| 362 has the prophet described the arrogance and trappings of pride, of the present age. O, you worshippers of idols, followers of the precepts of men, rather than the word of God!-Away with your false theories, your man-made systems, your clashing creeds, your dogmas, your mock ceremonies, your monkish customs, your countless paraphernalia of worship, your tomes of learned ethics and studied literary lore!
'But he who truth from falsehood would disern [discern],
Must first disrobe the mind, and all unlearn.'
St. Matthew, VI: 23; 'But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!' When we reflect upon these scenes of moral degradation, and hear the long prayers, the written sermons and horrid groans of these pretended christians, we say with the Savior: St. Matthew, XV: 8, 9; 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.' If, in these scenes of confusion and uproar, they would read the instructions of Paul to the church of Corinth, we think their cheeks would mantle with the blush of honest shame, and they hold themselves in disgust for their depravity. We would be glad if we had room for the whole of these instructions; but a few verses must suffice. 1st Cor., XIV: 26-40; 'How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but peace, in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. Let all things be done decently and in order.' But, says, one, 'how can we follow the instructions of Paul to the church at Corinth? He speaks of prophesying, of revelation, of speaking in tongues, of interpretation of tongues, &c., and we have none of these gifts and blessings in our church.' If you are without these, then we say you are not of God; for if you were of God, then you would believe in God. 'By their fruits ye shall know them.' We will see what Christ said about those who believed. St. Mark, XVI; 17, 18; 'And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpants [serpents]; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.'
These are the fruits by which we are to know the true followers of Christ. 'But have you these blessings and gifts in the Church of Latter Day Saints?' We have. If we were built upon any foundation, other than the great apostolic rock, then we would not be the legitimate church of Jesus Christ. We told the reader in the beginning of our interview that we should preach no other doctrine, than those preached by the apostles. The world, to be the true followers of Christ, must have, as Paul said, 'but 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism.' And they must worship without confusion, being united, of one heart and one mind. If you have so many different theories, you cannot be right. 1st Cor., III: 3, 4; 'For ye are carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith I am Paul, another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?' While one says, I am a Catholic; another, I am a Methodist; and another, I am a Baptist; are they not all wrong? 'A house divided against itself cannot stand.'
We have said so much about the creeds and theories of men, that it may be a query in the minds of some, whether the church of Latter Day Saints, have a creed or not. To satisfy such queries, we would say that we have a creed but not of man. Our only creed is the Bible. As much as may be said by our enemies about 'new revelations,' 'Jo Smith,' 'second Mahomet,' 'false prophet,' &c.; the Bible is our creed, and the great light that guides our worship. We must here introduce a little anecdote upon this subject. A minister in the city of Alton while addressing his congregation one Sabbath, informed his hearers that he had been to Nauvoo, and had an interview with Mr. Smith. During this interview he asked Mr. Smith to show him his creed, whereupon he handed him his Bible! This; said the learned minister, was enough to convince me that 'Mormonism is a humbug!' Poor man! because 'Mormonism' is predicated upon the Bible, you are convinced that it is a humbug! Weak mind, you are entitled to our sympathy. What a pity that your religious sensibility should be at last startled by the discovery of a religion founded
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