Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-09


tence OF the Church; for without it, the
Church would become as lifeless as the
human body without food. drink, or air.
As the mortal body would die and be-
come disorganized without these neces-
sary elements, so the body OF Christ
the Church-would die, become dis
organized, and cease to exist on the
earth, If this essential spiritual gift were
taken from it. The gilt OF revelation is
the spiritual food and drink, and the
very life OF the Church. Without it, God
never has accepted nor even will recog-
nize any church, as His own, in any age
or generation, or among any people,
nation or tongue.
The gilt OF revelation is necessary in
the Church to reveal doctrine. Many
good principles have been revealed, in
different ages, relating 10 the doctrine OF
salvation, which have been recorded for
the benefit OF man. But these recorded
principles were never intended to super
sede the necessity of the revelations OF
the Spirit in regard to the same subjects.
Because the spirit revealed the doctrine
Of faith and repentance to the antedilu-
vians, that was no reason why successive
revelators, after the flood, should not
have the same good principles revealed
to them. Because faith and repentance
were revealed in the books of Moses,
that was no reason why the same should
not be revealed anew in the books of
jeremiah, Ezekiel, and in many other in
spired writings OF the Old Testament.
Because Matthew. Mark, Luke and John
were inspired to write doctrine, that did
not hinder Peter, Paul, James and Jude
from being inspired also to write upon
the same. Indeed, it is one OF the
characteristics OF inspiration, that the
same doctrine is often revealed, over
and over again, in successive ages, by
successive revelators. The reason why
there is a repetition OF revelations on
the same subject is, not because such
subject is wholly unknown, but because
there are many other principles con-
nected with it, which are OF importance
to be revealed, and which could not be
manifested with the same good effect, il
isolated from principles which were
formerly revealed.
Another reason why the same doctrine
is revealed over again in successive
generations, is because it may not be as
PLAIN to the generations following as
when first revealed; the latter being
wholly unacquainted with the circum
stances under which it was given. To
remove this obscurity, God reveals the
same doctrine to successive ages with
IL. a. a..
make itplain to the understanding OF all.
Language is sometimes ambiguous and
very imperfect; and especially where
sacred writings have been translated
from one language to another by unin-
spired men. The real meaning of the
revelator is not always clearly under
stood; hence arises differences Of opinion
and great divisions. To remove these
evils, the gift oil revelation is necessary,
to reveal the doctrine over again in
language that can be understood; and
thus to unite the views OF the Saints and
make them one.
The gilt of revelation is necessary in
the Church, not only to reveal in greater
plainness what has become partially OBJ
scure, by tradition and many other
causes combined but to make manifest
doctrine that has been nearly or entirely
lost; such as marriage for eternity; the
multiplication of the human species after
the resurrection; the pre-existence oil the
spirits of all flesh; the redemption of
spirits from prison by the preaching OF
the Gospel to them; baptism Tor the
dead; the redemption and Immortality of
the animal creation; and great variety
OF other doctrines which have evidently
once been understood, as the scriptures,
by references, more or less obscure, in
Dictated. The gift of revelation will
therefore reveal and make plain such
doctrines as have been lost to the world
for ages.
In different dispensations there are
generally some doctrines entirely new
such as have not been revealed to any
former age. The gilt OF revelation there
fore, is necessary TO point out what
doctrines are intended to be peculiar to
the dispensation in which they are given.
Circumcision was peculiar from Abra-
ham till Christ; the passover and many
of the laws and ordinances OF Israel,
were peculiar during the Mosaic dispen.
sation; the sacrament OF the Lords sup
per was peculiar to the Christian dspen-
sation; the gathering OF all things in one,
in heaven and on earth, which are in
PSShiiui W Tic BiSdt anu ldSl
dispensation OF the iulness OF times.
The gathering of the twelve tribes OF
Israel. The building OF the old and the
new Jerusalem, and the preparations for
the second advent will include many
doctrines, ordinances, statutes, COM
mands, and institutions, peculiar TO the
last dispensation. Therefore, the gift OF
revelation is necessary 10 bring forth
things both new and old.
The gift OF revelation Is necessary to
make known the callings OF God unto
men. There are many appointments in
the Church; such as those OF Apostles,
Prophets, Evangelists, Bishops. Elders,
Pastors, Teachers, and Deacons. With.
out revelation it could not be known
whom the Spirits selected 10 fill these
responsible stations. Therefore, with.
out revelation there could be no legal
authorities ordained; hence the Church
would necessarily cease from the earth
when the last ones, ordained by revela.
ton, left or departed this life. 1t is adj
mitted byboth Catholics and Protestants,
and by nearly the whole OF Christendom,
that there have been no revelations
since the first century OF the Christian
era; consequently, there could have
been no cailIngs to the ministry after
that period; therefore, when the minis
tiers who lived at the close of the first
century died, the authority and the
Church must have ceased from the
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