Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-12-02
SAVING OPPORTUNITIES BLIOND
TIE GRAVE.

lhE GRAVE.
Recently n friend OF the NEWS made
inquiry Of an eastern publishing nm
regarding some genealogical literature
no desired TO obtain. Ia replying to
his communication thesr publishers
AK our friend, by letter, why ho t5ok
an interest In matters pertaining D.
family pCilgroCA Ho cont a written
explanation, and o. the suffice, o' tho
Rppl ication Of the plan aud principles
Of the GospoI 10 the dead who departed
without obeyiug IT, IN one Of both
general and special Interest, We here
with present the greater portion " the
gontiemsn's exposition Of tbs sublime
theme;
The basis Of ny Interest In tho sub.
Jecl In question b.; that an member
Of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter.
day 5alnis, commonly known 81 the
mormon" Church.
IL becomes necessary now 10 explain
why this Church mumuorlhip should
cause me 20 tako ana interest IA family
genealogical. To make this matter
clear iuvolvcs statement { some o.
The prominent features OF the faith Of
tho Saints. The latter claim 10 have tho
same organization and doctrines us
those which characterized the Church
established by Jesus on tho EASTERN
hemisphere; hence their boly.religious
Includes "Apostl,s and Psophvts,"
High Pflesls, Seventies, Elders,
Priests, Toaohors, Dnaoous anti al
other officers and autnou,iol Of which
the New Testament makes mention.
These arc organized into quorums,
three High Priests, constituting the
Fint Presidency, being at tho heal,
with the Twelve Apostles ranking
next In order, and 30 on. The duties ol
each grade arc clearly anu specifically
deilncd, NJ as 20 operate Ia unbrokon
hatmony each with all the others.
In relation TO doctrine, II may be-
said that II embraces "truth wherever
iound,' AMI ~ Wide a range will only
admit Of limited explanation. How.
ever faith In tins atonoment OF jesus
Christ may DO regarded NJ tho basic
principle, and In a general way Il may
DO stated that the faith Of the Saint. |
demands obedience 10 tho teachings o. |
tho Savior und all His inspired sor.
vanls, ancient anu modern; hence it |
includes the doctrines Of faith, repent. !
ance Of sin, baptism by immersion 70 |
water for the remission Of sins and the |
laying on Of the hands Of tue autho..
lied servants Of God TOT tho impaftlnr. /
to the honest seeker aitor ealyation, s, |
the Holy Ghost Thus las vlug laid |
the foundation for n godly life, aid q |
by the Divine Spirit, they are required |
to press forward TO the perfect DAY.
l DO not suppose that any rvrsoa |
familiar with the Scriptures will have |
the temrriiy TO disluie tho claim that |
these are icripiural doclrlnes. hut |
they Involve points which could NO, |
be established without new revelation,
A. divine authority can only bo inn
parted through that channel. Ho who |
acts as an agont for God must bo |
authorized 10 assume tnat position,
otherwise what he does ia tho name |
OF the Divine Master will stand In |
danger Of being repudlated, as can b. |
sustained readily by analoyicsl reason. |
ing associated with human affair @.
Divine concerns Afe much more sacred /
than those that are merely human auI |
thoy must DO much more clofoly |
guarded. Il IL claimed by the SALINE
that Prophet (J0-eph SMITH W.,
raised up In modern times 70 estaUIIsl
anew the true Church Of Christ In IT,
iullnesa OF organization, ordinance,
principle AMI power / do MT exppg.
that you will believe this, but am not
writing tbs belief Of these who may
perusc this slalgm5nt lu. ,le laith %
myself ami my CJ-go,lgiomsls.
You may ask what all this has 10 d.
with my Interest do geuesl0gy. will
shortly show that what is already
tuh'ei D. merely preliminary 10 GA
main point ol my explanation, which .
viii follow,
The Church with which am idenu. !
ned claims that the plan OF redemption
WAS mot devised In tho DIvIucAiiaIfor
The benefit of any one or more cls1.ss
of manklud, lgl Tor tho salvation of
Che race, usH whole. such 70 paaItiu8
could not uu maintained o. ITO saving
effects and blc.arga should be- CON.
hlei 90 those wul have opportunities
OF embracing Cos principles lu tu.s lie. /
Myfiaus pass through ths human, OF
proualonaryslato without ever having
heari the name VI Chris. uttered. no
bring them under condemnation be-.
cause tney dii not comply with comb.
tons OF which they never heard,
would bel parody on common, not T.
say divine, jualoe.
Notwithstanding this, it ia evident
that gtlyntiUu npoyruiUe D., tl,. t. |