The Modern Denial of Jesus Christ

THE MODERN DENIAL OF JESUS CHRIST* By Dr. Frederick J. Pack I shall read from the first chapter of the gospel according to St. Luke: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." An imperial edict was issued from Rome to the effect that "all the world should be taxed." The intent of the laws was that the subjects of Rome should enroll their names on records which could be examined for purposes of taxation. The Romans themselves en- listed at the towns in which they were living, but it was the custom of the Jews to go to the cities of their nativity. Accordingly, Joseph and Mary journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a distance slightly less than a hundred miles. It was while they were in Bethlehem that the Savior of the world was born. Wise men from the East came in search of him, stating that it had been made known to them that a King had been born to the House of David, and that he should reign over it forever. Herod, a Jew by religious faith but an Idumean by birth, was intensely suspicious of the child. He called the wise men of Jerusalem to him and asked them to tell him where the child could be found. Those who were familiar with the scriptures promptly stated that the Christ should be born in Bethlehem. Herod secretly requested the wise men from the East to learn of the whereabouts of the child and subsequently to inform. him. The wise men, however, discerned the intent of Herod, and, after a visit to the manger, returned to their homes by another way. Joseph, the husband of Mary, had been warned in a dream of the purposes of the wicked Herod, and sub- sequently, with his little family, fled into Egypt. It is not known how long they remained in that country, or where they lived. It is merely stated that they remained until after Herod had died. It was ♦Christmas sermon given at the Thirty-third ward chapel. Salt Lake City, Utah, December 20, 1925.

MODERN DENIAL OF JESUS CHRIST 487 their intention to return to Bethlehem, but when they were informed of the eagerness on the part of some of the officials to apprehend them, they returned to their old city of Nazareth, where Jesus, so far as we know, spent his boyhood. The mission of Jesus was accepted by a pitifully small number of the Jews, and was rejected by an overwhelming majority of them. The crucifixion at Calvary was merely the climax of three years of rejection. Jesus had wandered from Galilee to Judea without favor- able reception. The apostles attained some little success among the Gentiles, but for several centuries thereafter the persecution was so intense that it was finally thought that Christianity had been annihi- lated. In fact, a monument was erected to Diocletian in Spain because of his having extinguished the name of Christian who, it was af- firmed, brought the republic to ruin. Constantine, who came into power in the early part of the fourth century, made Christianity the state religion, whereupon it was rapidly accepted by the Roman people. Records show that as many as twelve thousand souls were admitted in a single year. The dark ages found Christianity alive, thriving at times, and at others, practically dead. I desire to speak tonight, if I may have the proper inspiration, on the subject of the manner in which Christianity has fared since it was carried to the Gentiles. One of the first modifications that was made of the doctrines of Jesus Christ was the modification of baptism, namely; from immersion to pouring or sprinkling. I am simple enough in my faith in God to believe that baptism by immersion is necessary because God has so commanded. I do not share the modern opinion to the effect that we must know in all cases why things are so before we accept them. It is often stated, even among men of intelligence, that matters of religion should not be accepted unless they respond to the tests of reason. This attitude, of course, is altogether unreasonable. We do not demand in the material things of life explanations before we accept the necessity of them. If such were the case, we would not be in this building to- night, for who is there among us that can explain the means by which electrical power is conveyed from distant generating stations by means of copper wire to this building? or who is there among us who can explain why a filament becomes incandescent and transmits light when electrical energy is conducted through it? Just so, there are many of the laws of the gospel that we do not understand, and yet, their results are equally as apparent as those mentioned above. On the other hand, what parent would regard a child as reasonable if it should insist upon a knowledge of things before obedience was rendered? Yet in matters pertaining to religion the world is insisting that it will not live by faith but rather by knowledge. I have no ex- planation as to why one must be immersed in water in order that his

