Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-17
THE PREsBYTERY ON DEITY.

At the meeting Of the Teachers as
ISOLATION Of the Presbytery Of Utah
held in this city on Friday, Rev Dr.
Paden spoke on The Mormon Idea Of
God" He approached the subject in a
spirit somewhat different from that
usually INDUCED In at assemblies OF
that character. II was argumentatiye
and without vituperaton. This Is en-
couraging, as was the advice subse-
quently given to the teachers mot TO
antagonize, assail and fight, the Nor
mons, but to present the simple truth
in straight forward manner" When
we compare this with the methods en-
ployed by Presbyterian and Methodist
ministers In the early days of the
Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints, the contrast is truly remark
able. The weapons then used were the
rife, the torch, mobocracy and yio-
lence. Today the advice is given TO
approach "the Mormon brother In
the spirit OF Christ, to be kind and so
gain his confidence. We highly ap-
preclate the change
1t is noticeable that clerical oppon-
ents Of "Mormonism" still follow the
old plan OF attack, by quoting Isolated
passages from books that are not num-
bered among the standards Of our
faith, Notwithstanding the repeated
declaration by the Church that the
written standards which II recognizes
as authoritative are the Bible, Book OF
Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and
Pearl OF Great Price. The Church has
formally passed upon those books In
conference assembled and on none 9TH
ers. This, however, says nothing
against any OF the works which bear
the names OF their authors and for
which they are personally responsible.
DR.. Paden did refer to the Doctrine
and Covenants to establish the asser-
ton that ''rhe words Of the Priesthood
are the words Of Cod That IL very
common but very unfair way to state
the position OF the Church on this mat
ter. TINS is the word OF the Lord to
the Elders sent forth to preach the
Gospel,
"And this Is the ensample unto them,
that they shah speak as they are moved
upon by the Holy Ghost, and whatso-
ever they chall speak when moved upon
BY the Hoy Ghost shall be scripture,
shall be the will Of the Lord shat be
the mind Of the Lord shall be the word
of the Lord. shall be the voice OF the
Lord and the power Of God unto
salvation" Doc. & Gov. Sec, 6S, V. 80
1t does not require any argument to
show that the words ~ men In this
Church holding the Priesthood are not
declared TO be the words Of God, UNI
less they are spoken under the inspira-
ton Of the Holy Ghost, II was that
which made the words Of ancient
prophets and apostles the words Of
God and when not moved upon by the
Holy Ghost their utterances were not
10 be received in that light In another
revelation to the Church, the LORD
said.
Verify | say unto you. he that Is
ordained OF me and sent forth 20 preach
the word Of truth by the Comforter in
the Spirit Of truth, doth he preach II
by the Spirit Of truth, or some other
way2 And II it be by some other way
1t he not Of God
We believe that the Holy Ghost Is the
same now as II was in former times,
that It's operations and effects are the
same. and therefore that holy men Of
God. when inspired by II in the present
age. can understand and speak and
write at its dictaton, and what they
utter will be scripture when written
Just as much as that given through
holy men Of Ola There is nothing IN
the Bible or in reason which contro'
verts this position.
But the remarks Of Dr. paden wer,
directed chiefly against the Mormon
conception Of God principally In hos
tillty to their belief that God is per
son, having form and substance an'
possessing a body IN the likeness an'
image OF which man Is made. Thu
gentleman regards this as "hcathenish.'
That does not matter at an Tn
question IL, is II true. on the genera
belief OF the Latter-day Saints con
corning Deity. some remarks We mad
in the Tabernacle In this city last sun
day which are published In this issu
OF the Deseret News and to which w
draw the readers attention. But le
us see what the "Presbyterian Comics
sion Of Faith" has to say on this sub
ject
Father. Son and Holy Ghost are eacl
equally the one God; and the indlNisl
BILE divine essence and Of divine periec
ton and prerogatiyes belong 20 eacl
in the same sense and degree
This Is the common belief of the mo
dern Christian sects. Il Is anothe
form Of expression 10 that In the Ar
ticies Of Religion" OF the Episoopa
Church. which says
"And in unity OF this Godhead Their
be three persons 81 one substance
power and eternity. the Father III
Son and the Holy Ghost
According to this Jesus Christ
God. equally so with the Father an
with the Holy Spirit Here then is
God with a body. with parts and wit
passions, who lived as man. died, wa
buried. was resurrected and with hi
body. composed Of f,sh and bones an
quiekened by the spirit he ascende