Mr. Durant of Salt Lake City, "That Mormon"Rich, Ben. E. (Benjamin Erastus)
Religion
Mr. Durant of Salt Lake City, "That Mormon"
Rich, Ben. E. (Benjamin Erastus)
Latter Day Saints -- Fiction; Salt Lake City (Utah) -- Fiction
before his earthly birth. (Jer. i: 5.) From these passages, and many
others that might be cited, it should be very easy for Christians to
understand that there is a natural and a spiritual body." (I. Cor. xv:
44.)
"Mr. Durant," said Sutherland, "whether this principle is true or
otherwise, it cannot be gainsaid that you have scripture to support it."
"Why should we not have, Mr. Sutherland? It is truth, and it is only
natural that the truth should appear reasonable. As quoted, God asks
Job: 'Who laid the corner stones of this earth, when the morning stars
sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?' (Job xxxviii:
7.) Now I sincerely believe that we were there, that we helped to
compose that large congregation of sons of God, and that we _did_
shout for joy at beholding the time approaching when we also would
have the privilege of visiting an earth where our Father would give us
an opportunity to become possessed of bodies which should eventually
be eternal abiding places for our spirits; that when we came to this
school we should have our judgments taken away, or, in other words,
that all recollection of our former existence should be withdrawn, in
order that we might be able to use the greatest gift of all, which is
'free agency,' to do good or evil and become to a certain extent Gods
in embryo, and then when we returned home from this school our Father
could reward us, his children, according to our works."
"Your explanation carries with it conviction. I have been very much
interested and desire to talk further with you on this subject, but
fear I am doing you an injustice by requiring you to speak so much. I
must not forget that the neighbors are coming in tonight, and I should
therefore not weary you."
"You need not fear, I assure you: I have been talking now upon these
principles for two years; it is my mission, and I am well pleased to
find people who are willing to hear."
"I am very anxious to listen, I can assure you," replied Mr.
Sutherland. "Let us walk through the village, you can view our
improvements, and perhaps shake hands with many whom you met when here
before; we might then return in time for supper, and rest awhile before
our evening chat."
This proposition was agreed to, and taking their hats, the two men went
out. The first person met on the ramble was our medical friend, who,
learning of Mr. Durant's intended return, was hastening to the Marshall
residence to welcome him. The greeting which the young missionary
received from his true and lasting friend was unaffected and sincere,
meaning more than language can express. Questions and answers regarding
the missionary's trip, and matters, which to the general reader would
amount to mere commonplace, were exchanged by the conversation, and
must have been interesting to them, for it was continued during the
whole of what proved a very long walk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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