I understand that the Rev.

Hatcher does not accept that as scripture, but that is not the point.

The point is, the above quote was recorded by Joseph Smith in 1838. So

the name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is not a recent

change in our name because of the 2002 Olympics! It has always been the

name of our church.

Incidentally, in my nearly

50 years in this church, I have never referred to any other member of

my church as a "Mormon," nor have I ever heard anyone else in

the church use that term to describe members of our church. It is a name,

originally an opprobrium, given to us by nonmembers! Among my friends,

we sometimes will refer to ourselves casually as "LDS" (meaning

"Latter-day Saints"), but we just don't use the term "Mormon"

the way that nonmembers do when they refer to us.

Because our nonmember friends

DO use that term, you'll sometimes find the term "Mormons" used

we are. Thus, the spiritual and family-oriented messages from our church

that appear on television often end, "A message from the Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ­ the 'Mormons.'" And of course,

there is the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir." (I suspect that the

name, "The Tabernacle Choir of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day

Saints" may be too long to put on a record or CD label!)

Because so many members of

other faiths do not understand that "Mormons" means "members

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and also because

so many of those "nonmembers" erroneously believe that we aren't

even Christians, our leadership has felt it appropriate in recent years

to stress our "real" name, so that the message might get through

more clearly.

Second, the Rev. Hatcher writes

that all Christian religions can be divided into two "camps"

­ those that believe in faith, and those that believe in works. He

states that "Mormons" are in the "works" category.

But our church believes that both faith and works are necessary. In fact,

our doctrine considers faith (NOT works!) to be the first principle. "For

no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall

have faith in his name ... " Moroni 7:38.

"We believe in God, the

Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

­ 1st Article of Faith.

"We believe that the first

principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord

Jesus Christ ..." 4th Article of Faith.

So, again ­ faith is a

requirement! But faith and works are not mutually exclusive! In fact,

Biblical scriptures say it is essential that good Christians should evidence

their faith by their works. "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that

faith without works is dead? ... For as the body without the spirit is

dead, so faith without works is dead also." ­ James 2:20,26.

So it would be more accurate

to say that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

believe that both faith and works are necessary. This belief of both faith

and works is shown in this Latter-day Saint scripture: "For we labor

diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren,

to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it

is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." ­ 2 Nephi,

25:23.

So both James and Nephi stated

that we are expected by our Heavenly Father to demonstrate our faith by

doing works. If we do NOT do good works that we are capable of doing,

then we must accept that we have not done all that God expects of believers.

HOWEVER! Works alone, no matter

how good, how consistently done, how extensive they may be, are NOT adequate

to get us into "Heaven"! "I say unto you that if ye should

serve him who has created you from the beginning ... I say, if ye should

serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."

­ Mosiah 2:21.

So, no matter what manner of

good works we perform in this life, even if we devoted our entire life

working those good works, we would still be " unprofitable servants".

So it seems obvious that works, by themselves, are insufficient to secure

our entry into "Heaven".

The reason that we are absolutely

dependent on Jesus Christ is because we have all sinned! As Paul said,

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." ­

Romans 3:23.

Because of these sins, each

of us would be doomed if it were not for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which he offers to us through his infinite atonement. "Mormons"

believe that Jesus Christ is the only path to "Heaven." "...

behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord

God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this

Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved."

­ 2 Nephi 25:20.

So, in effect, Christ opens

the door to "Heaven" for us through his Atonement. But we believe

we are expected to walk through that door, with deeds befitting a person

who has a testimony of Christ as his personal Savior.

Third, the Rev. Hatcher suggests

that, because "Mormons" believe that they are not supposed to

drink tea, that "Mormons" believe that all other religions "that

host dinner-on-the-grounds with plenty of sweet iced tea" are apostate.

That would be hilarious, if it weren't for the fact that many of his readers

probably believe that "Mormons" really do think that!

We believe that a person will

be judged by Jesus Christ at Judgment Day for the law that he knew and

understood, not by the law that somebody ELSE believes in! Nobody will

be held responsible for "violating" a law that he didn't even

know existed!

As it happens, even a "Mormon"

can drink tea (or coffee, or booze) without being considered apostate!

(A true apostate would probably be excommunicated, but he would have to

be guilty of far greater sins than drinking tea!) True, a tea-drinking

member would miss out on some great possibilities, because he would not

(for example) be allowed to serve in any of our Temples. But he could

still participate in most other areas of church life!

So, since we don't even consider

our OWN members who drink that stuff to be apostate, it is ludicrous to

suggest that we consider tea-drinkers of OTHER faiths to be apostates!

Yes, I understand that the

Rev. Hatcher was speaking in a jocular way, and I think that he did it

to make fun of our doctrines. If you don't sincerely believe that drinking

tea is a transgression of the law, then I believe that, for YOU, it is

NOT a transgression!

Again ­ we will be judged

beliefs. Anyhow, there are so many worse sins than drinking tea that it

hardly seems worthwhile for him to make such a big point of it!

The Rev. Hatcher may be right

when he says, "Still, however, the dividing line falls between religion

of grace and works." Well, next time he makes public his dividing

line concerning the "Mormons," kindly ask him to indicate that

we believe that BOTH faith and works are necessary for good Christians

to have. Also, that, like him, we "Mormons" are utterly and

absolutely dependent on the grace of Jesus Christ and his Infinite Atonement.

Sincerely (and trying hard

to be a good Christian),

F. William Houghtaling

6701 Van Haven Drive

Raleigh, NC 27615

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