TRUE RELIGION

Consists in the Love of God, Faith
in His Son, Repentance and
Forsaking of Sin, Obedi-
ence of the Ordinances,
and Keeping of
the Law.

As Set Forth Forcibly by President
Wilford Woodruff,

In Fatherly Admonition to the Lat-
ter day Saints.

EDITOR HERALD: Receiving a
letter from you, some time since,
wherein you solicit for publication
"an array of sentiments from the
leading men of the Territory," etc
I now at the last moment, after
having been so busy, undertake,
with pleasure, to comply with your
request.

RELIGIOUS.

The majority of the people of
this Territory are a religious people
By revelation and inspiration from
Almighty God the Latter day
Saints are called upon to perpetuate
and establish righteous principles,
not only in the Territory, but
throughout the earth. The Dis
pensation of the Fulness of Times
is ushering in upon the inhabitants
of the earth, and with it are re-
ceived the principles of Eternal
Life, the greatest gift of God to
man. The Latter day Saints who
constitute the largest proportion of
the people who inhabit these Rocky
Mountain vales have revealed to
them this gift through Jesus, the
Mediator—the Savior of the world.

Therefore, Oh! ye Latter day
Saints, Oh! ye House of Israel, and
Oh! ye inhabitants of the earth, re-
member! that when God, the
Father, gave His only begotten son
as a ransom for your sins, He gave
a Christmas gift that cannot be ex-
celled---the gift of eternal life!
Through this gift ye can possess the
riches of Eternity.

Should there not be something
given in return as an acknowledg-
ment for this gift? It cannot be
bought with money, so far as the
riches of this world is concerned it
is without price. But the price
of it is, the love of God the Father,
faith in His Son Jesus, repentance
and the forsaking of sin, obedience
to the sacred ordinance of baptism,
and the laying on of hands for the
reception of the Holy Ghost, and
then the keeping of all His holy
and revealed laws.

This is true religion. These are
some of the religious principles
adopted by the Latter-day Saints,
and how to obtain the gift of eter-
nal life should be the highest am-
bition of every man, woman, and
child. The earth groans under a
false Christianity. The true Chris-
tian principles that were advocated
by the Savior and His Apostles are
no longer practised throughout
modern "Christendom." The earth
is deluged with false Gospel, false
religion, and with different systems
and plans of salvation. The inhab-
tants of the earth are being "tossed
to and fro by every wind of doc-
trine." [Ephesians 4:14] False teachers "having a
form of godliness but denying the
power thereof" have sprung up in
every land and clime; parties, sects,
and organizations under religious
garbs are extending their multita-
rious false theories, enveloping the
mind of man with a hopeless faith. [2 Timothy 3:5]
The signs of the times portend the
fulfillment of the prophecies that
have been made concerning the
great wickedness that should be
upon the earth in the latter days,
when great plagues shall be
poured out upon the world and
Angels pour out the vials of the
wrath of Almighty God. But pre-
vious to this all people are to be
warned by the proclamation of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, committed
through the Angel that John the
Revelator saw "flying through the
midst of Heaven, having the ever-
lasting Gospel to preach to every
nation, kindred, tongue, and peo-
ple, saying with a loud voice, 'Fear
God, and give glory to Him, for
the hour of His judgment is come.' " [Revelation 14:6-7]

That Angel has flown, the Gospel
proclamation has been sent forth to
the world for the last half century
and over, and we may expect the
judgments to follow these declara-
tions, for it is decreed "the hour of
His judgment is come."

The Latter-day Saints have gath-
ered to these mountain vales, by
the revelations of God, to prepare
a place of refuge, for the gathering
in of Israel, that the honest in heart
from all nations might have a place
of safety and escape the judgments
of the wicked. And while the wick-
ed rule and the people mourn, the
Saints of the Most High will con-
tinue to establish the principles of
righteousness, the principles of free-
dom and true government, until the
Lord Himself comes to reign as
"King of Kings and Lord of Lords."

SOCIAL.

