DIVINE AUTHORITY;
OR THE QUESTION,
WAS JOSEPH SMITH SENT OF GOD?

A few days since, Mrs. Pratt and myself, together with some others, were kindly invited to take tea with a very respectable gentleman of this town (Liverpool), who, though not connected with our church, yet was, with his family, sincerely enquiring after the truth. They seemed to be fully convinced in relation to the most important features of our doctrine, and were desirous of extending their investigations still further. We hope that their researches may happily result in a full conviction of the truth, and that they may obtain that certainty, so much to be desired, as to the divine authority of the great and important message now revealed from heaven—a message which must assuredly prove a savor of life or death to the generation now living. This message is beginning to awake the attention of the honest, virtuous, and upright among all classes of society. They seem to be aroused from the slumber of ages.

A message of simple truth, when sent from God—when published by divine authority, through divinely inspired men, penetrates the mind like a sharp two-edged sword, and cuts asunder the deeply-rooted prejudices, the iron-bound sinews of ancient error and tradition, made sacred by age and rendered popular by human wisdom. It severs with undeviating exactness between truth and falsehood—between the doctrine of Christ and the doctrines of men; it levels with the most perfect ease every argument that human learning may array against it. Opinions, creeds invented by uninspired men, and doctrines originated in schools of divinity, all vanish like the morning dew—all sink into insignificance when compared with a message direct from heaven. Such a message shines upon the understanding like the splendors of the noon-day sun; it whispers in the ears of mortals, saying, "this is the way, walk ye in it." Certainty and assurance are its constant companions; it is entirely unlike all plans or systems ever invented by human authority; it has no alliance, connexion, or fellowship with any of them; it speaks with divine authority, and all nations, without an exception, are required to obey. He that receives the message and endures to the end will be saved; he that rejects it will be damned. It matters not what his former righteousness may have been—none can be excused.

As a specimen of the anxious inquiry which now pervades the minds of many in relation to this church, we publish the following extract from a letter, which was kindly read to us during our afore-mentioned visit, by the gentleman who received it from his friend in London. We were struck with the apparent candor, the sound judgment, and the correct conclusions of the author of the letter, and earnestly solicited the privilege of publishing it. Permission was granted on condition that we would withhold names. We here present it to our readers, and shall endeavor, in the same spirit of candor, to answer the all-important inquiries contained in it.

July 15th.

MY DEAR SIR,—I have been expecting, time after time, to be able to return you the "Letters" you so kindly left with me. As I informed you in my last, I cursorily read through the letters, and then handed the book to Mr. —. With him it is at the present time. The impression made thereby on his mind is very remarkable, and he requests me to inform you, that if you will allow him, he means to keep the book, if you will please to let him know the price thereof. He and I concur in our view of Mormonism at present. Do you enquire what that view is? I will then proceed to state it. We consider that the proofs which Mormonism gives of the apostasy are, without question, clear and demonstrative; we entirely concur also in the personal appearance and reign of our Lord; we are persuaded that all the preachers and teachers of the day are without authority—that their teachings and interpretations are uncertain as to the truth—that the translations of the scripture, being done without inspiration, are also uncertain. All is uncertain! melancholy thought! a deplorable picture but a true one!—the different teachers doing the best they can!—all jarring—all contending! The result—division, multiplied division! And they have a right if they think proper to divide from an authority merely human. But their multiplied division is a multiplied proof that they are wrong—that they are without that spirit who guides into truth,and truth is ONE!

My dear sir, the "Saints" have made out a strong and irrefragable case to show that "authority to teach" is no where, if not with them; but the proposition that they have authority to teach, interpret &c., is one that at present does not create a conviction in Mr. — or my mind. We admit that it is very reasonable to suppose that, under such circumstances, God would raise up and send one invested with authority. Whether Joseph Smith was such an one is the all important question. I also admit, that so far as I am acquainted with his history, there is something very remarkable about him; perhaps I should be fully convinced if I were more fully read in writings relating to him. I wish I lived near to you, and then I would read more fully on the subject I confess my mind is much concerned to arrive at a clear conclusion upon the point.

Mr. — wishes you, if you will be so good, to select a few books that you think clearly prove the divine mission of Joseph Smith, and send them in a parcel to him with the prices; he will feel much obliged, and will send you a post-office order for the amount; he believes your selection will be a judicious one. I have heard Mr. Banks twice since I saw you, and other individual teachers also. There is much in their public services I approve. I am struck with the simplicity of their celebration of the ordinances. Mr. Banks and the others assert strongly the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission; this is, however, not enough: the church of the early saints had proofs to give by inspired apostles like Peter, inspired deacons like Stephen, inspired evangelists like Philip, inspired prophets like Agabus, and inspired prophetesses like Philip's daughters. All this was the result of the Spirit being in and with them in authority and power. The church of the latter day ought to be the same, if having the same spirit of authority and power. The sects are without these proofs, therefore they are sects groping in the dark, and hoping, and thinking, and guessing they are right, and all this convinces that they are not "the Church, the body of Christ;" bodies they are of their doctors and founders sure enough! Now I think the Church of the Latter-day Saints must resemble the original, or it is at once proved only a sect. One result of my conversation with you and Banks, and perusing the Letters, is, that I can be no longer connected with any sect. So far as I see, I can without difficulty confound in argument—plain scriptural argument—any into whose company I am at any time thrown. The Methodist system I am convinced is the worst, because its pretensions are highest. I stand, therefore, fully alone. I declare I should be glad to be convinced that Mormonism is what it professes to be; I would join it to-day if my mind could be convinced that its elders had authority to baptize me for the remission of sins, and lay hands on me for the gift of the Holy Ghost. These sacred ordinances I would obey gladly, if I knew men having authority to administer them! To have these ordinances administered without divine authority is mere child's play. Thus you see my position. A Methodist leader, an old friend, said to me the other day, "Are you connected with the church of Christ now?—I hear you are not with us now." I answered,