J21 [JONES, Dan.] Gwahoddiad! (Invitation!) Swansea: Printed by D. Jones, [1854].

2 pp. 17.3 cm. Welsh Mormon Writings 81.

The full text of Invitation! appears in the 23 September 1854 Zion’s Trumpet (pp. 506–7). In the same issue is a seven-line announce­ment of its availability for two shillings per hundred. As conference presidents were encouraged to send in the names of branch presidents and to identify the places where they would be preaching, it appears that the intention was to print those details in the blank spaces provided on Invitation! as the quantities were ordered for each branch.

In the first paragraph of Invitation! the following exhortation is given to the reader: “For the sake of your immortal soul, believe the testimony of a truthful witness, that the following are principles of the only godly religion which has ever been and which is now on the earth.” Ten different aspects of Church doctrine are then given. The final 5 lines of Invitation! constitute an advertisement for all the pamphlets and publications then available at the Zion’s Trumpet office or from any of the Saints.

Three states of Invitation! have been identified, an indication of its widespread use in the proselyting effort.

Invitation!

Dear Reader,—Know that you must stand before the judgment bar of God! Remember that your works will establish your fate in the world to come! Believe an experienced friend saying that only the enjoyment of the true religion will bring you happiness in this world and in eternity; and for your immortal soul, believe the testimony of a truthful witness, that the following are principles of the only divine religion that is or ever has been in the world.

Do not let the influence of a false religion excite your emotions to cast this sincere ‘Invitation’ from your hand; for it is an irrefutable truth that God has spoken from the heavens what you must do to be saved. If you do all other things that every sect commands, and all you consider to be your duty, and neglect to do the following prescribed divine things, you will not be saved. Eternal life is not, nor ever has been, promised but only by obeying every word that proceedeth from the mouth of the Lord, whatever that word may be. He must receive complete obedience, from the heart, to every commandment He gives. The religions of those who change one jot or one tittle of the commandments of Jesus Christ cannot be divine even if all human wisdom professes them, praises them, or makes any other claim to the contrary; consequently, for the sake of your eternal salvation do not be charmed into believing them. Furthermore, if every preacher, author and editor, atheist, and drunkard, yes, even if the whole world joined together to claim that the following teachings are deceit, do not believe them, lest you deprive yourself of the true religion, rebel against God, and lose your soul because of so doing. Come then, to the place indicated below despite every opposition, and insist on hearing for yourself, for you will be judged for your own mind, and for yourself you must die, and live or die again for eternity; come to listen for your­self, and you can hear that the scriptural, logical truths, divinely proved to you yourself are:—

I. That an Angel from heaven has come to earth with a mission for all its inhabitants, which contains clear and correct instructions as to how to receive forgiveness of sins and obtain salvation.

II. That is it impossible for any religion to be divine unless its pos­sessor enjoys direct revelations himself.

III. Faith in the testimony of living witnesses to believe in the exis­tence of God the Father, in the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascention of his Son Jesus Christ to heaven, as our abundant Redeemer, to believe and obey all his commandments, and to believe also in the powerful work­ings of his Holy Spirit according to his promises.

IV. Repentance from all evil, and a determination to keep from all things that are contrary to the law of God.

V. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and that this is the only ordinance established by Christ to obtain forgiveness.

VI. The present enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of the Elders,—as a witness of the Spirit of God’s approval,—prophecy,—speaking in unknown tongues,—interpretation of tongues,—receiving visions, and healing the faithful sick by the laying on of hands and the prayer of faith, and receiving all necessary revela­tions for salvation.

VII. A complete apostasy of the whole world from the purity of the gospel, and its deprivation of the Kingdom of God for ages.

VIII. A complete restoration of the Kingdom of God to the earth, in its offices, ordinances, teachings, discipline and blessings as established by Jesus Christ, its Head, which is proved by hundreds of thousands of witnesses throughout the world, by several thousands throughout Wales, and some in your midst.

IX. The gathering of the children of God together to the place on the earth appointed by Him, to be taught more precisely in the law of the Lord, to build Zion, and to be delivered from the diseases, the plagues, and wars that are already beginning throughout the world; the famines, earthquakes, contentions, and the frightful destruction that is at the door, and which will come like vengeance of the Almighty on the disgraceful refusers of this gospel.

X. Sermons on several majestic teachings, such as the Resurrection of the body to life.—The resurrection to the second death.—The res­toration of all things.—The personal reign of Christ on the earth for a thousand years.—The binding of Satan.—his release, and his eternal fate.—The end of the ungodly.—The new Heaven and the new earth, &c., &c.

Reader! come, we repeat, and hear for yourself, so that you may be able to judge these truths, understand them, obey them, and enjoy their promises youself.

N.B. There will be preaching in , every Sunday at 11:00 o’clock in the morning, and at 6:00 in the evening. We are ready to preach at any time desired by those who invite us to their homes.

We have a variety of pamphlets on all the above principles, &c., which are available in the “Zion’s Trumpet” Office, Swansea, for various prices, and also refutations that will satisfy every honest man, to the false accusations that are proclaimed about us and our religion, as far as we have seen, which can be obtained through the post by pre-payment, or by inquiring of the Saints.