Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-10-01


percpiy an attack has been made
on the BOOK Of Mormon from a souie-
what unique point Of viow II ms
been argued that bccauie tho iransla-
lion ala no, atpear In the mos elegant
English language. bur. on she contrary
contained grammatical errors. sherc-
fore Il could not be given through M
rplration Divine innpiraii,n. q u
claimed. would no, only exclude every
possible error. but produce a perfect
work. as Judged by classical stand
ards.
X would scem a little late IN The day
20 urge such an objection. In view ot
the fact shni thousands-and among
thsm men entitled to be regarded ~
achoiars--havc accepted jhe Book 81
Mormon "a being all shas Ia claimed
for n, with full knowledge % ia con-
tents and peculiarly Of style. COM
mon sense and regard for truth would
suggest tho propriety of giving due
consideration 20 ths fact In discus
sion OF the Authenticity Of the record.
The question Involved Ia an old on.
and one upon which various opinions
have been expressed. II II this,
whether when the Almighty selects o
human Instrument through wiAth 90
communicate with mankind. she inii-
viduai 70 chosen. while under the
special divine influence. iose. all vol
uutary action or not. This was the
vlew held among the ancient paFans a.
wen as The unlusplrei Jews Tho first
Christian authors said but iHtie on Shla
point. but Win the Reformation u was
found bocsssary 10 examine t'ic doc.
trine OF inspiration closely. both on ac'
count Of the claims Of papacy ana she
claims o. the Reformors that iS,s serp.
lures are che ultimate authority.
Some arrived at tho conclusion that
tho divine Spirit dictated tho sacred
Scriptures word for word, a. We have
them In the oriFinai languages. Hut
this theory has not found favor. II has
been shown TO be- inconsistent with
facts and with tho claims q tho In
apircd writers themselves, We arr not
aware that ihe Prophet Joseph ever
claimed for the translation % the Book
OF Mormon any other klnd Of divine
inspiration than that which guided the
ancient Prophets. lEvnngrilnts and
Apostles when they communicated tho
will OF God to mon. This tho asaailantA
OF his mission arc sometimes apt TO
lose slgAt ~,
With regard 70 The anolcn, Scriptures.
It Ia perfectly clear that The wNlers,
while under tho divine Influence. were
allowed the fun use OF their own facul-
ties. their mental peoullarl,ieu, their
own amount OF knowledge and modes u
thinking. We md the sacred authors
engaged in "dlllgent rcseanh." We IND
them give different accounts of the
Hamn EVENT. thcy quote from Inspired
authors and even from uninsplrtd docu-
ments. diversity q style, arising from
differences In social surroundings or
educational influences, H. noticeable
throughout even proylnclnlismn ana
barbarisms are found IN tne sacred
writings of the Bible. This 10 positive
proof that the mental faculties Of the
authors were not removed ana divine
faculties substituted while under az.
vine influence; 40 Is a proof that uod
simply made use OF the powers with
whlca His servants were endowed when
1t was His Infinite pleasure TO communal
cate with man Ia this way.
Ana how could % be oihorwiaef
when the werd Of the Lord came 10
Ills ancient servants with command
to write, this ala not mean that the
Lord was 70 supply mlraeulously the
willing materials, making good pen
cut OF one already unit Tor uHei NOT
ala lie guide the hand tina, wrote 10
the extene that a bad handwriting be-
came a perfect specimen OF ponman-
ship. As llttle ala Ile mlraculously
guard against grammatical errors.
What lie ala was ,his' Ho enlightened
the minds OF His servants In regArd 10
the truths lie desired to communicate
to men ard entrusted to them to give
his