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diff --git a/34362.txt b/34362.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2fcd608 --- /dev/null +++ b/34362.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5449 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Joseph Smith as Scientist, by John A. Widtsoe + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Joseph Smith as Scientist + A Contribution to Mormon Philosophy + +Author: John A. Widtsoe + +Release Date: November 18, 2010 [EBook #34362] +[Last updated: March 10, 2012] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOSEPH SMITH AS SCIENTIST *** + + + + +Produced by the Mormon Texts Project, +http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp. Volunteers: Hilton +Campbell, Ben Crowder, Meridith Crowder, Eric Heaps, Tod +Robbins, Dave Van Leeuwen. + + + + + + + + +JOSEPH SMITH +AS +SCIENTIST + +A CONTRIBUTION TO +MORMON PHILOSOPHY + +BY + +John A. Widtsoe, A. M., Ph. D. + + +THE GENERAL BOARD +YOUNG MEN'S MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT +ASSOCIATIONS +SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH +1908 + + + + +Copyright +1908 +by John A. Widtsoe. + + + + +Preface + + +In the life of every person, who receives a higher education, in or +out of schools, there is a time when there seems to be opposition +between science and religion; between man-made and God-made knowledge. +The struggle for reconciliation between the contending forces is not +an easy one. It cuts deep into the soul and usually leaves scars that +ache while life endures. There are thousands of young people in the +Church to-day, and hundreds of thousands throughout the world, who are +struggling to set themselves right with the God above and the world +about them. It is for these young people, primarily, that the +following chapters have been written. + +This volume is based on the conviction that there is no real +difference between science and religion. The great, fundamental laws +of the Universe are foundation stones in religion as well as in +science. The principle that matter is indestructible belongs as much +to theology as to geology. The theology which rests upon the few basic +laws of nature is unshakable; and the great theology of the future +will be such a one. + +"Mormonism" teaches and has taught from the beginning that all +knowledge must be included in the true theology. Because of its +comprehensive philosophy, "Mormonism" will survive all religious +disturbances and become the system of religious faith which all men +may accept without yielding the least part of the knowledge of nature +as discovered in the laboratories or in the fields. The splendid +conceptions of "Mormonism" concerning man and nature, and man's place +in nature are among the strongest testimonies of the divine nature of +the work founded by Joseph Smith, the Prophet. + +This little volume does not pretend to be a complete treatment of +"Mormon" philosophy; it is only a small contribution to the subject. +There is room for elaboration and extension in this field for many +generations to come. The attempt has been made to sketch, briefly, the +relation of "Mormonism" to some features of modern scientific +philosophy, and to show that not only do "Mormonism" and science +harmonize; but that "Mormonism" is abreast of the most modern of the +established views of science, and that it has held them many years--in +some cases before science adopted them. The only excuse for the scant +treatment of such an important subject is that it is as extensive as +the duties of a busy life would allow. In the future, the subject may +be given a fuller treatment. + +Some readers may urge that "the testimony of the Spirit," which has +been the final refuge of so many Christians, has received little +consideration in the following chapters. This is due to the avowed +purpose of the work to harmonize science and religion, on the basis of +accepted science. "Mormonism" is deeply and rationally spiritual; the +discussion in this volume is confined to one phase of Gospel +philosophy. + +The majority of the following chapters were originally published in +the _Improvement Era_ for 1903-1904 as a series of articles bearing +the main title of this book. These articles are here republished with +occasonal changes and additions. The new chapters have been cast into +the same form as the original articles. The publication as independent +articles will explain the apparent lack of connection between the +chapters in this book. The statements of scientific facts have been +compared very carefully with standard authorities. However, in +popularizing science there is always the danger that the +simplification may suggest ideas that are not wholly accurate. Those +who have tried this kind of work will understand and pardon such +errors as may appear. However, corrections are invited. + +My thanks are due and cheerfully given the management of the +_Improvement Era_ for the help and encouragement given. I am under +especial obligations to Elder Edward H. Anderson, the associate editor +of the _Era_, to whose efforts it is largely due that this volume has +seen the light of day. I desire to render my thanks also to the +committee appointed by the First Presidency to read the manuscript, +Elders George Albert Smith, Edward H. Anderson and Joseph F. Smith, +Jr. + +This volume has been written in behalf of "Mormonism." May God speed +the truth! + + + + +Contents. + + +INTRODUCTORY. + + Chapter I. Joseph's Mission and Language + +THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF THE UNIVERSE. + + Chapter II. The Indestructibility of Matter + Chapter III. The Indestructibility of Energy + Chapter IV. The Universal Ether + Chapter V. The Reign of Law + +THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSE. + + Chapter VI. The New Astronomy + Chapter VII. Geological Time + Chapter VIII. Organized Intelligence + +THE LAWS GOVERNING THE INDIVIDUAL. + + Chapter IX. Faith + Chapter X. Repentance + Chapter XI. Baptism + Chapter XII. The Gift of the Holy Ghost + Chapter XIII. The Word of Wisdom + +THE DESTINY OF EARTH AND MAN. + + Chapter XIV. The Law of Evolution + Chapter XV. The Plan of Salvation + +THE REGION OF THE UNKNOWN. + + Chapter XVI. The Sixth Sense + +THE FORCE OF FORCES. + + Chapter XVII. The Nature of God + +CONCLUSION. + + Chapter XVIII. Joseph Smith's Education + Chapter XVIV. A Summary Restatement + Chapter XX. Concluding Thoughts + +APPENDIX. + + Chapter XXI. The Testimony of the Soil + + + + +INTRODUCTORY. + +Chapter I. + +JOSEPH'S MISSION AND LANGUAGE. + + +[Sidenote: Scientific discussions not to be expected in the Prophet's +work.] + +The mission of Joseph Smith was of a spiritual nature; and therefore, +it is not to be expected that the discussion of scientific matters +will be found in the Prophet's writings. The revelations given to the +Prophet deal almost exclusively with the elucidation of so-called +religious doctrines, and with such difficulties as arose from time to +time in the organization of the Church. It is only, as it appears to +us, in an incidental way that other matters, not strictly of a +religious nature, are mentioned in the revelations. However, the +Church teaches that all human knowledge and all the laws of nature are +part of its religious system; but that some principles are of more +importance than others in man's progress to eternal salvation.[A] +While on the one hand, therefore, it cannot reasonably be expected +that Joseph Smith should deal in his writings with any subject +peculiar to natural science, yet, on the other hand, it should not +surprise any student to find that the Prophet at times considered +matters that do not come under the ordinary definition of religion, +especially if they in any way may be connected with the laws of +religion. Statements of scientific detail should not be looked for in +Joseph Smith's writings, though these are not wholly wanting; but +rather, we should expect to find general views of the relations of the +forces of the universe. + +[Footnote A: "And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as +they were and as they are to come."