--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - N. L. Nelson collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 12 published: 1903-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'N. L. Nelson, "The Two Aspects of Deity Contrasted", *Improvement Era* 6, no. 12 (October 1903): 881–893.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0612unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0612unse start_page: 881 end_page: 893 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0612unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Two Aspects of Deity Contrasted And so on we might continue indefinitely with many testimonials that we have on hand as to the value of the ERA among the missionaries. Tou can well afford $2.00 to help in this work, especially as you get full value for your money in the magazine itself. What do you say? Send your subscription today. Don't wait for further solicitation. The Manual Goes Free with the Era. An additional consideration is that you get the Manual— either Senior or Junior- free with each subscription. That is a great consideration, for the Senior Manual this year is a book of 200 pages of fine type which, under other conditions, would cost you $1.00. You get this book free with the ERA. It is sold to members for 25 cents and to others than members of our Associations for 50 cents. Tou get it free as a subscriber for the ERA. A few words about the Manual, for you will surely want it. It is a valuable treatise on the Book of Mormon by B. H. Roberts. It is divided into four parts: Part I. The Value of the Book of Mormon as a Witness for the Authenticity and Integrity of the Bible and the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Part II. The Discovery of the Book of Mormon and Its Translation; the Migra- tions, Lands, Inter-continental Movements, Civilization, Government and Religion of its People. Part III. Evidence of the Truth of the Book of Mormon. Part IV. Objections to the Book of Mormon. Parts I and II are used as the body of the manual for 1903-1904; Parts III and IV will be used for the manual for 1904-1905. There is this difference between these two manuals and those already issued, that whereas the analysis of each lesson has been given and immediately followed with notes which gave the general infor- mation on the text, in the present manual, the analysis of all the lessons will be placed together, and the references made to the body of the Manual which treats of the subject. It is found that the treatise of Elder Roberts will comprise nearly all the material that the student will require to inform him on the subject of the lesson, and though, of course, copious references will be made to the works of other writers, yet the manuals upon the subject of the Book of Mormon will be practically all the reference works that the students will require in mastering the subjects of the several lessons. It is presented to the young men at a very low price. Ordinarily it would cost $1.50, which is the price of the same writer's work, "A New Witness for God," but in these Manuals, members of our associations will get the work for 50 cents, each manual costing 25 cents, and subscribers for the ERA get it free; others, not members or subscribers, must pay 50 cents. The Junior Manual, which should be in the hands of every member and student of the Bible in our Junior Classes, remains at the price of 25 cents, or is obtained free with the ERA. The subject is "The Ancient Prophets," and it consists of a number of character sketches taken from the Bible and Book of Mormon, consid- ered in their chronological order. The lessons will be presented in a simple story form, arranged with subdivisions, so that assignments may be made to several members. Each lesson will emphasize some important principle taught in the life of the character treated, and will be followed by a series of questions. Regular Departments and Contributors. The "Editor's Table," so valuable to our readers in the past, will continue to be one of the leading features of the ERA, in which President Joseph F. Smith will discuss ethical, religious, and current topics. A large number of letters which have been received by the editors speak of the value of "The Current Story of the World," which has appeared for the past two years in our magazine, written by Dr. J. M. Tanner, and this popular department will be continued and improved in "Volume VII. The department, "Questions and Answers," will contain important questions, and "Our Work" will be made even more valuable, necessary and in- dispensable as a guide and help to the officers than heretofore. Among the writers who have promised to contribute to Volume VII of the ERA are the following well known and leading