1932-06-12—Poughkeepsie NY Eagle News—Address Given by Moyle Here
Address Given by Moyle Here
- Poughkeepsie NY Eagle News, June 12, 1932, p. 10
Address Given by Moyle Here
Leader of Latter Day Saints Eastern Mission Explains Church Organization
James H. Moyle, president of the Eastern States mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Elder Leonard C. Anderson spoke at the services of the local mission at 295 Main street last night.
Mr. Moyle, who after having been an attorney for more than half a century accepted the call to work in the church when past 70, explained the organization of the church and its missionary system, pointing out that the missionaries receive no special training before being sent out. He said that he had entered the missionary field without instructions and that his only commission was that of being set apart by the laying on of hand of the president of the church.
Mr. Moyle said that claim to divine authority is peculiar to but two religions today, the Roman Catholic and the Mormon.
"The restoration of the gospel in 1830 has brought many teachings spoken of by Christ into the present day church that bears his name." he said. "What church sings in its service a song entitled "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet"? A prophet is a spokesman for God on this earth."
"Since time immemorial men have tried to find out God and his relationship to man," stated Elder Anderson, "with the result that many conflicting creeds have arisen. To most people of Christian faiths God is incomprehensible due to their ethereal creeds. Man has tried to find out God in the laboratory. There is no objection to using the scientific method, providing the proper tools are used. As the astronomer uses his telescopes and observatories, the Christian seeking to know God should use the methods prescribed by Christ, namely faith and works. Joseph Smith in making his unique declaration to the world that he had found out God used that tool spoken of by the apostle James when he said, "without faith it is impossible to please him."
