Again: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark xvi: 16).
Now, all men believe in the truth of the doctrine taught in the text just quoted, or they do not. If they do not, they cannot believe in Christ as a Being who is full of "grace and truth," as the Scripture asserts. If we admit for a moment that He comes short in the principle of truth, we shatter at once the very foundation of belief and confidence, and doubt is the inevitable result. If Christ's word is doubted, there is no confidence in Him. It follows, therefore, that those who do not believe in the truth of the text do not believe in Christ. But all concede that without this belief no one can obtain eternal life. Those who do believe the truth of the text cannot say that belief alone is sufficient for salvation, since it is expressly stated that "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Christ's own statement respecting the matter is final with all those that believe in Him.
The following Scriptures are submitted:
"And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke vi: 46). "But He said, yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it" (Luke xi: 28). "And this is the commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him" (1 John iii: 23, 24). "If ye love me, keep my commandments. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John xiv: 15, 21). "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Heb. v: 8, 9). "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?" (James ii: 14). "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1 John ii: 6). "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise, also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James ii: 20-26). "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Rev. xxii: 14).
"Meddle not with any man for his religion; for all governments ought to permit every man to enjoy his religion unmolested. No man is authorized to take away life in consequence of difference of religion, which all laws and governments ought to protect."
—Joseph Smith.
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
ITS RELIGION, HISTORY, CONDITION AND DESTINY.
BY JAMES H. ANDERSON, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. 1902.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.—Matt. vii, 18.