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Show Suppose I were to ask a question this morning, as a stranger, " What is Mormonism ?" I suppose it is known to most men at all conversant with principles classed under that name, that it is a nickname, or a name applied to the public, and not used officially by the Church so called. Mormon was a man, a prophet, an author, a compiler, and a writer of a book. Mormon was a teacher of righteousness, holding certain doctrines. The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints are agreed with Mormon, as well as with many other ancient writers, and hold to the same principles; therefore their neighbors have seen fit to call those principles they hold, " MOEMONISM." They might as well have called them, Abrahamism, Enochism, or Isaiahism^; because the ancient prophets, patriarchs, and apostles, held to the same truths in general terms, only differing in circumstances, in distant countries and ages of the world, and acted upon the same general principles, according to the particular circumstances that surrounded them. But the world, out of all the ancients, have selected one called Mormon, and all the principles held by all good inspired men of all ages and countries they have seen fit to sum up, and call " Mormonism." Well, it is as well as anything els^e, for aught I know; name does not affect the principles. The word of God, as written in the good old Book, designates the people of God by the name of Saints; which name is almost or quite as ancient, as any writings extant. Saint was spoken of by Enoch long before the flood. The same term was applied to the people of God by the prophets, the psalmist, and by the writers of the New Testament. Not only was this term applied to saints in ancient |