Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-23
AN OLD ERROR.

one Of the remarkable religious hero
sIes Of modern times is that held by the
sect commonly known as Sleep
ers.o They believe that the whole hui
man being dies or sleeps, when dlssolu'
ton comes. They hold that there IS no
real distinction between the body ana
the spirit, that the word spirit as
used in the Hebrew scriptures In refer
ence 10 man means breath TheJ look
for the resurrection Of those tha' de-
but the immortality or continuation Of
fxlgtence spoken OF by Inspired wrltors'
ylll only be enjoyed By those who nre
m cArlst. All others win be destroyed
some on them arruo that all who ole
WIN Be- rcsurc ted but that the saved
win enter into everlasting life, ana the
rest WIN persist AMI others Of them
contend that none win lie raised from
Tho dead but those who through ac-
ceptance OF Christ az the Savior VIII
faln TIA, eternal glory,
1t Il rot our purpose to enter into any
dlscusrIon OF thls subject at present
bt TO call attention to the fact that
these peculiar notions are not new to
tho later part OF the nlneteenth century
and the beginning Of the twentieth, but
were entertained AMI advocated strong
" over q hundred years ago In the
frs, issue Of the New York Evening
Pas. November iG. 1901, the following
extracts from "Tho American Citizen
we're published by request. with some
comments which partoolS more OF a po-
utloal argument against the believers IA
that doctrine just prior to a city cleo
ton, than Of a refuiation OF the theory
advanced
"The immortality Of the soul remains
unsupported BY any evidence either
direct or anaogicnl. ond, considcied as
n cause is inadequate tn It's supposed
effects. The phenomenon VIII Oh this
hypothesis is framed n account for, Is
the thinking power in man; a power or
quality which Il 10 suppo ed cannot be-
long to natter Il supposlti n which Is
not well supported for, that organlged
matter can and does think, may be
proved by analogy, which is the only
kind Of evidence the subject viii admit
Of
1.-THE doctrine Of tho resurrection, as
taught by that 'transC'ndaat philo-
sophy which was confirmed by that
Fat which raised q Lazarus from the
tomb evidently supposes man to be
wholly material"
ut Il Of those opinions e m1nk'nd In
theology which have he lerst evidence
IN favor Of the probability Of their be-
Ing truths
when It IS asserted that certain po-
sltions are truths which are desti ute
Of evidence ruHiriont 20 nr0ve t1at they
are truths. It Is surely an evidence of
philanthropy IN any 10 attempt to chow
mqrklnd that In such In t1ncos hey are
mistaken
"Ry referring % The rcrDiures Il will
Be found that Christ TAUGHT tho &c u
Is slaep, and that man word s'oep eter-
nollv II he was not " 20 aW0k ned by
the Governor Of the Universe
The comments added & th)Fc para
graphs declare that they are contrary
to sound reason, and T. the Holy rip
tires, but offer no further evidences
arplnst them than those contained In
thiu one extract.
"Chrlstans--do you believe that for
you 70 die will be gain7 That when
ahsent from the BODY you will be pre-
sent with the Lord9 Arc TO hase
truths vbur support and conso alton
under the evils OF life, and the prospect
Of death? DO you not wish TO live un-
der the continual influence Of them. and
70 have them IMPRESSED up1n tfe minds
Of your children? What then are YOU
10 think Of writings intended TO shake
your faith, to DESTROY your hore and
lenVe you 10 wander in awful darkness
and uncertainty"
The advocates Of the Soul-sleeplnk
theory quote a great deal Of scripture
which they think gives color to their
views, and they often puzzle people WIZ
are not familiar with Holy Writ by the
construction which they put upon those
citations, me Latter-dny SAINTS, belng
blessed with "a more sure word OF
prophecy" than the deal letter Of an
cient writings, know that the theory
entertained by those sectarles is ncot
rect. Direct revelation IN this age Of
the world afIlrms the existence OF the
spirit Of man as an entity which wher
dlslncorporated Is fully conscious, in
telligent capable Of progress and wait
ing for the restoration Of the physlca
body which will be regained IN the
resurrection These divine communica'
tons In modern times are in full ac'
cord with the teachings Of the prophet
and Of the Savior and OF His Apostles
In former ages Upon them believers
in the revealed word Of God can lm
plcitly rely, and they need not b,
tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind Of doctrine"