Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-14
THE RESURRECTION.

once more the Christian world pre-
pares to commemorate the greatest OF
an mlracles-the resurrection Of the
crucihcd Lord Time has already
marked on many centuries since that
event took place; lncessant efforts have
been made 90 discredit the simple but
singularly beautiful Gospel story Of the
first Easter morning with It's empty
tomb, the appearance OF angels the
faithful love OF the followers OF Jesus,
but in VAIN The victory won over
death by the risen Savior has had Us
effects throughout the world and Is still
shaping human destiny for time and
eternity. ole is risen" continues to
be the triumphant strain to which the
Gospel banner is carried victorious
from land 90 land.
Science today has struck an attitude
rather antagons,lc 20 the Gospel OF
Jesus. It would faln give a material
istic origin TO both soul and body max
ing the operations OF the mil.d no more
than products Of cerebral activity" It
would eliminate from our list Of concep-
lions such as liberty Of WILL response
bllty, virtue and vice. and make man
a mere child Of necessity, 1t would
teach US that every human being is but
carrying the destiny that was shaped
for him by pagan forefathers; and for
them by monkeys, and for them by
amphlbaus. and for them by Shiny
worms. and Tor them by lower forms
OF life That is science" Ibsen has pre-
scented the suppositIon in his Ghosts "
whore everyone OF his heroes Is but a
tube through which speak the fore
fathers.
But this terrible philosophy, which
practically represents man as a puppet
IN a marionette theater, cannot prevail
as long as the Gospel with lts doctrines
OF liberty and responsibility is being ac-
cepted. And that must be believed In
az long as the resurrection remains a
fact. The argument Of the great Apos-
tie holds good through all ages IF
Christ be not rIsen then IS our preach
Ing in vain. and your faith Is also vain.
Further, the work Of performing or
dlnances for the dead Is also Of no avail
for "what shall they do which are bap-
tiled Tor the dead II the dead rise not
at all? why are they then baptized for
the dead?' q Cor Is: 29) In brief the
Gospel as relating both to living and
TO dead. stands and falls with the great
miracle Of the first Easter morn
Hence the numerous efforts at the pres
ent time 20 relegate the Scriptures 70
the domain Of myth. Hence the denial
en- pulpit and press Of It's divine inspira-
ton and authority.
That the resurrection, however is ar
historical fact is well attested. Nu'
merous facts Of antiquity are accepted
on a small fraction Of the evidence pre-
scented for this great fact That Jesus
truly died on the cross is evident, fol
blood and water flowed from The
wound in His side and that death was
/ due 10 broken heart seems also indl
GATED by that circumstance. The body
on the evening OF the day Of crucihx
ion was laid in a tomb guarded by his
enemies. II contemporary testimony g
taken for it-and II not, an orguini
about past events becomes an idle pas
/ tlme-there was no possibility Of fraud
even had there been a disposition g
commit Il, which there was not
Notwithstanding this, the stone wat
rolled away from the opening ~ th'
crave. and Jesus rose IN glory. In III
risen state He appeared 10 numerous
witnesses during a period Of forty days
and on one occasion 90 no less thar
900 at one time and at last TO one o
the chief opponents OF the Gospel VIII,
from that hour became one OF His mos
faithful followers Christianity itsel
would have ended with Calvary, ha,
not Easter followed. For the disciple
Of Jesus were contemplating return
ing 10 their Old calling when He APP
peared among them. That q handful
OF Galnean fishermen should go out INT,
an the world and proclaim salvation
through Him who died on the cross
adjudged a malefactor, and that success
should crown their efforts IS one incon.
testible proof Of the reality Of the res
direction. Nothing short Of a miracl.