Saturday Night Thoughts: A Series of Dissertations on Spiritual, Historical, and Philosophic ThemesWhitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson)
Religion
Saturday Night Thoughts: A Series of Dissertations on Spiritual, Historical, and Philosophic Themes
Whitney, Orson F. (Orson Ferguson)
Latter Day Saint churches
The florist's argument is logical, but like the question that called
it forth, somewhat misapplied. "A spirit hath not flesh and bones."
[5] Bone-setting, therefore, does not belong to the spirit world.
Nevertheless, there must be occupations in the future life, of which
those in the present life may be regarded as typical, or in the nature
of a preparation, leading up to loftier employments. If a follower of
Joseph Smith were asked: "How do you expect to spend eternity?" he
would not agree with that clergyman who said, in answer to the same
question: "I expect to spend the first million years gazing upon the
face of the Savior." The Latter-day Saint would be very apt to reply:
"I expect to do hereafter what I have learned to do here, but with more
perfect means and in higher and better ways."
"And every power find sweet employ In that eternal world of joy."
Evil Spirits at Large.--A very important question now arises: How
may good or bad spirits be known? For every spirit is not good,
nor is every spiritual manifestation genuine. There are frauds
and counterfeits innumerable. Even if real spirits and actual
manifestations are alone considered, we must still be on our guard
against deception. There are many evil spirits in this world--spirits
that have never had bodies. They are here by permission or toleration
of the Most High, against whom they rebelled when the Savior was
chosen. Satan and his legions, those cast out of heaven, are all wicked
spirits, and they wander up and down the world, endeavoring to lead
mortals astray. Wherever possible, they take possession of the bodies
of men and even of the lower animals. [6] Therefore is power given to
the Priesthood to "cast out devils." [7] Against these fallen spirits,
mortals must be ever on the defensive, lest their souls be ensnared.
Temptation, however, is an important factor in man's probation; for by
resisting it, the soul is developed and made stronger. This is probably
one reason why the pernicious activity of such spirits is tolerated.
Punished in part by being denied bodies, the full penalty for their
misdeeds--the second death--is yet to be visited upon them.
Spiritualism a Reality.--Spiritualism is not altogether what some
people imagine. Despite the frauds connected with it, it is a reality,
and was recognized as such long before Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir A.
Conan Doyle proclaimed their conversion thereto, thus lending to it
the prestige of their illustrious names. But all realities are not
righteous. Because there is a devil--an actual demon and his dupes, is
no reason why we should associate with them, confide in them, or accept
their evil communications.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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