The Life of John Taylor: Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Life of John Taylor: Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches; Taylor, John, 1808-1887
Elder Taylor.--I was certainly told and understood until now that
you were, sir. Pray, gentlemen, what are you? (Great laughter and no
answer.)
At this point the Rev. Mr. Long, evidently ashamed of the cowardice
of the ministers that were flying from their colors, arose in the
audience and exclaimed, "I am not ashamed of my profession, sir; I am a
clergyman of the Church of England." (Great laughter.)
Elder Taylor.--I certainly think the gentlemen have taken a strange
position, they seem to be afraid of acknowledging what their profession
is. However, I will proceed. I have three different ministers to do
with of some persuasion, for they all call themselves _Reverends_.
Now, do their doctrines agree with the scriptures? Have they the
organization, ordinances, gifts, prophecy, revelations, visions,
tongues, apostles, prophets? No. This they cannot deny, for they
have all of them opposed these things; yet all of these things were
associated with primitive Christianity. Their offices, their doctrines,
their calling, their teaching, their ordinances are all incorrect, they
are devoid of the blessings, powers, unity, certainty and revelation,
and are left struggling in the mazes of confusion, division, strife,
uncertainty and error. They know not God nor the power of God.
(Interruption.) There is scarcely a principle that these gentlemen have
that is correct, even the doctrine of baptism for the remission of sins
they treat lightly; yet Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch--when
he believed, he immersed him in water; John baptized in non because
there was much water there; St. Paul was told to arise and wash away
his sins, and Jesus says that except a man be born of water and of the
spirit, he can in no wise enter the kingdom of God.
Chairman.--(to Elder Taylor) Do you wish to continue, the gentlemen on
the opposite side are satisfied that it rest here?
Elder Taylor.--I certainly did not anticipate this. I expected to
investigate their principles further, according to agreement.
Chairman.--They do not wish to say any more.
Elder Taylor.--If they have no reply to make, of course I must let it
rest.
Here the debate closed, and the Champion of Truth was triumphant.
The chairmen of the meetings, Mr. Luddy, Dr. Townley and Mr. Groves
made some remarks at the close of the debate, and very unfairly, as
Elder Taylor could have no opportunity to reply to them, undertook
to rescue the vanquished ministers. In the published report of the
discussion, however, he wrote out his replies to their strictures, and
very effectually answered them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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