STATEMENT OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
REGARDING
GOD'S LOVE FOR ALL MANKIND
February 15,1978
Based upon ancient and modern revelation. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gladly teaches and declares the Christian
doctrine that all men and women are brothers and sisters, not only by blood
relationship from common mortal progenitors but as literal spirit children of
an Eternal Father.
The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed,
Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates,
Plato, and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given
to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of
understanding to individuals.
The Hebrew prophets prepared the way for the coming of Jesus
Christ, the promised Messiah, who should provide salvation for all mankind who
believe in the gospel.
Consistent with these truths, we believe that God has given
and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to
eternal salvation, either in this life or in the life to come.
We also declare that the gospel of Jesus Christ, restored to
His Church in our day, provides the only way to a mortal life of happiness and
a fulness of joy forever. For those who have not received this gospel, the
opportunity will come to them in the life hereafter if not in this life.
Our message therefore is one of special love and concern for
the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race,
or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are
sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.
[RHS note: on the FAIR site it is clear that the following 3 sentences were part of an article by the editors of FAIR and were NOT a part of the statement of the First Presidency.
The Book of Mormon also makes this clear:
The Book of Mormon also makes this clear:
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write
it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I
shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led
away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the
earth and they shall write it (2 Nephi 29:12).
The Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation
and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they
should have (Alma 29:8).]
RHS note: I downloaded this text here.
I have a written copy in my possession (thanks to Jim Dosdall) which quotes all of the above, except for the final three lines about the Book of Mormon teaching.
Elder James E Faust Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles quoted this portion of the statement in a General Conference talk in April, 1980:
'However, we claim that God’s inspiration is not limited to
the members of this church. The First Presidency has stated:
“The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed,
Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates,
Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given
to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of
understanding to individuals. …
“We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples
sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation” (Statement
of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind, 15 Feb. 1978).'
[Ensign, MAY 1980 "COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT"; also From the April 1980 General Conference]
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, quoted this portion of the statement in an address entitled "Truth Restored" given at the BYU Campus Education Week on August 22, 2006.
the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as
well as
philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received
a portion of
God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to
enlighten whole
nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to
individuals.” '
