Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-15

Book of Mormon without shadow oI
proof. or evidence.
We know not whether to ascribe thi:
statement to malice or to ignorance
No matter 1t is fair sample of the
reckless disregard for truth that char.
ncterizes so many assaIIants OF the
Church
Students of the Book of Mormon are
ns careful In sitting evidence as are
students of the Bible. They accept the
Book of Mormon on evidence similar TO
that with which all students of theolo-
ey arc familiar.
I. There is the retrospective evidence.
Ancient prophets predict the establish
mcnt in the last days of new era, the
Millennium. But II is the popularity
or all new dispensations that they be-
gin by the Almighty calling men to the
prophetic office and revealing truth
through them to mankind. This fact
runs through the histories relating to
Adam, Noah. Abraham. Moses, Sam
ucl, John. and many others. so plainly
as not to escape even the Nero casual
reader. When, therefore. the Prophet
Joseph announced that he had been
called of God to cry repentance and
proclaim the coming of the Son OF God
and the Millennium, his message was
as probable as that of the shepherds.
or the Magi at the first coming OF the
q, f,,I /.
the prophetic word 1t cannot be sup
posed that the Millennium was TO come
as a thief by night or that the Lord at
His second advent, will come unan-
nounced- The Scriptures Indicate a
mighty and marvellous work OF prep
aratlon before the Millennium. Such
the Prophet Joseph claimed he had been
called to establish. This is. In the very
briefcst outline. the retrospective evil
dence
We have also what has been call
cd the prospective evidence. The full
filment OF prophecy is always taken
us a proof of the authenticity of the
Bible. Prophecies In the Book OF Nor
mon relating to this country, and to
the world in general. as we'll as to the
coming of the Christ. are equally valid
proof. as they have been, or are be-
ing. fulfilled. But he who rejects the
book. may. perhaps, decline to consider
these prophecies. But nobody can
claim to be an honest inquirer and re
fuse to consider the prophecies uttered
by the Prophet Joseph, and their fulfil
mcnt. II he prophesied and his pre-
dlctions came true, he was a true
prophet. That Is indlsputable. Con-
slider, then, his prophecy concerning the
Civil War. given at q time when
conflict between the states seemed al
most Impossible, That prediction Is of
Just as much value as evidence OF the
divine mission of Joseph, as was the
prediction OF tho destruction OF Jeru-
salem of the truth of the claims Of
our Lord to the Messiaship, He gave
other predictions that have proved
true, He told the world that the
Church would flourish In the noun
tains. and that at a time when the
destruction OF the Church seemed i'm
minent He foretold his death. at
time when even his friends thought
him safe in the hands of the governor
OF q sovereign state, who had pledged
the faith of the state for his safety
Whence did he derive such knowledge?
Whence came his marvellous prophetic
gift, II not from God2 Joseph has
been yindicated as a true prophet and
is SO being yindicatcd every day, not
In dark corner but In the open day
light, In the very top of the mountains.
In the sight of all the world. This Is
the prospective evidence.
8. There Is another class of external
evidence. often called direct. 1t is
based on the miracles. Our Lord per-
formed many miracles. and gave His
followers the power to do the same
and this is accepted as an evidence Of
his divine mission. Men saw his mighty
works and they believed in Him. Tho
Prophet Joseph confirmed his mission
In a similar way. Under the admnis-
tration or his hands the sick were
healed. evil spirits were cast out, and
according to the testimony of some
eye witnesses-even dead were raised
up. President Woodruff tells the fol-
lowing:
ION the morning OF the end of July.
1889, he [Joseph] arose rejecting upon
the situation of the Saints of God In
their prosecutions and afflictions. He
called upon the Lord in prayer. the
power OF God rested upon him might
ly, and as Jesus healed all the sick
around him in his day, so Joseph, the
prophet of God. healed all around on
this occasion, He healed all In his
house and dooryard; then. In company
with Sidney Rigdon and several of the
twelve, went among the sick lying on
the bank of the river. where he COM
mandcd them In a loud voice. in the
name of jesus Christ to rise and be
made whole. and they were all healed
When he had healed all on the east side
OF the river that were sick, he and his
companions crossed the Mississippi
river in q ferry-boat to the west side.
where we were, at Montrosc. Tho
first house they went Into was President
Brigham Young'S. He was sick on his
bed at the time. The Prophet went
into his house and healed him and they
went out together.
"As they were passing by my door,
Brother Joseph said: Brother Wood
ruff follow me- These were the ONLY
words spoken by any of the company
from the time they left Brother Brig
hams house till they crossed the pub
lie square, and entered Brother Ford