Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-01

thoughtful persons Of years OF expert
ence to listen with appreciation while
young men In surplicos tell them what
they ought TO believe, without telling
them why thoy ought TO believe IL.
People are eager for doetrinal preach
Ing. They desire TO believe, but not
bnndly. not al secondhand, not with
tile parsons faith IN place Of their
own" This, we think. is strictly true
OF most Of the people who go 10
church.
The office OF the preacher Is to quick
en- the conscience of his hearers, 10
lead them TO higher ideals, 10 point the
way 10 salvation and final reunion
with their Heavenly Father. What
ever serves to obtain these ends is 10
be made use of IN the sermons. II is
therefore, perfectly clear that he can
not discard doctrinal discources. He
must teach his hearers the truth In re-
gard to themselves. their mission In
the world. and spiritual things as far
as they have been revealed. Scripture
doctrine Is ut the foundation OF cor
rect conduct In life. The Gospel be-
gins lts message by unfolding the par
doning mercy Of God through the death
OF His Son. II exhibits It's doctrines
as motives TO holiness, and when the
truths have taken possession OF the
heart. they teach us 10 perceive the
necessity of obedience. Correct prin-
ciples, when accepted and applied. arc
n force that produces practical holl-
ness.
Truth remains the same through all
dlspensations and all ages. The Scrip
lures reveal everywhere the same God,
with the same qualities Human con-
oept5 OK Dalty may change, but the God
OF the Scriptures remains the same for
ever The Scriptures set forth Gods
plans In the government OF the world
aud predict the final issue OF the pres
emit struggle between the principles OF
light and darkness. Their teachings
regarding human nature, true happi-
ness. and sin as the source Of human
misery, are always the same, and these
teachings are applicable TO every age
and every condition of man. " ~ the
business of the preacher to grasp these
truths by the aid Of the Holy Spirit
and then to explain them TO his hear
ers. II is the truth that will set men
free.
A great many OF the sermons Of our
Lord consisted of parallels, In when
great truths were illustrated and moral
principles emphasized. Some Of the
noted sermons Of the first followers OF
our Lord were historical. Such was
for instance, the address OF Stephen,
the first martyr, before his prosecutors,
and some Of the sermons Of the Apostle
Paul. But they were given not as
historical lectures. Their object was
TO prove doctrines and illustrate moral
precepts. and there Is no more power
fh mode Of conveying such principles |
than the historical discourse. History
is but record OF the dealings OF the
Almighty with His children during
various ages, and It Is therefore an
source Of information
the relations of man TO his
Maker. But whatever form the dis
course may take, its object should be
to teach doctrinal truths, In order that
moral precepts may be obeyed. and that
salvation may be obtained through
faith and obedience.
Grave questions confront society at
tho present time. The author of
Poverty" claims that 100000 people
in the United States are living hand
to-mouth existence, with barely enough
10 support life. Jacob Riis has demon
strated that in the eight years prior to
1890 one-thlrd Of the people OF New
York City were recipients OF charity,
In Boston, In the year 1903, 10000 peo-
pie were aided by the public authors
ties alone. Such conditions do not call
for sermons on love-making, or games,
They call for discourses on such doc
trInes as the Fatherhood OF God and
brotherhood Of man, and the applica-
ton Of those doctrines to human life.