Answers to Interesting Questions

ANSWERS TO INTERESTING QUESTIONS. BY ELDER C. W. PENROSE, ASSISTANT CHURCH HISTORIAN. [Some time ago a gentleman in Shirley, Massachusetts, wrote to President Lorenzo Snow for information concerning "Mormonism;" in answer some literature was sent to the gentleman which gave rise to the following correspondence which is self-explanatory. — Editors.] Shirley, Mass., Nov. 29th, 1898. Lorenzo Snow, President Mormon Church: Friend: I acknowledge with thanks the receipt of pamphlet entitled "Voice of Warning," and twelve numbers of "Rays of Light." I have been much interested in reading this matter and although it is rather out of the course of my usual line of thought I yet recognize a ray or two of light. To say the least, your system seems worthy of investigation, and as I have been for some years past and still am a seeker after truth I would ask the privilege of corresponding with some intelligent mind of your faith. I desire to become satisfied as to whether or not I am called to be a partaker with you in your sphere of action. There are some points not touched upon in the pamphlets sent which I would like to know about and think a good way would be to ask questions. In this way you will comprehend the bent of my thought and I shall come to an understanding of your faith. If you will kindly answer clearly and to the point, I shall be greatly obliged. . At the present time are there any among you who are able and who do cast out devils, speak with new tongues, handle deadly

things without harm, and heal physical diseases by laying on of hands? 2. Are there any medical doctors and lawyers among you who practice their profession? 3. Do you recognize community of goods to be an essential doctrine of Christianity? Is your system communistic? If not how do you explain the following: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common." "Neither was there any among them that lacked," etc. The Acts, 32: 34th and 35th verses. Kindly explain your system, if neither communistic nor competitive. 4. Do you practice polygamy, and if so, where in the teachings of Jesus Christ do you find authority for such practice? Kindly give me your views on the sex question and reasons for polygamy. 5. How do you explain the following: "But he said unto them, all men cannot receive this saying save they to whom it is given." "For there are some eunuchs which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men and there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it let him receive it" ? Matthew xix: 11th and 12th verses. 6. How do you explain the following: "Jesus answered and said unto them, ye do err not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the angels of God in heaven" ? Matthew xxii: 29th and 30th verses. What do you understand by the word "resurrection" as used here? 7. Explain the following: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." "For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking and giving in marriage until the day that Noe entered into the ark." Matthew xxiv: 37th and 38th verses. 8. Explain the following: "For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are as the angels which are in heaven." Mark xii: 25th verse. What do you understand by the word "dead" as used in this verse? 9. Explain the following: "And he stretched forth his hand

toward his disciples and said, Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father," etc. Matthew xii: 49th and 50th verses. 10. Explain: "I am come not to send peace but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and a daughter against her mother," etc. Matthew x: 34th to 39th verses. If you have greater light than I am already in possession of and can demonstrate a purer, holier life I am willing to acknowledge it. Sincerely in truth I remain, E. J. S. Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 29, 1898. Mr. E. J. S.: Dear Friend: A letter of inquiry addressed by you to President Lorenzo Snow has been handed to me to answer, as President Snow has been too busy to give it his personal attention. This will account for the delay in replying to your questions. THE ANSWERS. First: You ask if there are any among us who are able to cast out devils, speak with new tongues, heal diseases by laying on hands, etc. Answer: The promise of Jesus Christ to "them that believe" (Mark xvi: 17, 18) has been fulfilled to the letter in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it was among the saints in former days. There have been and are frequent manifestations of the power of God through faith among the members of this Church. No one claims to have such power in and of himself. It is of God, obtained by individual faith. Second: Yes, there are medical doctors and lawyers among us who practice their profession. Third: We do not recognize "community of goods as an essential doctrine of Christianity." The passages in Acts iii simply relate what took place in the days of the Apostles. Communism is not taught in the New Testament nor believed in by the Latterday Saints. At present every person enjoys the right of property.

