"I would like to say a few words in regard to another point. I have just said that I had been taught a religion by men whom God had not sent. I would like to explain. You will excuse us if we seem to be very extreme in our views. We have taken the liberty to teach you the truth, just as we have it, and when we say something that comes in contact with what you have received, excuse us. There is no bad feeling at all, or unfriendliness in the least. But we believe in persons being invested with the proper authority to preach the gospel. Paul says, speaking of the authority of the Holy Priesthood, 'No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron.' (Heb. v: 4.) 'Faith cometh by hearing, and how can we hear without a preacher?' (Rom. x: 14-17. ) 'No man taketh this honor unto himself, except he be called of God as was Aaron.' Now that is very plain, and what does it mean? Simply what it says. That no man has a right to administer in the ordinances of religion except he be sent of God as was Aaron, for how can a man preach except he be sent? (Rom. x: 15.) If that be admitted, of course the next question of importance is, How was Aaron sent? By turning to the history we have of God's dealing with Moses, in reference to the gathering of the Israelites, from Egpyt, you will find that God instructed Moses to call Aaron to be his helper. (Ex. iv: 15, 16.) Here is the proof. No man can preach the gospel simply because he feels inclined within himself to be a preacher. No man can preach the gospel—that is with God's approval and authority—unless God commission him. God commissioned every one of his preachers in ancient times. He spoke from heaven. He directed those who held this authority to call others. Christ called the Apostles as He was called. His Father called Him; He called the Apostles, and He said, 'As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.' (St. John xx: 21). 'He that receiveth you receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me.' The authority was here, you see. God called Moses; He instructed Moses to call Aaron; so that Aaron stood exactly in the same relation to God as did the Apostles; the latter being called of God the Father through Christ. That would be evident, because one whom God had authorized to act as His servant was instructed by Him to call Aaron. Now, you observe, no man has a right to exercise the authority of the priesthood unless he is called of God as was Aaron.

"Are the preachers—those who commonly preach in connection with the churches of the present day called of God as was Aaron? Or, in other words, are they called by revelation from God? This is the question. We do not doubt the propriety of their being called in this way, because the Bible says they ought to be. Do our Protestant ministers, at the present time, profess to be sent of God as was Aaron? Is there a minister connected with the Christian denominations of the present day who professes to be sent of God by direct revelation? Not one. It does not require any argument at all. They do not profess that they have heard from God. They say that God has not spoken since the last book of the New Testament was written. They say it is a sin, and they find fault with the Latter-day Saints because we believe that God does speak; that He has a right to speak; and it is necessary we should have His approval and commission in order to qualify us to attend to the business of His Church. So that our present Christian teachers do not profess to be called of God as was Aaron. They deny all revelation at present, or since the Bible was written.

"You know the ministers, among their other errors, receive pay for preaching. That is an innovation also. The ancient apostles, and seventies, and bishops, and so on, were not paid for preaching. But our present ministers are. The preachers of this Church, with whom I am connected, are not paid for preaching. They preach without money, without purse, and without scrip. Now the preachers of the present churches make a business of preaching. They learn to be preachers. They are brought up to be preachers in consequence of their parents or guides finding in this way a place where they may make a living. Such ministers sometimes acknowledge one kind of revelation. Not that God tells the people about His will, or that He manifests His power, but they sometimes tell us they have received a call from one congregation to another. But there is one peculiarity about it, viz: the congregation that calls them is a congregation that almost invariably offers them more money than the congregation to which they have been attached. This is the only instance of any kind of revelation being acknowledged by our Christian teachers. God has not spoken, say they, by inspired men, since the days of the ancient apostles. He has not spoken directly to the church. He has not authorized a single man to preach, but sometimes a call is given from less money to more. And though they are feeling full of love and affection for the congregation with which they have labored for years, yet they are sorry and regret so much that that call must be heeded, which takes them from among their old friends to a new congregation. But, you see, the new congregation offers the most money, and that cannot be disregarded.

"My friends, these are a few of the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Are we displeased with anybody? No, not at all. All are at liberty to believe what they please. But we are placed under obligations to deliver the message which God has sent. We say we are not solely dependent on the Bible, because God has sent the gospel. We do not wish you to think that we regard the Bible lightly. Of course you will have noticed, from our remarks, that this is not so. But we say from the Bible alone we could not have discovered the true way of life, any more than thousands of our friends have been able to do so. Why millions of people have read the Bible but have not discovered some of these doctrines. They have been lead to preach the things contained therein, and if they had discovered the doctrine, this Bible cannot lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. That part of the work that is necessary for man's salvation must be done by one whom God authorizes. Therefore the Bible alone is not sufficient. It contains the truth. It is the word of God. It contains the instruction of the apostles. But it does not contain the divine authority that is necessary to commission a man to baptize or administer in any ordinance pertaining to the house of God.

"Now, my friends, may God bless you. And my brethren and sisters, may the Holy Spirit, which leads unto all truth, abide upon us, and may we who have found the truth have a disposition to retain it. May we have the moral courage to say, 'Let God be served. Let His truth be obeyed.' Let the Almighty be honored, and if other people choose to follow their own fancies, or the deceptions presented before them by men whom God has not sent, as for us and our house, let us serve God.

"May God bless us, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

CHAPTER XIV.

MR. BROWN'S LETTER TO THE MARSHALLS.

Mr. Brown soon became acquainted with a number of leading Mormon Elders who in formed him more concerning the history of the peculiar people, among whom he was a visitor. The sights in and around the city were viewed by him, and he had time to inspect the most important buildings and places of interest. According to promise, he wrote a letter to the Marshalls giving some of his impressions of the country and the people, and his epistle is here reproduced in full:

DEAR FRIENDS: