Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-03
WHERE lnG cnuHcn STANDS.

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The poaitlon Of the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Lattcr.dRy Saints among the
religious denominations Of tue world
has always boon well defined. From
tho beginning the Lord told Joseph
the Prophet that none Of tho oElslins
churches was tho true Church, hut
that II he would remain faithful he
should be instrumental IN restoring tho
G1sgcl ami build the Church anew,
never to be ovefthfown butte remain aa
the foundation d the Millennial king.
dom. IN acujriance with this tevcla'
Iion the Saints claim that the priml.
tive churches were overthrow, that
the true Gospel was not known Tor
centuries aud that Il has again been
proclaimed Ia this age by Inspired
Prophets OF God.
To thesc statements substantially hut
ono objection Is made, although
on two distinct grounds. The defend.
ets OF this Catholic organization claim
that the primitive churches developed
into the great religious body whose
head l. the pope, and that this was
done under the direction OF the Holy
Spirit Ia direct iuiiiment Of the
promise that the gates Of nell should
never prevail ayalas. the Church.
They claim to believe In God aud tbs
Savior, aud teach repentance, baptism
gor tho remission OF sins, the layinS on
Of hauis Tor the reception Of lhs Holy
Spirit, etc, according to ,he Gosprl oil
Christ. AposIatss aud horr.lcl IhoF,
always were, to DO sure. But tue
Church has not fallen away, they say,
The claim Of tho Saints that au
aposlasy had taken place ncoassilallng
a restoration lie therefore held to DO rb
surd aud ptepostorous.
The samc conclu'l5a il reached By
the Protostaots. These admit that Their,
was an apo.iasy VI tue main blIy Of
the visible church, but that Il was only
partial after al. They hold thai
through tho efforts Of the re'ormers the
Church was restored from its fallen
condition. Any further restoration Is,
therefore, In their view, supir1uous
and the Saints are deceived or deoeiv
ors. On this point Catholics aud Pc.
leslants are uaited.
II tho word 1i God and tho eoclesl-
astical history are conssltoi on thii
point II viii DO clear that tho position
Of the Saints /, fully sustained, not.
withdrawing the lab1rlous argument,
to the contrary. In tn, visions o
Daniel II is clearly shown that II
the posl.Apsslohc timc power shoul'
arise which should swear out tn,
SAINTS Of the Most High" a power o
which II is tald' "He shall destro!
wonderfully, aud shsll prosper an
PRACTICE And shall destroy the mighty
ami tho holy people" This fact wa
vol known in the first Christian
churches. tbs Apostles preached abou
IL ami appealed 20 It Ia their letter
Ns familiar truth. Paul reminll
the rhessal0uiaus OF the "son Of per
ditionn-which expression evidentl
reminds Of the history Of Judas, IN
iallen Apostlu-who SHOULD "slt Ia tn
Temple Of Gii snI oGalt himself owe
all thnt Is wouhiped," showing tina
that opposlns power described b.
Daniel was 10 be boxed fog In "a
very midst Of the churches. Its chal
ac,crlstcs are given. Not only Is il
great powerful. rs authority Is a,serle
by "sigus" auI "ying wonders,"
Is a "strong delusion,"a "depaTlur
, from tho faith" Aud branded vii
hypocrisy. John further describes th
Representatives OF this power ~ ruin
over "peopl0s aud mgltilulea an
nations anu tongues" ant aftayel &
"puTplo and scarlet color anu decke
with gold and precious STONES uu
PEARLS" This Is the general tenor
tho great up0s.asy ~ outlined by a.
oleut stors, 10 10 enough 20 f.m.r
that u, as our Catholic uuI Pro,rstal
b friends claim, there never was lauiu
On, or n 1t was only partial aud T.
nttIo consequence, thea ~ Thea.
prophecies have failed But II IN
"survr light Of prornec7" Is mlslead
ing, the word Of God 10 IN toto myth
History proves clearly that srers ,