In a tract by David Williams, Twyll y Seintiau Diweddaf yn cael ei ddynoethi, mewn nodiadau byr ar draethawd a ysgrifenwyd yn ddiweddar gan Capt. D. Jones, dan yr enw, “Traethawd ar Anghyfnewidioldeb Teyrnas Dduw,” etc (English: Deception of the Latter Saints Exposed in Brief Notes on a Treatise Written Recently by Capt. D. Jones, Under the Title, “Treatise Showing the Immutability of the Kingdom of God,” etc.), 2d ed. (Merthyr: David Jones, 1846), we read the following startling admission on p. 12:
He also
considers the sects and denominations of this age to be so different from the
kingdom of God, that he considers it a wonder among those who take notice of them,
that any Welshman could be so blind as to be mistaken in that matter.
Allow me to say, good man, that we do not think that all the different
sects throughout the world have the gospel doctrine in its purity, nor do we
hold the traditions exactly according to the plan of the early churches; and we freely
admit that the best of us is open to failings, weaknesses and mistakes; . . . (On
Trial in the Welsh Press: Latter-day Saint Missionaries Declare and Defend the
Faith, 1840-1860, ed. Ronald D. Dennis [Provo, Utah: BYU Religious Studies
Center, 2023], 518)
In the same work (pp. 23-24):
Baptism for
the forgiveness of sins is extensively mentioned by our author. There is no
doubt that the forgiveness has been connected with the truth faith, along with
repentance and forgiveness; yet men can be baptized, and then be lost—remember Simon
Magus.
Baptism is
not absolutely essential for salvation; if it were otherwise, the thief on the
cross would not have been saved. Avoid putting baptism in place of the blood of
Christ, which was shed for the forgiveness of sins—“In whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
Without the spilling of this blood, there was no forgiveness: baptism can
signify our cleansing, but it is the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, which
cleanses us from all sin. (Ibid., 529-30)
This allows me to share the following video from Lutheran Satire:
