Jon Gary Williams

Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

0351

Otis Gatewood vs Kenneth E. Farnsworth (Mormon)
September 3, 1942
Salt Lake City, Utah
(By James Boles)

Held in Salt Lake City, Utah in beautiful Liberty Park, August 17 - 21.

Propositions:
(August 17) I. Farnsworth affirmed: "The doctrine of baptism for the dead as taught by Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is in harmony with the Bible."
(August 18 - 19) II. "The Book of Mormon is of Divine Origin" - Farnsworth affirmed.
(August 20 III. "Resolved: "The Bible is the Final and Complete revelation from God to man." - Gatewood affirmed.
(August 21 IV. "The Church of Christ of which I am a member is of Divine origin and members thereof are divinely authorized to administer in the ordinances of the gospel." - Gatewood affirmed.

Farnsworth assumed that miracles and revelations that confirmed the word are essential parts of the gospel today (1942). This confuses the manner of the revelation of the message with the message itself. Dr. Boles explained: "I am sending this article by airmail. The airplane is essential to carry the article to the Gospel Advocate office. But the airplane is not the message. It is no part of the message. The message then is the same message today. But the message has been confirmed by miracles and are not needed today." The gospel has been delivered and confirmed. (Hebrews 2:1-4; John 20:30; Jude 3). Since the apostles were to be guided into all truth, all truth had to be revealed before the death of the last apostle. This was necessary in order for Christ's promises to be fulfilled (John 14:26; John 16:16; II Peter 1:3.) Both the righteousness and the wrath of God have been revealed in the gospel (Romans 1:16-18). Men were saved by that gospel then. It was complete when finally delivered through inspired men. It saved people then and it will save those today who will accept it. Since it has been revealed, no new revelation is needed. Any new addition is condemned by Paul (Galatians 1:6-8).

Gatewood asked Farnsworth if the gospel he (Gatewood) obeyed could save him? Is Gatewood a Christian? Farnsworth said Gatewood had no light or understanding. The gospel that saved Paul would not save Gatewood because the inspiration of Joseph Smith is essential to salvation. Without Smith, we will be lost. This puts Smith ahead of Christ (though they may deny it.) Because each dispensation has been better than the preceding (II Corinthians 3:7) Christ was greater than Moses. Now if the dispensation ushered in through Smith - what the Latter Day Saints call the latter days - is not greater than that of 2,000 years ago, it is unnecessary because it would be a backward step. But if it is necessary, it is a greater, a better and more perfect dispensation, and thus the one who ushered it in is greater than the one who ushered in the previous dispensation.

[NOTE: See Debate for more notes if needed.]

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