Scrap Book of Mormon Literature, Volume 2 (of 2). Religious Tracts
Religion
Scrap Book of Mormon Literature, Volume 2 (of 2). Religious Tracts
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saints
"All the stakes of Zion are under the direction of the presidency of
the church and are visited by them or by the apostles, and quarterly
conferences are held in each of them for general instruction and for
making such changes as many be necessary to their proper management.
The officers named are also presented before the people in conference
assembled for their votes, every member, male and female, having a
voice in church affairs, and they vote upon the acceptance or rejection
of those officers. At the general conferences, held semiannually, the
first presidency, apostles and all leading officials of the church
are also presented for the approval or disapproval of the body of the
church.
"Outside of Zion each mission has a president who takes charge of all
its affairs, and each branch of the mission has a branch president,
amenable to a conference president, and he to the president of
the mission, who also directs the labors of the traveling elders,
missionaries sent to labor in the field. Thus the whole church is so
organized that each officer has his {112} defined place and sphere of
authority and the whole system inspired by one spirit moves like a
well regulated living body, the president or head of the whole church,
who is a prophet, a seer and a revelator, directing it under divine
authority and inspiration."
"What is the attitude of your church in regard to other Christian
denominations?"
"It recognizes truth wherever it is found. It regards all human effort
for the development and promulgation of truth as good and blessed of
Deity. It recognizes the benefits which have come to mankind through
the labors of good men and women everywhere, no matter what sect they
belong to or what language they speak. But it has no affiliation with
error. Truth and error will not combine. There can be but one Church
of Jesus Christ, no matter how many branches it may have nor how many
members. It is unreasonable and also unscriptural to say that the one
living and true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, would establish
a number of discordant contending religions. The good intentions,
sincerity of motives and pious acts of men and women are no proof of
themselves that they are divinely authorized. They are to be admired
and respected for what they are, but this should not deceive any one
as to what they are not. Heathendom as well as Christendom furnishes
striking illustrations of purity of conduct and sincerity, but in
neither instance does this prove correctness of principle or divinity
in organization. Christ when on earth established but one church.
All others were outside of its pale. It is the same today. There is
only one true Church of Christ, and it is that which He Himself has
established and which He recognizes and directs. All others are the
institutions of men, to be valued for what they are worth, but not to
be viewed as divinely established. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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