These questions were answered in the pages of the Millennial Star, in 1966-67. Some, but not all, of the columns from which these questions are drawn were signed by Mark E. Petersen, who was then president of the West European Mission.

Remember that the fun of posts like this is discovering what issues were on the minds of Church members of the past, and seeing what might have changed since these questions were answered. A few definitely outdated answers are given in this series of three posts, so they shouldn’t be used as current policy (or to settle arguments?)

Question: In the Doctrine & Covenants I see the “manifesto” printed. Was this a revelation to the Church?

Answer: The manifesto was written following a revelation given to the president of the Church on that subject. It was prepared to implement the provisions of the revelation. We do not say the manifesto itself is a revelation. We say a revelation was received, stopping the practice of plural marriage; and that the manifesto was written by the presidency of the Church as a notice to all the world that this practice had been discontinued. It is dated October 6, 1890. It is interesting to note that it is headed: “Official Declaration,” and is addressed to “To Whom It May Concern.” President Wilford Woodruff, then president of the Church, received the revelation, and signed this official declaration to the world. It is binding upon all members of the Church no matter where they live. Persons who violate the provisions of this declaration are excommunicated from the Church.

Question: Did Brigham Young receive revelations from the Lord as did the Prophet Joseph Smith?

Answer: Yes, Section 136 of the Doctrine & Covenants is one of them, and a case in point.

Question: How many visitors come to the London Temple, as visitors I mean, not to enter the temple as members.

Answer: About 10,000 each year. It will be interesting to you to know that the Church will shortly build a new bureau of information or visitors’ centre at the temple to better teach the tourists about the Church and the temple.

Question: My sister has committed sin with a boy in her school. Can she be forgiven?

Answer: Yes. If she fully repents and lives the gospel for the rest of her life, she will be forgiven and permitted to enjoy all the blessings of the Church. The full matter rests on her own repentance and her living the gospel for the rest of her life. You might read the following scriptures: D. & C. 58:42-43; Alma 39:3-7; Ezekiel 18:21-23.

Question: Why is it that a meeting house cannot be dedicated until it is paid for?

Answer: Because we cannot justly present a building to the Lord as a gift of our hands if it is encumbered with debt. It must be free from all obligations of all kinds. Then we are free to give it to the Lord in dedication. Otherwise we are not.

Question: What book on the life of Christ would you recommend? I notice there are many of them in the book shops.

Answer: As a Latter-day Saint we would recommend to you the book, “Jesus the Christ,” by Dr. James E. Talmage, a member of the Council of the Twelve. He was a great scholar and a great Latter-day Saint. His book is at least the equal of the best other books on the life of Christ, and will give you details which most books overlook, not to mention references to modern scriptures.

Question: Why did people mentioned in Genesis live so long? Most of us live much less than 100 years.

Answer: The Lord was just beginning the peopling of the earth in those early times, whereas now we have billions to “multiply and replenish the earth.” The scripture tells us that the normal span of life — after those early days — was three score and ten.

Question: Why don’t we have LDS Scouting in England? Other churches have their troops?

Answer: Arrangements are being made to introduce Scouting in LDS congregations again. It won’t be long until you hear more of it.

Question: Must the bishop always choose a priest to bless the sacrament or may an elder be used?

Answer: An elder may do anything that a priest can do, and therefore an elder can properly be used to bless the sacrament. However, elders can do many other things that a priest cannot do, and since we try to provide assignments for all grades of priesthood, we usually advise that worthy priests be used to bless the sacrament. However, if there is good reason to use an elder, by all means he should be used. If there is a shortage of deacons in a ward or branch, any holder of any grade of priesthood may be used to pass the sacrament to the members after it has been blessed. Again, however, it is advisable that deacons be used as far as possible, and teachers, priests or holders of the Melchizedek priesthood if needed under prevailing circumstances.

Question: Is it necessary to use all of the material provided in each Family Home Evening lesson, on any one evening?

Answer: No. Families should select that part of the material which is most useful to them. More material is provided than is ordinarily used as a means of meeting the needs of all families.

Question: If a family needs more material than is provided in the Family Home Evening manual, where may they find additional material?

Answer: They may use materials from any of the accepted Church publications and the scriptures as well. Some families may want to change the order of teaching the lessons or may want to substitute other instructional materials or family activities for some of these lessons. The suggestions and materials contained in each lesson may be used as given, may be adapted in some way, or may be replaced by activities and stories which mean more to the family. However, the goal of the lesson should be kept in mind regardless of the adaptation which takes place.

Question: Does our Church teach that, at the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Ghost was actually embodied in a dove?

