Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-28
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.

In q little pamphlet compiled and
published In southern Utah settle
ment, the author insists that the doc
trine Of eternal damnatlon, as taught
by orthodoxy In the past. Is scrIptural
and true. He processes 10 believe In
the Gospel and the standard works Of
the Church. but he alleges that these
have been misconstrued by the great
majority OF the Latter-day Saints.
The trouble with the compiler OF the
pamphlet Is that he thinks the word
eternal In the Scriptures, whenever
used TO designate the consequences Of
sin hereafter, refers to the duration In
stead OF the nature OF the punishment.
He supposes that the sacred writers,
when speaking OF eternal death, eter-
nal misery. always mean a never end
ing" or everlasting" condition. There
could scarcely be greater mistake.
The Apostle Paul clearly explains the
true meaning In which the word "eter-
na' frequently Ia used. He says q
Cor, iv; 1O; For the things which are
seen are temporal; but the things
which are not seen are eternal" BY
this definition, temporal punishments
are those that are Seen; those that
are suffered during the temporal exist
ense. while eternal punishments are
those mot seem; those that will
be melted out on the other side Of the
veil.
With this the explanation given In
the Doctrine and Covenants perfectly
agrees. For there II is written (Sec
19) Eternal punishment ls Gods pun
ishment. Endless punishment is Gods
punishment" That is to say, II is
called eternal" because God, who
metes II out Is eternal, 1t is called
endless for the same reason.
This revelation also conveys the truth
that. as God Is eternal and his laws
are eternal, His punishment must al
ways be ready for the transgressor.
who viii "go into" OF suffer that eternal
punishment as long as justice shall
determine, and then mercy viii claim
its own. In other words, while the
punishment, as a condition awaiting
the disobedient Is everlasting. they re-
main In II only until forgiveness comes
or they have paid THE uttermost farth-
ing"
The scriptures, both ancient and
modern. plainly reveal that the great
majority OF mankind finally will be
redeemed from sin and all its terrible
consequences. But as TO the sons Of
perdition," who. by their opposition to
God and His Son, place themselves
beyond redeeming love, both In time
and eternity, It is not revealed what
their ultimate fate will be. They can
not obtain forgiveness. being in volun-
iary rebellion. They willingly throw
their lot In with the Adversary and his
angels. and they go away to a condl-
ton which is described as everlasting
and eternal" They 20 to reign" with !
the devil and his angels where |
their worm dleth not. and the fire is |
not quenched. which is their torment" |
But lest these solemn terms should be /
mlsconstrued, the divine revelation ex-
prcssly adds that The duration and ma /
ture OF their condition is entirely beyond /
human knowledge And the end there |
OF neither the place thereof, nor their |
torment. no man knows. neither was II /
revealed. neither is. neither will be re-
ycaled unto man, except TO them who /
are made partakers thereof" doc. /
and Gov. 76' Sl-tS)
This Is exceedingly clear. We are
taught that an the children OF the
Eternal Father. who die without be.
ing reconclled to Him through the
atonement OF His Son. and acceptance
Of His conditions, win IN eternity suf-
fer the consequence until. through
suffering they learn obedience. when
the arms o. the mercifll God VIII be.
as ever. extended 10 them. also that
some human beings continue In their
downward course. until they become
lost for ever. But their fate not being
revealed. q IS idle TO make it the sub.
Jet OF speculation and controversy.
II deserves notice that a great change
has taken place in the attitude Of mod
ern thought on the subject OF eternal
since this doctrine was
......IoA thrnnnh ahn rl-nrh.a In.n,h