| Show MORMONISM A FORCE IN THE WOULD it la Is a striking fact clear to 0 o all stu donth tsi or of religious thought that within the last fifty years a radical change bance has baa taken place in the views of christians and particularly of those lo in this country many doctrines once considered fundamental have beat either discarded or modified while others ot bore have hare passed through the acaru tiny of rational with the result consult that the underlying principles have been grasped the process la ito still till going oo av mankind la Is on the advance vance fr just emerging trona from a lower class into a higher one where it will aae ae possible to comprehend more fully ahe philosophy to which the previous sudi rudimentary sedimentary knowledge formed but an introduction not many years ago in the orthodox theology salvation con consisted slated mainly in the escape in a life to come from that awful place of everlasting torture today salvation ie first of aalthe reecie of human buman leiuga from the power of elu and the imparting to them of strength to do right it lifts the soul out of its ita littleness litt lenew and selfishness and fill ellla it with interests inte reate of a higher character the atonement itself was wae formerly considered red hardly any more moret than bau goasa god arbitrary an innocent for tue guilt uil of the he races race while now it Is ia understood that the buffering of carbt were part of a universal law jaw that bat redemption Is IB impossible and eternal glory unattainable except through self zee the bible is no longer universally regarded as ae the infallible word of god od but rather as the treasury containing the invaluable kama of the abe divine utterances which therefore re iraln precious preci oue like diamond whatever ever dust duat may accidentally have fallen on them throughout the ages agee thus on nearly all subjects the attitude has baa been changed that this is i in accordance with the general plan of the almighty for the perfection of hla his children to in wisdom and knowledge and understanding and for the promotion of bapp happ ineer is i unquestionable the hand bund of providence to ie plainly visible in taip just fuse as ae it was when mankind emerged from the mosaic to the abe christian dispensa tion the change will ultimately become NAI as marked as complete it Is also plain to the thoughtful observer that the religious ious known as an mormonism has been and is one or of the most potent factors in this doctrinal and ethical revolution with ane appear ance of the inspired messengers of this age the great and marvelous work for which preparations had been made for centuries commenced in earnest As paul once stood in advance of his age and proclaimed principles ja el watch were deatti destined oed to revolutionize the world in which he jived misunderstood and died a martyr so joseph the prophet stood in this generation era tion tiou truth troth Is invincible and the effects of the prophete Prop heta heti mission are now clearly discernible in almost evory every dorner corner of the religious 0 us world anyone who will study the tha the of mormonism impartially must acknowledge that the beet beat adv advanced a need thought on theological ical subject hap bar already been set pat forth by the martyr of carthage the general tendency to approach to ism in theology gives ground fur or the expectation that soine day our on of the cardinal principles 0 that tom tern will be more generally accepted accept eil namely the aeed of direct revolution revelation from heaven at present christian struggle along as an beet beat they can guided by their own intellectual powers an arrive at truths after much hesitancy and uncertainty oo on dt di paths palho when sophi sophisms sms often assume the appearance of valid the result is confusion difference of opinion m stakes BS as to practical meave of eavlyn abe world or weakness nud error in fin tre ote battle evil undoubtedly th day will come when honest must acknowledge that Mor mormonism niam alone points out the dermedy against this it ii re establishes that thai communication muni cation with god which led the ancients and without which the church is in hardly better than a life leu less form it la Is evidently the demit mit aloo of mormonism Mormon sm to lead the way to that mount of on where the disciples of the moister master are permitted to mingle with mea Rengers from rooi heaven pont bent to com communicate with them uvan up in the questions social and oth otherwise erwis f in which the human family Is ie interested no doubt no fear need be entert euter tal alred r ad as to the fulfilment fulfillment of this thia miss loti the church of christ in this age during its brief existence has hac air edy ady endured much and stood blood the test tear there abere have been times when the ship has bae been tossed about from wave to wave and down clown in the abyss of ion while the clouds of perse persecution cutton draped the dark sky eky all around yet be lord has bid the waves to fall ano lag he storms storm to be calm and there hai bao always been a harbor when what needed there may have been other times when the energy of the 8 ints became impaired on account of prosperity liy and a desire for the things of the world when the mission was lost eight of and something else filled the soul sou but even for such emergencies there are provisions made by him whose work the church em bouler the foler following from the doctrine and covenants Is a wonderful promise premise of the continued interference on behalf of the church until its if great minion inta e world shall have been accomplished it le la one of the many passages in this sacred volume that bat inspire bote bode and encourage to faithful ess in the commas cadee for it predicts predicta that all shall finally be arranged according to the gospel proclaimed by the fl farst rat of our father yea thus saith the still small voice which whis through and pier ceth all things and afen ofen of en times it madeth my hones bones to quake while it mabeth manifest baying and lc it shall come to pass that 1 I the lord god will send one mighty and strong holding the scepter of power in his hand clothed with light for a covering I 1 n whose hose mouth shall utter words eternal alword at word n words while his hill bowels shall be a fountain of truth to set in 0 order f der the he house of clod and to te arrange by lott lot thee the of buhe salute saints whose are found and the names of their fathers abhors and of their children enrolled in 14 the book of bf the law of god while that mao man who was called of god and appointed that forth hla his hand blind to steady the arlt ark of god sha abai I 1 fall by the sh shaft a ft of death like lika as d a tree that to te smitten bv the vivid shaft of lightning and all they not found written in the book of remembrance boball find and none inheritance in that day but they shall be cut asunder and their portion shall be appointed them among liev ers err where are wailing and gnashing of teeth anese things I 1 say aay not of myself therefore as the lord speak speake eth tb he will alao fulfill ful till doe doc and cov sec 85 6 10 |