--Doctrine and Covenants, 93:24. + +"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be +instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the +law of the Gospel, in all things that pertain unto the Kingdom of God, +that are expedient for you to understand; + +"Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; +things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly +come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the +wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are +on the land, and a knowledge also of countries and kingdoms, + +"That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to +magnify the calling, whereunto I have called you, and the mission with +which I have commissioned you."--Doctrine and Covenants, 88:78-80. + +"And verily, I say unto you, that it is my will that you should hasten +to translate my Scriptures, and to obtain a knowledge of history, and +of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this +for the salvation of Zion."--Doctrine and Covenants, 93:53. + +"It (theology) is the science of all other sciences and useful arts, +being in fact the very foundation from which they emanate. It includes +philosophy, astronomy, history, mathematics, geography, languages, the +science of letters, and blends the knowledge of all matters of fact, +in every branch of art and research.......All that is useful, great +and good, all that is calculated to sustain, comfort, instruct, edify, +purify, refine or exalt intelligences, originated by this science, and +this science alone, all other sciences being but branches growing out +of this, the root."--Pratt, Key to Theology, chap. 1.] + +[Sidenote: Man must not expect direct revelation in matters that he +can solve for himself.] + +It is not in harmony with the Gospel spirit that God, except in +special cases, should reveal things that man by the aid of his natural +powers may gain for himself. The Lord spoke to the Prophet as +follows:--"Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I +would give it unto you, when you took no thought, save it was to ask +me; but, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your +mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will +cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel +that it is right."[A] Such a doctrine makes it unreasonable to look to +the Prophet's work for a gratuitous mass of scientific or other +details, which will relieve man of the labor of searching out for +himself nature's laws. So well established is this principle that in +all probability many of the deepest truths contained in the writings +of Joseph Smith will not be clearly understood, even by his followers, +until, by the laborious methods of mortality, the same truths are +established. It is even so with the principles to be discussed in the +following papers. They were stated seventy years ago, yet it is only +recently that the Latter-day Saints have begun to realize that they +are identical with recently developed scientific truths; and the world +of science is not yet aware of it. However, whenever such harmony is +observed, it testifies of the divine inspiration of the humble, +unlearned boy prophet of the nineteenth century. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants 9:7, 8.] + +[Sidenote: The absence of the language, details and methods of science +in the Prophet's writings proves him unfamiliar with the written +science of his day.] + +The Prophet Joseph does not use the language of science; which is +additional proof that he did not know the science of his day. This may +be urged as an objection to the assertion that he understood +fundamental scientific truths, but the error of this view is easily +comprehended when it is recalled that the language of science is made +by men, and varies very often from age to age, and from country to +country. Besides, the God who spoke to Joseph Smith, says, "These +commandments were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the +manner of their language, that they might come to understanding."[A] +If God had spoken the special language of science, the unlearned +Joseph Smith would not, perhaps, have understood. Every wise man +explains that which he knows in the language of those to whom he is +speaking, and the facts and theories of science can be quite easily +expressed in the language of the common man. It is needless to expect +scientific phraselogy in the writings of Joseph Smith. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants 1:24.] + +Scientific details are almost wholly wanting in the writings of Joseph +Smith. Had the Prophet known the science of his day, his detailed +knowledge would have been incorporated somehow in his writings. The +almost complete absence of such scientific detail as would in all +probability have been used, had the Prophet known of it, is additional +testimony that he did not get his information from books. + +Finally, another important fact must be mentioned. Men in all ages +have speculated about the things of the universe, and have invented +all kinds of theories to explain natural phenomena. In all cases, +however, these theories have been supported by experimental evidence, +or else they have been proposed simply as personal opinions. Joseph +Smith, on the contrary, laid no claim to experimental data to support +the theories which he proposed, nor did he say that they were simply +personal opinions, but he repeatedly asserted that God had revealed +the truths to him, and that they could not, therefore, be false. If +doctrines resting upon such a claim can be shown to be true, it is +additional testimony of the truth of the Prophet's work. + +[Sidenote: Purpose of the following chapters.] + +In the following chapters it will be shown, by a series of +comparisons, that, in 1833, or soon thereafter, the teachings of +Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, were in full harmony with the most +advanced scientific thought of today, and that he anticipated the +world of science in the statement of fundamental facts and theories of +physics, chemistry, astronomy and biology. + + + + +THE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF THE UNIVERSE. + +Chapter II. + +THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF MATTER. + + +[Sidenote: Until recent days many believed that matter could be +created or destroyed.] + +It was believed by the philosophers of ancient and mediaeval times, +especially by those devoted to the study of alchemy, that it was +possible through mystical powers, often of a supernatural order, to +annihilate matter or to create it from nothing. Men with such powers +transcended all known laws of nature, and became objects of fear, +often of worship to the masses of mankind. Naturally enough, the +systems of religion became colored with the philosophical doctrines of +the times; and it was held to be a fundamental religious truth that +God created the world from nothing. Certainly, God could do what his +creatures, the magicians, were able to do--that part of the reasoning +was sound. + +In support of this doctrine, attention was called to some of the +experiences of daily life. A piece of coal placed in a stove, in a +short time disappear--it is annihilated. From the clear air of a +summer's day raindrops start--created out of nothing. A fragment of +gold placed in contact with sufficiently strong acids, disappears--it +is destroyed. + +[Sidenote: Matter is eternal, its form only can be changed.] + +Towards the end of the eighteenth century, facts and laws of chemistry +were discovered, which enabled scientists to follow in great detail +the changes, visible or invisible, to which matter in its various +forms is subject. Then it was shown that the coal placed in a stove +unites with a portion of the air entering through the drafts, and +becomes an invisible gas, but that, were this gas collected as it +issues from the chimney, it would be found to contain a weight of the +elements of the coal just equal to the weight of the coal used. In a +similar manner it was shown that the raindrops are formed from the +water found in the air, as an invisible vapor. The gold dissolved in +the acid, may be wholly recovered so that every particle is accounted +for. Numerous investigations on this subject were made by the most +skillful experimenters of the age, all of which showed that it is +absolutely impossible to create or destroy the smallest particle of +matter; that the most man can do is to change the form in which matter +exists. + +After this truth had been demonstrated, it was a necessary conclusion +that matter is eternal, and that the quantity of matter in the +universe cannot be diminished nor increased. This great +generalization, known as the law of the Persistence of Matter or Mass, +is the foundation stone of modern science. It began to find general +acceptance among men about the time of Joseph Smith's birth, though +many religious sects still hold that God, as the Supreme Ruler, is +able at will to create matter from nothing. The establishment of this +law marked also the final downfall of alchemy and other kindred occult +absurdities. + +[Sidenote: Mormonism teaches that all things are material.] + +No doctrine taught by Joseph Smith is better understood by his +followers than that matter in its elementary condition is eternal, and +that it can neither be increased nor diminished. As early as May, +1833, the Prophet declared that "the elements are eternal,"[A] and in +a sermon delivered in April, 1844, he said "Element had an existence +from the time God had. The pure principles of element are principles +which can never be destroyed; they may be organized and reorganized, +but not destroyed. They had no beginning, and can have no end."