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Show . . , ' . , .., .... - - , Church , DePor1mont . THE DESERET ;NEWS, SATURDAY. DECEMEER , - ' ' 17, 1918. , - - ' , - 7 t. Why The Three Wise. MenAnd, The. Star? . ., , , .... , , .. , ,. 3 , . ? i,,, , ,.. .. , . .. , t , ' ' , .,A, , , , ' r'' .'r ' i'14, i..,, ' ' , '' - . ' 4 , , .. , , . '. ,. Bosoms in the highest" idatt. NIL A BEAuTuruta incident, eon- e. sleeted with the first advent of our Lord, Is related in Matt. 2: "Wise men from the Last" cam. to Bethlehem, guided by some brilliant star, to Pee homage to the Ling. Who were these Wise men," also known as Magi? In Babylonia there was, in olden tittles, a large, influential class, con swung of "magicians, astrologers and sorcerers." These were the "wise men" of the country. (Dan. 2:2 48.) Nebuchadnesser exalted the young prophet, Daniel, after he had Interpreted the famous rob' al dream, to the position of chief of the governors of this ruling class. Through the Influence of the PraPind, the main principles of Judaism became known to these Magi. They became acquainted with the Inspired prophecy of Besiam: "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise them bad embraced Sedation and become ancestors of numerous eaVI sicendants. Nowr wheat the "time54 of the Prophet Daniel were eceet' pleted, and the expected Star bad appeared, as a celestial herald of the advent of the King of the Jews( these wise men. and their govern. meat, naturally deemed it nee's miry to obtain more Information concerning the details. Where wat he btorn? What was his parentage? thee. (Matt. IL) Would be. in words. as King of the Jew. have any future claim to the extern n throne? There may have been some sucliT political reason tor their coming. If en, they soon learned that the babe In Bethlehem was not a mem ace to any worldly government, at - i, . Out of Israel. (Hum. 24:17). Also with the wonderful prophetic book of Daniel, and they were COnStanir for the ly watching the star-li- t sky them of astronomical sign that told of Messianic the the fulfilment prophecies. But there must have been a ope cial reason tor the expensive en pedition of these wise men. it should be remembered that during the exile of the Jew', many eastern immigrants from Persia and elsewhere went to Palestine ' and settled there. Governors were . - , -- , , - Rarth. Tim Star of Bethlehem hes been discussed by Bible students. mike-to-g opinions have developed. Skeptics bays, of couraeo doubted the historical truth of the narrative.: There is a mysterious star which has been called the 'Star of Bethlehem" in modern times. Lieutenant 'rotten telt" us in "Our Rare," Sec. 2. 1.1 S. that that heavenly Iwoin inary was expected to appear 180.1., which he regarded as one of the ominous years in 'Aston?. The Mar, according to the Lieu , , - - A -- ---- , -- - '' , --- - -' , ., , . , . seen, he says, in 945 A. IX, end then In 1264. Tycho Drab., the lemons astronomer. saw It in Nov. 11. On returning borne In the evening be found a number of people gam. Mg at the sky. To his surprise he sew a star which, he kit certain, . bad not been seen to exist ball en hour previously. It was as bright , as Sirius. It Increased in bririttne$4 until it surpassed Jupiter and could be seen even in the daytime. In December Its brilliancy bcgan to - decrease and In larch. the star. apparently. disappeared. Some have regarded this luminary as the mar which the wise men raw. Lien. tenant Totten did Dot, , hare this - ,, . ,,w., ' - .., , T . author !, ',- 14. . ' - I Ilm'a.;'"t1;7 of Bethlehem was a miraculous light. soma unknown celestial phenomenon. prepared by the Lord for this special occasion. 'Lieutenant Totten adds another thought. that the wise men were reminded to be on the lookout for this light, by a rematkahle eon- tnction of the planets Jupiter and , I, aought star , , the ve mentio-;;;d7---ha- , ' 7111411:elAIP r aa v I: 11) ei atn' Oe: 1 r::ini OC let . to fiLie , li a:111' 1:: oYlc :11 - , and placed the birth of our Satin(' In the year 748 A., U. C. bleier yen-fl- ed calculations. and Keplor's 4 Ericke found that the three con. junctions occurred on Slay 2. 0o. tuber I, and Decenintr 6, 747. of , . i t the Roman era. I take it that LI the wise men r bad begun their journey to Jetta. , ' .; ' , i ' salem, not long after the third con. ' junction in Ifrecembrr, they would , have reached liethieliem in time to .: 'd s:,,, , Worship and present tiwir tributes appointed by the eastern supreme to Jesus, who was born on April G. rulers. Some of these satraps, or L. ----- -'vice kings, were princes of the Naturally, the holy family remain. - ,,-- -,., ' ' I eti some time in liethithem before.' royal Wood, heirs, perhaps, to the to The Christ - , The wise men journey they left for Nazareth., wherefore throne, in case of a vacancy. Some ' f , , ,L , , the distinguished visitors were re' ' : : ceived in the house tMaU. 2.11), ,, , not in the stable. -' 1 ' i ' As 'stated, the eadsorStion of thewise men was a symbol of the day , . When