Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-17
LAW, MEDICINE AND FAITH.


Some discussion has recently been
had In many places, and to some extent
In the press Of this country, over the
question OF the line between liberty and
law IN reference 10 healing without
medicine. The revelation Of the old
doctrine Of Christian healing, to the
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints, which at first stirred up storm
Of religious opposition throughout the
Christian world, has resulted In its
adoption by many persons believing III
the Bible, in the various denominations
or BY its imitation and counterfeit by
individuals who do not recognize Deity
as immahent in the physical universe
In the early Christian church when
people were sick they were instructed
20 call for the Elders of the Church
who were to anoint them with oil ana
pray over them, with the promise that
'the prayer Of faith shall save the
sick and the Lord shall raise him
up JAS, V: "A. 15J Christ Himself
promised concerning them that be-
lieve that they shall lay hands on
the sick and they shall recover MARK
XVI: 49,
This was Christian healing. 1t was
accomplished By faith The faith which
was the active principle was either IN
the patient, or the person who admin
istered the ceremony. on the by-stand-
ers, or all. The power of God was In
voked for the benefit Of the individual
diseased. IL was manifested according
TO the faith exercised. This doctrine
was restored, with all other tenets OF
the early Christian faith, when God re-
vealed anew His plan Of salvation in
the nineteenth century
But the question now to be considered
Is whether those who believe in Chris
tan healing are to reject and refuse
utterly, the aid 10 be obtained from the
developments OF science and the skill Of
competent physicians Some people
imagine that II is wrong to call In a
doctor or to avail themselves Of any
remedies which experience has demon-
strated 10 be efIlcacious In disease They
go so far I'm some Instances as to yio-
late the law, which requires the certi-
feate OF qualified physician to show
the cause Of death before burial win be
permitted We regard this as fanatl-
clsm instead Of faith,
or course. II sick person has faith
enough 10 be healed without recourse
to any other remedy, that Is all-suiil-
Client; but If not. what Is 10 be done?
Are the medicinal agencies which God
has created to be entirely ignored? For
what purpose did He cause to grow out
OF the ground herbs and plants, and
organize In the earth chemical COM
binations that have been proven cura-
tive In their nature? He has revealed
that these are FOR the constitution, ma
ture and use Of man. to be used with
Judgment and skill with prudence
and Thanksgiving" It takes inyestlga-
ton. experiment. deep thought and
great diligence, to discover the proper
uses 10 which these agencies FOR good
can be properly applied knowledge
concerning them is OF nestmable value
il should be appreciated and utilized,
We might az we'll trust entirely to
God for the production Of the grain
which is the staft Of life. without plant
Ing the seed. watering the soil or reap
ing the harvest, as to expect Him TO do
anything else which We can do for our
selves or accomplish by the aid Of 9TH
ers. God helps them who help
themselves" We believe that very
much harm is done to the human body
by the excessive and unsklful use OF
drugs and medlcaments, 10 which so
many people resort when suffering from
any OF the numerous ailments which
flesh is heir 90. But to entirely repudi-
ate them because OF the excess and
folly 50 frequently exhibited by in
yalids, would be- almost as unwise and
inconsistent as the error We complain
o.
The law properly provides that the
certificate Of n physician shall be OBJ
tained before a deceased person shalt
be Inferred II is also a reasonable re-
qulrement that medical attention shall
be had In dangerous cases For u IL GER
tain that an people DO not have faith
sufficient 90 be healed when sick, ana
also that persons blest with the git
Of healing" cannot command il at
will. and therefore II becomes neces.
sary sometimes. even with those who
believe in the virtue Of Christian heal
ing, Ia obtain the advice Of competent
physicians, so that everything possible
may be done TO save The llfe and restore
the health OF the afflicted.
This does not preclude resort to
prayer and the invocation ~ divine aid.
One does not necessarily conflict with
the other II We call for a carpenter
20 mend the broken leg Of chair or
table why should We not obtain the aid
OF a surgeon To set "a broken bone. or
perform any other necessary operation
when the human body has sustained an
injury Why should we expect God 10
do that which the surgeon can per-
form? The mechanical part should be
attended 10 IN the best known way.
and faith In God will suggest that His
blessings be asked. that the vital prin-
eiple may attend human effort II this