Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-06
"sCIENCE OF MoRMoNIsM."

tihc Aspects OF Mormonlsm. Patrons
OF the News" are familiar with the Of
forts made to have an eastern publish
ing house handle this volume, and the
favorable comments made on II by the
readers" G.. p. Putnam's Sons, New
York, finally made an acceptable OFFER
and they have turned out a very neat
book, one that in every respect VIII be
an adornment to a library.
The object of the gifted author In
publishing this volume Is briefly stated
IN the preface, His observations have
led him to the conclusion that the time
is past when truth is accepted because
II can be proved by the Scriptures. such
proof was once an end Of controversy,
But the vital question, he thinks, now
Is. whether a doctrine squares with life
as interpreted in that newer revelation
OF God" the book OF nature; in other
words, whether It Is in harmony with
true philosophy. In accordance with
this view, concerning the correctness
OF which the opinions may be divided,
he proceeds to show what answers
"Mormonlsm," as he understands It,,
gives to the questions relating TO mans
existence, and to point out the position
of science as far as 1t touches on those
questions.
The book is divided into thirty chap
tiers and Il couple Of addenda. From
the headings OF these, the reader may
Judge OF the wide scope Of the work
The author starts with a statement
concerning the need Of such a literary
effort. lie shows that "Mormonism" is
essentially n scientific religion; he then
discusses, in several chapters, the
Mormon Conception Of God" and fol-
lows this with discussion Of eyolu-
ton. "How God Rules Among the Ma
lions" and shapes the Destiny Of the
Individual" are subjects next consid-
cred. one chapter is devoted to THE
Scientific Aspect Of Faith" and this Is
followed by chapters on repentance aud
baptism. Other subjects considered
are; Spiritual evolution, and spiritual
forces; what Intelligent Beings WIN
DO In the Hereafter" Philosophical
Difficulties to the Concept OF Personal
Cod" "Godhood as Incarnated;" "The
Real Meaning of Godhood" Jehovah,
God of Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob"
How our Father Became God" and
1.-THE Priesthood" A mere enumeration
OF these subjects will show the wide
range OF investigation through which
the author takes his readers, at every
step offering them the results OF his
own patient and thorough investiga-
tions, and logical deductions.
How far Professor Nelson has sue
ceeded In establishing the proposition
he has In view, the reader must Judge.
There are some propositions In the
volume which are his rather than d.
rect assertions made by "Mormonsm."
But this If certain: He penetrates
with holiness that is refreshing in this
age of initiative literature, the hooks
and corners, no matter how remote, OF
theological and philosophical systems,
and brings to light whatever he finds
there, without any other object than
laying bare the truth. There is an air
of the early apologlsts Of the Christian
church over the entire book And the
style ia clear and concise. Prof. Nelson
never leaves the reader in doubt as to
what he means, and his dctlon u.s.
therefore always forceful, never tire
some.
Naturally, Prof. Nelson devotes much
SPACE to the Mormon Conception Of
God" which, however, Is the scrlptural
picture Of the Deity and the only Con
ceptlon" ever formed by Christians,
since the Orthodox" conception Is no
conception at all, it being merely a
statement TO the effect that both the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
inconceiyablee, but one; this being alb
solutely no conception OF God, but to-
tai negation in the spirit OF agnostio-
ism, the so-called Mormon" theology,
or doctrine of the Godhead, Is the only
conception so far offered, And yet
Christians, who themselves are agnos-
tics on that most Vital point, cry BIAS
phemy as soon as the Mormon" or.
which is the same, the scrIptural pic
ture is offered. The author dwells on
this point and we consider the chap
tors devoted to that subject among the
strongest In the volume. II is a VIZ
tai point On It turns really the con-
fict between "Mormonlsm" and or
thodoxy-between truth and error.
It is rather remarkable that on this
point scientists Of modern times show
decided leaning toward the Mormon
point Of view, which, as has been said,
is also the Scriptural Thus Darwin, In
his Descent Of Man. says;
"Man may be excused for feeling
some pride at having risen though not
through his own eXertions, TO the very
summit OF the organic scale; and the
fact Of his having thus risen, in
stead Of having been aboriglnaly
placed there may give him hope for
a still higher destiny In the distant
future"
The 1celandic bard, Bjoern Gum
laugson, in his poem Njola almost ap-
proaches the expressions Of "Mor-
mon" writer's, as can be seen in the
following lines. translated by Mr.. John
Thorgeirson;
Some men think that IN the next
world everything remains dormant and
Interchangeable but such idea mas no
foundation. II II the nature OF life 10
keep moving toward perfection. AT the
present God alone has reached that
point He is now perfect"
When Christianity at first pro-