professors, authors, teachers and citizens of Utah and surround- ing states: B. H. Roberts Sophy Valentine John Nicholson Jesse N. Smith Apostle Francis M. Lyman Thomas Hull Dr. John A. Widtsoe Dr. J. M. Tanner Dr. James E. Talmage Henry W. Naisbitt Prof. Willard Done Bertha E. Anderson Nephi L. Morris J. H. Ward Prop. Joseph P. Merrill Lydia D. Alder J. L. TOWNSEND Joseph w. McMurrin Prop. J. H. Paul Orson f. Whitney Edwin F. Parry Dr. George H. Brimhall Nephi Anderson Prof. N. L. Nelson S. A. Kenner Prof. Bryant S. Hinckley Dr. J. X. ALLEN James H. martineau Prop. Lewis A. Merrill Major Bichard W. Young W. A. Morton L. L. Greene Richards Prof. W. H. Chamberlin Dr. M. H. Hardy Prest. Joseph E. Taylor W. A. Hyde George E. Blair Prof. J. E. Hickman Mathonihah Thomas R. W. Sloan Annie G. Lauritzen Andrew Jenson Sara Whalen Ben E. Rich David H. Elton And Many Others. Special Features of Volume VII. "Joseph Smith as Scientist," by Dr. John A. Widtsoe. Dr. John A. Widtsoe, whose splendid contributions to the ERA heretofore have received such widespread admiration, has prepared a series of eight papers on the subject "Joseph Smith as Scientist," which are now in hand, and will ap- pear in Volume VII. This series alone will be worth much more than the subscrip- tion price. President Joseph F. Smith, the Senior Editor. Will contribute articles monthly touching topics of interest to the Saints and the young people. No series of articles that have ever been published in a home mag- azine have received greater favor than the contributions of President Smith in the past volumes of our magazine, and subscribers will have a feast of good things in his writings for Volume VII. Twelve Talks to Young Men on as Many Topics. In Volume VI there appeared twelve articles by a number of writers on the above subject, and from the letters and inquiries that have come to the editors, It is clear that these articles have been received with much favor. We have there- fore concluded to continue "Talks to Young No pains will Men" in Volume VII. be spared to make these heart to heart talks with the boys practical, useful, in- spiring and to the point, on such subjects as: "Character Building," "Life as a Fine Art," "The True Gentleman," "Honor," "Punctuality," "Dress," "Money- Matters of Young Men," "Business Integrity," "Method and Economy," "Seizing Opportunity," "Prudence," "Dispatch," "Luck or Pluck?" "Counsels of Success- ful Men," "Philosophy of Common Sense," "A Happy Successful Life," "Commer- cial Value of Thought," "Food and Exercise," and other practical topics. Stories. As in Volume VI, we design presenting to our readers in the present Volume, VII, a number of clean, lively stories of life, love and adventure that will interest the reader who is fond of fiction. The ERA aims to print such stories as will culti- vate a superior taste for good reading, and for first class light literature. Miscellaneous Subjects Already in Hand. A host of essays on religious, historical, social, literary, and scientific themes will appear, written by a variety of entertaining authors, old and new. Among the titles, now on hand or promised, which will appear at an early date, are the following: "What Does Science Say?" "The Red House on Lime Street." "Was the Dec- laration of Independence a Divine Inspiration?" "The Parables of Jesus." "The Ancient Hebrew View of the World and its Creation." "God's Revelation of His Character in the History of Israel, as a Preparation for the Establishment of the Gospel." "The Relation of Natural Science to Agriculture," several articles, "A Patriarchal Blessing- and Its Realization." Customs and Traditions." "Indian "Immortality of the Spirit." "The Tryst—A True Tale." "The Triune Forces of Missionary Life." "The Ologies." "Progress of the Saints in Canada." "The Way- side Burial." "Chips from the Block." "The Industrial Problem." "Agriculture as a Profession." "The Scripture as the Inspirer of Youth and Refiner of Charac- ter." "Nature's Remedies." "The Law of Affinity Its Operation and Results." : Special Doctrinal Subjects. Elder B. H. Roberts, one of the leading writers of the Church, will contribute several striking articles on doctrinal subjects, and one in particular on the "Prob- ability of Joseph Smith's Story Concerning the Book of Mormon." As the subject of the Book of Mormon will be uppermost in our Associations for the coming sea- son, this will be a very important contribution, and will be followed by others on Book of Mormon subjects that will be of great interest to the young men. There should be a combined effort on the part of the officers of the Mutual Improvement Associations to hold up before the young people the divinity and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon during the coming