Each owns that which he accumulates, one-tenth of his increase being donated to the Church, the authorities of which see that the poor are properly supplied. Our system contemplates a more perfect social order, in which every man will be a steward over that which is placed in his possession, the ownership being recognized as in the Lord. The earth and the fullness thereof are his. Each steward will receive his support out of the means which he handles, the increase and surplus being held by the Church, for the benefit of the whole body of its recognized members, he giving an annual account of his stewardship. This is but a very brief outline of the plan revealed for the future government of the Saints financially, which cannot be fully carried out in the present condition of statutory enactments. Fourth: Polygamy, that is the marrying of plural wives, is not now practiced in this Church. The law of the Lord requires the Saints to be obedient to the laws of the land in whatever nation they reside. The secular law being against this practice, it is now prohibited both by Church and State. Fifth: The meaning of Matthew xix: 11, 12 is obvious, except that part of it which speaks of those who "have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake." This means that some men have devoted themselves to laboring for the interests and salvation of mankind to the extent that they do not marry, but continue in the ministry and sacrifice themselves; so that it maybe said of them, figuratively, that they have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. As Jesus said, "There are few that can receive this," and practice it. Sixth: The meaning of the word "resurrection" in Matthew xx: 29, 30 is the state of mankind after they are raised from the dead (see John v: 28, 29; Revelation xx.) Marrying and giving in marriage is not ordained for that state. It is an ordinance for this life, established in the Garden of Eden before death entered into the world. Adam and Eve were made one by a divine ceremony, and as "the man is not without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord," (I. Cor. xi: 11.) Adam and Eve will be one flesh in the resurrection state. So with all pairs married under the same law, that which is sealed on earth being sealed in heaven. The people about whom Jesus Christ was speaking, as

ANSWERS TO IhTERESTING QUESTIONS. 279 recorded in the passage you quote, were not in the sacred relation herein referred to. Therefore, in the world to come they will be "as the angels," who are separate and single and are ministering spirits unto those who are worthy of "a far more and eternal and exceeding weight of glory." Seventh: The meaning of Matt, xxiv: 27, 28, is that the destruction of the wicked at the time of the coming of the Son of Man will be as sudden, and overtake them as surely and completely, as the destruction that came by the flood in the days of Noah, (see II. Thess. i: 7, 10.) As the preaching of Noah by revelation from God preceded the destruction by the flood, so the preaching of the Gospel by revelation from God in the latter days precedes the destruction of the wicked at the time of the Lord's advent. Eighth: The word "dead" in Mark xii: 25, means the condition of the body in the grave when the spirit has departed. "The body without the spirit is dead," (James ii : 26.) Ninth: The meaning of Matt, xii: 49, 50, is that Christ regards those who keep the commandments of God and do the Father's will, as dearer to him than blood relations who do not obey the Gospel and walk in the ways of the Lord. The meaning of Matt, x: 34, 39, is that Christ came to introduce light and truth and the power of God. These are opposed to darkness, error and the power of the devil. These opposites cannot harmonize. They, therefore, create commotion. When people of the same family are divided on these lines, those who receive the Gospel are hated and fought against by those who receive it not, and thus in many cases the father is against the son, the mother against the daughter, and "a man's greatest foes are they of his own household." That the Lord, in his infinite mercy to the earth's inhabitants, has revealed a greater light than was in the world previous to the ushering in of this last dispensation, is evident to all who are seeking sincerely for the light that cometh from above. As to "demonstrating a purer, holier life" than yours, or that of any other person, we have nothing which we desire to offer. We have no boasting on that subject. Each man's life is open to his God, who is the supreme judge of men's acts. To him we will have to give account. We are not posing before the world as beings of peculiar sanctity above our fellow-men, nor do we exclaim, "I am holier

than thou." We do say that God, through Jesus Christ his Son, has opened the dispensation of the fullness of times by Joseph Smith the Prophet of the latter days and his successors, and that the truths connected therewith are offered freely to all mankind to receive or reject them as they will. We know that this work is of God, and we testify of this in all solemnity and soberness. May the Lord open your eyes to see this glorious light and incline your heart to receive and obey the truth as it is in Christ Jesus! Yours sincerely, C. W. Penrose.