Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-26
IN RELATION TO THE MYSTICAL.

IN RELATION TO THE MYSTICAL.
since the fulness of the everlasting
Gospei was proclaimed to the lnhab-
itants NJ the eurth by the Prophet
Jos, ph Smith and the Elders who trace
their authority to him, there has de-
veloped in different purts Of the world,
especially the United States. strong
tendency In the direction of certain
forms Of the mystical. The masses Of
the people In those countries IN
which the Gospel hhs been preached
have rejected 1T, though some of its
features are very attractive even to
pcrrons who lack the courage or hon
csty or both to embrace it. The prom
| Use of the Spirit Of Revelation, which
/ the servants Of the Lord make, to all
who will believe, repent and be hap
| ti2ed, is one which great many poo
| pie would Ike to realize without com
I plying with the laws upon which the
blessing Is predicted. Hence the de
velopment OF spirltualism and other
( forms Of mysticism that slgnalize the
present age of the world in so marked
u degree.
Tho opportunity is given to the child
rem Of men TO put themselves In
position to receive revelation from
| God for their individual instruction,
| comfort guidance and salvation. But
/ this great blessing calls for a CORES
| pondlngly great sacrifice on the part
| Of each individual who aspires to 1t.
on a
! veloped opportunities for receiving
revelations and spiritual or mystical
| manifestations OF various kinds with
! out the making. on the part of the in
/ dividual who receives them,of any sac
rince whatever either by performing
| the works of righteousness or in any
/ other way. such revelations and man
| ifestations originate in sources that are
the opposite Of heavenly. and, with
few IL any exceptions, are evil in their
tendency and effects upon the human
soul.
There is another class Of spiritual or
mystical manifestations which cannot
be set down Ms evil in their
source or tendency. yet which
ought not TO be relied upon
too strongly by members Of the Church
in weighty matters Of faith and con-
duct. To this class belong
dreams, visions, prophecies, interpreted
tons of Scripture. etc, that come
through. unofficial channels. often
where such Manifestations occur among
the Saints. they are tokens Of the favor
and blessing Of the Almighty upon the
individuals who are favored
| with them, and should be
received and priced in spirit
of humility and gratitude But occur
rences of this character may originate
In sources that are not divine, and
even members OF the church may, in
consequence. be misled or seriously de-
cciVed. Where there is doubt as to the
actual source or character of spirit
ual manifestation. it should be tested
10y. or compared with the principles Of
truth as revealed to and accepted by
the Church. If the individual is not able
10 make this test or comparison to his
own satisfaction, he may lay the mat
ter before his presiding officers in the
Priesthood.
been II rapidly increasing interest in
the advanced studies OF Mutual I'm
provement associations. theological
classes in the Sabbath schools, and
quorums Of Priesthood and many
members OF these organizations have
been exercised In their minds concern
Ing questions Of doctrine, the inter-
probation Of the Scriptures, ancient and
modern, the application and fulfillment
Of prophecy. etc. This interest is COM
menduble while restrained within prop
err bounds; but to allow Vt to create
disputation is to let it become an evil,
If students of the Scriptures encounter
a difficulty which neither they nor their
instructors can solve to the satisfaction
of all concerned, II IL far better To
leave the matter open by common con-
sent than to dispute about it, there
are difficulties In the Scriptures which
no class of students In the Church is
expected To- fully solve, II the matter
Is of uctund and practical Importance
II should be laid before the proper oiii-
GERS of the Priesthood for determine
ton; otherwise It may be passed with
such light ms the students or their in
structors may be able to throw upon
II.
These observations are called forth
Mt this time 10y a number of communi-
cntions the News" has lately re-
ceived one correspondent has offered
Il carefully prepared Interpretation
from his standpoint. Of some passages
from one OF the old Testament