“Difference Between the Baptists & Latter-Day Saints. From the North StaffordshireMercury.” Latter-day Saints Millennial Star (Manchester, England) 1, no. 12 (April 1841):296–99.
SIR,—In a late publication, you reported the case of some persons who were taken before T. B. Rose, Esq. for disturbing a congregation of “Latter-Day Saints,” or believers in the “Book of Mormon.” A teacher of that sect, on being asked by the magistrate wherein they differed from the Baptists, replied, “In the laying on of hands,;” but declined making an honest confession of those peculiarities which separate them as widely from the Baptists, as from every other denomination of the christian church. This was certainly prudent; but as the Baptists feel themselves dishonoured by such an alliance, they would be unjust to themselves were they to leave unanswered such a libel upon their denomination. The following very prominent marks of difference will enable your readers to judge for themselves.
I.—The Saints admit all persons indiscriminately to baptism, encouraging them to pass through that rite, with the promise that great spiritual improvement will follow. They baptize for remission of sins, without waiting for credible evidence of repentance for sin. But the Baptists admit none to that ordinance who do not exhibit this qualification in the most satisfactory manner; and if they found a candidate looking to [296] the water of baptism as having virtue to cleanse him from sin, he would be put back until better instructed.
II.—After baptism the Saints kneel down, and their priest laying on his hands, professes to give them the Holy Ghost. If effects similar to those produced by the laying on of the Apostles’ hands were seen to follow, skepticism must yield to the force of such evidence; but in their case no such effects are produced; the baptized sinner is a sinner still, though flattered and deluded with the epithet “Latter-day Saint.” The Baptists regard such mummery with as much disgust as all Christians do.
III.—Having, as they suppose, the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, the Saints consistently pretend to have the power of working wonders, and profess to heal the sick with Holy Oil; also to the power of prophecy. As most moral evils bring with them their own remedy, these lofty pretensions will ruin them in due time, by opening the eyes of the most deluded, as in the case of the countless sects of impostors who have appeared upon the stage before them. It need not be added, that the Baptists stand far removed from such conceits, and have no part in them.
IV.—Not satisfied with the Bible, as a complete revelation from God, the “Latter-day Saints” have adopted a romance written in America, as a fresh revelation, and have added a trashy volume of 600 pages to that Book, which we are forbidden to add to, or take from, under the most awful penalties! But even this is not enough for their impious presumption. They have published a monthly magazine, in which “new revelations” are served up fresh as they arrive, for the use of all who can swallow them. The disgust with which the Baptists regard such a melancholy exhibition of human folly and wickedness, separates them to an impassable distance from such people.
V.—In order to carry on this order of things, the Latter-day Saints have appointed two Priesthoods. “The “lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is “to hold the keys of the Ministering “of Angels, and to administer in out- “ward ordinances.” “The power “and authority of the higher, or Mel- “chisedeck Priesthood, is to hold the “keys of all the Spiritual Blessings of “the Church—to have the privilege “of receiving the mysteries of the “Kingdom of Heaven—to have the “Heavens opened to them—to com- “mune with the general assembly “and Church of the Firstborn; and “to enjoy the communion and pre- “sence of God the Father, and of Jesus the Mediator of the New Co- “venant.” (See page 13.) So that in this wonderful priesthood, they have provided for an ample supply of new things in endless variety, and without end, from the hands of wretched men, who blasphemously aspire to a dignity which belongs alone to Him who is the only “Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedeck.”
The fear of trespassing upon your valuable columns, Mr. Editor, prevents my enlarging upon these and very many other points of difference; but enough has been done to shew your readers, that no two sects can differ more widely from each other, than the Baptists and Latter-day Saints; and that to confound them in any way together is not only unjust to the former, but involves them in the disgrace of being partakers in a bold imposition, or a pitiable delu- [297] sion, which they regard with equal abhorance and disgust.
A BAPTIST.
Hanley, Feb. 16, 1841.
The foregoing article attempts to show the difference between the Baptists and Latter-Day Saints. We will now attempt to show the difference between the Baptists and Former-Day Saints.
1st.—The Former-Day Saints baptized for remission of sins, Acts ii. 38. The Baptists baptize those only who are supposed to have their sins forgiven before they are baptized.
2nd.—The Former-Day Saints admitted all persons indiscriminately to baptism, as soon as they professed faith and repentance, encouraging them to pass through that rite with the promise that great spiritual improvement would follow, Acts ii. 38–41 inclusive. But if the Baptists found the penitent believer looking for remission of sins through that rite, they would be put back to “get religion” where they could find it.
3rd.—After baptism, the Former-Day Saints prayed for and laid hands on the disciples in the name of Jesus, and professed to give them the Holy Ghost, Acts viii. 17, also Acts xviv. 6.
The Baptists say, “they regard such mummery with as much disgust as all Christians do.”
4th.—Having, as they supposed the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, the Former-day Saints consistently pretended to have the power of working wonders, and professed to heal the sick with Holy Oil. Jas. v. 14, 15. Also to the power of prophecy. First Corinthians from 12th to 14th chapter. It need not be added that, the Baptists stand far removed from “such conceits,” and have no part in them; nor in any thing pertaining to the gifts and power of God: or to use the Apostle’s own words, they have a form of Godliness, denying the power.
5th.—Not satisfied with the Bible as a complete revelation from God, the Former-day Saints have added a volume of several hundred pages (the New Testament), to that book, which (according to Baptist logic) Moses forbid them to add to, or take from. Deut. iv. 2. But even this was not enough; but new revelations were served up almost daily, fresh as they arrived, for all those who could swallow them. “The disgust with which the Baptists regard such things, considering them but a melancholy exhibition of human folly and wickedness,” separates them to an impassable distance from the Former-day Saints: and how with all these differences the Baptists should ever have been thought by themselves, or any body else, to be the church of Christ, is difficult to imagine!
6th.—In order to carry on their strange work, or order of things, the Former-day Saints had two priesthoods. The Aaronic Priesthood administered in outward ordinances, as in the case of John the Baptist. The power and authority of the Higher, or Melchizedeck Priesthood was to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church, as Jesus said, “I give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven—whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,” &c.
They were to have the privilege of knowing the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom,”—to have the heavens opened unto them—to commune with the general assembly and church of the firstborn; and to enjoy [298] the communion and presence of God the Father, and of Jesus the mediator of the new covenant. Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24. So that in this wonderful Priesthood, they have provided for an ample supply of new things in endless variety, and without end, from those who are and were counted the off-scouring of all things; and who, as the Baptists would insinuate, “did aspire to a dignity which they say, “belongs only to him who is the only Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedeck.”
The fear of trespassing upon the time and patience of our readers, prevents our enlarging upon these and many other points of difference; but enough has been said to shew that no two sects can possibly differ more widely from each other than do the Baptists and Former-day Saints,—and to amalgamate the two systems in any way is not only an act of injustice—but would involve the Baptists, who by the by are an honourable body, in the disgrace of that sect which was “every where spoken against.” See Acts.