Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-04

It as evidence. to Bible bellcv-
ers. that the doctrine revealed
TO the Prophet Joseph Smith
more than sixty years ago was under
stood by the Apostle Paul and the
Corlnthlnn Saints nearly nineteen cen
turtles aeo and Is Christian doctrine.
but. note the desperate attempts Of so
called "Christlan" commentators to
wrest that passage from lie evident sig
nlncation. because II Is dramatically
opposed to their orthodoxy. The true
Interpretation" NJ they term their fog.
gy rendering. IN mist of nonsensci
"chrlstlnns were baptized into the
fnf'h ~ the resurrection Of the denn.
and thereby ihcv were sponsors IN be-.
hnif Of the dead that the dead should
rite"
How could they he sponsors In be-
hair ~ tho dcad' In any other way
than being baptized Tor or uulng some
hing IN thor bohnis7 r7ith In the
resurrection does not make man or
woman a sponsor" for anybody or
anything.
The riatemont that the expression
hyper ton nolgfon" the Greek Tor TOR
tho dond." Cor. n: o., rcfcrs TO "ail
~, dead" is not warranted by the
grammatical urc OF the definite article
in tho New Testament. Students Of
this subject know the article Il often
employed 80 denote nm entire class. but
IN the text. n It be- interpreted BY this
rule. tho Glars referred 10 h not "ail
the dead" nut MI the dead for whom
baptlnma were being performed. The
argument u this. n there ~ no rcsur-
rcction NJ the dead. why are baptlsina
performed for any Of thcm7
That substitution IL expressed by the
proposition "hupcf" aud tho following
gcnltitc " clear from Gal. o. ~, and
numerous other passages. whore a slim
liar construction II found. II Il the
very term by which New Testament
writer's express tho idea that "chriut
gave Himself Tor u.s." aud II the hap.
tiHm spoken of II not instead. "or In be-
half or tn, dead. neither ~ the atone.
mont.
Another attempt 10 confuse tho sub
jec, N the play on words which makes
Pauru expression "ihc dead" mean In
this case only the bodies 81 the de-
ceased. Tho term "ihe dead IL used
repeatedly In the Scriptures 10 signl-
~ the departed. that II. people who
have lived and have gone into another
sphere. Paul says In the chapter under
consideration that christ died Tor our
Sins" Peter raya the Gospel was
preached 10 them that nrc dead. that
they might be- judged according 10
men In the flesh hut live according 60
God In the SPIRIT Pet. ~. 9. lie
speaks also ~ Him who IL ready to
Judge the quick and the dead" win
lie judge their bodies In the grayuf
John saw the dead small and great
stand before God" 20 be- judged. REV.
Xxx ~ Were they merely bodies In the
graycf
What n termed In the article under
discussion the unhiblicni practice" Il
essentially biblical " the Scripture II
not wrestcd from ita evident meaning.
And the baptism for the dead In the
'hhi'H " tUflNN OF toffnff uaNA anu
of latter days. IA not for some faneled
bodilesH spirit" but for actual In,
divlduaia who were once mortal bu, In
the resurrection will be the same be
ingr. only Immortal. the body and the
spirit betting rejolned and quickcncd by
Christ. who was ALSO raised from the
dead by the power Of God.
That those who died without
knowledge OF the Gospel can learn Il
In the other state. and that their ilvlns
relatives and friends can oniclate for
them, In those necessary ordinances
which belong TO this sphere aud cannot
be administered where they have gone.
II a doctrine rcplrte with Intense salts
faction. bringing JOY 10 the hearts OF
all who believe IL, The Justice, mercy
ana greatness OF the Eternal Father
are manifested therein. to such an cx.
tent ~ TO cause an but the biEotcd.
narrowmlndcd ana bcnightcd to praise
ana rlorlfy the Creator ana Rcdecmcr
Tor ever,