Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-08-26
monmoSs AND rnE BIBLE.

Our Presbyterian friends, according
10 report published Ia n morning
eoiempotary, recently have ondoa'
vored to discuss Mormonism, iis lead
Ing doctrines and moral effects. rev
Mr.. Martin OF Manti, n clergyman
who has made many friends both
among Church mt oers aud outsidern,
thought he could divide the Mnfmons
In two classes, one believing IN tho
Bible and many doctrines commonly
held by Christians, aud tho other hav-
ing nil hut discarded the Bible. Al,
however. are mora OF lees pfe-occupied
with outward obseryaneca and have
Iost their sensitivoneta TO right OF
wrong. Other speakers added theif
testimony to this, In n similar vein.
IL has been noliesd lately that repre-
scnta.ivcs OF Christian denominations,
sent here presumably for the purpose
Of giving forth their slight In the
darkness" have been making strenuous
.uorls to prove that Mormonism con
uAdlcls Christianity, anu we eau only
cay that this mode Of wariato, as long
Ne II IL held within the limits OF that
liberty which II the undibputod right
Of Americans, and inaClristian and
gentlsmanly spirit, Is PERFECTLY agree
able TO tho members Of the Mormon
Church. They expect that their iesii'
mony 10 tue world will Cause discus
zion and be contfadioied, even ~ wac
tho testimony Of the first Apostles Of
our Lord, and they know that In any
fair comparison with the tenets OF other
tystems, Mormonism will hold lie own.
Founded In truth II can no more DO
reasoned out Of its position than can
tho eternal foundations on which II
resls.
The reply to Mr.. MARITIME classified
ilon OF tho Aormons 10 that probably
every Christian denomination eau be
divided on ihs same lines. Some
people arc good and others are not 90
good all the world over. no matter
what their profession mpy be. This
needs no discussion. Tho Mormons,
however, "a n rule are more united on
doctrinal points than any other demon
inalion tho members OF which are
imposed 10 exercise tho faculty Of
thinking for themselves This, TOO, 10
a fact apparent to all who know them.
Even with regard to the authority
VI tho Bible there Ia not that
divided opinion which tho clergyman
fefers 10. Tho fact Ia that every
scholar, Mormon or non.Motmoni
knows that tho sacred Scriptures, al.
though In tho main points Identical
with the original documents, YET have
uttered 90 many changes that at pres
snt It 10 absolutely impossible TO restore
the original text In every particular.
Our Christian friends are well aware
u this fact. but some OF them have u
motive for endeavoring TO conceal Il as
far as possible. They believe that God
no longer holds the position relative 10
His children that lie held anclently;
they deny His power or His will 10
reveal truth In the same way As He
revealed It centuries ago. A complete,
lnfallible and stereolyped Bible 10 their
only refuge when pressed for reas9n6
for this alleged change In Him whom
they declare IL interchangeable. Were It
not for tho sake OF the necessity Of
denying direct communication with
God, Christians would view the Bible
in the same light hs the Mormona de-
Ms record OF God's dealings with man
In former dlspeusatlons, reliable In
every main polnt Notwithstanding the
alterations Il may have suffered ii the
hands OF ialllble men.
The position OF the Mormona on this
point Is between two fires. Against
those Christians who, without
sufficient grounds, claim ths
miraculous preservation OF the
Bible text In every letter, In
order 10 have an excuse to refuse 10
listen TO the voice OF God now, they
maintain that the sacred volume is no
longer complete, nor lie now received
text iniallibls in every detail, aud that
IT, consequently, cannot DO substl.
iuto for living, Inspired servants Of the
Lord Against the critics that would
like to Felegalo Ihe Scriptures to the do.
main OF heather myth they maintain
the genuinentss and the authenticity
OF tAe Bible record In all points essen.
lial Tor the enlightenment Of mankind
on the subjects It deals with. There is
no Inconsistency In this.
When ministers take the Mormons
10 task for their conceptions OF
The Deity, they are entering pattiou.
larly dangerous ground to themselves.
In tho Bible It Ia declared lhat IT 10
sternAl life to know God, but modern
Asol0giane, ever since the duy Of the