Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-26
"a UNIVERSAL CRISIS,

THE fulfilment Of prophecy i
brought about by the operation o
natural laws, and the ability TO com
prehend these laws and the RESULT
which must flow from them, consti
tutes. in many instances, leading
element Of the prophetic gift
Men are able, by means Of the natu.
raj powers Of their minds, to com.
prehend a condition which is close
upon or actually surrounding them,
but it is the office Of inspiration to
descry developments when they are
afar off, expound the laws that are
operating TO produce them, and &c
give warning Of their approach.
To assert that a man was false
prophet because the events pre-
dIcted by him come to pass in what
is called a natural way, and as re-
suits Of natural causes, would be
absurd, true test Of lIts inspiration
being the fact that he foretold them
at time or under circum-
STANCES that would have render
ed it impossible for the human
intellect, unaided by the power Of
God, to have foreseen then.
The prophet Joseph Smith, in
I the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and
Covenants, and other writings and
sayings put forth by him, predicted
developments Of the moststupendous
magnitude to take place on the
earth. A fulfilment Of these fore
casts involves extensive wars Of the
most destructive character; radical
changes in the forms and funda-
mental principles Of human gov
ernments, and in the organization
Of society; the abolition Of existing
religious systems, and the establish
ment OF az order Of things all over
the world which will insure TO
every human being absolute liberty
and Independence, and complete
immunity from bondage and injus-
tice, in any and every form, at the
hands of his fellows. The state Of
rest is to follow the developments Of
violence and change.
At the time when these predie-
tions were first made, the most
.erudite and penetrating among the
world's writers and statesmen could
see no symptom Of their fulfilment;
but the half century which has
elapsed since then has brought some
OF the predicted conditions so close
upon a number Of the leading ma
lions that they are fully realized,
while others, somewhat more re-
mote, are plainly discerned by in
telligent investigators Of social
phenomena. Thus Zola, the French
novelist, most Of whose life has beea
spent in the study ofsocial problems,
expresses the opinion that the labor
demonstration planned to take
place in all the countries Of Europe
on May first, Is "a premonitory
sign Of a universal crisis.''
be adds that ''the present social
state Of the world is about
to disappear into history )"
and advises those in power TO
closely watch the progress Of events
and ''use every means to insure a
peaceful revolution" In other
words, Zola SEES the spirit Of popular
government spreading rapidly and
irresistibly. He sees that the masses
viii not much longer submit TO the
rule Of the classes, and that thsy
will soon seize fower with their
own hands. This he knows they
are not fitted 10 use, and that its ex-
ercise by them means social haTi
kari. So close at hand are these
conditions that they can now be
confidently predicted without the
aid OF that inspiration necessary to
foresee them fifty years ago. The
bolder and more penetrating stu
dents Of social science, do not hesi-
tate to state with great confidence,
that a universal crisis IN the affairs
and organization Of human society
is at hand.
That changes so radical and far
reaching as those which now seem
imminent, can be consuinmated
peacefully, is more than the most
sanguine optimist among the stu
dents Of future events hopes for. On
the contrary, force, mans first and
instructive recourse, in either ag-
erosion or defense, will he extern
sively If not universally employed,
among all nations. There will be |
one spot, however, where war will |
not be rampant. 1t will be the /
place where dwell a people whose
will be peace; for in the
midst Of the almost universal COM |
motion which will prevail. such n
people viii exist.
Looking with pity and commits
Grafton upon afflicted and distressed
humanity, the Latter-day Saints
viii maintain haven of peace, ana
invite all who desire its restful shell
ter TO enter it. Those who will not
fight against their neighbors, win
accept and act upon this Invitation.
That form Of government which
alone will survive the commotion
in ancient and modern
and now 50 close uponithe
world, will be a combination Of the
popular and kingly. 1t win be CEN
.erei in a Monarch, but will be
based upon the consent Of the gov
srnei. Under it viii be established
he freedom and Independence Of
the individual, and the state Of
peace foretold in the Scriptures to
iollow the second coming Of the Son
IF Man. 1t viii be the rule Of the
King Of kings and Lord of lords.