



Produced by the Mormon Texts Project
(http://mormontextsproject.org), with thanks to Bill Lund
and Renah Holmes








"MORMON" DOCTRINE,

PLAIN AND SIMPLE,


--OR--


Leaves from the Tree of Life.


By CHAS. W. PENROSE.


PUBLISHED BY
THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
1888.



INTRODUCTION.

There is no subject of popular comment on which there is so little
general information as that called "Mormonism." This little work is
designed to explain, in a simple way, leading features of "Mormon"
doctrine. The terms "Mormon" and "Mormonism" are not strictly correct
as usually applied. They are inappropriately derived from the Book
of Mormon, which is a work containing the history of the former
inhabitants of the American continent, written at different times by
various persons and finally compiled by a prophet named Mormon and
inscribed upon metallic plates, which were hidden in the earth to come
forth in the latter days, for the enlightenment of mankind in relation
to the origin of the Indian tribes of this land, and as a testimony
that Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified by the Jews, is indeed the
Messiah, the Son of the living God.

This record, giving an account of the dealings of the Almighty with the
people it describes, and whose origin and travels, wars and industries,
customs and religion, progress and decay it graphically relates,
was taken from its hiding place by Joseph Smith in obedience to the
revelation and commandment of God and was translated into the English
language through a heavenly gift bestowed upon that favored man.