The social condition of the Lat-
ter day Saints is founded upon
their unity. "In unity there is
strength." "United we stand,
divided we fall," is our true maxim:
And as Paul, the Apostle of old,
said to the Former-day Saints, so
say I to the Latter-day Saints.
"Be ye not unequally yoked to-
gether with unbelievers; for what
fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what com
munion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with
Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?" (2 Cor
VI., 14, 15, 16)

These questions of Paul's are rel
evant and very important to the
social status of the Latter-day Saints,
for, as Paul further says: "What
agreement hath the Temple of God
with idols? for ye are the Temple
of the Living God; as God hath
said: 'I will dwell in them, and
walk in them; and I will be their
God, and they shall be My people.
Wherefore come out from among,
and be ye separate; saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing, and I will receive you; and
will be a Father unto you, and ye
shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.' " (2 Cor.
VI; 16, 17, 18)

As a people, we cannot affiliate
with the world, nor the things of
the world, and keep ourselves pure
and unspotted from the world.
The Savior says "If ye were of the
world, the world would love his
own, but because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out
of the world, therefore the world
hateth you." (S. John, XV, 19.)

The Latter-day Saints are
"chosen out of the world" and ga-
thered here into the tops of the
mountains for the purpose of build-
ing up the Church of Christ, that
in this Church they might be
taught more fully the ways of the
Lord and learn to walk in His
paths, that they may be prepared
to establish the Kingdom of God
spoken of by Daniel, the Prophet,
that he saw should be set up in the
latter days by the God of Heaven,
and which shall never be destroyed
or left to other people, but shall
stand forever. [Daniel 2:26-47]

Now, the Latter-day Saints, un-
derstanding their calling, cannot
afford to mingle, in their associa-
tions, with the world; for in the
very nature of things the two ele-
ments will not unite and still re-
main in a healthy and prosperous
condition. "Love not the world,
neither the things of the world; if
any man loves the world the love
of the Father is not in him," so
say the Scriptures; and those who
are not for the Kingdom are
against it. [1 John 2:15] Therefore, as the chosen
people of God, we ought to honor
our Father who has chosen us, and
be very careful whom we associate
with. In all our dealings and as-
sociations let them be with the
Latter-day Saints. Be watchful of
the sons and daughters of Zion that
they do not become "unequally
yoked together with unbelievers." [2 Corinthians 6:14]
Let the sons of Zion take the
daughters of Zion to wife. Let
the people of God be united in all
things, politically, religiously,
socially, commercially, and
industrially. "If ye are not
one ye are not mine" says the Sa-
vior [Doctrine and Covenants 38:27]; and also, He says: "Be ye one
as the Father and I are one." [John 17:21-22]

If the Latter-day Saints will
adhere and give heed to these wise
sayings, the Lord, in His own due
time,—in the time of the harvest,
shall send forth His reapers, the
Angels, who shall gather out the
tares to be burned; and "The Son
of Man shall send forth His angels,
and they shall gather out of His
Kingdom all things that offend, and
them which do iniquity; and shall
cast them into a furnace of fire;
there shall be wailing and gnashing
of teeth. Then shall the righteous
shine forth as the sun in the King-
dom of their Father," (St. Matthew,
xiii; 41, 42, 43.)

Wishing your patrons a "Merry
Christmas!" and a "Happy New
Year!"

I remain
Your Brother in the Gospel,
W. WOODRUFF.

HISTORIAN'S AND RECORDER'S OFFICE
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS,
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

TRUE RELIGION

Consists in the Love of God, Faith in His Son, Repentance and Forsaking of Sin, Obedience of the Ordinances, and Keeping of the Law.

As Set Forth Forcibly by President Wilford Woodruff,

In Fatherly Admonition to the Latter day Saints.

EDITOR HERALD: Receiving a letter from you, some time since, wherein you solicit for publication "an array of sentiments from the leading men of the Territory," etc I now at the last moment, after having been so busy, undertake, with leasure, to comply with your request.

RELIGIOUS.

The majority of the people of this Territory are a religious people By revelation and inspiration from Almighty God the Latter day Saints are called upon to perpetuate and establish righteous principles, not only in the Territory, but throughout the earth. The Dis pensation of the Fulness of Times is ushering in upon the inhabitants of the earth, and with it are received the principles of Eternal Life, the greatest gift of God to man. The Latter day Saints who constitute the largest proportion of the people who inhabit these Rocky Mountain vales have revealed to them this gift through Jesus, the Mediator—the Savior of the world.

