4.11.13

Are Mormon's Christian? (part 2)


I've tried to define what makes a christian and tried to show that Mormon's fit, perfectly, into the teachings of Jesus Christ and conclusively demonstrate how Mormon's are Christian.  When Joseph Smith was asked, in March 1842, "[a]t the request of Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says that he wishes to furnish Mr. Bastow [Barstow], a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. As Mr. Bastow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all that I shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation", he included 13 of the definitive collection of Mormon's collective faith, which are:


"1 We abelieve in bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the dHoly Ghost.
 We believe that men will be apunished for their bown sins, and not for cAdam’s transgression.
 We believe that through the aAtonement of Christ, allbmankind may be csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
 We believe that the first principles and aordinances of the Gospel are: first, bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second,cRepentance; third, dBaptism by eimmersion for the fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ghands for the hgift of the Holy Ghost.
 We believe that a man must be acalled of God, by bprophecy, and by the laying on of chands by those who are in dauthority, toepreach the Gospel and administer in the fordinances thereof.
 We believe in the same aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, bprophetscpastors,dteacherseevangelists, and so forth.
 We believe in the agift of btonguescprophecydrevelation,evisionsfhealingginterpretation of tongues, and so forth.
 We believe the aBible to be the bword of God as far as it is translated ccorrectly; we also believe the dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.
 We believe all that God has arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
 10 We believe in the literal agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the bTen Tribes; that cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will dreignpersonally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be erenewedand receive its fparadisiacal gglory.
 11 We claim the aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the bdictates of our own cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them dworship how, where, or what they may.
 12 We believe in being asubject to bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the dlaw.
 13 aWe believe in being bhonest, true, cchastedbenevolent, virtuous, and in doing egood to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we fhopeall things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able togendure all things. If there is anything hvirtuousilovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith."

JPS

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