Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-20
THE POWER OF FAITH.

This Is an age Of skeptlcism. IL Is
also time OF inquiry. The tendency
is In the direction Of general doubt
Faith in It's full sense is rare, It is also
very little understood. People generally
are averse to accepting anything In
spirit OF trust and confidence. one rea-
son IS because falsehood Is 50 prevalent
both in word and in deed. This Is great
ly to be deplored, For, while 1t Is not
desirable that the human mind should
accept without question everything
that IL presented In a plausible way or
from people who appear 10 De sincere
yet faith and confidence are essential
to the happiness and perfection OF the
individual and to the welfare OF society.
Faith In God is the first principle OF
religion. without faith It Is lmpossi-
BILE to please God" No one will APP
proach the Deity in prayer or by de-
sire who docs not believe In supreme
Being. True faith leads 10 right action.
II inspires obedience to divine com
mandments. Obedience TO God is prac-
teal religion. Without II there Ia no
such religion.
True faith comprehends something
more than IL ordinarily understood by
the term. II Is principle Of power. II
10 a spiritual force. BY its exercise all
those marvellous events recorded In
holy writ were brought about A num-
Der Of them are summarized In the
eleventh chapter Of the epistle to the
Hebrews. II is stated that holy peo-
pie In olden times through faith sub
dued kingdoms wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths
OF lions, quenched the violence OF fire,
escaped the edge Of the sword. out OF
weakness were made strong, waxed
valiant In fight. turned 10 flight the
armies Of the aliens, women received
their dead raised TO life again" etc.
Jesus OF Nazareth taught the doc
trlne that "all things are possible TO
them that believe" Modern Christen-
dom has departed from that doctrine
and to large extent has utterly repu-
dated II, ana In many instances has
ridIculed Il. But sacred history records
so many instances Of marvellous things
accomplished by faith, that only
unbelieyers who cannot be correct
ly called Christians, deny the facts or
reject the principle. The testimony
OF thousands OF living witnesses in our
own age corroborates the variations of
the scriptures They also prove that
neither truth nor force changes
with the lapse OF time. God is the
same yesterday, today, and forever Sc
are His laws, which are the laws OF
nature
Faith operates as a healing influence
II has power over material things. II
is not in the full control Of mortals
II 1t were they would often, no doubt
exercise II In manner contrary &c
divine purposes Disease has It's mis-
sion In the economy OF the universe
Pain is educational. Death IL an ex'
perlence essential to the eternal prog
ress OF our race. Faith Is such power
that by Its exercise disease can be ar
rested and death itself be overcome. II
is the power by which the worlds were
made and the order exhibited In tbs
government OF the universe Is estab'
lIshed. In Deity It Is in full perfection
in man 1t is In embryo. But II is al
attribute OF man as a son OF God.
No Elder in the present Church o.
Christ and no Prophet or Apostle II
former times, ever claimed the powel
in himself 10 work miracles, heal th'
sick, or do any of those remarkable
things that are wrought by faith. Ever
Christ Himself invariably told the per
sons who were restored at His toucl
or His word, Thy faith hath made tn
whole" The soothing invitation usual
" extended TO the Elders, as II was 4
their prototypes Of old, 10 swallow poi
son, cut an arm of and put 1t on again
or heal everybody In sight shows tn
deplorahle ignorance as well as sorr.
skeptlelsm OF the individuals who thu
sneer against the doctrine Of the powe
OF faith. They ofIer no argument; the,
only desire to rldicule that which the
do not understand.
Faith, though so much az a dlscoun
In the present age. is an eternal prin
ciple, a Godllke attribute, a spirltua
force that will continue forever and Wi
be developed in the sons and daughter
Of the Everlasting Father as the aeon
roll along. until they come up In IN
full image and glory OF perfected be
ing, While In mortality It viii be man
ifested as God wills, and as they wor
In harmony with His purposes. for tn
benefit OF the sick and the afflicted. IN
conquering Of obstacles. the overcomin
of the world, the flesh and the devi
and the progress and salvation OF man
kind. II should be fostcrcd, encouI
aged and cultivated by every believe
in religion and every promoter Of N
welfare Of humanity.
USE COMMON SENSE.