[B] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 93:33.] + +[Footnote B: The Contributor, Vol. 4, p. 257.] + +It is thus evident that from the beginning of his work, Joseph Smith +was in perfect harmony with the fundamental doctrine of science; and +far in advance of the religious sects of the world, which are, even at +this time, slowly accepting the doctrine of the persistence of matter +in a spiritual as well as in a material sense. + +Mormonism has frequently been charged with accepting the doctrine of +materialism. In one sense, the followers of Joseph Smith plead yes to +this charge. In Mormon theology there is no place for immateralism; +i.e. for a God, spirits and angels that are not material. Spirit is +only a refined form of matter. It is beyond the mind of man to +conceive of an immaterial thing. On the other hand, Joseph Smith did +not teach that the kind of tangible matter, which impresses our mortal +senses, is the kind of matter which is associated with heavenly +beings. The distinction between the matter known to man and the spirit +matter is very great; but no greater than is the difference between +the matter of the known elements and that of the universal ether which +forms one of the accepted dogmas of science. + +Science knows phenomena only as they are associated with matter; +Mormonism does the same. + + + + +Chapter III. + +THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF ENERGY. + + +[Sidenote: All forms of energy may be converted into each other. +Energy can not be destroyed.] + +It is only when matter is in motion, or in the possession of energy, +that it is able to impress our senses. The law of the +indestructibility and convertibility of energy, is of equal +fundamental value with that of the indestructibility of matter. A +great variety of forces exist in nature, as, for instance, +gravitation, electricity, chemical affinity, heat and light. These +forces may all be made to do work. Energy, in fact, may be defined as +the power of doing work. In early days these forces were supposed to +be distinct and not convertible, one into the other, just as gold and +silver, with our present knowledge, are distinct and not convertible +into other elements. + +In the early part of the nineteenth century students of light and heat +began to demonstrate that these two natural forces were different +manifestations of one universal medium. This in turn led to the +thought that possibly these forces, instead of being absolutely +distinct, could be converted one into the other. This idea was +confirmed in various experimental ways. Sir Humphrey Davy, about the +end of the eighteenth century, rubbed together two pieces of ice until +they were nearly melted. Precautions had been taken that no heat could +be abstracted from the outside by the ice. The only tenable conclusion +was that the energy expended in rubbing, had been converted into heat, +which had melted the ice. About the same time, Count Rumford, a +distinguished American, was superintending the boring of a cannon at +the arsenal at Munich, and was forcibly struck with the heating of the +iron due to this process. He, like Davy, believed that the energy of +the boring instruments had been converted into the heat.[A] + +[Footnote A: The Conservation of Heat--Stewart, pp. 38, 39.] + +From 1843 to 1849, Dr. Joule of Manchester, England, published the +results of experiments on the relation between mechanical energy and +heat. Dr. Joule attached a fixed weight to a string which was passed +over a pulley, while the other end was connected with paddles moving +in water. As the weight descended, the paddles were caused to revolve; +and it was observed that, as the weight fell and the paddles revolved, +the water became warmer and warmer. Dr. Joule found further that for +each foot of fall, the same amount of heat energy was given to the +water. In fact, he determined that when a pound weight falls seven +hundred and seventy two feet it gives out energy enough to raise the +temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.[A] This +experiment, frequently repeated, gave the same result and established +largely the law of the convertibility of energy. + +[Footnote A: The Conservation of Energy--Stewart, pp. 44, 45. Recent +Advances in Physical Science--Tait, pp. 63, 65.] + +About the same time, it was shown that light can be converted into +heat; and later it was proved that electricity may be changed into +heat or light. In all these cases it was found that the amount of +energy changed was exactly equal to the amount of energy produced. + +Thus, by countless experiments, it was finally determined that energy +is indestructible; that, when any form of energy disappears, it +reappears immediately in another form. This is the law of the +persistence of force or energy. In more recent days, it has been +suggested that all known forces are variations of a great universal +force, which may or may not be known. The very nature of force or +energy is not understood. In the language of Spencer, "By the +persistence of force, we really mean the persistence of some cause +which transcends our knowledge and conception."[A] + +[Footnote A: First Principles, Spencer, 4th ed., p. 200.] + +It need hardly be explained that energy cannot exist independently of +matter; and that the law of the persistence of matter is necessary for +the existence of the law of persistence of force. + +[Sidenote: Universal intelligence, comparable to universal energy is +indestructible, according to Joseph Smith.] + +Joseph Smith was not a scientist; and he made no pretense of solving +the scientific questions of this day. The discussion relative to the +convertibility of various forms of energy was in all probability not +known to him. Still, in his writings is found a doctrine which in all +respects resembles that of the conservation of energy. + +Joseph Smith taught, and the Church now teaches, that all space is +filled with a subtle, though material substance of wonderful +properties, by which all natural phenomena are controlled. This +substance is known as the Holy Spirit. Its most important +characteristic is intelligence. "Its inherent properties embrace all +the attributes of intelligence."[A] The property of intelligence is to +the Holy Spirit what energy is to the gross material of our senses. + +[Footnote A: Key to Theology, P. P. Pratt, 5th ed., p. 40.] + +In one of the generally accepted works of the Church, the energy of +nature is actually said to be the workings of the Holy Spirit. The +passage reads as follows: "Man observes a universal energy in +nature--organization and disorganization succeed each other--the +thunders roll through the heavens; the earth trembles and becomes +broken by earthquakes; fires consume cities and forests; the waters +accumulate, flow over their usual bounds, and cause destruction of +life and property; the worlds perform their revolutions in space with +a velocity and power incomprehensible to man, and he, covered with a +veil of darkness, calls this universal energy, God, when it is the +workings of his Spirit, the obedient agent of his power, the +wonder-working and life-giving principle in all nature."