THE MORMON FAITH.
LETTER FROM GOV. BRIGHAM YOUNG.—The St. Louis Republican of 2d inst. publishes the following:—
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, March 31, 1854.
DEAR SIR : I cheerfully comply with the re-quest contained in your letter of Dec. 2, though necessarily in rather a brief manner. In carefully examining the history of the Church of Jesus Christ in the days of the Twelve Apostles, I find faith, repentence and baptism enjoined upon all desirous of salvation; with this we most heartily coincide, in common with all Christendom, ex-cept in the mode, which we believe should be in-variably by immersion; and in this we do not dif-fer from the Baptists, and many members of most of the sects.
After the administration of baptism, we believe in laying hands upon the candidate for his con-firmation as a member of the Church, and for his reception of the Holy Ghost; and we believe that these, and all other ordinances pertaining to sal-vation, should be administered by persons actual-ly clothed with the priesthood, as again restored to the earth through the medium of angels to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We believe in the same church organization that was instituted by the Savvior while he was upon the earth, viz: a church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pas-tors, teachers, gifts, helps, governments, &c., and in the enjoyment of the same spirit that was an-ciently conferred, giving to one the gift of pro-phecy, to another the gift of healing, &c. The possession of the priesthood, the chureh organi-zation, and the gifts of the Spirit, are some of the main doctrinal poits which distinguish us from the majority of persons called Christians.
We are actually in the possession of these great blessings, and hence do know that the promise was indeed unto them (the believers) and their children, that the Almighty is no respecter of persons, and is the same, yesterday, to-day and for-ever. We furthermore believe that each per-son, in every age, from Adam until now, will "be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body," and be judged according to the law which he was privileged to obey or disobey, and that a celestial glory in the prese[--] obtained only through ob[--]nce to the celestial law as taught by Christ and his apostles.
Our settlements are in a flourishing condition, and these channels for profitable occupation, usual to newly settled countries, are equally free to all law-abiding settlers, and the civil and religious rights of all are guarded by the efficient adminis-tration of good and wholesome constitutional laws.
The climate is milder in our valleys than in the same latitude in the States; the soil is very pro-ductive, but in nearly all places requires irrigation to bring crops to maturity, and by this easy pro-cess abundant crops are produced. All kinds of stock are easily raised, and when not used require but little feed to winter them.
Our civil organization is strictly in accordance with the Constitution, and similar to that of all the other States and Territories.
Trusting that this reply, though brief, will be satisfatory on the points of your inquiry, I remain, respectfully,
Your obedient servant, BRIGHAM YOUNG,
Mr. HENRY A. MCAFEE, Freeport, Stephen-son Co., III.
