We believe in God the
Eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy
Ghost.
We believe that men will be
punished
for their own sins,and not forAdam's transgressions.
We believe that through atonement of
Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances
of the gospel.
We believe that these
ordinances
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 Ghost.
We believe that
a man must be called of God by "prophecy, and by laying on
of hands" by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and
administer
the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same
organization
that existed in the primitive church; viz., apostles, prophets,
pastors,
teachers,
evangelists, etc.
We believe in the gift of
tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of
tongues, etc.
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.
We believe all that God has
revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet
reveal many great
and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
We believe in
the literal
gathering
of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes, that Zion will be
built upon this continent, that Christ will reign personally upon the
earth, and that the
earth
will be renewed and receive
its paradisaic
glory.
We claim privilege of
worshiping
Almighty God according to the dictates of our consciencs, and allow all
men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We 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 hope to be able to endure
all things. If there is anything
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,
we seek after these things.
Respectfully,
Joseph Smith, Jr.
Church History, Vol.2, pp. 569,570
"Times
and Seasons"
Vol. III, page 710,
1842
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