[A] + +[Footnote A: Compendium, Richards and Little, 3rd ed., p. 150.] + +In short, the writings of the Church clearly indicate that the various +forces of nature, the energy of nature, are only manifestations of the +great, pervading force of intelligence. We do not understand the real +nature of intelligence any better than we understand the true nature +of energy. We only know that by energy or intelligence gross matter is +brought within reach of our senses. + +Intelligence or energy was declared by Joseph Smith in May, 1833, to +be eternal: "Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or +made, neither indeed can be."[A] In the sermon already referred to the +Prophet said, "The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither +will it have an end." + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 93:29.] + +These quotations, and many others to which attention might be called, +show clearly that Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the energy of +the universe can in nowise be increased or diminished, though, it may +manifest itself in various forms. + +The great Latter-day prophet is thus shown to be in harmony with the +second fundamental law of science. It is not a valid objection to this +conclusion to say that Joseph Smith did not use the accepted terms of +science. Words stand only for ideas; the ideas are essential. The +nomenclature of a science is often different in different lands, and +is often changed as knowledge grows. + +It is hardly correct to say that he was in harmony with the law; the +law as stated by the world of science was rather in harmony with him. +Let it be observed that Joseph Smith enunciated the principle of the +conservation of the energy, or intelligence as he called it, of the +universe, in May, 1833, ten years before Dr. Joule published his +famous papers on energy relations, and fifteen or twenty years before +the doctrine was clearly understood and generally accepted by the +learned of the world. Let it be also remembered that the unlearned boy +from the backwoods of New York state, taught with the conviction of +absolute certainty that the doctrine was true, for God had revealed it +to him. + +If God did not reveal it to him, where did he learn it, and whence +came the courage to teach it as an eternal truth? + + + + +Chapter IV. + +THE UNIVERSAL ETHER. + + +[Sidenote: The modern theory of light was established only about the +year 1830.] + +The nature of light has been in every age a fascinating subject for +study and reflection. Descartes, the French mathematician and +philosopher, advanced the hypothesis that light consists of small +particles emitted by luminous bodies, and that the sensation of light +is produced by the impact of these particles upon the retina of the +eye. Soon after this emission or corpuscular theory had been proposed, +Hooke, an English investigator of great note, stated publicly that the +phenomena of light, as he had observed them, led him to the belief +that the nature of light could best be explained on the assumption +that light was a kind of undulation or wave in some unknown medium, +and that the sensation of light was. produced when these waves struck +upon the retina of the eye. This new hypothesis, known as the theory +of undulations, after the great Isaac Newton had declared himself in +favor of the corpuscular theory, was finally adjudged by the majority +of students to be erroneous. + +About the year 1800, more than a century after the days of Descartes, +Hooke and Newton, an English physician, Dr. Thomas Young, who had long +experimented on the nature of light, asserted that the emission theory +could not explain many of the best known phenomena of light. Dr. Young +further claimed that correct explanations could be made only by the +theory of waves of undulation of an etherial medium diffused through +space, and presented numerous experimental evidences in favor of this +view. This revival of the old theory of undulation met at first with +violent opposition from many of the greatest scientific minds of the +day. Sometime after Dr. Young's publication, a French army officer, +Augustine Fresnel, undertook the study of the nature of light, and +arrived, almost independently, at the conclusion stated by Dr. Young. +Later, other investigators discovered light phenomena which could be +explained only on the undulatory hypothesis, and so, little by little, +the new theory gained ground and adherents. + +Still, even as late as 1827, the astronomer Herschel published a +treatise on light, in which he appeared to hold the real merit of the +theory of undulations in grave doubt.[A] Likewise, the Imperial +Academy at St. Petersburg, in 1826, proposed a prize for the best +attempt to relieve the undulatory theory of light of some of the main +objections against it.[B] It was several years later before the great +majority of the scientific world accepted the theory of undulations as +the correct explanation of the phenomena of light. + +[Footnote A: History of the Inductive Sciences, Whewell, 3rd edition, +Vol. II, p. 114.] + +[Footnote B: Loc. cit., 117.] + +[Sidenote: A subtle substance, the ether, fills all space.] + +In brief, this theory assumes that a very attenuated, but very +elastic, substance, called the ether, fills all space, and is found +surrounding the ultimate particles of matter. Thus, the pores of wood, +soil, lead, gold and the human body, are filled with the ether. It is +quite impossible by any known process to obtain a portion of space +free from it. A luminous body is one in which the ultimate particles +of matter, the atoms or molecules, are moving very rapidly, and thus +causing disturbances in the ether, similar to the disturbances in +quiet water when a rock is thrown into it; and, like the water wave, +proceeding from the point of disturbance, so the ether waves radiate +from the luminous body into space. When a wave strikes the retina of +the eye, the sensation of light is produced. This new-found ether was +soon used for the explanation of other natural phenomena. + +[Sidenote: Light, heat, electricity and other forces are forms of +ether motion.] + +The nature of heat had long been discussed when the world of science +decided in favor of the undulatory theory of light. One school held +that the sensation of heat was caused by the cannonading of heat +particles by the heated body; the other school, with few adherents, +insisted that heat was simply a form of motion of the ether already +adopted in the theory of light. The later discoveries of science +proved with considerable certainty that the undulatory theory of heat +is right, but it was well towards the middle of the last century +before the emission theory of heat lost its ground. In fact, +Dr.Whewell, in the third edition of his classic book on the _History +of Inductive Sciences_, published in 1859, says that the undulatory +theory of heat "has not by any means received full confirmation;"[A] +and Dr. John Tyndall, in a book published in 1880, says, that the +emission theory "held its ground until quite recently among the +chemists of our own day."[B] Today, the evidences of modern science +are overwhelmingly in favor of the undulatory theory of heat. + +[Footnote A: Vol. II, p. 184.] + +[Footnote B: Heat, A Mode of Motion, Tyndall, 6th ed., p. 38.] + +The wonderful developments of the last century, in electricity and +magnetism, led to much speculation concerning the nature of the subtle +electrical and magnetic forces. The most popular theories for many +years were those that presupposed various electrical and magnetic +fluids, which could be collected, conducted, dispersed and otherwise +controlled. In 1867, the eminent English mathematician, Clerk Maxwell, +proposed the theory that electrical and magnetic phenomena were simply +peculiar motions of the ether, bearing definite relationship to light +waves. Later researches, one result of which is the now famous +Roentgen or X-rays, have tended to confirm Maxwell's theory. A recent +text-book on physics, of unquestioned authority,[A] states that the +ether theory of electricity and magnetism is now susceptible of direct +demonstration; and another eminent authority frankly states that "when +we explain the nature of electricity, we explain it by a motion of the +luminiferous ether."