The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy GhostRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
"Once really adopt the conception of an ever-present God, without whom
not a sparrow falls to the ground, and it becomes self-evident that
the law of gravitation is but an expression of a particular mode of
divine action. And what is thus true of one law is true of all laws.
The thinker in whose mind divine action is thus identified with orderly
action and to whom a really irregular phenomenon would seem like a
manifestation of sheer diabolism, forsees in every possible extension
of knowledge a fresh confirmation of his faith in God. From his point
of view there can be no antagonism between our duty as inquirers and
our duty as worshipers. To him no part of the universe is godless. In
the swaying to and fro of molecules and the ceaseless pulsations of
ether, in the secular shiftings of planetary orbits, in the busy work
of frost and raindrop, in the mysterious sprouting of the seed, in
the everlasting tale of death and life renewed, in the dawning of the
babe's intelligence, in the varied deeds of men from age to age, he
finds that which awakens the soul to reverential awe; and each act of
scientific explanation but reveals an opening through which shines the
glory of the Eternal Majesty."[A]
[Footnote A: Fiske-Studies in Religion, pp. 167-3, Works Vol. IX]
_2. The World Immanent in God:_ Still one other thought from the
philosophical side of the conception of Immanence is that it enables
one to see not only God in nature, but as a necessary corollary, nature
in God--"Divine immanence in the world, and the reciprocal immanence of
the world in God."[A] That is to say, in one view, God's presence and
power penetrates and pervades nature--the universe; in another view,
nature is received into the all-including spiritual presence of God: as
the One indwells in the other; so the other dwells in the One.
[Footnote A: Howison--"The Conception of God." p. 96.]
Before now the student has doubtless looked into the clear depths of a
crystal-like spring of water; and has seen on the sandy floor of the
spring the sunlight that tells him that the sun penetrates the water,
in-dwells in the water, or, in poetic terms--
"The sunshine in water lies sleeping."
And as the sunlight penetrates the water so does the water receive
and hold the sunlight. As it is in the crystal spring, so is it in
the ocean. And so in the universe with the immanence of God and the
reciprocal immanence of the world in God. As saith the revelation:
"Judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne,
and governeth and executeth all things. He comprehendeth all things,
and all things are before him, and all things are round him; and he is
above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is
round about all things; and all things are by nim, and of him, even God
forever and forever."[A]
[Footnote A: Doc. and Cov., Sec. lxxxviii:41.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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