year. In fact, our motto or aim for the coming season should be, "WE WILL LEARN TO KNOW AND PROVE THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE." The articles that will appear in the ERA will supplement the efforts of the associations, and greatly aid the young men in obtaining this knowledge and testimony, and in developing the aim which should be foremost before the associations. Other doctrinal topics will receive due con- sideration, and our efforts will be extended to make the ERA a leading doctrinal exponent of the Church for the missionary field, for the student, and the investi- gator. Tlim of the Era. The primary aim of the ERA is to instil into the hearts of the young people a testimony of the truth and magnitude of the Gospel and the work of God; and, like the associations which it represents, "to aid them in developing the gifts within them, and in cultivating a knowledge and an application of the eternal principles of the great science of life." It aims, besides, to educate and interest its readers in social affairs, in history, biography, current events, and the building of noble character, and points young men to the way of true success. As the organ of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations it promulgates the official instruc- tions of the leaders of this great organization, making it indispensable to every officer therein. It is a magazine for the family. Special to the Officers of the Mutual Improvement Associations. We ask you to continue loyal to our magazine, by subscribing for it your- selves, and by each one of you securing one other subscriber. That would give us nearly 7,000 subscribers, from this source alone. Remember that every president is an agent. It is suggested that he should appoint one of his assistants to look carefully after the interests of the magazine, and see that his ward is thoroughly and completely canvassed early in the season. A stake aid to the superintendent should be appointed to supervise the canvass for the ERA and otherwise look after its welfare in the stake.There is no difficulty in obtaining subscribers if the work is handled properly and in season, and we solicit our officers to loyally take hold of this matter, and in this way aid the work of obtaining a large circulation. As the organ of our associations it is the vehicle of official information for the offi- cers, and as such is indispensable to M. I. A. workers. Terms and Guarantee. At the last annual conference of the associations, the officers decided to re- turn to first principles in handling the business of the magazine—that is, that all pay shall be in advance. The ERA will be issued promptly on the first of each month, and will be sent only to subscribers who pay in advance. We do a cash busi- ness. The price of the magazine is $2.00, including the manual, strictly in advance; the only exception to this being that, on application from subscribers who have been with us for years, the magazine will be sent to them without interruption upon receipt of a request from them, (on the subscription slips forwarded them by mail) to continue the magazine upon their promise to pay within the month. We have behind us six years of fulfilled promises. The magazine is prompt in publica- tion and all our pledges will be faithfully kept, as they have been in the past. Officers of the General Superintendency. Joseph P. Smith, General Superintendent. Heber J. Grant, | Assistants . B. H. Roberts, j Thomas Hull, Secretary and Treasurer. Evan Stephens, Music Director. Horace S. Ensign, Asst. Music Director. Board of Aids. Francis M. Lyman Edward H. Anderson Joseph W. McMurrin John Henry Smith Douglas M. Todd Reed Smoot Matthias F. Cowley Thomas Hull Bryant S. Hinckley Abraham O. Woodruff Nephi L. Morris Moses W. Taylor J. Golden Kimball Willard Done B. F. Grant Junius F. Wells Le Roi C. Snow Henry S. Tanner Milton H. Hardy Frank Y. Taylor Hyrum M. Smith Rodney C. Badger Rudger Clawson William B. Dougall George H. Brimhall Rulon S. Wells Joseph F. Smith, Jr. O. C. Beebe Lewis T. Cannon Tkddress all communications: IMPROVEMENT ERR, Salt Lake Gity, Utah. Vol. VI. OCTOBER, 1903. No. 12. THE TWO ASPECTS OF DEITY CONTRASTED.