[B] + +[Footnote A: Lehrbuch der Physik, Riecke, (1896), 2ter Band, p. 315.] + +[Footnote B: Popular Lectures and Addresses, Kelvin (1891) Vol. 1, +page 334.] + +Other recent discoveries have hinted at the possibility of matter +itself being only the result of peculiar forms of this all-pervading +substance, the luminiferous ether. The properties of the element +radium, and other radioactive elements, as at present understood, +suggest the possibility of a better understanding of the nature of the +ether, and of its relation to the world of phenomena. + +[Sidenote: The existence of the ether is a certainty of science.] + +That the present knowledge of the world of science compels a faith in +an all-pervading substance, of marvelous properties, and of intimate +relationship to all forms of energy, is shown by the following +quotations from Lord Kelvin, who is generally regarded as the world's +greatest physicist: "The luminferous ether, that is the only substance +we are confident of in dynamics. One thing we are sure of, and that is +the reality and substantiality of the luminiferous ether." "What can +this luminiferous ether be? It is something that the planets move +through with the greatest ease. It permeates our air; it is nearly in +the same condition, so far as our means of judging are concerned, in +our air and in the interplanetary space." "You may regard the +existence of the luminiferous ether as a reality of science." "It is +matter prodigiously less dense than air--of such density as not to +produce the slightest resistance to any body going through it."[A] + +[Footnote A: Kelvin's Lectures, Vol. 1, pp. 317, 334, 336, 354.] + +The theory of the ether is one of the most helpful assumptions of +modern science. By its aid the laws of energy have been revealed. +There is at the present time no grander or more fundamental doctrine +in science than that of the ether. The nature of the ether is, of +course, far from being clearly understood, but every discovery in +science demonstrates that the hypothetical ether stands for an +important reality of nature. Together with the doctrines of the +indestructibility of matter and energy, the doctrine of the ether +welds and explains all the physical phenomena of the universe. + +Joseph Smith, in a revelation received on December 27, 1832, wrote: + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught space is filled with a substance +comparable to the ether of science.] + +"The light which now shineth, which giveth you light, is through him +who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth +your understandings; which light proceedeth forth from the presence of +God to fill the immensity of space. The light which is in all things: +which is the law by which all things are governed: even the power of +God."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, section 88:11-13.] + +This quotation gives undoubted evidence of the prophet's belief that +space is filled with some substance which bears important relations to +all natural phenomena. The word substance is used advisedly; for in +various places in the writings of Joseph Smith, light, used as above +in a general sense, means spirit,[A] and "all spirit is matter, but it +is more fine and pure."[B] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 84:45.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid, 131:7.] + +True, the passage above quoted does not furnish detailed explanation +of the Prophet's view concerning the substance filling all space, but +it must be remembered that it is simply an incidental paragraph in a +chapter of religious instruction. True, also, the Prophet goes farther +than some modern scientists, when he says that this universal +substance bears a controlling relation to all things; yet, when it is +recalled that eminent, sober students have suggested that the facts of +science make it possible to believe that matter itself is simply a +phenomenon of the universal ether, the statement of the "Mormon" +prophet seems very reasonable. The paragraph already quoted is not an +accidental arrangement of words suggesting an idea not intended by the +prophet, for in other places, he presents the idea of an omnipresent +substance binding all things together. For instance, in speaking of +the controlling power of the universe he says: + +"He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all +things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all +things, and is through all things, and is round about all things."[A] + +[Footnote A: Ibid, 88:41.] + +That Joseph Smith does not here have in mind an omnipresent God, is +proved by the emphatic doctrine that God is personal and cannot be +everywhere present.[A] + +[Footnote A: Ibid, 130:22.] + +Lest it be thought that the words are forced, for argument's sake, to +give the desired meaning, it may be well to examine the views of some +of the persons to whom the Prophet explained in detail the meanings of +the statements in the revelations which he claimed to have received +from God. + +Parley P. Pratt, who, as a member of the first quorum of apostles, had +every opportunity of obtaining the Prophet's views on any subject, +wrote in considerable fullness on the subject of the Holy Spirit, or +the light of truth: + +"As the mind passes the boundaries of the visible world, and enters +upon the confines of the more refined and subtle elements, it finds +itself associated with certain substances in themselves invisible to +our gross organs, but clearly manifested to our intellect by their +tangible operations and effects." "The purest, most refined and subtle +of all these substances--is that substance called the Holy Spirit." +"It is omnipresent." "It is in its less refined particles, the +physical light which reflects from the sun, moon and stars, and other +substances; and by reflection on the eye makes visible the truths of +the outward world."[A] + +[Footnote A: Key to Theology, 5th ed., pp. 38-41.] + +Elder C. W. Penrose, an accepted writer on Mormon doctrine, writes, +"It is by His Holy Spirit, which permeates all things, and is the life +and light of all things, that Deity is everywhere present. * * By that +agency God sees and knows and governs all things."[A] + +[Footnote A: Rays of Living Light, No. 2, p. 3.] + +Such quotations, from the men intimately associated or acquainted with +the early history of the Church, prove that Joseph Smith taught in +clearness the doctrine that a subtle form of matter, call it ether or +Holy Spirit, pervades all space; that all phenomena of nature, +including, specifically, heat, light and electricity, are definitely +connected with this substance. He taught much else concerning this +substance which science will soon discover, but which lies without the +province of this paper to discuss. + +By the doctrine of the ether, it is made evident all the happenings in +the universe are indelibly inscribed upon the record of nature. A word +is spoken. The air movements that it causes disturbs the ether. The +ether waves radiate into space and can never die. Anywhere, with the +proper instrument, one of the waves may be captured, and the spoken +word read. That is the simple method of wireless telegraphy. It is +thus that all our actions shall be known on the last great day. By the +ether, or the Holy Spirit as named by the Prophet, God holds all +things in His keeping. His intelligent will radiates into space, to +touch whomsoever it desires. He who is tuned aright can read the +message, flashed across the ether ocean, by the Almighty. Thus, also, +God, who is a person, filling only a portion of space is, by His power +carried by the ether, everywhere present. + +The ether of science though material is essentially different from the +matter composing the elements. So, also, in Mormon theology, is the +Holy Spirit different from the grosser elements. In science there is a +vast distinction between the world of the elements, and that of the +ether; in theology, there is an equally great difference between the +spiritual and material worlds. Though the theology of Joseph Smith +insists that immaterialism is an absurdity, yet it permits no +overlapping of the earthly and the spiritual. