Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-01

retained by right living. II you have
5st II, repent and return to God, and
or your sayatlon's sake and for the
AXE Of your children. avoid the ennis
aries Of Satan who peep and mutter,"
md who would lead you down 10 dark.
ness and death.
It is impossible for anyone possessing
he spirit Of the gospel and having the
over OF the holy Priesthood to believe
n or be influenced by any power Of
neeromacy.
My advice TO the Saints Is to so live
that they may have the Spirit and In
,luence OF the Lord with them for,
having that influence II is a wall Of
protection against all powers OF evil
that may seek an inroad into their
hearts and thoughts. The possession OF
the Holy Spirit is sure defense
against evil thoughts, superstitlons. ig-
norance, and the follies and machina-
lions of evi-dlsposed men and women,
Every Lat,er-day Saint should so con-
duct himself that he may enjoy this
Spirit and there win be no danger Of
his being led away by the foolish nom
sense that ignorance and superstition
seek to implant In the minds Of people
concerning the existence OF witches and
wltchcra'
There is no danger TO anyone In So
called wltohcraft itself; the evil
effect lies in the belief there
in. The person who believes
Injuries himself through fear and be-
lief; no other person has power TO in
lure him; II is himself who Injuries
himself through the superstition Of his
own mind In the Sandwich Islands
this superstitous belief was very pre-
yhlent, years ago. They call Il pn'e
nnaana, or the prayer OF sorcery. II
Sas no uncommon thing for Il person
who became beset with the thought
that he was being prayed to death
actually TO wither away, and die, ]
knew a good woman. wife Of leading
native Latter-day Saint whom l often
visited, who one day became very i'll
| asked what was the matter. She said
she was being prayed to DEATH and
she was actually seriously Ill, and get
ting ready to die; so great was her
fear and faith In what some evil-dc
signing. but In himself lmpotent, per-
sen, had whispered about her. told
her II was all wrong. that she must
not believe II; II was impossible: she
must believe, on the contrary, that she
would live, and be well. labored with
her In this way for some time, and che
inaly believed and was restored. and
such nonsense never had power over
lier again. II was not 30 with young
fative cook whom the missionaries em-
ployed. Some OF the jealous natives,
one day when we were Off on a visit.
brought him word that he was beirg
prayed TO DEATH" and Il so frightened
him, and 30 great was his belief in this
superstition, that he died within a
week, and we were without cook when
We returned.
As Israel of old were enjoned TO Obey
the law and the testimony given TO
them by Moses, so the Latter-day
Saints are commanded to turn to the
Gospel law restored anew TO them. and
to live so that they may enjoy the Holy
spirit of promise. a sentiment against
belief IN the power Of wltchcraft, and
all other evil things should be cher
ished among the Latter-day Saints, for
persons who believe or express faith
therein are In danger OF losing the
Spirit OF God. and Of placing themselves
under the influence OF the adversary
whose footsteps lead to DEATH
JOSEPH Il. SMITH.