Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-02-09


leading Califomiapaper OF a quotation !
from the writings Of the venerable John |
Wesley, now in possession Of Ia notable |
Methodist divine, and which contained |
the astounding declaration that Wesley |
held that God Is a progressive being" |
This new and strange doctrine was the |
subject Of much comment and spirited |
discussion among Methodist divncs.
and the conclusion reached was that |
Wesley was $50 years ahead Of the times,
theologically.
Now to many Of the Latter-day Saints |
this doctrine Is not new as they hold |
that view. According to Webster. Prog |
fcss means advance in knowledge, In. |
tellcctual or moral improvement; pro.
fc.cncy The student recommended Tot |
his progress in learning; the Christian |
for his progress In virtue aud piety |
Clifford says, Hath reared thy name up |
to besthdc a cloud, or progress in the |
chariot Of the SUM-"
Progress in the arts and sciences Is a |
Characteristic Of the nineteenth century |
period; Progress In the religious eonccp- |
tons OF the world has generally bsen be.
hind the march Of science for the obvious
reason that the ancient creeds Of the |
fathers are Of a cast iron mould, incapable |
OF expanding to the ever progressive |
powers OF the mind. While some Of the !
fundamental principles and doctrines of |
the Church Of Christ may be embodied !
~ a written code. no code can be de.
yised that will embrace all the pnuCi.
pies, doctrines and laws necessary 10
The growth OF the Church under every
stage OF Us progress from mortality 10
10 immortality Paul ssys' Therefore,
leaving the first principles OF the doc.
trinc Of Christ, let us 70 ON unto petlgc-
ton" Joseph Smith renders the pas.
much clearer, thuU Therefore net leav.
ing etc, let us 20 on unto perfection.
To Illustrate. In the line Of mathcmat. |
icll progress no fundamental truth is |
ever omitted IN an advanced course. "a |
straight line is the shortest path between |
two given points" whether used In the |
Measurement OF q simple right angle or |
or In the complex methods Of the comic |
sections. We mhy measure distance TO |
the sun, by is use, or compute the area /
OF house floor. The Articles Of Faith, |
written by the Prophet Joseph, will re- |
main unaltcrably true and no suhsc-
quent truth. however advanced can |
ever ahrogate them. but although this Is !
true those articles do not close the !
channel Of continuous revelation. For
instance. the First Presidency and the
Twelve Apostle are scmi.annullly sus-
tanned as Prophets, Scers and RcvclntoB
TO the Church. This Office includes the
scCric and prophetic gifts, but no one Of
these has the right, single or alone
except the President, to write command
mCuts to the Church. but they may
speak the word Of the Lord as moved
upon, yet even as great and highly priv
LEGGED a man MS Oliver Cowdety was
forbidden TO write by way Of command.
ment to the Church. Now. u any
written code could embody all the mind
OF the Lord to His Church, then are
these offices vain. u an Apostle magni.
ties his calling he Is the mind Of the
Lord to the Saints. living oracle OF His
will 10 them, and His Instructions can
cannot be rejected with impuuty;
indeed, the perfection Of the Saints will
largely be reached through this council
OF holy men, Now, II any written creed
could compass AL the truths necessary
to eternallIile, whylthesc omcles2
The Characteristic difference, then, be-
tween any church eXtant and the Church
Of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints lies
In the word OF God revealed from faith
10 faith" Paul was perfectly familiar
with the progressive principle in religion,
as seen In the following quotations
whether there be tongues they shall
cease, whether there be knowledge %
shall vanish, for We know In part The
question arises, how can knowledge
vanish away The answer Is, that know
ledge which Is in part will disappear or
be absorbed by the iulue,s as the light
OF the moon Is absorbed bv the sun.
one Of the essential features OF an
progression lies iu the law OF associl,
ton, without which intelligence could
never be conveyed from one mind to
another. Seli.eNisteut intelligence land
all intelligence Is self existent otherwise
the absurdity OF producing all elemental
substances from nothing would have to
be ?dmitted, which Is :the climax
OF mathematical absurdity) inherently
possesses the power OF voluntary
motion and correspondence. Who ever
grasped the term association In lis high.
est sense' The language OF modern
revelation gives subUmest thought to
this subject Newton reached the idea
ola power that holds revolving worlds
In their orbits, causing matter 10 seek
common centre, but Joseph Smith.
taught OF God Himself, penetrated Gr
beyond him in those iew words that
have raised him vastly higher than any
other thinkers: Zion shall come forth
out OF all the creations mine hands have
made" Think OF gathering Of worlds
and uniyerses, Of an assembly in
which the illustrious Of all worlds shall
meet IN one vast conCOurse. What q
union or rather, reunion, for such h will
be, think OF period when our spirits
dwelt together with the Father oil ali,
but were afterwards separated and sent
to dwell In flesh In worlds remote How
the heart Overilows with 10y az the
thought of again greeting the great and
good, whose society we once enjoyed IN
spirit realms, In that vast aud holy com.
munion with the Father OF all at the
head. How comprehensive, how ennob-
ling must have been the instructions
given as ere a system had reyolyed to
which we were afterwards assigned and
on which we descended infinitely below
our hrst or spirit estate, that by dwelling
IN flesh we might take degrees In the
advanced existence Of immortal flesh
and bones. What condescension and
YET how iRught with the prospects Of
hope and glory How trembllngly was