Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-08-17
MORMONISM ArORClINlnEwOnLD


II Is a striking fact clear to all
students OF religious thought, that
within the last atty years a radical
change has taken place In the views ~
Christians, aud particularly NJ thoss In
this country. Many doctrines, once
considered fundamental, have been
either discarded or modified, while
Others have parsed through tho scfu.
tiny OF rational criticism, with the
result that the underlying ptlnclples
have been graspej. The process IA
still going on. Mankind Is on tbs Ad.
vance, Just emerging from lower
class into u higher oue, where II will
be possible 10 comprehend more fully
the philosophy 10 which the previous
rudimentsry knowleIgs formed but an
Introduction.
Not many years ago, In the orthodox
theology, salvation consisted mNinly In
the escape, In lie to come, from that
awful place Of everlasting torture.
Today salvation IL, first Of NIL, the rescue
Of human bclugs from the power VI sin
anu the imparting to them Of strength
to do right. Il lifts the soul out OF its
litileness and selfish ness and ais II
with interests Of higher character The
atonoment itself was formerly oonsid.
cred hardly any more than God's arbi-
tfaty punishment Of an Innocent for the
guilt Of the race, while now II Is under.
stood that the suneflngs OF Christ wers
part OF n universal law, that Tciomp.
ton IL impossible ana eternal glory
unattRinablo except through soli.sAcri.
fi,e. The Bible Ia no longer universal.
ly regarded ~ the "iniallibo" word of
God, but rather as the treasury con.
lalning the invaluable gems OF tho
divine utttrancep, which therefore re-
main precious, like diamonds, what.
ever dust may accidentally have fallen
on thom throughout the ages. Thus,
On nearly all subjects the attitude ha,
been changed.
That this IL In accordance with tue
genera. plan Of the Almighty for the
perfection Of His children In wisdom
and knowledge and understanding,
aud Tor the promotion OF happiness, IL
unque,tlonable. This hand OF Proyl.
deuce IL plainly visible iu thly, lust as
It was when mankind emerged from
the Mosaic 10 the Christian Sisronsa.
ton. The change will ultimately be-
come AS marked, Rs complete.
Il Il also plain to the thought
ful observer that the rc!ig.
ious Fys,em kn0wn as "Aornon.
lam" has been, aud IL, one Of tho usost
patent factors In THIS d0cltlnal and
ethical revolution. with the a ppear.
auce OF tho inspired messengers Of
this age, the great aud marvellous
WORK. for which preparations had
been made for centuries, commenced
In earnest, As Paul once stood IN nd.
vance OF nls age and proclaimed urlnci.
pies which were destined to tovllu.
tl1ul2s the world ia which he lived
mlsuudersloud and tied u martyr, 80
Joseph, the Prophet, stood Ia THIS gen.
Grafton. Truth Ia invincihly, aud the
effects OF the Prophela mission are
now clearly dlscernihle In almost
every corner Of tho religious world.
Anyone who will study tho the
ology II MOrmonlsm impsrllally, must
acEnowledge that the bcst advanced
thought on theological suy,rts ha.
already been set forth by the martyr OF
Carthage.
The general tendency 10 approach 10
MofmO0 lem IN theology gives ground
Tor The expectation that somo day one
oith1 cardinal principles o. that sys.
tenn viii he more generally accented,
namely the need OF direct revelation
from heaven. At present Christian.
struggle along ~ best they can, guided
BY their own intellectual powers, aua
arrive nj truths after much hesllsucy
and uncertainty on din ua.h. where
sophisms often assume the npIeaauco
VI yalil arguments. The result IL con.
fusion, difference u opinion, m stakes
~ 10 practical means OF saving the
vor or weakness and error m the
battle sgriust evil Undoubtedly tue
Day viii come wNeu honest Cnrlsuaus
must sckuowlcdgr trat Mormunism
alone points uul the remedy Rgaiust
this, htcRu q 10 "a. establishes that com,
munlcation with Got, which led tue
anclents, aud without which the
"chuFch" IL hardly better than HE.
less form. 1t evidently the mission
OF Myrmonlsm 10 Leaf the way ~ thai
Mount Of rransngnrat on, where the
discil lee Of the Master are permitted 10
mingle with messengers from heaven,
'ent to communicate with them upon
the questlOns--sooial Rud olherwist-
in which the human family is inter.
ested.
No doubt, no fear need be entertained