| 67 the call was to saints to commence anew upon the same foundation.
"We counseled together and agreed that none were acknowledged to be saints by the Lord but those that had obeyed the gospel as set forth in the Bible and Book of Mormon. This we had already done. We had those amongst us that had been ordained in the commencement of the church, under President Smith's organization. We then adopted the following:-
"We, the undersigned, being members of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, or saints of the last days, having received a commandment of the Lord, given by the Prophet Esdras, and revealed and brought forth by James Colin Brewster, to whom power has been given of the Lord to bring forth that record unto his saints for their salvation in the last days, do organize ourselves on the first foundation of the church, taking the Bible and Book of Mormon as the standard of our faith and the rule of our practice in this the Church of Christ.
"We then chose one to preside, appointed a clerk, and now stand forth as the church of the Savior and Redeemer of all the saints, upon the same foundation that the church did in 1830.
"And now, as we have said in a former address, it is the privilege of all that are called saints, wherever there is a sufficient number, to choose one to preside over the branch, hold meetings, strengthen and edify each other by improving each his or her gift.
"In the word of the Lord to his people you will learn that the Lord has appointed the place of the temple, or in other words, Kirtland, for the temporary gathering of the saints (save those that live nearer California). We deem it the best economy to have the general church record kept at Kirtland.
"Every branch and individual saint that is willing to start with us on the first or same foundation, can make out a list of their names, stating what office they hold, if any, and forward them to Kirtland, and they will be put upon the general church record.
(page 67) |
