Excerpts from A Voice of Warning and Instruction to All People / by Parley
P. Pratt. 1863 ed.

From Chapter VII. A contrast between the doctrine of Christ and the false
doctrines of the day.

“Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and
the Son.” —2 John, 9 v.


Doctrine of Christ—“They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any
deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick,
and they shall recover.” Mark 16:18

Doctrine of Men—If they take up serpents they will bite them. If they drink
any deadly thing, it will kill them. They shall not lay hands on the sick
and they recover; for these things are done away.


D. of C.—“If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done to you.” John 15:17 “If ye shall ask any thing in
my name I will do it.” John 14:14

D. of M.—It is not so in these days. We must not expect to heal the sick,
and work miracles, consequently we must not expect to receive what we ask for.


D. of C.—“Neither pray I for these alone; but for them also which shall
believe on my through their word: that they all may be one; as thou, Father,
art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may
believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20, 21.

D. of M.—We are all good Christians, and we all believe on Him through the
apostles' words, although we are divided into several hundred different sects.


D. of C.—“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Eph. 4:5

D. of M.—Many lords, many faiths, and three or four kinds of baptism.


D. of C.—“By one Spirit are ye all baptized into one body.” 1 Cor. 12:13

D. of M.—By many spirits are we all torn asunder into different bodies.


D. of C.—These gifts and offices were given “that we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lay in wait to
deceive.” Eph. 4:14.

D. of M.—Tracts, creeds, sermons and commentaries of uninspired men, together
with a hireling priesthood, are now necessary in order to keep men from being
carried about with every wind of doctrine, &c.


D. of C.—“No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God,
as was Aaron.” Heb. 5:4

D. of M.—No man taketh this honor unto himself but he who has been
educated for the purpose and commissioned by men.


D. of C.—“How shall they preach except they be sent,” (of God.) Rom. 10:14

D. of M.—How shall they preach except they be well educated for the purpose,
and sent (by the board of officers.)


D. of C.—“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14,15.

D. of M.—If any are sick among you do not send for the elders of the church,
or if the elders come, do not let them lay hands on them, neither let them
anoint them in the name of the Lord, for this is all a Mormon delusion, but
send for a good physician, and perhaps you may get well.


D. of C.—“It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” 17v.

D. of M.—In these last days the Lord will not pour out His Spirit, so as to
cause our old men to dream dreams, and our young men to see visions, for such
things are no longer needed, and it is a delusion, and none but the ignorant
believe such things.


D. of C.—“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that
ye may prophesy.” 1 Cor. 14:1.

D. of M.—Do not covet any of the supernatural gifts, but especially beware of
prophesying, for such things are done away.


D. of C.—“Covet to prophecy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.” 38v.

D. of M.—Do not prophesy, and it is entirely a delusion to speak in tongues.


D. of C.—“In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men.” Matthew 15:9.

D. of M.—It matters not what kind of doctrine, or what system a man embraces,
if he is only sincere, and worships Jesus Christ.


D. of C.—“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit
which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us
of God.” 1 Cor. 2:12.

D. of M.—Now we have not received the Spirit of God, but the spirit of the
world, that we might know for a certainty, but that we might guess at or give
our opinion of the things of God.


D. of C.—“And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles; secondarily,
prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Cor. 2:28

D. of M.—Man hath set some in the Church; first a hireling priest; second a
board of officers; thirdly, tracts; then commentaries, creeds, diversities of
opinions, societies, and wondrous helps.