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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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Faith is Dynamic
Faith offers
all. Doubt is
the death
of every hope, and the paralysis of every initiative.Faith
proves itself. Doubt is negative and destructive, while faith is
affirmative and constructive. Why not adopt the constructive attitudes?
It is of more worth to unite our efforts
with ones that ffirm and create.
Christianity
is creative, positive, happiness and love. The home is the
basis of our civilization. Marriage and the home have their
foundation in faith. If a man can trust a woman with his name,
his honor, and the souls of his children, shouldn't he also trust
in the God that created the woman? Why
would it not be possible to trust in God, for his promises are
sure?
By faith we
will reap what we sow,
confident of what
we will reap.
This
church invites you to have faith and to serve a personal God, the
universal God, omnipotent and omniscient. He is the same yesterday,
today, and forever.
God wants to
bless us, to heal us and to reveal his will to us.He is
always a present aide to each of our needs.
When you
accept the first principles, which are the fundamentals of the
gospel of Jesus Christ, you:
"Have faith in
God" .—Mark 11:22
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