Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-09-17
suiulpE A SIM

I vi AllN FNN NNNAANhH VI ANlNAAAAhAAhk NhANNNNa
IL was stated, II sesms, by the famous
Colon / lngeuoll, VINO r,suffeoled thu
OLD heather view that under certain
circumstances the best thing human
being could DO was 10 end his or her
own HE. Numerous letters then ap.
reared en- iorsing this batbar0us doc
iflue, while others debOuuced Il In
strong terms. Judging from the
voluminous correspondence published,
tho grim subject must have excited
considerable interest among the public,
and this fact may perhaps be taken NJ
an evidence that the philosophy Of the
ancient s.olcs had uuconsclously ob.
tanned nmer hold on this age than
might reasonably be expected, con.
sidoflng the loud pfoicision. Of admir-.
alton fos the iucompafably better
teachings Of the Founder Of Christian.
iy.
That agnostic. aud other schools OF
infdels should teach tho world 10 com.
NIT suicide, denying H. sinful onafac.
ter, IL no, strange; for what act can a
human being commit that In thu judg.
ment Of such moral teachers IL asii2
II, az they contend, there be- no su.
preme Judge Of the living and the
dead, whose decrees are founded ON
eternal Juslics, and n msn's life be
ended win his last breath on earth,
vani,hin Us tho vApor that iloats In
tbs air. there eau clearly be 40 sin.
Sin means moral condition Of man
opposed 10 the laws OF bic Eternal
Father aud acts oommi1tei violaiive Of
those laws. "Sln Ia not imputed where
there IL no law" Il correct New Tesla.
ment doctrine, aud the denial Of the
Divine law logically leads to
the conclusion that the word sin
IL but au empty phrase, aud
that self destruction, therefor,
may sometimes be- virtue. Such
doctrines are natural to iuhlelity.
Those who culoglEe suicide argue
. chiefly that man had no choice Ia
coming here aud should not be denied
I. the right TO leave the earth when ho
). feels 10 inclined. They holi that
3 whom sickness aud hsiple.snes, ON &C.
= count Of age and inflfmlties occur, IL
q 10 bstter to end tho earthly existence
k than 10 continue IL, abnrden 10 fellow
. men; all Of which reasoning ~ wrong
both In premises aud conclusions.
The subject assumes n widely differ.
} ent aspect when viewed In the light OF
, reason and tn, teAohings OF the Gospel.
: In the nrst place, man Ia not on
= earth by chance or accident His
I presence here is part ola Divine plan
4 necessary TOT tue development OF the
4 universe. The earth was not peopled
!, until after solemn councils In tn,
4 assemble. OF tho Almighty. It
:. cut this existence short IL au act Of
10 rebellion against this Divine plan,
@ Further, 1t Ia not true, that life was
q given us without our choice. VIVA
It took place In the eternal regions bcior,
10 this world was born Of chaos may nc
|. longer form part Of things We dis.
10 linctly recollcol; yet tho truth remain,
10 that when the foundations Of ihi,
r. earthly habitatlon were laid, all the
,, children Of ODD reloiced over the op.
10 pOrtunity to receive tabernacles AMI
an existence here. Lie, theu, IL O
sacred trust, voluntarily accepted. To
cut II or by suicide " to betray this
trust, to violate covenants sacred abov,
il all others.
q There can be no doubt that every In,
z dividual needs the whole OF his life on
. earth Ms a preparation Tor eternity
3 Only by fAithial'y Nlleading to their
o duties here, Whatever they may
o DO, can human beings attain per
B. lection OF character necessary for q
n continuation OF life In happiness ia
il eternity. One who takes his own IN,
y is very much la the position OF a stu
% dent who should run away premature
= ly from the institute where he has
20 been placed ~ loving psreu,s to per
n feet his education aud render hin
D. capable Of disoharging his duties "a
u citizen. And tue consequences will b,
D. similar, only unspeakably more serious
II Tho wrong, the siniulurss and the eyi
1t consequences OF such conduct are easily
10 comprehended when applied to tenn
To poral matters, but who eau mcasur,
I'd tho depths thereof when eternity II
+. cOncernel2
y Who eau say that poverty, sloknts'
10 indrmity and various painful expert
I'd enoes are not also necessary for IL,
70 probation Of those who suticr iron
a lhVm2 1t Is perfectly oonceiv
Io able that the schooling OF thee,
.e things Is applied by loving Pfoyi
p dynce Ia or4er TO bring out quanuel
OF humility sympathy, trust IL
rs God, etc., without which II Ia imnossl
IL bio 70 dwell IN the abOiei Of the per
al frCttd Saints. Gold is purified In Gre
ID the precious stones are cut that thei
~ lusiru may come out, anu the humag
'r soul has often 10 pass through tribula
g ton before IL eau ba arTayed In tina
e. white robe In which the multitude be-
Do fore the throne was dressed In tht
d. a Unnu1uNffn vIal.,. H. ..tN..l..