"They are then required to be humble, to be meek and lowly in heart, to watch and pray, to deal justly ; and in- asmuch as they have the riches of this world, to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, according to the dictates ' of wisdom and prudence ; to comfort the afflicted, to bind up the broken-hearted, and to do all the good that is in their power ; and, besides all these things, they are re- quired to meet together as often as circumstances will admit and partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of the Lord Jesus ; and, in short, to continue fiiithful to the end in all the duties enjoined upon them by the word and Spirit of Christ.
" 'It is the duty and privilege of the saints thus organ- ized upon the everlasting Gospel to believe in and enjoy all the gifts, i)owers, and blessings which flow from the Holy Spirit. Such, for instance, as the gifts of revelation, prophecy, visions, the ministry of angels, healing the sick by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus, the work- ing of miracles, and, in short, all the gifts as mentioned in Scripture, or as enjoyed by the ancient saints.' We believe that inspired apostles and prophets, together with all the officers as mentioned in the New Testament, are necessary to be in the Church in these days.
"W^e believe that there has been a general and awful apostasy from the religion of the New Testament, so that all the known world have been left for centuries without the Church of Christ among them ; without a priesthood authorized of God to administer ordinances; that every one of the churches has perverted the Gospel, some in one way and some in another. For instance, almost every Church has done away '■ immersion for remission of sins.' Those few who have practiced it for remission of sins have done away the ordinance of the Hai/ing on of hands' upon baptized believers for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Again, the few who have practiced the last ordinance have perverted the first, or have done away the ancient gifts, powers, and blessings which flow from the Holy Spirit, or have said to inspired apostles and prophets, We have no need of you in the body of these days. Those few, again, who have believed in and contend'ed for the miraculous gifts and powers of the Holy Spirit have per- verted the ordinances or done them away.
" We believe that there are a few sincere, honest, and humble persons who are striving to do according to the best of their understanding: but in many respects they err in doctrine because of false teachers and the precepts of men ; and that they will receive the fulness of the Gos- pel with gladness as soon as they hear it.
" The gospel in the Book of Mormon is the same as that in the New Testament, and is revealed in great plainness, so that no one who reads it can misunderstand its princi- ples. It has been revealed by the angel to be preached as a witness to all nations; first to the Gentiles and then to the Jews; then comefh the downfall of Babylon — thus fulfilling the vision of John, which he beheld on the Isle of Patmos (Rev. xiv, 6-S).
"Many revelations and prophecies have been given to this [i. e. the Mormon] Church since its rise, which have been printed and sent forth to the world. These also con- tain the gospel in great plainness, and instructions of in- finite im'portance to the Saints, 'i'licy also unfold the great events that await this generation ;' ilje t mi l)le judg- ments to be poured forth upon the wicked, and the bless- ings and glories to be given to the righteous. We be- lieve that God will continue to give revelations by visions, by the ministry of angels, and by the ins))iration of the Holy Ghost, until the Saints are guided into all truth; that is, until they come in possession of all the truth there is in existence, and are made perfect in knowledge. So long, therefore, as they are ignorant of anything past, present, or to come, so long, we believe, they will enjoy the gift of revelation. And when in their immortal and l)erfect state— when they enjoy ' the measure of the stat- ure of the fulness of Christ'— when they are made perfect in one, and become like their Saviour, then they will be in possession of all knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence; then all things will be theirs, whether principalities or powers, thrones or dominions; and, in shoit, then they will be filled with all the fulness of God. Then they will no longer need revelation.
"We believe that wherever the people enjoy the relig- ion of the New Testament, there they enjoy visions, reve- lations, the ministry of angels, etc. ; and'that wherever these blessings cease to be enjoyed, there they also cease to enjoy the religion of the New Testament.
"We believe that God has raised up this Church in or- der to prepare a people for his second coming in the clouds of heaven, in power and great glory ; and that then the saints who are asleep in their graves will be raised, and reign with him on earth a thousand years.