The Doctrine of the Resurrection

The Doctrine of the Resurrection

BY ELDER ORSON F. WHITNEY, OF THE COUNCIL OF THETWELVE

Christ's resurrection was an astounding event.There had been nothing like it upon this planet,though there had been upon other worlds; for this isnot the only one of God's creations. He had mademillions of earths before he made this one, and hadpeopled and redeemed them. This earth was createdfor the children of Adam and Eve, a portion of ourFather's universal family; and here we undergo theexperiences, often sad and painful, that many havepassed through upon other planets, and that many willpass through on planets yet to come; with the prom-ise of eternal life, through the merits of the Son ofGod, the only name given under heaven whereby suchthings can be.

These facts are so marvelous, so far beyond thecommonplace happenings of human existence, thatsome people would fain do away with them. Men call-ing themselves scientists or philosophers tell us thatChrist was nothing more than a good and great man,a wise and wonderful teacher; that he did no miracles■—did not walk upon the water, did not feed the multi-tude with a few loaves and fishes; and did not comeforth from the grave after his burial. We are askedto throw that all away, and substitute the vain theoriesof men for the great hope of eternal life, based uponthe atonement of the Savior.

Jesus knew it was an astounding proposition—

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the doctrine of the resurrection. He told his disciplesbefore the crucifixion, that he had power to lay downhis life and take it up again. But when he appearedto the apostles in his risen body they were frightened,deeming him an apparition. "It is 1. be not afraid,"said he, "for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as yesee me have." He wished to convince them that hehad actually come forth from the grave, and he suc-ceeded in convincing them of.that fact. One, how-ever, was absent, and when he, Thomas, was told byhis brethren that the Lord had arisen and had beenwith them, he replied, "I will not believe it, unless Ican feel the prints of the nails in his hands, and thrustmy hand into his wounded side." Now Thomas wasone of the Twelve Special Witnesses, whose missionwas to proclaim the resurrection of Christ, and thesemen had to know what they were preaching. Theycould not go out into the world and say, "We believeChrist has risen from the dead ; it is our opinion that itis so; peradvcntnre it happened, as he said it would."What kind of a message would that have been to awaiting world, hungry for the words of eternal life?These men had to know, not merely believe, and thatis why Jesus appeared to them, why he allowed themto hear his voice, and even to touch him, that theymight be convinced beyond a doubt. And so, whenhe condescended to come again—this time to Thomashe said : "Reach hither thy hand, feel of me, and seethat it is I." Thomas, no longer doubting, fell at hisfeet, exclaiming, "O Lord, My God!" The Saviorthen said : "Thomas, thou hast believed because thouhast seen, but blessed are they who have believed andhave not seen."