And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Isaiah 8:17


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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"God's Love For All Mankind" : First Presidency Statement

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:

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 First Presidency has clearly 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.” '




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