Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-02-21
NOT A COMPETENT CRITIC.

dead, have been charged y certain sum
tor the privilege" 10 the Temples Of
Utah. Upon this point the Herald 70.
plies that II had taken tho etate.
meuls OF those whom ~ had reason
TO believe were 10 a position to know,
and ~ II has been misinformed IL
pleased 10 understand that fact,
therefore accepts the NEWS statement
without dispute; all Of which is COM
mendAbls In our friend, but reveals at
tue same time It, inoapaoily 10 Judge
Of Temple matters, because II does not
understand them.
Upon another point In our editorial,
the 5ainls Herald says II had not the
slightest Intention Of sneering In re-
forring 10 Elder Merrill as one Of the
latest Apostles chosen. Although
re-perussl Of tho hrt article doos not
change our impression upon the state.
msnt which appears In that article
alone, with thls later explanation We
are satisfied, aud accept II 10 good faith.
Responding 10 an inquiry In the Her.
ald's reference TO this subject we will
say that neither Elder Merrill nor Elder
Lund Is the youngest Of the Apostles
In the order OF choice, although they
are among the later additions To the
quorum.
Tho Herald then goes TO another
branch OF tho subject, aud endeavos 10
maintain that there has been some
thing lacking In the Observance Of tho
rites OF bap,iEing for tho dead aud seal
Ing, or adopting for eternity" anu
makes several quotations from sermons
and the Doctrine aud Covenants.
Later, n glimpse Of light seems TO
penetrate the Herald article, for Il
says, at was psrhars unfortunate
that We considered baptism for the
dead, sealing aud adoption all IN one
feierencs;" but farther on II lApses Into
the old error, and consequently argues
from n wrong premise.
As TO bsptisms for the dead, there Ia |
not and has not been any misundsr.
slAnding or vAtisnee In relation there.
10 In the Church from tho days Of the
Prophet Joseph, and no ropetltions
where individuals have followed
the Instructions OF tho authoTlties;
10 that every reference Of tue
Hetpld 10 ian unstable, un.
defined, indsclsive policy" relating
thereto 10 wholly without warrant.
There has been no such thing. Evon
from tho standpoint tho Herald seems
10 assume relating to adoptions, there 10
not n shadow OF excuse iof including
baplisms for thu dead ia It's references.
And rs to tho adoption there has been
no uncertain policy neither was there
a Misunderstanding on the part OF
tho living oraolss. There were
some things that were not
fully revealed respecting certain
telation'hipsi and people, Al their
own urgent request, were permitted
to perform certain work which at most
could be tut superfiuous and did not
contrsyene any principles but they
did 90 with express instructions As 10
the real status, 60 that there was no
change Of policy whatever The
Prophet Jossph did not have all the
knowledge given him revealed al once,
but from time 10 time. and on ono 90.
oasion proceeded ~ related with respect
TO baptisms for the dead. The Lord after.
wards gave him more light, and ever
since tho matter has been perfectly
understood. Nor did the Prophet
Joseph reveal 10 the Church all things
which the Lord hal 10 say 10 II;
change Of circumstances required now
revelation, a. the Prophet hsquently
and emphalioly declared. And In 70.
spsct to certain ssAlings In adopllons
that revelation came TO President
Woodruff, aVoking this discussion; anu
the alleged "ohangs" which the Her.
aid seeks to make 90 much VI but
which the LAltor-dAy 6Ainls know
furnishes no occasion therefor, was no
greater, II as great a. that by the
Prophet Ia relation to Baptism for the
dead. There has been no change
whatever in relation to the principle Of
adoption, but the Lord has given more
light upon It than formerly was In poe
session Of many who dssired to know
OF those things.
The Saints Herald also devotes space
to arguing that the word "oraoles"
usel In a revelation given March,
1888, rel0n to commandments. The
faneied controversy on thii point u
none Of outl. We understand |
that commonly the word is applied to |
the communicated will OF the Lorj,
and also to those through whom that |
will ia communicated; the latter are |
referred to when we use the term
diving oracles." Upon Its assumed
basis, our Lamont friend seems 10 |
think that because "lhe keys" OF the
kingdom were not to oe taken from
tue Prophet either ia this world or the
world 10 come, no one else could be
glyon the power to use those keys.
90 this point We sin remind
Il tia, wEen ElIer David Pattsp
was kiIlei the Lord informed
he pTOphet that his PFlestho "a could /