Sidney Rigdon to Oliver Barr, 15 November 1836. Latter Day S

Sidney Rigdon to Oliver Barr, 15 November 1836. Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate (Kirtland, Ohio) 2, no. 5 (February 1836): 258–63. Kirtland, November 15, 1835. Elder O. BARR, DEAR SIR:— A letter written by you to your brother of this place, was put into my hands by him some time since, with a request that I should answer it. A press of business prevented me of doing it until now. I can say that it is with a degree of pleasure, that I avail myself of the opportunity of forming an acquaintance with a stranger, by investigating an item of our holy religion, believing that there is nothing in this world, which could profit us more, than a fair and candid investigation of the subject of revealed religion: being myself a firm believer in revelation. Before I proceed to answer your four principal queries, I will notice some things said in the preceding part of your letter. You say, “The design of revelation, was, then, 1st To make known the being of God.” To this I must object, and my reasons for so doing are the following. Revelations from God were at all times the result of the faith of those who received them; for without faith it is impossible to please him.” [God] Now if revelations were the result of the faith of those who received them, this faith could not exist, without the persons [258] having it, had personally an idea of the being of God.