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith stated the existence of a universe-filling +substance before science had generally accepted it.] + +It must not be overlooked that the broad statement of this doctrine +was made by Joseph Smith, at least as early as 1832, at a time when +the explanation of light phenomena on the hypothesis of a universal +ether was just beginning to find currency among learned men; and many +years before the same hypothesis was accepted in explaining the +phenomena of heat and electricity. + +The idea of an influence pervading the universe is not of itself new. +Poets and philosophers of all ages have suggested it in a vague, +hesitating manner, without connecting it with the phenomena of nature, +but burdening it with the greatest absurdity of religion or +philosophy, that of immaterialism. Joseph Smith said the doctrine had +been taught him by God, and gave it to the world unhesitatingly and +rationally. The men of science, to whom Joseph Smith appears only as +an imposter, and who know nothing of his writings, have later +discovered the truth for themselves, and incorporated it in their +books of learning. + +Had Joseph Smith been the clever imposter that some claim he was, he +probably would not have dealt in any way with the theories of the +material world, at least would not have claimed revelations laying +down physical laws; had he been the stupid fool, others tell us he +was, his mind would not have worried itself with the fundamental +problems of nature. + +However that may be, it is certain that Joseph Smith, in the broad and +rational statement of the existence of an omnipresent, material though +subtle substance, anticipated the workers in science. In view of that +fact, it is not improbable that at some future time, when science +shall have gained a wider view, the historian of the physical sciences +will say that Joseph Smith, the clear-sighted, first stated correctly +the fundamental physical doctrine of the universal ether. + + + + +Chapter V. + +THE REIGN OF LAW. + + +In the seventh book of the _Republic of Plato_[A] occurs the following +passage: + +[Footnote A: Golden Treasury edition, pp. 235, 236.] + +[Sidenote: The realities of nature are known by their effects.] + +"Imagine a number of men living in an underground cavernous chamber, +with an entrance open to the light, extending along the entire length +of the cavern, in which they have been confined, from childhood, with +their legs and necks so shackled, that they are obliged to sit still +and look straight forward, because their chains render it impossible +for them to turn their heads round; and imagine a bright fire burning +some way off, above and behind them, and an elevated roadway passing +between the fire and the prisoners, with a low wall built along it, +like the screens which conjurers put up in front of their audiences, +and above which they exhibit their wonders. Also figure to yourself a +number of persons walking behind the wall, and carrying with them +statues of men and images of other animals, wrought in wood and stone +and all kinds of materials, together with various other articles, +which overtop the wall; and, as you might expect, let some of the +passers-by be talking, and the others silent. + +"Let me ask whether persons so confined could have seen anything of +themselves or of each other, beyond the shadows thrown by the fire +upon the part of the cavern facing them? And is not their knowledge of +the things carried past them equally limited? And if they were able to +converse with one another, would they not be in the habit of giving +names to the objects which they saw before them? If their prison house +returned an echo from the part facing them, whenever one of the +passers-by opened his lips, to what could they refer the voice, if not +to the shadow which was passing? Surely such person would hold the +shadows of those manufactured articles to be the only realities." + +With reference to our absolute knowledge of the phenomena of nature, +this splendid comparison is as correct today as it was in the days of +Plato, about 400 B. C.; we are only as prisoners in a great cave, +watching shadows of passing objects thrown upon the cavern wall, and +reflecting upon the real natures of the things whose shadows we see. +We know things only by their effects; the essential nature of matter, +ether and energy is far from our understanding. + +[Sidenote: The progress of science rests on the law of cause and +effect.] + +In early and mediaeval times, the recognition of the fact that nature +in its ultimate form is unknowable, led to many harmful superstitions. +Chief among the fallacies of the early ages was the belief that God at +will could, and did, cause various phenomena to appear in nature, +which were contrary to all human experience. As observed in chapter 4, +a class of men arose who claimed to be in possession of knowledge +which made them also able, at will, to cause various supernatural +manifestations. Thus arose the occult sciences, so called,--alchemy, +astrology, magic, witchcraft, and all other similar abominations of +the intellect. Such beliefs made the logical study of nature +superfluous, for any apparent regularity or law in nature might at any +time be overturned by a person in possession of a formula of the black +art or a properly treated broomstick. + +While such ideas prevailed among the majority of men, the rational +study of science could make little progress. In the march of the ages +as the ideas of men were classified, it began to be understood that +the claims of the devotees of the mystical arts not only could not be +substantiated but were in direct opposition to the known operations of +nature. It became clear to the truthseekers, that in nature a given +cause, acting upon any given object, providing all surrounding +conditions be left unchanged, will always produce the same effect. +Thus, coal of a certain quality, brought to a high temperature in the +presence of air, will burn and produce heat; a stick held in water at +the right angle will appear crooked; iron kept in contact with +moisture and air, at the right temperature, will be changed into rust; +sunlight passed through a glass prism will be broken into rainbow +colors; ordinary plants placed in a dark cellar will languish and die. +No matter how often trials are made, the above results are obtained; +and today it is safe to assert that in the material world no relation +of cause and effect, once established, has failed to reappear at the +will of the investigator. As this principle of the constancy in the +relations between cause and effect was established, the element of +chance in natural phenomena, with its attendant arts of magic, had to +disappear. It is now well understood by intelligent persons that the +law of order controls all the elements of nature. + +It is true that the cause of any given effect may, itself, be the +effect of other causes, and that the first cause of daily phenomena is +not and probably cannot be understood. It is also true that very +seldom is the mind able to comprehend why certain causes, save the +simpler ones, should produce certain effects. In that respect we are +again nothing more than Plato's cave prisoners, seeing the shadows of +ultimate realities. However, the recognition of the principle of the +invariable relation between cause and effect was a great onward stride +in the intellectual development of the world. + +[Sidenote: Laws of nature are man's simplest expression of many +related facts.] + +Now, as men began to investigate nature with her forces, according to +the new light, numerous relations of the forces were discovered--in +number far beyond the comprehension of the human mind. Then it was +found necessary to group all facts of a similar nature, and invent, if +possible, some means by which the properties of the whole group might +be stated in language so simple as to reach the understanding. Thus +came the laws of nature. + +For instance, men from earliest times observed the heavenly bodies and +the regularity of their motions. Theories of the universe were +invented which should harmonize with the known facts. As new facts +were discovered, the theories had to be changed and extended. First it +was believed that the earth was fixed in mid-space, and sun and stars +were daily carried around it. Hipparchus improved this theory by +placing the earth not exactly in the center of the sun's circle. +Ptolemy, three hundred years later, considered that the sun and moon +move in circles, yearly, around the earth, and the other planets in +circles, whose centers again described circles round the earth. +Copernicus simplified the whole system by teaching that the earth +rotated around its axis, and around the sun. Keppler next showed that +the earth moved around the sun in certain curves termed ellipses. +Finally, Newton hit upon the wide-embracing law of gravitation, which +unifies all the known facts of astronomy.