, kindred, tongue and people."

We recognize the fact that throughout Christendom there are various religious societies, composed in the main of good people, and having among them very talented men, some of whom minister in the name of the Lord without authority, while others explain the Gospel accord

Truth.

It takes of the

That there is an abundance of error in the "Christian" world as well as some truth, must be patent to everybody who has investigated the conditions of mankind in the present day, because these multifarious sects and denominations are discordant. They do not unite-except on special occasions when they meet gether to denounce the "Mormons:" they ean unite on that question sometimes. The spirit of division, strife, and contention exists among people called Chris

to

tians as well as among people called Pagans. That fact alone makes it evident that there is a great deal of error

That is because these various systems which have been established are the inventions of men. They may have been good men who started these different sects-I will not judge the matter; that is with the Eternal Judge-but these sects were the offspring of men. These men may have read the Scriptures, and have entertained certain ideas founded unor their reading: and they may have established these different systems in accordance with their sincere ideas of what was right. But sincerity of itself is not a conclusive evidence of truth. The heathen is just as sincere in his idol worship as the "Christian" is in his various modes of bowing down to Deity: and certainly the Latter-Day Saints have manifested their sincerity before the whole world as well as before the heavens. The Elders of this Church who go out into the world to proclaim the Gos