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


perstltion, and that even educated
people should attach Importance to So
called occult" influences and imagin-
airy agencies that are really non-exist-
ent except in their own minds and over
sensitive nerves. Mental conditions Of
ten develop into bodily disturbances.
and the saying is verified that, "As
man thinketh. 80 In he
The old. exploded belief in witch.
craft Is revived to some extent even
In the twentieth century, and that Is
not very wonderful in view OF the fads
that sway the minds of millions, under
the gulse OF sounding titles and
misleading pretenslons. There is a per-
tlnent article on this subject in the I'm.
provement Era for September. by Pres
ident Joseph +. Smith, and we repro
duce 1t In the News" that II may OBJ.
tain a still wider publication than that
afforded by the Era. which. however
has big and well-deserved circulation
throughout the Church. 1t Is as fol-
lows:
1T was no uncommon thing for people
OF eastern nations, almost from time
inmemorial, to profess to hold com
munication with the spirit world
through the medium OF superstltious
practices. There were magical formu-
l9, lucky and unlucky days, incanta-
lions, horoscopes. and various other de-
vices, and superstitlous rites and prac-
tees through which magicians. astrolo-
gers, soothsayers. divines. wizards.
witches, sorcerers, necromancers. con-
jurers, and enchanters, played upon the
ignorance OF their victims. II Is, Of
course, impossible to tell what the Sc
crets OF their practices were, but 1t Is
safe TO say that the power of strong
and cunning will over weak one. was
uppermost In their receptions. Tho
children Of Israel were forbidden to be-
lieve in these various classes OF super
stition. heathenism and idoatry, for
they tended 10 draw mems minds from
God. the true source of knowledge and
power. Says Isaiah: "And when they
shall say unto YOU. Seek unto them that
have familiar spirits. and unto wizards
that peep, and that mutter: should not
a people seek unto their God? for the
living to the dead? To the law and TO
the testimony; II they speak not nc
cord!ng TO this word. II Ii because ,i,-,-
Is no light In them" They were forbid
den to seek wizards that peep and
mutter,' but were commanded to obey
the law and the testimony OF the proph.
cts.
"0ne would think that In the day In
which we live the belief In witches and
witchcraft no more exists, and that the
counsel given 10 ancient Israel IN this
respect would be unnecessary to the
Latter-day Saints but apparently this
Is not the case. Word comes
from northern stake OF Zion
which indicates that In certain
settlement the belief in these things is
fairly rampant. and a great deal OF
trouble and unnecessary annoyance
have been given to the authorities OF
the stake and ward because OF this alb
surd belief entertained by certain fool
ish old men and women OF the ward.
II Is needless TO assert that to those
who are intelligent, and not bound by
old notions and superstitions, there is
no truth in what people call wItcheraft.
Men and women who come under the
influence OF belief therein are be-
witched by their own foollshness. and
are led astray by pretenders and mis-
chlsf-makers who peep and mutter."
II II really astonishing that there
should be any to believe In these alb
surdities. No man or women who en-.
Joys the Spirit of God and the influence
and power OF the holy Priesthood can
believe In these superstltlous notions
and those who do, viii lose, indeed have
lost, the influence Of the Spirit OF God
and OF the Priesthood, and are become
subject to the witchery OF Satan. who is
constantly striving to draw away the
Saints from the true way, II not BY
the dissemination Of such nonsense
then by other lnsldlous methods.
"One Individual can not place an AZ
nlction upon another In the way that
these soothsayers would have the poo
PIE believe. II is trick Of Satan 10
deceive men and women, and TO draw
them away from the Church and from
tho Influence Of the Spirit Of God ard
the power Of His holy Priesthood that
they may be destroyed. These peer
stone men and women are inspired By
the devil, and are the real witches. II
any such there be. Witchcraft and all
kindred evils. are solely the creations
OF the superstitions imaginntions OF
men and women who are stepped FL
Ignorance. and derive their power over
people from the devil and those who
submit to this influence are deceived
by him. Unless they repent, they viii
be destroyed. There is absolutely NJ
possibility for person who enjoys the
Holy Spirit of God TO even believe that
such influences can have any effect
upon him. The enjoyment OF the Holy
Spirit is absolute proof ngains, all In
fuences of evil you never can obtain
trait Spirit by seeking OWNERS, ana
men and women who peep and NUT
ter" That is obtained by imposition
Of hands BY the servants Of God, ard