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The Basic Foundation of the Gospel.
To the question, "What are the fundamental principles of your religion?" Joseph Smith said:
"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and
Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third
day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only
appendages to it . But in connection with these, we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost,
the power of faith, the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts according to the will of God, the
restoration of the house of Israel, and the final triumph of truth."
This, essentially, is the message that Joseph Smith gave to the world. It consists,
first, in attesting the reality of Christ as the God of this earth, who wrought out his perfect
atonement for the redemption of men. Second, it consists of the testimony renewed and
confirmed through a modern prophet that by accepting Christ in the true exercise of faith,
men may be changed from a sinful state to a state of righteousness in which they can
enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost with its several gifts or spiritual endowments, as these are
given to men by the will of God.