[A] All the earlier laws were +correct, so far as they included all the knowledge of the age in which +they were proposed, but were insufficient to include the new +discoveries. + +[Footnote A: See The Grammar of Science, Pearson, pp. 117, 118.] + +Laws of nature are, therefore, man's simplest and most comprehensive +expression of his knowledge of certain groups of natural phenomena. +They are man-made, and subject to change as knowledge grows; but, as +they change, they approach or should approach more and more nearly to +the perfect law. Modern science is built upon the assumption that the +relations between cause and effect are invariable, and that these +relations may be grouped to form great natural laws, which express the +modes by which the forces of the universe manifest themselves. + +[Sidenote: A miracle is a law not understood.] + +In this matter, science is frankly humble, and acknowledges that the +region of the unknown is far greater than that of the known. Forces, +relations and laws may exist as yet unknown to the world of science, +which, used by a human or superhuman being, might to all appearances +change well-established relations of known forces. That would be a +miracle; but a miracle simply means a phenomenon not understood, in +its cause and effect relations. It must also be admitted that men +possess no absolute certainty that though certain forces, brought into +a certain conjunction a thousand times, have produced the same effect, +they will continue to do so. Should a variation occur, however, that +also must be ascribed to an inherent property of the forces or +conditions, or the existence of a law not understood.[A] There can be +no chance in the operations of nature. This is a universe of law and +order. + +[Footnote A: The Credentials of Science, the Warrant of Faith, Cooke, +pp. 169, 170.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught the invariable relation of cause and +effect.] + +Were it not for the sake of the completeness of the argument running +through these chapters, it would be unnecessary to call attention to +the fact that Joseph Smith in a very high degree held views similar to +those taught by science relative to cause and effect, and the reign of +law. + +From the beginning of his career, the Prophet insisted upon order, or +system, as the first law in the religion or system of philosophy which +he founded.[A] Moreover, the order which he taught was of an +unchangeable nature, corresponding to the invariable relation between +cause and effect. He wrote, "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in +heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings +are predicated; and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by +obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."[B] No text book in +science has a clearer or more positive statement than this, of the +fact that like causes have like effects, like actions like results. +The eternal nature of natural law is further emphasized as follows: + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 28:13; 132; 8.] + +[Footnote B: Doctrine and Covenants, 130:20, 21.] + +"If there be bounds set to the heavens, or to the seas: or to the dry +land, or to the sun, moon or stars; all the times of their +revolutions; all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the +days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, +and set times, shall be revealed, in the days of the dispensation of +the fullness of times, according to that which was ordained in the +midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other Gods before this +world was."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 121:30-32.] + +Those who may be inclined to believe that this doctrine was taught in +a spiritual sense only, should recall that Joseph Smith taught also +that spirit is only a pure form of matter,[A] so that the principles +of the material world must have their counterparts in the spiritual +world. Besides, in the last quotation reference is made to such +material bodies as sun, moon, and stars. In other places, special +mention is made of the fact that the material universe is controlled +by law. For instance: + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 131:7.] + +"All kingdoms have a law given: and there are many kingdoms; * * * * +and unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are +certain bounds also and conditions. * * * * And again, verily I say +unto you, he hath given a law unto all things by which they move in +their times and their seasons; and their courses are fixed; even the +courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and +all the planets."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 88:36-33, 42, 43.] + +This also is a clear, concise statement of law and its nature, which +is not excelled by the definitions of science. There can be no doubt +from these quotations, as from many others that might be made, that +Joseph Smith based his teachings upon the recognition that law +pervades the universe, and that none can transcend law. In the +material world or in the domain of ether or spirit, like causes +produced like effects--the reign of law is supreme. + +[Sidenote: "The law also maketh you free."] + +Certainly the claim cannot be made that Joseph Smith anticipated the +world of science in the recognition of this important principle; but +it is a source of marvel that he should so clearly recognize and state +it, at a time when many religious sects and philosophical creeds chose +to assume that natural laws could be set aside easily by mystical +methods that might be acquired by anyone. In some respects, the +scientific test of the divine inspiration of Joseph Smith lies here. +Ignorant and superstitious as his enemies say he was, the mystical +would have attracted him greatly, and he would have played for his own +interest upon the superstitious fears of his followers. Instead, he +taught doctrines absolutely free from mysticism, and built a system of +religion in which the invariable relation of cause and effect is the +cornerstone. Instead of priding himself, to his disciples, upon his +superiority to the laws of nature, he taught distinctly that "the law +also maketh you free."[A] Herein he recognized another great +principle--that freedom consists in the adaptation to law, not in the +opposition to it. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 98:8.] + +However, whatever else the Prophet Joseph Smith was, he most certainly +was in full harmony with the scientific principle that the universe is +controlled by law. + + + + +THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSE. + +Chapter VI. + +THE NEW ASTRONOMY. + + +[Sidenote: The laws of the motions of the heavenly bodies have been +learned very slowly.] + +From the dawn of written history, when the first men, watching through +the nights, observed the regular motions of the moon and stars, +humanity has been striving to obtain a correct understanding of the +relation of the earth to the. First it was believed that the sun, +moon, and stars revolved in circles around the earth (which for a time +was supposed to be flat instead of spherical). The great Greek +philosopher, Hipparchus, after observing the movements of the heavenly +bodies, suggested that the earth was not exactly in the middle of the +circles. Three hundred years later, Ptolemy discovered a number of +facts concerning the movements of the sun, moon and planets, which +were unknown to Hipparchus, and which led him to suggest that the sun +and moon move in circles around the earth, but that the planets move +around the earth in circles, whose centres again move around the +earth. This somewhat complex theory explained very well what was known +of astronomy in the days of the ancients. In fact, the views of +Ptolemy were quite generally accepted for 1300 years. + +About 1500, A. D., Copernicus, a Dutch astronomer, having still more +facts in his possession than had Ptolemy, concluded that the simplest +manner in which the apparent movements of the sun, moon, and planets +could be explained, was to assume that the sun is the center of the +planetary system, and that the earth, with the moon and planets, +revolves according to definite laws around the sun. This theory, +supported by numerous confirmatory observations, was