* BY PROF. N. L. NELSON, OF THE BRIGHAM YOUNG ACADEMY. In the preceding chapter, I have assumed, partly on the author- ity of scripture, and partly from the necessity involved in a living, virile faith, that the personal or Christtype of God is true, and the Buddhistic or universal-spirit type is false. — The proposition, however, is of such vital importance reach- ing as it does into every thought and act of our lives — that it should not rest upon these good foundations, if better can be es- tablished. Accordingly, I shall, in this chapter and the next, attempt a series of parallels between the two conceptions in their relation to life itself. One preliminary, however, needs to be taken into account on the start. Science insists that truth can be known to man only by experience; and that, consequently, the basis for the credibility of any reasoning, speculative or otherwise, mu3t be that its prem- ises are realities. In this discussion, I shall insist strongly upon the law of experience being kept in view. A little reflection must * Being chapters IV and V of a new book Professor Nelson is writ- ing, entitled, Science and Mormonism. / ! — 882 IMPROVEMENT ERA. show how valueless is any system, however logical, that is not formed on this law. Buddha, for instance, retires into the darkness of a cave to escape the "tyranny of his senses" — in other words, to escape the truths of experience. There, untrammeled by the necessity of conforming to objective law, his mind weaves a beautiful and most perfect system of soul-evolution, which, because of its unex- ampled logical unity, he soon comes to believe is real, and, in due time, that it is the only reality. All this is marvelous enough; but what shall we say to the mar- vel of millions of people, in everyage since then, disavowing all experience as mere shadows, and accepting this dream as the crite- rion of life? Suppose the first timepiece had been evolved in the same way, should we. have apotheosized the watch-maker, and thereafter treated the movements of sun, moon, and stars as base illusions To make a beginning, then — at the beginning— let us contem- plate the largest truth of which the human mind is capable; a truth, moreover, concerning which all minds must agree; viz., the formlessness, the reality, the unity, the homogenity, the integrity, the harmony, the infinitude, both in time and space, and, withal, the mystery, of the uncreated universe. We need not rea- son, indeed we cannot reason, to these aspects of the All-in-all. We have only to open our souls, and they pour in to the extent of our capacity. Nor can we reason these intuitions out of our- selves. Insanity might temporarily obscure them, but soul-atrophy alone could deprive us of them.* Other aspects, though dependent upon perception and infer- ence, are almost self-evident. One of these is the fact that the universe is not empty, but full. Full of what? Ah, there we come face to face with the Mystery. We call it ether — quite as if that signified something. Let us rather say, full of power static, quiescent —a dark, silent ocean of energy, out of which * Let me ask the reader to realize as far as possible the thought in- volved in this paragraph, by re-reading and bringing to each word the test of introspection; that is, referring it to his own intuitions, thereby forming some definite judgment of its truth. THE TWO ASPECTS OF DEITY CONTRASTED. 883 forces rise, and into which they sink, after they have played their transitory parts before the mimic stage of our senses; say, rather, that the universe is full of the mother essence of creation, out of which Invention has formed worlds without number, and the re- sources of which Invention shall never exhaust. It is precisely at this point — the point at which the uncreated — becomes the created that the problem of religion begins; how and by what agency the "formed" and "limited" comes out of the womb of the "formless" and "limitless." This is a question that immediately begins to divide mankind; and to this question, there- fore, let us first address our attention. In Salt Lake City is a beautiful temple of gray granite, and in one of the canyons to the east is the quarry whence its massive walls were drawn. Consider, then, these two objects: the gray- granite mountain in the clouds, the gray-granite temple in the val- ley. What is the relationship between them? Did the mountain brood and bring into being the temple? If not, was there an "All- soul" deep in the bosom of the ancient Wasatch range that con- ceived this magnificent piece of architecture, then shaped the rugged cliffs into geometrical blocks and laid them one upon an- other? Or, if not the soul of the mountain or the soul of the range, perhaps it was the soul of the earth, or of the solar system; or did the universe itself bring about this substantial piece of cre- ation? If these questions seem palpably absurd, the reader is kindly requested to exercise patience till the analogy is completed. Science practically agrees with scripture that there was a time when the space now occupied by the solar system — a very lonely part of the universe, so astronomers tell us — was 'without ' form and void," that is to say, it exhibited all the formlessness, quiescence, and homogenity of the rest of the uncreated uni- verse. Why did it not continue so