Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-03
BE NOT TOO TECHNICAL.

"Questlon--In the Doctrine and Cove
nants section 20, I. II says that II was
1880 years since the coming u our SR-
vlor Jesus Christ This revelation was
given in April. 1890 In section n. 3. II
says the church was organized In the
year Of our Lord 1880 Could Il be In
the year 1850. " II was then 1880 years
since The coming Of Jesus Christi |
notice In the News that you appar-
emily II not otherwise admit that We
are hot IN the Goth century"
The foregoing has been received from
a correspondent In the south. and is an
illustration Of the tendency to technical
criticism. which Is perceptibie In many
quarters ana which leads to unbrofita-
bic discussions
We regard the passages In the Doc
trlne and Covenants referred TO In the
question as relating merely to the cur
rent chronology, not as revealing the
exact time Of the birth OF Jesus Christ
nor as settling anything as TO the pre-
else number OF years that had passed,
since that event, until the Church was
organized in the last days and for
the last time"
II Is generally conceded by students
OF the subject that there Is an error In
the established Christian chronology Of
about four years The statements cited
IN the question submitted simply show
the date when this Church was set up.
by commandment OF God and under the
laws Of the land according to the rec
ognized designations OF time. AS Civ
en- In the foot notes II was "a. ID. 1880. /"
ana ION the fourth month and the sixth
day Of the month" OF that year
The first part OF section 20 Of the
Doctrine and Covenants is a statement
Of facts as TO the setting up OF the
Church, and Of the incidents leading
up to IT, also the testimony Of the
Elders OF the Church az to the Divine
mission OF the Prophet Joseph and the
inspiration of the Book OF Mormon, as
see verse is.
The purpose OF section 20 and q OF
the Doctrine and Covenants can be
seen by reading them through, and II
Ia evident that this was not 10 present
a chronological system, or to correct the
present data. And the mention OF the
day and the month and year OF the or
ganization Of the Church In both IN
stances, is simply incidental and takes
the popularity received designations, so
that everybody would understand the
time OF the event thus mentioned, AS
stated In another revelation Speaking
unto you that you may naturally UNI
ders,and;" Sec. 20, 80.
There have been endless disputes In
the theological world over Just such
minor references In the Bible. But ra-
tional and judiclous commentators do
not regard them as establishing any
scientific or philosophical theory, be-
cause the subject presented. In which
they are mentioned. Is so different and
of so vastly greater import that they
need not be critically considered. Such
incidents are spoken Of according TO
popular acceptance and not for the
purpose Of endorsing them as facts or
teaching them as principles.
As TO the precise date OF the birth
OF our Savior into the world there Is
nothing definite In the revelations ex-
tant. Even the Book Of Mormon,
which IL written In such great plain
ness, leaves the matter in doubt II
is not wise to predicate chronological
theory upon an incidental remark.
made IN conformity to popular data.
nor is II prudent TO lay too much stress
on a word or phrase in scripture or
10 magnify It above It's simple intent.