Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-10-05

Lord was suxious that the Church
should receive this magnificent pro
phoilu composition Juat a. penned BY
the author; hence the solemn warning
against any alteration therein.
Tuers vas special rsason for this
The very scope OF the Apocalypse was
to give the Church knowledge Of the
impending goaeral apos,asy, and ia
point out the signs Of It's approach, A.
we'll as iorstoll the restoration Of thu
Gospel In the latter days and iis hnal
triumph. But all this knowledge was
necessarily conveyed In symbolical
language, plsin 10 Christians TO whom
It was explained by Inspired men,
filled with the Spirit Of prophecy,
while 10 the unbelievofp. who accused
the followers Of Jesus Of conspiracies
against the state and society In geu-
erAl, II lslt no reasonable ground for
persecution, because II conveyoi n
intelligence TO them. This symbolical
language neoessitatsd \ faithful
presentation Of IL to this minuIesI
deiails, since any change misht
destroy entirely the mraning intended
10 DO conveyed, anu bring confusion
In tho whole arrangement There
were, therefore, reasons why au 10.
Junction should be given concerning
the faithful tIansmisslon 10 the Churcl
OF this book.
That the author Of the Apocalypse
mover regarded that book Rs the last
sacred record 10 be- given to the Church
10 - plain a. historical facts can make
II. The Apostle John wrote the
revelation not later than Ia the year
90 A. ID. This opinion Is founded on
the superstition that his exile TO
Paimos occurred during the Decian
persecution. But IL has by no means
been fully proved. Some hold that tho
exile occurred during tho persecution
VI Nero, anu tho date Of writing would
then DO 81 or Us A. D., an opinion
advocated by many. Hut even II We
accept the latest date, 90 A. d., the
fact remains that the Apostle himself.
at least one year later, wrote The
Gospel that bears his name, and
this was added 10 the sacred collection
OF the Scriptures, Notwithstanding
tho "curse" pronounced In the Revela-
ton. 10 there any further proof needed
that modern Christians misspply the
word OF God In order TO IND an excuse
for rejecting His message to them at
this time?
As q general rule Il IL indeed true
that ali Scripture should DO received
just as God inspired It. 1t Ia aaorilege
for man to mutllate 1t, but the truth
doss not imply that the fou ntains from
which spring the llie.glying waters OF
revelation have dried up for ever; It
does not mean that tho Almighty nj
any time has placed Himself In posi-
ton never again 10 speak TO His
children; nor does II free them from
the obligation OF listening when His
voice IL heard.
The LAtter-day Saints accept TIL
Bible, ne containing the word Of God.
They add nothing TO IL; they elm
mate nothing from It. They accept
tho Book VI Mormon AZ also contain.
ing ths word OF God to His chill.
dren. They accept the Doctrine anu
Covenants Nc tho word OF God, given
with special reference 10 the establish
ment VI the Church Ia this dispense.
ton. And further, they accept tho
teachings Of tho inspired servants OF
tho Lord in their midst M the word OF
God, needed Tor instruction from time
to time. But In all this there ia no
ground for The charge that the Nor
mons alter the contents OF the Scrip
tures. Tho fact 10 that all the sacred
books mentioned and all tho tsachingo
OF Gou's servants are IN suoh perfect
accord, that all must DO either received
or rejected together. The Saints simply
desire to DO consistent aud to receive Us
the word OF God all that bears SUI.
fcisnI evidence OF emanating from the
divine source.