forever? Who or what caused the change? What is the relationship between that first state and the present? Did the "All-soul" residing within this sphere of pregnant space —the sphere bounded by Neptune — conceive the sun and his satellites, then bring them blazing forth in the dark abyss? Or was the moving cause of this transcendent marvel the 884 IMPROVEMENT ERA. "All-soul" of the million-fold greater sphere, whose radius sweeps the nearest fixed star? Or did the creative act spring out of the universe itself? The solar system could not have come about without a cause. To call that cause God, brings us not a single step nearer the so- lution of the problem; save perhaps that it narrows the question to, What is God? Of all the conceptions that have at various ages held the attention of mankind, only two survive the enlightenment of the present century— the Buddhistic conception and the Biblical. Ac- cording to the first, God, if not the universe, is at least co-extensive with the universe; an essence permeating every infinitesimal por- tion of boundless space; a spirit, dormant or quiescent in the uncreated universe, but active and dynamic — the animating prin- ciple in the created universe; the noumenon, or only reality, out of which phenomena —that is to say, illusions — arise, and back into which they must inevitably melt or sink; the boundless and eternal uncaused cause of all things. In so far as a rational conception of God can be gathered from the very irrational definitions given in numerous confessions of faith, this is also practically the conception of modern Christi- anity,* save that its advocates, while they derive all created things — phenomena —from the uncreated universe (or God), have, nevertheless, not the courage of the Buddhists to .carry their * Here is the conception set forth in the Nicene creed, a conception followed, with modifications, by most sects of Christendom: "We worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity; neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, an- other of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is all one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible and the HolyGhost incomprehensible"— to which we may fairly add,and this definition incom- prehensible; for how can God be "formed" and "limited" (i.e., as three separate persons,)and at the same time"formless" and "limitless" (i.e., as uncreate) ? It is stultification of this kind that has brought religion into contempt with thinking minds. THE TWO ASPECTS OF DEITY CONTRASTED. 885 premises to the inexorable conclusion; viz., that these phenomena, these semi-illusions exhibited to our senses by form and limitation, must inevitably go back — melt, sink again—into the uncreated universe; in other words, that Creation must be followed by Nir- vana. Various and fantastic have been the attempts at conveying an idea of the Christian God, as set forth in the Nicene creed. The Church of England is, perhaps, clearest in its announcement of his immateriality, declaring him to be "without body, parts, or passions, and of infinite power and wisdom;" then, very illogically, announcing that in the "unity of this Godhead there be three per- sons!" — also quite ignoring the distinction between the limited and the limitless. From current religious discussions may be gathered the no- tion that he is a being whose circumference is everywhere and whose center is nowhere; who sits on the top of a topless throne beyond the bounds of time and space. But as there is neither center nor circumference to that which is boundless, nor top to that which is topless, and no beyond to time and space, such ex- planations are beneath the dignity of ministers of the gospel. Although of God as an immaterial, omni- this conception present Spirit is among prevalentmodern Christian churches, it is by no means traceable to the teachings of Christ. On the contrary, it represents two distinct compromises of the re- ligion of Christ with secular cosmogonies. The was with first the philosophy of Greece, as represented by Athanasius and the school of Greek dialecticians who joined the church during the third and fourth centuries. By the creed of Nice (already quoted) God is called a person, which of course represents the Bible side of the controversy. But in the next breath, he is pronounced un- create, which makes him without form, the definition thereby violating the second law of thought; viz., a thing cannot be and not be at the same time. True, by the powerful writings of St. Augustine, the personal aspect was kept in the ascendency down until the eighteenth century. Unfortunately, Augustine asso- ciated with the Bible conception such human limitations of Deity —including the doctrine of the total depravity