Therefore, Oh! ye Latter day Saints, Oh! ye House of Israel, and Oh! ye inhabitants of the earth, remember! that when God, the Father, gave His only begotten son as a ransom for your sins, He gave a Christmas gift that cannot be excelled---the gift of eternal life! Through this gift ye can possess the riches of Eternity.

Should there not be something given in return as an acknowledgment for this gift? It cannot be bought with money, so far as the riches of this world is concerned it is without price. But the price of it is, the love of God the Father, faith in His Son Jesus, repentance and the forsaking of sin, obedience to the sacred ordinance of baptism, and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and then the keeping of all His holy and revealed laws.

This is true religion. These are some of the religious principles adopted by the Latter-day Saints, and how to obtain the gift of eternal life should be the highest ambition of every man, woman, and child. The earth groans under a false Christianity. The true Christian principles that were advocated by the Savior and His Apostles are no longer practised throughout modern "Christendom." The earth is deluged with false Gospel, false religion, and with different systems and plans of salvation. The inhabtants of the earth are being "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." False teachers "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof" have sprung up in every land and clime; parties, sects, and organizations under religious garbs are extending their multitarious false theories, enveloping the mind of man with a hopeless faith. The signs of the times portend the fulfillment of the prophecies that have been made concerning the great wickedness that should be upon the earth in the latter days, when great plagues shall be poured out upon the world and Angels pour out the vials of the wrath of Almighty God. But previous to this all people are to be warned by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, committed through the Angel that John the Revelator saw "flying through the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come.' "

That Angel has flown, the Gospel proclamation has been sent forth to the world for the last half century and over, and we may expect the judgments to follow these declarations, for it is decreed "the hour of His judgment is come."

The Latter-day Saints have gathered to these mountain vales, by the revelations of God, to prepare a place of refuge, for the gathering in of Israel, that the honest in heart from all nations might have a place of safety and escape the judgments of the wicked. And while the wicked rule and the people mourn, the Saints of the Most High will continue to establish the principles of righteousness, the principles of freedom and true government, until the Lord Himself comes to reign as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords."

SOCIAL.

The social condition of the Latter day Saints is founded upon their unity. "In unity there is strength." "United we stand, divided we fall," is our true maxim: And as Paul, the Apostle of old, said to the Former-day Saints, so say I to the Latter-day Saints. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what com munion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" (2 Cor VI., 14, 15, 16)

These questions of Paul's are rel evant and very important to the social status of the Latter-day Saints, for, as Paul further says: "What agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? for ye are the Temple of the Living God; as God hath said: 'I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among, and be ye separate; saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' " (2 Cor. VI; 16, 17, 18)

As a people, we cannot affiliate with the world, nor the things of the world, and keep ourselves pure and unspotted from the world. The Savior says "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (S. John, XV, 19.)

The Latter-day Saints are "chosen out of the world" and gathered here into the tops of the mountains for the purpose of building up the Church of Christ, that in this Church they might be taught more fully the ways of the Lord and learn to walk in His paths, that they may be prepared to establish the Kingdom of God spoken of by Daniel, the Prophet, that he saw should be set up in the latter days by the God of Heaven, and which shall never be destroyed or left to other people, but shall stand forever.

Now, the Latter-day Saints, understanding their calling, cannot afford to mingle, in their associations, with the world; for in the very nature of things the two elements will not unite and still remain in a healthy and prosperous condition. "Love not the world, neither the things of the world; if any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him," so say the Scriptures; and those who are not for the Kingdom are against it. Therefore, as the chosen people of God, we ought to honor our Father who has chosen us, and be very careful whom we associate with. In all our dealings and associations let them be with the Latter-day Saints. Be watchful of the sons and daughters of Zion that they do not become "unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Let the sons of Zion take the daughters of Zion to wife. Let the people of God be united in all things, politically, religiously, socially, commercially, and industrially. "If ye are not one ye are not mine" says the Savior; and also, He says: "Be ye one as the Father and I are one."

If the Latter-day Saints will adhere and give heed to these wise sayings, the Lord, in His own due time,—in the time of the harvest, shall send forth His reapers, the Angels, who shall gather out the tares to be burned; and "The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father," (St. Matthew, xiii; 41, 42, 43.)

Wishing your patrons a "Merry Christmas!" and a "Happy New Year!"

I remain Your Brother in the Gospel, W. WOODRUFF.

HISTORIAN'S AND RECORDER'S OFFICE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.