488 IMPROVEMENT ERA sins may be forgiven. I merely know that God has so commanded. Another repudiation by modern Christianity of the doctrines of Jesus is the denial of continuous revelation. I do not understand how the present-day preacher convinces himself that the "canon of scriptures is full" — that there is no further need of guidance. Such a stand is contrary to all laws of learning. May I illustrate with a simple example? A child is to be taught his first lesson in geography. The teacher will present before him some sort of spherical object, say a ball or an orange or a globe. The child is told that the earth is not flat like a great plain, but rather that it is round like the object before him, that its apparent flatness is due merely to its size. If he could stand off at a distance, he would see that it is round like the object at hand. This is all the information that even the wisest of teachers will attempt to convey to the child at his first lesson, for the reason that the child can understand no more. He must develop further before additional truths can be assimilated. At a later time, the child is again brought before the teacher; modifications of the former statement, or at least ad- ditional statements are presented; for instance, that the earth is not a true sphere but rather that it is flattened at the poles, and the number of miles and degrees of this flattening are discussed. Later the child again returns. His intellect has expanded. His vision has changed. He is prepared for further light. He learns that there are major depressions in the surface of the earth, called oceanic basins, and that there are elevations, called continents.. Again he is dis- missed and again he is brought back. He studies the subjects of topography and oceanography. He is prepared to go into details that he could not understand in his earlier life. Later, in his more mature years, he studies increasingly difficult phases of earth develop- ment, probably isostasy, isostatic readjustments and other forms of diastrophism. Why, I ask my friends who have discarded belief in the doctrine of continuous revelation — why, I say, shall I not lay before the child at one lesson all the information that we have concerning the subject of geography? The answer, of course, is obvious. Then with equal propriety I ask how is it possible, even if God willed, that he could convey to us everything at once? I affirm with no fear of denial that there is no school of thought in the world, there is no branch of learning comparable to the one suggested by men who have denied belief in continuous' revelation from God. Another denial of the doctrines of Jesus Christ is the denial of the resurrection. Where shall I go today to find the Christian who unalterably accepts the truth that Jesus Christ arose from the tomb, took up his body, remained with his friends for forty days, went into heaven with it, and promised to return as they had seen him ascend? And yet, that scriptural statement is as plain as words can

MODERN DENIAL OF JESUS CHRIST 489 make it. In the estimation of by far the greater part of Christendom, you and I will not have bodies in the world to come, and yet, if there is one doctrine taught in the New Testament and throughout all the Scriptures plainer than any other it is the doctrine of the resurrection of the human body. It is also denied that God has a personal body. I was interested in reading recently the statement of a prominent churchman who asserted that Michael Angelo, although one of the foremost painters of the world, made an unpardonable mistake in picturing Deity in the form of man. He called attention to the mural painting of John Sargent in the Library of Boston wherein God is obscured behind a cloud, and stated that its conception is far superior to that of Michael Angelo, since no one in modern times thinks of Deity as being in the form of man. It is regretable that practically every Christian church has denied that God has a body in form resembling yours and mine. Yet, the scriptures] are replete with statements that we are made in the form of God; that we are his offspring. The present conception of the nature of God is altogether indefinite. He is regarded as something wholly incomprehensible — a kind of force or power or influence exist- ing everywhere and centered nowhere. This conception, of course, robs Deity of that fatherly, paternal influence that he is said to have for his children. I do not understand how a man can believe in the holy scriptures and at the same time deny the personality of God. The repudiation of Jesus Christ did not stop here. Within the past few years there hasi spread over the land an almost complete denial of the atonement. It took on its present form less than a decade ago, when here and there isolated men stood before their congregations and disclaimed belief in the atonement of Jesus Christ. The denial spread like a prairie fire, so that today there are hundreds of churches in America and foreign lands from which preachers are denying the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the fact that he is the Savior of mankind. ' Last of all came the denial that Jesus is the Son of God; he was not conceived by the Holy Ghost; but rather, he is merely the son of Joseph, the carpenter. It is explained that Jesus, although a great man, a man of much wisdom and intelligence, a man inspired of the Father, is not the son of God. Today, even at Christmas time, the doctrine is being preached in both the old world and the new that baptism by immersion for the remission of sins is not necessary, that revelation has long since ceased, that the human body will not be resurrected, that God does not possess a personal body, that there is no atonement, and that Jesus Christ is not the son of God. / ask you, my friends, in the nam& of Christianity, was the denial of Jesus Christ by the Jews any more complete than hi§ denial by the so-called Christian world of today?

