Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-17
SALT LAKE CITY. JUNE II 1902,
REVELATION AND EVIDENCE

According to the published reports
the Ministerial association OF Salt Lake
City have taken up the question OF
revelation and passed resolutions de"
clarlng all modern revelations 'ineps
and inconcluslye" The proceeding Is
based on the testimony Of MIR. james
sharp, In the murder trial Just ended
The association referred TO takes
special pain TO point out that a hun
bred revelations should not convict a
man OF murder II this was en-
phasized, for the purpose Of creating
the Impression that Church members
hold that such revelations can be
used as legal evidence, or that the jury
probably was influenced thereby, II is
an entirely vain effort No well In
formed, intelligent citizen, OF any re-
lelous persuasion, holds such Views.
Courts are not called upon for the pur-
pose OF passing on the authenticity Of
revelations, but on the truth Of EVIL
dence presented. Revelations are out
side the jurisdiction OF courts. Even
Church tribunals, when asked to judge
between man and man, must weigh
the facts, without taking into consider
alton the spiritual or moral manifesto
lions the contendIng parties or their
witnesses, may have had. or believe
they have had. The Doctrine and
Covenants IL explicit on this point, (sec.
1Q5: 7a) The Church court may conf
IDENTIFY look for the guidance Of the
Spirit " God In Weighing the evidence
md forming decision. but still, II Is
the testimony TO facts that forms the
oasis of the decision.
As the News has already pointed
out, there Is no reason for believing
that the Jury In the Mortensen case
were influenced by anything but evil
dence. Each juryman was examined
as to his views on this point, and II
they were not legally sound. his SER
Vices were not accepted. II Is an I'M
Warranted reflection upon the integrity
of the court, or upon the ability of the
defense to look after the interests Of
the client 10 even intimate that the
verdict OF the jury was found on
any other ground than the evidence
presented.
But the resolutions of the ministers
declare revelations untrue. because not
admitted IN court as evidence. That
does not follow. A Bible text an artl-
Gle OF the Presbyterian faith, a para.
graph OF American history, or thou.
sand other things might be objected TO
as evidence in court. And yet they
might be true. They might mn import
ant places in a theological discussion,
for Instance. for the determination of
a doctrine, or the guidance Of church
members. In their faith and practices.
An Christians believe that II Is their
privilege to enjoy the Holy Spirit,
whose special office Il IS TO lead
into all truth, Whether they do enjoy
this privilege Is another and different
question. And yet, they could not
claim that gift as evidence In court,
Why do the opponents Of revelation
then not declare, that the presence OF
the Spirit in the midst Of believers IL
delusion2 Where is their consis-
tency? Il It Is true, that revelation
TO the effect that the Prophet Joseph
was dlvinely inspired, is "inept and In
conclusive" what. then, must be said
OF the declaration OF our Lord, that
the Father had revealed TO Peter that
Jesus was the Christ? Clearly reyela-
tion has lis important use in the econo.
my OF God.
The Presbyterian creed recognizes
three channels Of revelation, via. Ma
ture, history and the heart Of man, II
Ibis Is true. ii must be admitted that
revelation is continuous. Nature Is not
changed history Is siill adding page to
rage. chapter to chapter; the heart OF
man IL still pretty much as Il was In
the beginning, And God Is the
came today as yesterday, and
win remain so for ever Why
should II then be argued that there are
no more revelations? True, the heart
hat is closed, through unbelief is not
in a condition 10 form channel
through which the Divine light Of truth
can flow freely, but that does not APP
ply to the heart that Is prepared
through faith, humility, and purity, to
receive that light Those sitting In
darkness in their own little rooms and
anjoying what candle light they hap
zen 10 have, may be inclined 10 believe
has al Is night. But II they open the
ligs and the shutters. or II these are
roa,n down, they may find that the
va shines as bright as ever on the
outside. that the trees are unfolding
heir foliage, the blossoms sending out
heir fragrance. and the fruit rlpenng.
% Of yore. All depends on the point Of
lew, from wh.sh The works Of God are
pnsIderee. ~