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
That there is an abundance of error in the "Christian" world as well
as some truth, must be patent to everybody who has investigated the
conditions of mankind in the present day, because these multifarious
sects and denominations are discordant. They do not unite--except on
special occasions when they meet together to denounce the "Mormons";
they can unite on that question sometimes. The spirit of division,
strife and contention exists among people called Christians as well
as among people called Pagans. That fact alone makes it evident that
there is a great deal of error existing in what is called Christendom.
That is because these various systems which have been established are
the inventions of men. They may have been good men who started these
different sects--I will not judge that matter; that is with the Eternal
Judge--but these sects were the offspring of men. These men may have
read the Scriptures, and have entertained certain ideas founded upon
their reading; and they may have established these different systems in
accordance with their sincere ideas of what was right. But sincerity
of itself is not a conclusive evidence of truth. The heathen is just
as sincere in his idol worship as the "Christian" is in his various
modes of bowing down to Deity; and certainly the Latter-day Saints have
manifested their sincerity before the whole world as well as before
the heavens. The Elders of this Church who go out into the world to
proclaim the Gospel as they understand it, manifest their sincerity.
Yet our "Christian" friends will not recognize them as Christians,
nor believe that they are right. They go out without purse or scrip,
without fee or reward. They are not paid for their work. They make
sacrifice of home and its comforts, and leave their loved ones behind,
and go to face a frowning world, to meet persecution and obloquy, and
sometimes imprisonment, stripes and death. What for? To proclaim that
which they know in their hearts is true. They are sincere enough,
but that does not prove that they are right. Our "Christian" friends
will acknowledge that. On the other hand, the sincerity that may be
exhibited in the various "Christian" sects by the people who compose
the members, and by the preachers who teach them, is not of itself an
evidence that they are right or that they have the truth. But the fact
that they are divided and conflicting is proof enough that there is a
great deal of error among them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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