The World:—That is all.
Latter-day Saints:—It is not necessary to call any more witnesses. We have proved, most conclusively, that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct Personages. John proved that, when he testified that he saw Jesus standing on the bank of the Jordan; then he beheld the Spirit of God descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon the Messiah, and at the same time he heard the voice of God testify that Jesus was His Only Begotten Son. Peter testified that when James and John and himself were on the mount with Jesus they heard the voice of God testify that Jesus was His Beloved Son. James and John corroborated his testimony. Stephen testified that he, being filled with the Holy Ghost, had the heavens opened to him, and he saw God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of His Father.
The World:—The evidence which you have produced is, indeed, incontrovertible. It is, to be sure, contrary to the teachings which we have received in the churches and from our fathers. But we now call to mind the words of the Prophet Jeremiah, "O Lord, my strength and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit." (Jeremiah 16: 19.)
II.—THE PERSONALITY OF GOD.
The World (to the Latter-day Saints):—It is true, then, as we have been told, that you believe and teach that God the Father is a personal Being, possessing a definite form, with bodily parts and spiritual passions?
Latter-day Saints:—Such is our belief and teaching.
The World:—This also is contrary to the teachings of almost every church in Christendom. The Church of England, in the first of the "Articles of Religion," published in its Prayer Book, says: "There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts or passions; of infinite power, wisdom and goodness."
Latter-day Saints:—We believe in the God of the Bible, in the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob; the God of all the holy Prophets, and the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have witnesses whose testimonies cannot be impeached. They are men who can testify from actual experience, men who saw God, and who conversed with Him face to face, and whose testimonies should, therefore, be worthy of all acceptation.
The World:—We will be pleased to listen to your witnesses. Let the first witness be called.
Latter-day Saints:—The first witness who will testify in our behalf is Abraham, "the father of the faithful and the friend of God."