of man —that his ideas became untenable before the onslaught of evolutionary 886 IMPROVEMENT ERA. philosophy; and when they fell, the idea of a personal God fell with them. — The second compromise which was all but a complete sur- render — was to modern science; for to the extent that science is not agnostic — that is to say, in so far as it applies the name of God to any of its concepts— it, too, accepts as most rational the Buddhistic idea; that of the immanent God, the indwelling Spirit of Life. For, does not this idea admirably explain the vivifying principle in nature, the source and meaning — to borrow Spencer's phrase — of that "infinite and eternal energy whence all things proceed"? Does it not also explain the unity and harmony so man- ifest in the universe? — Another rapidly growing cult which might be roughly classed as transcendental, keeping in mind both the good and bad sense of the word, a cult in whose front ranks stand such rational thinkers as Emerson and Carlyle, but whose wings and vanguards are marshaled into line by such dreamers as Madam Blavatsky and Mrs. Mary Baker Glover Eddy — also accept as the basis of their various philosophies this same background of things knowable, the Buddhistic conception of Deity. So that this doctrine of pan- theism —for such it is, more or less modified —holds all but univer- sal sway among civilized peoples at the present time. In view of this fact, it would seem to argue unusual temerity for a handful of people like the "Mormons" to rise up and proclaim the old-fashioned conception of God as a glorified, perfected, per- sonal Being, the Father of the human race, and its prototype in every sense — physically, intellectually, socially, morally, and spirit- ually. To be sure, such is the revelation of him in the Bible. As before pointed out, from the first page in Genesis, where man is represented as being made in his image, to the last page of Reve- lation, where he is represented as seated on the great white throne — in almost every chapter of Holy Writ, we get the conception of a personal God. Nor do "Mormons" alone get this idea from scripture : all men do who have no esoteric meanings to read into the sacred text. But not all men can withstand the bombardment of speculative philosophy. Let a college professor explain, with his fine air of superiority, that only in a crude age of the world's history did THE TWO ASPECTS OF DEITY CONTRASTED. 887 mankind hold so narrow and degraded a conception of Deity, and these honest but entirely exoteric readers of scripture blush for their ignorance, and straightway go over to the popular side. Only the sturdy convictions of a "Mormon" can withstand the contempt hurled in the word "anthromorphism," and similar philosophic brick-bats. "Fancy God using his legs!" exclaimed an elegant preacher of righteousness. Well, my fine bird, fancy the Redeemer of mankind not doing so! And yet Jesus is pronounced by Paul to be the "brightness of his Father's glory, the express image of his person." It is not least of the evils of this Buddhis- tic philosophy, that the mental palate becomes so finical as to re- ject merely natural phenomena as coarse and contemptible. It is not my purpose, however, to contend that the "Mormon" conception is that of the revelations of scripture. This will prob- ably be conceded. The vital question here is, How does this con- ception work out in the revelations of nature? In passing, I may merely mention the old philosophic diffi- culties connected with the non-"Mormon" or pantheistic conception; viz., that if God is immanent, that is to say, the animating prin- ciple in all things, he must be the author both of good and evil; conversely, if man has no psychic existence separate from God, he is not free, and therefore not responsible — either of which destroys a vital principle in the religion of Jesus Christ. These difficulties have never been squared, and it is safe to say never will be with Christianity's present notion of Deity. But it would, perhaps, be unprofitable to pursue this dilemma; let us rather take the two conceptions, and set before each the problem of creation; and in order to simplify matters, let the problem involve only a single series, such as the creation of our own cosmos, the sun and his retinue of worlds, down to the last ripple of created movement, say the animalcule swimming, with ocean-like freedom, in a drop of water. First, then, did the "All-soul," the reservoir of quiescent force, the spirit or essence filling the uncreated universe, brood and bring forth the solar system? Such a thought is absolutely fantastical. Where, in the ex- perience of all mankind, did a block or eube of pure space ever do anything resembling the invention and execution involved in an act