Answer: Our Church teaches that the dove was a SIGN of the PRESENCE of the Holy Ghost, and that the dove was a symbol of the Holy Spirit indicating to John the Baptist that the third member of the Godhead was actually in attendance at the baptism of Christ. The Spirit descended upon the Saviour in the SIGN of the dove, the Prophet Joseph Smith explains.

Question: Are we to believe that the flood of Noah’s day actually covered all the earth?

Answer: Yes. The flood was a baptism of the earth, according to the Prophet Joseph Smith. How could it be a baptism if all were not covered?

Question: Is the story of Jonah and the big fish just a story, or myth, as my friend told me, or is it a fact?

Answer: We do not believe the Saviour would have referred to this incident as he did in Matt. 12:39-40; Matt. 16: 4; Luke 11:29-30 and Matt. 12:41 if it were not a real incident. We in our Church accept it as a fact Jonah actually was a prophet of God whose preaching brought repentance to Ninevah. Archaeologists have recently found the ruins of Ninevah and have excavated them. Ninevah actually existed.

Question: How fully do we accept the doctrine that Adam and Eve actually had a “fall?”

Answer: We accept without question that there was a “fall,” and that both Adam and Eve “fell” that man may be (2 Nephi 2:22-26). The most convincing answer is that if there were no fall, there would be no need of an atonement by Christ, and if there was no atonement by Christ, there would be no gospel and no salvation. Actually Adam fell that man might be as the Book of Mormon above referred to, say, and “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15). If we attempt to do away with the fall of Adam, we automatically do away with the atonement of Christ. The doctrine of the “fall” is part and parcel of the doctrine of the atonement. They cannot be separated. Latter-day Saints must accept both doctrines, for in fact, they really are one. See Pearl of Great Price, Moses 5:10-11 and Moses 6:48.

Question: Is there any scripture to sustain the practice of capital punishment? I have wondered about this ever since the government voted against the death penalty?

Answer: One scripture on this point is found in Genesis 9:6. At that time the Lord laid down the decree of capital punishment saying, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” As you know capital punishment was practised among the Israelites under Moses, by command of God. The Book of Leviticus gives many instances of the application of this law.

Question: Is the Urim and Thummin now in the possession of the Church?

Answer: No. It was returned with the plates following the translation of the Book of Mormon.

Question: Was the wine used by the Saviour for the sacrament an intoxicating beverage?

Answer: We would say certainly NOT. The Lord repeatedly denounced intoxication throughout the scripture. It is hardly reasonable to suppose that he would break his own commandments. We believe that the “wine” as it was referred to, was in reality unfermented grape juice, “the fruit of the vine” as it was sometimes called. The Lord would not wish to give anyone a taste for intoxicants, knowing that “strong drinks” are not good for man, as set forth in the Word of Wisdom in our day. Many churches today use ordinary unfermented grape juice in their communion. We use water because of the revelation we have in D. & C. Section 27. Read what the Lord says about alcoholic drinks in the Word of Wisdom. See also Judges 13:13-14 and Proverbs 20:1; 23:31-35; Eph. 5:18 and Titus 1:7.

Question: Tithing is a hard commandment for some to keep. Is it really a divine law? Is God actually interested in the money we earn?

Answer: Tithing is a divine law. Note just a few references on the subject Gen. 14:18-20; Gen. 28:20-22; Lev. 27:30-34; Mai. 3:8-12; Luke 11:42; Heb. 7:1-10; D. & C. 64:23; DC 119; Proverbs 3:9-11. Tithing is not given because the Lord is interested in money. He knows that we live in the kind of world we do, for he provided it that way. Our activities must be financed, and tithing is the Lord’s way of doing it. He that pays his tithing faithfully will be blessed. Ask any honest tithepayer.

Question: Are contributions made to the Church here being sent to Salt Lake City and used elsewhere in the Church?

Answer: Certainly NOT. No contributions made by people living in Great Britain are taken out of Great Britain. All are used for the advancement of the Church here in Great Britain. These funds are used for building chapels, for maintenance of the chapels after they are built, for caring for the worthy poor and other religious purposes.

Question: Many people say that there will not be a Second Coming of Christ. I have a Catholic friend who says that the world will go on and on as it is, and not come to an end. Is that true?

Answer: The scriptures are replete with predictions that Christ will come again in a glorious second coming. See Matt. 24th chapter, for instance. See also the second chapter of II Thessalonians. And note Peter’s words in the third chapter of Acts. Read Acts 1:9-11 concerning his ascension. At that event, his second coming was again predicted. Yes he will come, and our Church has been restored to help prepare the way for his coming.