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Our Basic Beliefs
Our Epitome of
Faith
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We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in
his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. |
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We believe that men will be punished for their
own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions. |
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We believe that through atonement of Christ
all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the gospel. |
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We believe that these ordinances are, first,
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third,
baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying
on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. |
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We believe that a man must be called of God by
"prophecy, and by laying on of hands" by those who are in
authority to preach the gospel and administer the ordinances
thereof. |
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We believe in the same organization that
existed in the primitive church; viz., apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc. |
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We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy,
revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, etc. |
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We believe the Bible to be the word of God as
far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of
Mormon to be the word of God. |
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We believe all that God has revealed, all that
he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal
many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of
God. |
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We believe in the literal gathering of Israel
and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes, that Zion will be
built upon this continent, that Christ will reign personally
upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive
its paradisiacal glory. |
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We claim privilege of worshipping Almighty God
according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men
the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they
may. |
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We believe in being honest, true, chaste,
benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we
may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, "we believe all
things, we hope all things," we have endured many things, and
hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek
after these things. |
Respectfully, Joseph Smith, Jr.
(From "Times and Seasons" Vol. III, page 710, 1842
By
direction of the same Spirit that led the Prophet Joseph Smith,
Jr. and others, to restore the fullness of the Gospel in 1830,
and to retrieve it following disruption and martyrdom by means
of reorganization during the 1852-1860 period, we the Saints now
assembled on the 8th day of April, in the year of our Lord 2000,
do now again reaffirm our faith in the great Restoration cause.
We solemnly extend the call to all those who cherish that faith
to unite once again in the movement to renew and restore that
which has been lost or abandoned in our day. In so doing, we
bear witness to the power of God in guiding and directing a
faithful remnant to proclaim and defend the ancient faith.
As a foundation upon which to move forward we hereby
adopt the following resolutions of faith and doctrine:
1. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ as
organized April 6, 1830 continues to exist, though in limited
form, wherever there are faithful priesthood and members
adhering to the pattern set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants.
(Church History, Vol. 3, pp. 209-210)
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"Resolved, that the successor of Joseph Smith, Junior, as the
Presiding High Priest in the Melchisedec Priesthood, must of
necessity be the seed of Joseph Smith, Junior, in fulfillment
of the law and promises of God. |
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"Resolved, that, as the office of First President of the
Church grows out of the authority of the Presiding High
Priest, in the high priesthood, no person can legally lay
claim to the office of First President of the Church without a
previous ordination to the Presidency of the High Priesthood. |
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"Resolved, that we recognize the validity of all legal
ordinations in this church, and will fellowship all such as
have been ordained while acting within the purview of such
authority. |
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"Resolved, that we believe that the Church of Christ,
organized on the sixth day of April, A. D., 1830, exists as on
that day wherever six or more saints are organized according
to the pattern in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. |
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"Resolved, that the whole law of the Church of Jesus Christ is
contained in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine
and Covenants. |
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"Resolved, that, in the opinion of this conference, there is
no stake to which the saints on this continent are commanded
to gather at the present time, but that the saints on all
other lands are commanded to gather to this land preparatory
to the reestablishment of the church in Zion, when the
scattered saints on this land will also be commanded to gather
and return to Zion, and to their inheritances, in fulfillment
of the promises of God; and it is the duty of the saints to
turn their hearts and their faces towards Zion and supplicate
the Lord for such deliverance. |
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"Resolved, that we will, to the extent of our ability and
means, communicate to all the scattered saints the sentiments
contained in the foregoing resolutions. |
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"Resolved, that this conference believe it the duty of the
elders of the church, who have been legally ordained, to cry
repentance and remission of sins to this generation, through
obedience to the gospel as revealed in the record of the Jews,
the Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and
not to faint in the discharge of duty."-
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2.
We further believe and hereby declare that we have no intention,
nor is there any requirement to organize a "new church," for we
like those who labored for reorganization are acting as members
and officers of the original Church, regulating and setting in
order, in harmony with the laws already given, endeavoring only
to unify and shepherd the faithful, and preparing ourselves to
be worthy of and receptive to further divine guidance. (C.H.,
Vol. 3, pp. 211; Joseph Smith III, C.H., Vol. 5, "Foundations of
Reorganization," pp. 345-355; Israel A. Smith, Saints Herald,
Conference Daily, March 31, 1952.)
3. The Three Standard Books of Scriptures (C.H., Vol. 3,
pp. 210; D&C 122:10c:
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Inspired Version of the Bible |
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Book
of Mormon (1908 Edition) |
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Doctrine and Covenants (through Sections 144)*
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4.
Epitome of Faith (C.H., Vol. 2, pp. 569-570, from Times and
Seasons, Vol. 3, pp. 709-710)
5. Rules and Resolutions. Until such time as a
careful review for outdated, or no longer applicable actions may
be required, or prophetic guidance shall direct, the Resolutions
adopted at the 1852 Conference (C.H., Vol. 3, pp. 209-210) shall
be included with those contained in the Book of Rules and
Resolutions up to and concluding with the General Conference of
1964.
Referencing the counsel of Joseph Smith III (C.H.,
Vol. 3, pp. 716) and by adoption of the foregoing fundamental
doctrinal tenets of the Restored Gospel, we now give formal
approval to the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints as a true and legitimate succession of the organization
of April 1830, and reorganization over a period of years
extending from essentially 1852 to 1860. We further proclaim the
Church may now legally become one. Every legitimate member and
branch, or group, at its farthest outposts may have legal unity
with every other member and branch under the leadership of those
sustained by the body in General Conference. By declaring this
action and extending this proclamation, we understand that legal
unity must be based on and unalterably committed to upholding
and abiding by the spiritual laws as found in said Scriptures,
Articles and Covenants, and the Rules and Resolutions we now
reaffirm. It now remains the privilege and duty of the faithful
remnant to avail themselves of the blessings and the
commandments promised to, as well as the conduct required of,
all true Latter Day Saints.
To this end, we hereby finally resolve that we will, to the
extent of our ability and means, communicate to all the
scattered Saints the sentiments contained in the foregoing
resolutions, and declare it to be the duty of the Elders of the
Church to cry repentance to this generation, through obedience
to the Gospel as revealed in the Scriptures, and not faint in
the discharge of duty (C.H., Vol. 3, pp. 210).
* In
connection with the D&C, please reference GCR 368; D&C 27:4c;
42:5; and 122: 10c. Further, the position adopted by the April
1886 General Conference (GCR 308) will guide and inform our
position on all matters therein set forth. With regard to the
status of sections added after October, 1958, they shall be
considered as generally fitting the guidance given in Section 88
regarding the Apocrypha, or until further direction may be given
through a future Prophet and President of the High Priesthood of
the Church. |
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