“Mormonism’s” Message to the World

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" 'Mormonism's' Message to the World"

(Continued from page 832)

The Florida Metropolis of May 27 reports Elder Talmage as having said in part -

"We affirm that man is of divine origin, and of divinely appointed destiny; that he has been endowed with the right of agency and choice, and that while we can be saved in the kingdom of God only through the atonement wrought by Jesus Christ, individual accept- ance of that atonement, including compliance with the laws and ordinances of the gospel, becomes necessary. Man is not to be saved in passive indolence without effort or deserts, any more than he is to be punished for the transgression of Adam, or for the shortcomings of any but himself. " 'Mormonism' teaches tolerance and regard for the beliefs of all men, yet makes clear that toleration cannot rationally mean assured acceptance. Prayer to be genuine, must be voluntary. 'Mormonism' proclaims to the world that the second coming ,of the Christ is near at hand, and the Savior's advent shall be a real and personal appear- ing as the scriptures foretell. While the day of His coming has not been revealed to man, nor shall it be, the specified conditions that are to immediately precede the great event are rapidly maturing, and the personal reign of Jesus Christ among men throughout the mil- lennium is to be the glorious consummation of the ages. The dis- tinctive mission of the Church is to prepare the earth and mankind for that great event. Verily the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

At Douglas, Ga., or rather at Cumorah church, which is built in a clearing amidst pines, cypress and black-gum trees, between four and five miles from the town of Douglas, a country confer- ence was held on Sunday, May 28. The services were conducted under a large brush arbor, which had been prepared in advance as it was foreseen that the church building would be too small to meet the needs of the occasion. Over seven hundred people were present at both the forenoon and afternoon meetings, and of these fully two-thirds were non-members of the Church. In the evening a public meeting was conducted in the County Court House at Douglas, the use of the building with lights and at- tendants for this meeting having been placed at the disposal of the brethren without charge, through the courtesy of the county and city officials. The Coffee County Progress, of May 31, con- tained a report, which follows in part:

Sunday, May 28th, was a day long to be remembered by the "Mormons" of this region. The occasion was the convention of the Florida conference of the "Mormon" Church, embracing all of Florida

894 IMPROVEMENT ERA and thirty-two counties in Georgia. Services were held Sunday morning and afternoon in the bowery at Cumorah church, about four miles north of Douglas, under the direction of Elder Alma F. Smith, conference president, and supervised by President Charles A. Callis, who is in charge of the Southern States Mission, which covers ten states. Unusual interest attached to the gathering owing to the pres- ence of Dr. James E. Talmage, one of the apostles of the "Mormon" organization and a man of standing among educators and scientists.

• • • y\u f t h e gentlemen named spoke at each of the outdoor meetings, which were attended by not fewer than seven hundred people; and at night Dr. Talmage addressed a large audience at the County Court House on the subject, 'Mormonism's' Message to the World." Among other things Dr. Talmage said: " 'Mormonism' teaches the gospel of old in its simplicity, and emphasizes the necessity of individual compliance with its laws and ordinances as the means provided for salvation. It proclaims Jesus Christ as the one and only Redeemer of mankind, and accepts the Savior's teachings without reservation or private interpretation. It holds that a great apostasy or falling away from the Church of Christ followed the ministry of the ancient apostles, and that a restoration of the holy priesthood was effected in accordance with prediction. "The restored Church, established in modern days through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith, whom we regard as a prophet sent of God, is patterned after the primitive Church, with apostles, proph- ets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. It is admitted that men have the right, even as they have the power, to organize religious bodies, sects and churches; but we hold that reason demonstrates and the scriptures prove, that the Church of Jesus Christ, whose ordinances are to be of effect in securing the remission of sins and contributing to the salvation of souls beyond the grave, must be invested by ap- pointment of a power above any that men can originate among them- selves. ***** " 'Mormonism' proclaims to the world its divine commission to preach the doctrine of repentance based on faith in God and in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of the race, the absolute necessity of water baptism by immersion at the hands of one bearing the pristhood, and of the higher baptism of the Holy Ghost by the authorized laying on of hands. "An essential feature of 'Mormonism's' message to the world is the proclamation of the assured advent of Jesus Christ, who shall come in person, with power and great glory, to inaugurate the millen- nial era and to reign among men as King of kings and Lord of lords. We affirm that the present is the dispensation of the fulness of times, the period of the last days, which the apostles of old were permitted to see in vision, and of which they and the Savior Himself, abundantly prophesied. The Church is fearless and unremitting, in crying aloud its message to the world- -Repent, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (to be continued.)