LETTERS EXHIBITING THE MOST PROMINENT DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. BY ORSON SPENCER, A.B., _President of the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S., in Europe_. IN REPLY TO THE REV. WILLIAM CROWELL, A.M., _Boston, Massachusetts_, U.S.A. "THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND."--Daniel. LIVERPOOL: PUBLISHED BY ORSON SPENCER, 39, TORBOCK STREET. 1848. LIVERPOOL: PRINTED BY R. JAMES, SOUTH CASTLE STREET. CONTENTS THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE LETTER FROM THE REV. W. CROWEL A. M. LETTER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTORY REMARKS LETTER II. IMMEDIATE REVELATION LETTER III. ON FAITH LETTER IV. ON WATER BAPTISM LETTER V. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST LETTER VI. APOSTACY FROM THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH LETTER VII. THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF AN APOSTOLIC CHURCH LETTER VIII. THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD LETTER IX. THE PRIESTHOOD LETTER X. ON GATHERING LETTER XI. THE LATTER-DAY JUDGMENTS LETTER XII. ON THE RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS LETTER XIII. MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS ON RESTITUTION LETTER XIV. SUMMARY AND FINAL APPEAL FAREWELL ADDRESS NIGHT OF MARTYRDOM DEATH OF THE AUTHOR'S WIFE LINES, ON READING THE AUTHOR'S FIRST LETTER IN THE SERIES, BY MISS E. R. SNOW PREFACE. The Author has, for some time, felt desirous to see the most prominent subjects of the faith of Latter-day Saints brought before the public in continuous order, in one volume. This series of Letters was called forth by the letter of inquiry prefixed, from the pen of the Rev. William Crowel. This gentleman was at the time, and still is (for ought I know) Editor of "_The Christian Watchman_," Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.--a leading paper of the Baptist denomination in the United States. The Editor was also a clergyman of high repute for learning and piety in that denomination of people, and missionary elect to a foreign land. From the elevated standing of this gentleman, and the nature of his inquiries being such as have come from many other distinguished acquaintance, relative to the author's change of views, it seemed wisdom, after consultation with the Prophet and Patriarch (since martyred), to publish a brief reply to his minute and interesting inquiries. The author was extensively known in the New England and Middle States, as a Preacher of the Baptist denomination. Reference for his character is given to his Excellency George N. Briggs, Governor of the State of Massachusetts, by whom he was once invited to take the pastoral charge of the church where his Excellency resided, and of which he was a member; also to G. Read, Esq., Connecticut, and Eliphalet Nott, D.D., L.L.D., President of Union College, New York, under whose Presidency he graduated in 1824; and also to N. Kendrick D.D., President of Hamilton Literary and Theological College, from whence the author graduated in 1829. The records of both these institutions will show that the author held the FIRST grade of honourable distinction at the time he left them.