OTHER DOCTRINES.
Of the other principles believed in by the Latter-day Saints there is not upon this occasion opportunity to speak at length. These are: The gathering of Israel; the Restoration of the Ten Tribes; the support of Earthly Governments for the Protection of Human Rights; the Building up of Zion and Rebuilding of Jerusalem; the Resurrection; the Second Coming of Christ to reign as Lord of lords and King of kings—all of which are doctrines of the Bible, as clearly maintained in its teachings as those which have been spoken of.
The Latter-day Saints believe—indeed testify that they know they are fulfilling the predicted gathering of Israel in the last days by the command and power of God; that their gathering on the American continent is upon the land of Zion, the land of Joseph, whose blessings have prevailed "unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills" (Gen. xlix: 26); that the mountain of the house of the Lord is "established in the top of the mountains" (Micah iv: 1). With implicit faith that the Lord will confirm their testimony, they declare that He has sent His messenger before Him in latter days, to prepare the way for His coming (Mala. iii: 1).
It may be well to refer to their ordinance of marriage, of which there appears to be such a misunderstanding in the world. This can be briefly stated. The Latter-day Saints believe that marriage is ordained of God; that He has revealed to them its everlasting covenant; that when the ceremony is performed by His authority, the union of husband and wife is eternal—that it is bound on earth and bound in the heavens. "And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Mark x: 8, 9). It is a covenant that is entered into voluntarily by the parties; there can be no compulsion in this, or in any of the ordinances of the Gospel.
With the Latter-day Saints the principle of celestial marriage is the union of husband and wife for time and eternity. They believe the family relation exists in the celestial kingdom of God. They also have pronounced views upon the purpose of the union of the sexes. They do not believe that its object is the gratification of passion, but that such an idea is wicked in its inception and damning in its practice. They believe that a departure from the paths of virtue is punishable by the severest penalties, and that the violation of the marriage covenant is an offense which ranks next to the crime of murder.