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 inconcluglve." The proceeding Is
based on the testimony Of Mr.. 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 em-
phasized. for the purpose Of creating
the Impression that Church members
hold that such "revelatlons' 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-
lleious 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 ls explicit ON this point (sec.
lO5: 7a.) The Church court may conf
IDENTIFY look for the guidance Of the
Spirit u God In Weighing the evidence
and forming decision. but still, il 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 We're 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 a 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 theological discussion,
for instance. for the determination of
a doctrine. or the guidance Of church
members. In their faith and practices.
All Christians believe that 1t Is their
privilege to enjoy the Holy Spirit,
whose special office It 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 consls-
tency? II It Is true, that revelation
TO the effect that the Prophet Joseph
was dyinely inspired, is 'lnept and n-
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 revela-
ton 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, 1t must be admitted that
revelation Is continuous. Nature Is not
changed history Is stil adding page to
rage, chapter to chapter: the heart OF
man IL still pretty much as II 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 condition TO 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
enjoying what candle light they hap
zen 10 have. may be inclined TO believe
hai an Is night. But II they open the
5ags and the shutters. or II these are
rroAen 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 ripening.
% Of yore. All depends ON the point Of
lew, from wh.sh The works Of God are
onsIdereG- ~