Hebrews 12:2; “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
To simply “choose” one verse to describe the first principle of a Christian’s faith is impossible. I offer my very humble thought by saying this is the first verse that came to mind when I saw Smith’s comment.
The vocabulary he chose to use was revealing to me. It revealed that he probably didn’t have a relationship with Jesus because of the phrase “holy religion”. Christianity is only referred to as a religion by those who aren’t part of the body of Christ.
The second thing that stood out was the statement “we have a right”…
Christians don’t typically speak this way. Our “rights” belong to Christ. If we don’t look to Him for truth then we can’t be called His follower. Many people believe in Jesus. My father believes Jesus, but he’s not a follower – there’s a huge difference!
If the first principle of our faith isn’t the object of our faith which for Christians is Christ Jesus, then nothing else matters.
When another person of faith asks if you’re a believer they don’t ask what denomination you are – they’re asking if you’re a Christian. That is the first principle!
Collecting so called truths from “whence they come” is idolatry. Smith was hanging out with Masons and other people (aka his family) who practiced witchcraft. What you think might be right in your own mind could very well be evil in God’s eyes – Jeremiah 17:9.
There is only one truth and one way as Jesus said in John 14:6.