A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsWidtsoe, John Andreas
Religion
A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Widtsoe, John Andreas
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines; Theology
**The Earth Effort.** Nevertheless, the thought that power is drawn
from our pre-existent state need not be an overwhelming feeling to
oppress and crush us. Our previous life can not be an insurmountable
hindrance. The invariable law of cause and effect will enable those
who exert themselves on earth to draw great power unto themselves,
even so that it may be possible by earth efforts to overcome possible
handicaps from pre-existent lethargy. Thus, on earth, man may gain
more than he has lost before. Our earth efforts are of greatest
consequence. Neither forward nor backward must we look, except to
place ourselves properly in our day, but must use in full degree the
possibilities of each day as it comes. Man's inequality comes chiefly
from the inequality of earth effort.
**The Variety of Gifts.** Meanwhile, it is always to be remembered
that the spirit within must speak through a mortal body, subject to
disease and death. The eternal spirit cannot rise here above the
conditions of the body, which is of the earth, and is a result of all
the physical good and evil to which man has given himself since the
days of Adam. During the long history of the race, both strength and
weakness have no doubt been added to the body. It possesses inborn,
inherent qualities, which man finds it difficult to ignore. Under the
best conditions, the body is weaker than the spirit within. It is
likely that the spirit within the finest earthly body is infinitely
greater than may be expressed through the body. We live only as our
bodies allow; and, since our bodies differ greatly, there is in them
another source of man's inequality. In fact, the inequality of man
comes largely from inequality of body, through which the eternal
spirit tries in vain to speak.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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