COWLEY'S TALKS

ON

DOCTRINE

PREFACE.

Notwithstanding what has already been written upon the principles and doctrines of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Latter-Day Saints, I feel an assurance that this little work will be received with no little pleasure and a great degree of satisfaction by members of the true Church, as well as those who are seeking light upon religious topics.

The style in which the articles comprised in this little volume are written, is pre-eminently plain, and peculiarly adapted to the reading public. Loaded as the articles are, with careful thought and numerous scriptural quotations and references, itself not only a thought gatherer but a thought generator, it will come as a valuable aid to our missionaries and theological organizations, and also to the many investigators throughout the civilized world. Truth in studied brevity has been aimed at, without seeking the least embellishment of diction.

With an intense desire to impart the truth to mankind as widely as possible, this little messenger is sent forth, trusting that it may prove a blessing to thousands who are as yet grovelling in darkness and superstition and lead them to the sunlight of truth.

THE PUBLISHER.

Chattanooga, Tenn., February, 1902.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Apostasy
Restoration of the Gospel
The Church
Church Organization
Divine Authority
Personality of God
Revelation
Faith
Repentance
Baptism
Reception of the Holy Spirit
Pre-Existence
Salvation for the Dead
The Gathering of Israel
Tithing
Eternal Rewards and Punishments
Obedience
Charity
The Resurrection
The Book of Mormon
Marriage
The Millennium

APOSTASY.

The subject of Apostasy occupies the minds of people of modern times but very little. This, however, is not surprising when we consider their views regarding the Church of Christ; for they claim a continuation of divine authority and the plan of salvation from the apostolic age to the present time, the idea prevailing among them being, that the Bible alone is a sufficient guide without immediate and continued revelation. In this respect, the position of the Latter-day Saints differs widely from that of all other religious organizations. The Saints bear no relationship to any, but declare in words of soberness, that our Heavenly Father has restored the Gospel by modern revelations to the Prophet Joseph Smith. This being true, there must have been a departure from the proper order of the Gospel.

To prove that this has been the case, we will refer to statements of Holy Writ. In II Peter i:20, it is said, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." The Savior said, when addressing His disciples: "And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another, and many false prophets shall rise and deceive many, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew xxiv:10-12.)

To this testimony of Matthew, concerning the words of the Savior, in relation to the subject under consideration, there will be found the corresponding testimonies of Mark and Luke. It will be remembered also, that the testimony of the Lord was in answer to a very important question. When He had foretold the overthrow of the temple, His apostles asked Him: "When shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" The appearance of false prophets; the deception of man; the martyrdom of the apostles; the betrayal of the Saints; the love of many waxing cold; the overwhelming prevalence of iniquity; the universal discord and contentions of the nations, all were prominent events to transpire before the advent of the Savior to reign in power and glory upon the earth. To this we will add the words of Paul: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by