Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-28

| prO anu CON in arriving at an under.
standing OF those true relations are
positive injury. Upon these
topics. Discussion Ia an ava liable
method fer reaching the desired
end, but it should always be- from the
stan dpoint OF right. The opposite or
mistaken view may be set forth rs
proposition TO be argued against,
showing its fallacy by demonst,a-
| tinG the consistency, beauty and In
vulnerability Of the true situation; but
no Argument from wrong standpoint
Should ever bo required from student
for the reason that 1t is both unneces.
sary and injurious.
This distinction between discussion
and certain forms Of debate ia especially
applicable in the field Of religious
study. An incident calling this TO
uaind Is the statement that ia some
Sunday schools the study of religious
doctrines is made the subject OF debate,
wbcro certain members OF tue class
are required to argue from o etand-
point opposed to that of tho known
truth in the ease. For instance,
principle upon which sectarlanB differ,
hut upon which the revealed word Of
God has made clear the truth,
is under consideration; and member
OF tho class is appointed to make an
argument on behalf of the view opposed
to the word OF tho Lord, and other
members are called upon to combat his
argument and show its iallacy. This
process OF study OF religious principle
ia wholly wrong, being directly op-
posed to the spirit OF the Gospel. The
latter is truth, and the study OF its
principles does not require tho advo.
cacy, by any student, OF doctrine or
idea that is 'alee.
Any Instructor with a fair under
standing OF the principles OF mental
philosophy will recognizes the vital
error that exists in the method to
which our objection is raised. 1t is
well known that men can convince
| themselves that wrong is not wrong.
Hence when a class member is called
to maintain q false idea in religion,
even though he be warned against it,
bis desire to make a cfeditable show.
ing for his own side leads him
TO make the most OF the points that up.
pear 10 be in his favor, and to belitte
those opposed to him. Thus his mind
Is given wrong bent; and all who |
hear him and who are impressed by |
his arguments or affected by his per-
sonal influence are likewise drawc |
toward an error. His opponent may |
draw them all back, but to say the |
least, the time in this drawing is wasted;
even then, the probability is that the |
trend to the wrong has left an |
impression Of doubt that viii require |
much time and effort to efiace. The |
operation has been to cause members |
OF class who should be kept in the |
narrow way OF life to go for q time
Into the broad way which leads to
destruction, and Whole association
even for a brief period does nothing |
but harm. Hence the rule OF the |
Church is against such an operation,
bee ause 1t is contrary 10 the epirit Of |
the Gospel.
To use discussion, or to speak |
to an opposite, often Is q
most effective way Of learning ami
impressing n truth. So important a |
factor is 1t that capable Instructor |
never fails to utilize this means to en-
liven the interest, and awaken vigorous
| thought in the minds OF his class. But
this same capable instructor also lie
tcrupulously careful to avoid the
| serious error We have pointed out. II
| there be some instructors in Sunday
schools or other organizations who do
not comprehend how this end
can be reached in higher and better
way than by debate, we commend
their attention to little work called
The Preceptor, written by Elder J ohm
| Nicholson. 1t makes this matter go
clear that all who give 1t care can
understand 1t without difficulty. This
i
little book, so readily attsipable and
containing so much that is OF unusual
value to teacher and student on the
fret and fundamental principles Of the
Gospel, often is overlooked FOR others
OF greater pretensions and less
clearness and force. And we further
suggest to class teachers, superlnten-
dents and presiding officers generally
in those organizations where the youth
are being instructed in religious prln-
clple, that the Church rule entirely ex-
cludes the Objectionable class Of de-
hates to which we have drawn atten.
ton.
|