Who are Mormons? by M. E. Cornell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1864

Who are Mormons?

By M. E. Cornell

[The following article from Eld. Cornell, we republish from Review, Vol. xxi, No. 19.]

Sometimes our opponents, failing in argument, for effect, raise the cry of "Mormonism." They cannot show that our views of spiritual gifts are unscriptural, or unreasonable, but because the Mormons professed to have those gifts, they think it a happy hit to excite prejudice against us, by calling us Mormons. But this charge loses all its force when we consider that faith in spiritual gifts is not peculiar to the Mormons. The most devoted and learned men of the Protestant sects have claimed the same thing both in theory and practice. See work entitled, "Miraculous Powers," published at Review Office. The truth is, we do not believe with the Mormons on a single point that is peculiar to them. But if to agree with the Mormons on leading points of doctrine, makes a man worthy of their name, then verily the orthodox churches of the day are full of Mormons.

1. The Mormon Creed teaches the doctrine of the Trinity. "That Christ was the God, the Father of all things." Mormon Bible, Book of Mosiah, par. 5.

"Behold! I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son." Book of Esther, ch. i, par. 3.

"Is the Son of God the very eternal Father? . . . Yea, he is the very Eternal Father." Book of Alma, ch. viii, par. 7.

2. They believe in an immaterial God. "It is truth, light, and love, that we worship and adore; these are the same in all worlds; and as these constitute God, he is the same in all worlds; wherever you find a fullness of wisdom, knowledge, truth, goodness, love, and such like qualities, there you find God in all his glory, power, and majesty—therefore if you worship these adorable qualities you worship God." Mormon Seer, pp. 24, 25.

Compare the above with Mr. H. W. Beecher in the Independent, A. D. 1859. "A dim and shadowy effulgence arises from Christ, and that I am taught to call the Father. A yet more tenuous and invisible film of thought arises, and that is the Holy Spirit. But neither are to me aught tangible, restful, accessible."

That Christ is the very and eternal God, and that God is immaterial, without body, parts or passions, is the teaching of most of the church creeds.

3. They believe in rewards and punishments at death.

"Immortal spirit joined with the choir above at Benjamin's death." Book of Mosiah, ch. i, par. 8.

4. They believe the second death is endless torment. "Then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death. . . . They cannot die seeing there is no more corruption." Alma, ch. ix, par. 2, 3.

"Lake of fire is endless torment." Book of Jacob, ch. iv, p. 140.

5. The Mormons keep the Pagan Sunday, so do Protestants in general. But why go farther? There is not a class of religious people in the world that differ with the Mormons in both theory and practice more widely than the Seventh-day Adventists. Those very men who charge us with "Mormonism," agree with the Mormons in ten points to our one. We conclude therefore that such persons have simply mistaken the parties, and raise a charge more applicable to themselves, to create prejudice against another class to whom it does not apply.

M. E. CORNELL.