Publisher's Synopsis
In the midst of the Christian world there are very many conflicting theories, in relation to man's existence here and hereafter; also as to the duties he owes to himself, his fellow-man and to his Creator. It is an undisputed question that some knowledge of WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHY WE ARE HERE, AND WHERE WE GO AFTER WE LEAVE THIS PROBATION, is essential to the enjoyment and well-being of the human family. In the following pages of this tract we shall seek to briefly set forth the belief of the Latter-day Saints on these points. While they may differ widely from the accepted ideas of the Christian world, we may be allowed to mildly suggest, that this difference is not so much between the sects of the day and the Latter-day Saints, as it is between those sects and the Bible, a fact for which we are in no sense responsible, and a fact that we can in nowise alter or change, even were we so disposed. It is deemed proper in the commencement of this investigation, to refer to another point, so that we may clearly understand each other. It is this: sincerity of belief does not by any means establish the correctness of a principle. Testimony of an unimpeachable character can alone do that. Man's belief does not affect a principle in the least. The whole world may believe it and yet it be untrue; the whole world may refuse to believe it, and yet it be true. The unbelief of the people of Noah's day did not stay the flood; the unbelief of the Jews did not prove Jesus an impostor; and the killing of the apostles did not prove their doctrines false. The assassination of Joseph Smith was no proof one way or another as to the divine nature of his authority; neither will the rejection of the doctrines he taught prove them wrong. If they are true, though he was slain, his followers mobbed, driven and persecuted, yet in the end they will rise triumphant over every obstacle and grow stronger and stronger, as error shall grow weaker and weaker. In presenting the principles of pre-existence, the first principles of the gospel and baptism for the dead, we shall simply quote scripture; and we again state that if there is any difference of opinion it is between the reader and holy writ. The apostle Paul's injunction to the Thessalonians, was: "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good" (I.Thess. 5:21); and the wise man Solomon's assertion, was: "He that judgeth a matter before he heareth it is not wise."
