Arizona republican., 1917-06-11
REPENTANCE ONLY
WAY Of ESCAPING
SURE PUNISHMENT

According to the justice of God
there must be an adequate punish
ment provided for every wilful and
unrepentant sinner; but this hell doc
tive has been overworked." declared
Elder j. E. Yates of the Reorganized
Latter Day Saints church in his ser
mon Sunday morning
The Bible teaches there is a hell,
but the endless duration can only be
applied to those who are so utterly
depraVed as to commit the one and
only sin which is objectionable.
There is forgiveness of sin in the
future life, upon certain condit ,ons,
for all other sins except this one.
Matt.12:31, 80. "All manner of sin
and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto
men bVt the balsphemy against the
Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven ur-
to men. 1t shall not be forgiven Inn,
neither in this world, neither in the
world to come"
The conditions upon which forgive
ness may be had in this w1rl1 CT
III the world to come, are, repentance
and obedience to the one and only
plan of salvation-the Gospel Of Je-
suS Christ.
BY the traditions of men seeking
to persuade sinners to come to God, re-
future life have been denied. Such
denial is a misrepresentation of the
justice and mercy OF God and of His
word.
See for example: l Cor, 3:15, where
it is clearly shown that the sinner
shall be saved, even though his evil
works be burned. Here is the language
If any mans work shall be burned he
shall suffer loss, but he himself shall
be saved: yet so as by fire"
Burning a mans work is quite diff
ferent from burning the man, as we
have been taught would be done III
hell.
In Mark we are informed that sim
ners are to be turned into hell where
their worm dieth not and the fire is
not quenched, but when we add TO that
by saying they never come out. we do
violence TO the text for there is no
such statement there; nor anywhere
else in the Bible; and the 49th verse
of the same chapter shows plainly that
application of the fire Indicating pun
ishment) shall be limited. Note the
language concerning those who go to
the place where the fire is not quench-
ed-"For every one shall be sailed
with fire
Is there no difference between be-
ing sailed with fire and being subject
TO its fury eternally? There certainly
is a difference-and it is the same diff
ference as that which exists between
the burning of a mans works, or burn
ing the man.
Why should we deny the poor mis-
guided, misinformed suffering sinner,
who by the arts of the devil and the
snares of the world has wrought
against his own best interests, any
hope at all in the future life, when
the word of God shows there may be
hope upon certain conditions, unless
there be total depravity resulting from
having committed the one sin which
is without pardon?
he any who need sympathy
and charity Qove) more than any 9TH
er, it is the dying sinner who has
,,,.s.,u IA, Jays ia slnIul pursuits, but
VINO is more a pitiful victim than a
depraved villain.
re IS not a tit subject for heaven,
and damnation having endless duration
would be unjust. He must therefore
receive according to his works; when
have been largely bad, and he must
therefore suffer punishment accord
ingly.
But I ask again, why deny him hope
when the word of God holds out hope
even for him, when his penalty Is
done?
Was it not the wicked rich man, who,
according TO Luke 10, being in torment
begged for water to cool his tongue
Yes. Well let us notice the word of
God concerning the blood of Christ APP
plying to persons who must go to that
place where there is no water. AS for
thee also by the blood of thy covenant
have sent forth thy prisoners out OF
the pit wherein is no water. Turn ye
to the stronghold we prisoners of hope
Then they do have hope! Let us
not be so unkind and so opposed to
the word of God as to deny 1t.
The prophet Ezekiel confirms the
same truth as follows: The strong
among the mighty evidently Christi
shall speak to him out of the midst OF
hell And the 18th verse of the pre-
ceeding chapter, speaking of the wicked
who have died and gone to he'll or the
will not all be in for possibly a week
more.
Colonel Breen announces that, oW