Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-04
DEITY AND CALAMITIES,

and particularly the city OF san fdu-
cisco. has been TIE cause " many con.
aicung comments upon the question Of
divine Providence over mundane at.
fairs. That causes which are regard
ed As natural are Immediately related
10 the effects that are seen and expert.
enced. may be admitted freely and
without contradiction But that this
truth does not put out u consideration
on ovewuling power that is behind and
above an phenomena and AN human
action. Is perceived by close reasoners
as well ms by devout believers IN the
supremacy Of Deity Both these prin-
eiples ought 10 be reflected upon by
persons who desire 10 arrive az correct
conclusions concerning this question.
That good will be evolved out Of this
apparent evil, we firmly believe and
anticipate. Gods ways are not as
mans ways nor His thoughts as their
thoughts for the infinite is often un-
fashionable 10 the finite. The doctrine
OF the Great TEACHER that. Not even
sparrow falls TO the ground without
His permission is most comforting TO
those who have faith in God, but often
very puzzlng TO people who do not
comprehend His purposes II does not
follow because nothing happens but BIZ
the divine permission that the All
Father IS engaged IN shifting sparrows.
innicting pain. crushing cities. wreck
Ing vessels or destroying individuals or
property
That which IS done by means of any
kind Of agency natural. human or dia-
bolical. may be with the Divine per-
mission. because II IL not hndered by |
His power but every event NAV be I
overruled for some ultimate good and /
the accomplishment of Divine pur. .
poses. Therefore, We may nationally .
as well a. neligiously. believe that Di. |
vine Providence should be recognized
In all the occurrences Of mortal exist.
ence. and we should recognize His
hand and bow submissively to His will.
We find IN the Improvement Era for
June. 1906, and editorial by President
Joseph =. Smith entitled "The Lesson
In Natural Calamlties." which throws
light on this important subject. and
we here reproduce It in oxtenso:
Quite Interesting. n not failh.pro.
noting, are The comments Of tho re-
ligious papers Of the country. on the
great disaster that befcl san Francis.
70. Many hold that cataclysms Of the
kind are not divine yisitatlons Intended
10 remiud the people ~ their sins. or
call them TO repentance. one paper
Is quoted as saying, such a calamity
has M connection with human sin. but
Is cosuic N rs origin And that idea
Is voiced by many Of the writer's. There
sppears. therefore. 10 be- a general feel
Ing among the Protestant religious
leaders that God has little or nothing
10 do with nature or her laws: that II
'he unparalleled disaster were His
VII. and designed az a Judgment upon
The wicked san Francisco. which ia
openly and freely conceded 10 have
been a very wicked city. would alone
have been stricken and not tho seye-
raj smaller cities. which Ar, not at an
corrupt but which. in this case. suf-
fered equally With the larger and more
corrupt city.
This appears 10 me 10 be a mistaken
view Of judgment for judgment is not
an end In itself Calamiiics are only
permitted by a msrciful Father. in or.
der to bring about redemption. BE-
hind the fearful storms ~ Judgment.
which often strike the Just ana the un-
iust alike. overwhelming The wicked
and the righteous. there arises bright
and clear The dawn II the day or sal-
walton. Ia this case one can easily 700
the mercy Of Cod. Tor loss Of life would
have been much greater IL the quake
had occurred, Tor instance. when fhs
theaters were FUN or when more people
were astir The loss o. lie wonIi
then have been more appalling. Bs.
sides. hundreds OF stories ana tol3 NJ
how people were saved, In a proviler-
tai way showing 20 ms mind that
Gods Providence was over the reapIe
even in this calamity. and shat What
lie permitted 20 occur seems dearly
"a have been Tor the purpose of calling
attention. by the finger az Ills povs.
10 The wickeiness and sins ~ men-rot
alone 70 Tho sins OF the people or the
stricken city. fpr there are MANY ,I..-
where who are just as clG' minded. Igt !.
10 the tfanslrpssious ~ aN mankind
ihst all may take warning ana rspont
Men who stand bon tHe way OF Gods
wise purpose whether thty Do cool 4,
NJ evil, must suffer SIM the tprnol
Thus % T. that often ,he righteous sui. d
Ter Tor the unrghteous. and 70 is MT ii
20 the thinking mind 10 =,
say that therefore God is unjust. The . d.
perfect Christ suffered he just for the .
unjust. His 1iAEe uas so marr,i. 81
more than any man. and Ills form i,
0pre than ife sons of men,. And IT, d
n thr wisdom o. God. Il vas 30 that .
be- Who IS without siu should suffer for !,
he sins OF The world. why should not r
Imperfect man. though less sinful than
biz neiehbor. suffer with the wlckeIs
Thoo Is in fhe great world of man. r
'tnd. much social and c.yn uurght- al
business. religions unflithfu'ness. aui A.,
.re't Insensa.lty tothe majesw.poutr 10
'nd purpose % our Eternal Father and ii
Sod in order therefore that Do mly ~
rins The sense Cd, Himself ana His al
purposes ioms to the minds ~ men. al
lis Intervention aad iuirIost.on i1 "a