Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-16
FAITH AS A CURATIVE,


Do we understand our esteemed even
ing contemporary, the Deseret News, 10
SAY that smallpox may be cured by lne
,sy,se on Of hands and that II Nould
recommend this tieatmentI-s' L. iiei
aid.
II Is for the writer Of that paragraph
10 say what he understands. The re-
marks Of the Deseret News on this SUD-
ject are plain enough for most people
TO understand, but Tor the benefit OF our
contemporary We will explain further
The position Of the Deseret News on
the question Of the healing power IS
that all kinds Of ailments and diseases
may be cured by faith. and That the
laying on Of hands is the method of ad-
ministenng TO the sick instituted by
divine command, OF course this includes
smallpox among the disorders that may
be cured in that way. There are num-
erous Instances Of healing that disease
BY this divine means There are many
Elders IN this city, the writer OF this
article among the number who have
laid hands upon persons afflicted with
the malignant as well as the mild form
Of smallpox, and the patients have re-
covered while the Elders administering
have escaped the contagion.
It does not matter whether this state
ment is believed or not. The question
Is whether smallpox may be cured by
the laying on OF hands" The answer
is. yes. II there Is sufficient faith in the
afflicted person TO be healed, or In the
persons who lay on hands to rebuke the
disease. II not, the sick Will not be
healed. The lack Of faith is not viewed
as sin OF even a fault No blame Is
attached for rs absence. The theory
is, as quoted previously by the News,
IAN things are possible to them that
believe" That is the doctrine Of Christ.
His disciples were sent out to heal the
sick as well as to preach the Gospel,
and the laying on Of hands was the
method employed for the relief Of the
suffering. when failures occurred
Christ explained that It was because Of
the lack Of faith
The Church which Jesus Christ has
restored and organized In these latter
days teaches the same doctrine. There
are thousands upon thousands Of Wit
nesses to lis truth. Many OF them are
living in these valleys today and are
ready to testify that they were healej.
not by drugs or medical expedents, but
by the power OF God through faith and
the laying on Of hands
1t may be asked by people who do not
think very deeply, III the laying on Of
hands Is effectual In one case. why not
in all?' We might retort by asking
why drugs prescribed by doctors, as the
regular remedy for certain diseases, do
not cure in a large number Of Instances
Why some are cured and some are
Killed by the same nostrum. But this
would only be eyading the issue, as
some Of our contemporaries eyade the
question Of compassion. The fact Is.
II Is not claimed that the Elders who
lay their hands on the sick, as COM
manded, possess the infallible power OF
healing the sick. The curative force is
faith. When there is sufficient faith
the sick viii be healed. When there Is
not sufficient the cure Is not accom-
pllshed Faith is the moving cause,
restoration the visible effect.
Does the Deseret News recommend
this treatment That depends. We
recommend Il to them that believe"
1t was intended for them. II would
be comparatively II not entirely use.
less 10 those who do not believe IN It's
virtue. Infants who are Incapable OF
exercising either faith or disbelief. may
be administered 70 and healed through
the faith Of those who lay hands upon
them and others who exercise faith In
their behalf. Adults who have not
great faith themselves, but have
enough to ask for the aid Of the FL
GERS may be healed 10 the same way.
We would recommend Il to them.
When It is necessary to can in a
physician and his prescriptions are fol-
loved would We recommend the faith
treatment and the laying on Of hands ?
Yes most decidedly There are doctors
IN this city who are ready to acknowl-
edge that It has been potent help To-
their skin and attention. and that IN
some cases death would have resulted
without IT,
Now We would Ike our contemporary
70 understand, that the Deseret News
does not oppose and has never objected
to the services Of competent physicians
and surgeons on the contrary. It bas
cautioned the people against relying
upon persons who are unsflnei and
without experience. We have pointed
ol' the fact that remedies are pr5yjd.
90 70 nature. which we believe were
ordained of God. Ion the ms tbst aa,,c,
The hesh, ana that these should be used
when necessary with the wisdom g.
sea'lal TO an understanding Of Their
properties ana effects Especially should
MS course BE- puraued by persons who
have not faith to be healed in the sim.
pier way
falth is not fanatlclsm. Prayer g
not IN the way OF science. There are
forces IN operation which are unseen 10
The natural eye and are at present Inn.
perteptlbls to the mental vision. some
day they win no doubt be fully com.
pretended. Now we can echo the