490 IMPROVEMENT ERA You and I, my brethren and sisters, stand in a fortunate position. For some reason, God has favored us with recent revelations, which, if obeyed, will enable us to keep our feet firmly anchored in the truth. The Lord with his son Jesus Christ appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith, at Palmyra, New York. He exhibited a glorified personality. By his side stood his son. The Father said, "This is my beloved Son. Hear him." Then Jesus with his own voice instructed the boy prophet what should be done. Again, at the dedication of the Kirt- land temple, Jesus Christ, the resurrected redeemer of the world, stood upon the breastwork of the pulpit and expounded truths of the everlasting gospel. At various other times Joseph, the Prophet, was instructed by heavenly messengers concerning the principles of salva- tion. I have already said that we stand today in a unique position. While the world is groping in darkness, because of lack of connection with the throne of God, our journey has been vouchsafed, provided, we adhere to the principles that have been given unto us. To me, two great lessons can be learned from the present con- dition of the Christian world. May I illustrate each with a personal experience? I traveled at one time on the Escalante desert by night. Through choice, I was seated by the side of the driver. The night was dark, and the only objects that could be seen were those that were illuminated by the lights of the machine. At various points in the desert the road divided. I frequently interested myself as we approached points of bifurcation by guessing as to which of the roads the driver would follow. Sometimes he took the road that I had selected, and sometimes the other. Later in the evening, after we had passed a certain point of division, I said to him, "Why did you take the right-hand road?" He replied, "I have taken the right- hand road because we are going to Cedar City. The left-hand road leads to Parowan." Again I asked him why he took the left-hand road, and he said, "The right-hand road leads to Kanara, the other to Cedar City." And then out there in the darkness of the desert, I learned a great truth, namely: The most dangerous road in life is the one that diverges from the right road by a very small angle. When a road separated from the one that we were following by a small angle it was alluring, I could see why we should not follow it, its general direction was the same as that of ours, but on no occasion was I disturbed when we passed a road that traversed the country at right angles to the one that led to our destination. Then, as I went back in my experience, I could not recall a single case in which an acquaintance of mine had gone wrong all at once. He had gradually departed from the right road. The ap- plication of this great truth, in my judgment, is this: The law of God requires that Latter-day Saints accept the doctrines of Jesus Christ in their entirety. We must not find ourselves departing even to the least degree from that which has been revealed,

MODERN DENIAL OF JESUS CHRIST 491 The second lesson to be learned from the foregoing discussion applies to our responsibility in the matter — to yours and mine. Again I draw upon a personal experience for illustration. My duties at the University of Utah require that every season I conduct parties of young men from that institution into mining districts for the purpose of making geological examinations. I take these boys into mines, sometimes hundreds and even thousands of feet deep. On one occasion, I had sixty men on a ladder nine hundred feet long. When we travel these ladders) we frequenty encounter rounds that are broken. It is our practice that an experienced man shall lead. When he feels with his foot or his hand and learns that a round is broken, he says to the man next to him, "Look out! Here's a broken round." And even now I can hear echoing and re-echoing in my mind, as the men pass these dangerous places, "Look out! Here's a broken round. Look out! Here's a broken round." Now, my brethren and sisters, suppose that when I go on one of these trips I am not sufficiently interested in the welfare of the men to warn them of the impending danger, and suppose that because of my attitude one of them falls to his death. What would the people of this state — what would you say of me and my negligence? I paraphrase the statement slightly. What will God say of you and of me if we have not warned and re-warned the people who are coming in contact with doctrines that are not true? The in- formation that we have is merely a heritage which we hold as a stewardship, to be freely given to all the children of men. I pray that during this Christmas time and during the coming years we may be happy in the possession of what God has given us and that we will be diligent in conveying it to others. I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Winter Now Mother Earth a pensive face doth show; Her cloak of white and brown dour Winter fetched From Nifleheim. Gray cirro-stratus, stretched Wan horizons above, pregnant with snow, Fills yon dull atmosphere, where floats the crow Across the sky, with frigid gloom. Bewretched, The giant Ymir grudgingly hath etched. On windows, plants such as in summer grow. It profits man in chilly climes to live, Where blighting blasts moan minor harmonies; There doth creative genius choose to give Most inspiration: so human frailties To noble men a stimulus do prove; They lift his thoughts on higher planes to move. Logan, Utah ALLEN FlFIELD