all the nations of the woi id -Jesuit totLorti and our life shall we find it. We character development 0.tatal.lifay,0 (Continued From Page Four) .shallacknosietire. commis-stoned authori comes from obedience to know that we have been and God. Our Savior Himself saw to admire us if they do. I said our 'established to preach the gospel to to a such submission, 4 . ty, symbol when, years later, some Grecians asked for an inter. religion is the foundation of our rules of conduct. every nation, kindred, tongue and We believe in a single morals. This implies and directs The world is always willing to When tie learned their de. People. view, standard. We profess fair dealthat we shall be responsible for He exclaimed. "The hour is recognize those who can develop our neighbor and askist him In ethical conduct among large;. sir, ing as a fundamental principle of come, that the Son of Man should ourselves We our faith. declare every proper way. groups of society, who can urge be glorified?! lJohn 1243). to be obedient to the priesthood There are some among us who of theme strangers was, to people to restrain themselves from presence are alarmed at the kindly way the and the authority of those who are the beginning of the day of intettering and molesting others chosen to direct our lives hereupon Mormons are received in the world restraining their liberty and de. , complete victory aver the "god of retheir our this earth. Those of the Church Things feel property. that stroying kindly today. They this world." we are who pay an honest tithing of ten that are good for society ere no-- y The coming of the wise men was ceptMn in otin Indication omitted by the leaders of society per cent of their earnings, who becoming part of the world. lotting the beginning of the fulfilment of and the Mormon experience and ' the vision our Identity and peculiar charm. pay their fast offerings equivalent of John the Revelator: , , to the value of the meal from it beheld, and, In, a great ntuttl. teristics. example stands .out as oneC)1of the h.' which they abstain one Sunday In It is my hope that such Is not no num could remerop which tude, , erw.on age. case. we each month. who accept the caU are not the That losing ber, of ell tuitions, and kindred', to devote such time to the further. our Ideallam I hope ea! are in a Other OantrIbetione and people. and tongues, stood bsNew Era. which slarted,November build-- ante of the work of the 'Lord as tktie in fore the throne, end before the very Experiences are an those who in re1938 directed by or maybe some time ago. 23, Lamb, clothed with white robots, log base contributed to the ,. contrn of this the are our time out bear will totemunilY A , and palms 10 their hands people hopes thority, hops iipect that those In out of of - " end all hatred our that that round our respect of lutmity who enjoy the the not 'pee.feeigraiAfied angelsstood., , ' and - prejudiee ' '' here that Father ILub their neighbors. have been'.ahayed boui. the throne and about the el. , it 'Was fold(beve ' to the extent that we are better feel in the four beast, and bard. a Catholic priest, addressed and dere Latterdayof Saints should able to help each other. a large congregation and assisted before the throne on their fates, this time political unrest and now received find We Amend ourselves to withhold Judgment In raising the last money peeve and worshiped God, saying. persecution brothers. on the Caas friends and neighbors. We find We as a peosat7 to clear the debt upon their Blessing. and glory, end wisdom, that Madeleine. associates our have Sod of the that of brotherhood thedral in respect believe the and thanksgiving, and honor, ple on East we edifice have us fortitude when Catholic the for beautiful unto our God man. We believe that Christ is power and might, be to live In accordance with our pro. South Temple. taelL Amen." our elder brother and that we do for ever and aver. feinted belief. Our friends have obWe should be gratified with the have a resPonsibility to care for of many served the for better missionary our neighbor. We know that no opportunity The beginning of thie Latter-da, Saints and have admir' man can live alone unto himself aCel 41 was tiethieherni (Continued On Page Eight) d it- - They have watched the , and that only as we lose ourselves ' - ' 14. ,:. - i r T , , . , ' 11, : ' - . , , Savior of the world. Their corninit4 - was a prophetic incident, owing VItertley when all the world. -and Gentile. will acknowl .1,7:47.7 is the only Ruler of the at "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed, Be that Cometh. , In the name of the Lord; ' -, . , , ' .. Iritt Star of Bethlehem gives to the she pherds the sign of the birth of the Savior. ; ' ' tenant Is the Most splendid tele& Bernd thought. end that God had a By J. M. Slodahl , special care of him. ea Ills Son. the ' hal body ever' observed. It wits , Dew-bor- ' ,, , , , t ' 4 . , a : ' , ' .,, i 1 ' 4 ' , '''4' ' . -- "- ' - ,, ' , ..sfob61.6..:1..'e ress J . , , .:' '' ' ; ': ; , : , - . y , , t. t i , |