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An
Epitome of Faith and Doctrine
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 for Adam'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
worshipping 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.
(From
"Times and Seasons" Vol.
III, page 710, 1842)
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