generally +accepted by astronomers, and really did explain very simply and +clearly many of the facts of planetary motion. + +Fifty years after the death of Copernicus, the celebrated astronomer, +Kepler, proposed extensions and improvements of the Copernican +doctrine, which made the theory that the planets revolve about the sun +more probable than ever before. He suggested first that the planets +move around the sun in closed curves, resembling flattened circles, +and known as ellipses. By assuming this to be true, and assisted by +other discoveries, he was also able to state the times required by the +planets for their revolutions around the sun, and the velocity of +their motions at different times of the year. Later investigations +have proved the great laws proposed by Copernicus and Kepler to be +true; and from their days is dated the birth of modern astronomy. + +[Sidenote: The law of gravitation is universal and explains many of +the motions of celestial bodies.] + +After the laws of the motions of the planets had been determined, it +was only natural that men should ask themselves what forces were +concerned in these motions. The ancient philosophers had proposed the +idea that the sun attracts all heavenly bodies, but the suggestion had +not been accepted by the world at large. However, after the +discoveries of Kepler, the English, philosopher Newton advanced the +theory that there is in the universe an attractive force which +influences all matter, beyond the limits of known space. He further +proved that the intensity of this force varies directly with the +product of the attractive masses, and inversely, with the square of +the distances between them--that is, the greater the bodies the +greater the attraction; the greater the distance between them, the +smaller the attraction. This law of gravitation has been verified by +repeated experiments, and, taken in connection with the astronomical +theories of Copernicus and Kepler, has made celestial mechanics what +they are today. + +By the aid of the law of gravitation, many astronomical predictions +have been fulfilled. Among the most famous is the following incident: + +In the early part of the last century, astronomers noticed that the +motions of the planet Uranus did not agree with those derived from +calculations based upon the law of gravitation. About 1846, two +investigators, M. Leverrier, of France, and Mr. Adams of England, +stated, as their opinion, that the discordance between theory and +observation in the case of the motions of Uranus, was due to the +attraction of a planet, not yet known, and they calculated by means of +the law of gravitation, the size and orbit of the unknown planet. In +the fall of 1846, this planet was actually discovered and named +Neptune. It was found to harmonize with the predictions made by the +astronomers before its discovery. + +During the days of Newton, the question was raised if the celestial +bodies outside of the solar system obey the law of gravitation. Among +the stars, there are some which are called double stars, and which +consist of two stars so near to each other that the telescope alone +can separate them to the eye. In 1803, after twenty years of +observation, William Herschel discovered that some of these couples +were revolving around each other with various angular velocities. The +son of William Herschel continued this work, and many years later, he +discovered that the laws of motion of these double stars are the same +as those that prevail in the the solar system.[A] This result +indicated not only the universality of the law of gravitation, but +also the probability that all heavenly bodies are in motion. + +[Footnote A: History of the Inductive Sciences, Whewell, 3rd ed. Vol. +I, pp. 467-469.] + +[Sidenote: The invention of the spectroscope laid the foundation of +the new astronomy.] + +Then, early in the nineteenth century, a new method of research began +to be developed, which was destined to form a new science of +astronomy. It had long been known that white light when passed through +a glass prism is broken into a colored spectrum, with colors similar +to those observed in the rainbow. Now it was discovered that when +white light passes through vapors of certain composition, dark lines +appear in the spectrum, and that the position of the lines varies with +the chemical composition of the vapors. By the application of these +principles, it was shown, towards the middle of the last century, that +the chemical composition of the heavenly bodies may be determined. +Later,it was discovered that by noting the positions of the dark lines +in the spectrum, it could be known when a star or any heavenly body is +moving, as also the direction and amount of its motion. These +unexpected discoveries led to a study of the heavens from the +spectroscopic point of view, which has resulted in a marvelous advance +in the science of astronomy. + +[Sidenote: All heavenly bodies are in motion.] + +It has been determined that all heavenly bodies are in motion, and +that their velocities are great compared with our ordinary conceptions +of motion. Most of the stars move at the rate of about seven miles per +second, though some have a velocity of forty-five miles, or more, per +second. Many stars, formerly thought to be single, have been resolved +into two or more components. The rings of Saturn have been proved to +consist of small bodies revolving about the planet in obedience to +Kepler's law.[A] Clusters of stars have been found that move through +space as one body, as possible counterparts of the planetary +system.[B] It has been demonstrated, further, that the sun itself, +with its planets, is moving through space at a very rapid rate. +Professor Simon Newcomb, perhaps the greatest astronomer of the day, +says, "The sun, and the whole solar system with it, have been speeding +their way toward the star of which I speak (Alpha Lyrae) on a journey +of which we know neither the beginning nor the end. During every +clock-beat through which humanity has existed, it has moved on this +journey by an amount which we cannot specify more exactly than to say +that it is probably between five and nine miles per second. The +conclusion seems unavoidable that a number of stars are moving with a +speed such that the attraction of all the bodies of the universe could +never stop them."[C] In brief, the new astronomy holds that all +heavenly bodies are in motion, and that the planetary system is but a +small cluster of stars among the host of heaven. Further, it has +weighed the stars, measured the intensity of their light, and +determined their chemical composition, and it affirms that there are +suns in the heavens, far excelling our sun in size and lustre, though +built of approximately the same elements. + +[Footnote A: See C. G. Abbott, Report of Smithsonian Institution, for +1901, pp. 153-155.] + +[Footnote B: Light Science for Leisure Hours, Proctor, pp. 42-52.] + +[Footnote C: The Problems of Astronomy, S. Newcomb, Science, May 21, +1897.] + +[Sidenote: The solar system is only one of many.] + +Sir Robert Ball expresses his views as follows: "The group to which +our sun belongs is a limited one. This must be so, even though the +group included all the stars in the milky way. This unnumbered host is +still only a cluster, occupying, comparatively speaking, an +expressibly small extent in the ocean of infinite space. The +imagination will carry us further still--it will show us that our star +cluster may be but a unit in a cluster of an order still higher, so +that a yet higher possibility of movement is suggested for our +astonishment."[A] + +[Footnote A: The Story of the Sun, R. S. Ball, pp. 360, 361.] + +Another eminent astronomer expresses the same idea briefly but +eloquently: "It is true that from the highest point of view the sun is +only one of a multitude--a single star among millions--thousands of +which, most likely, exceed him in brightness, magnitude and power. He +is only a private in the host of heaven."[A] + +[Footnote A: The Sun, C. A. Young, p. 11.] + +And still another student of the stars propounds the following +questions: "Does there exist a central sun of the universe? Do the +worlds of Infinitude gravitate as a hierarchy round a divine focus? +Some day the astronomers of the planets which gravitate in the light +of Hercules (towards which constellation the solar system is moving) +will see a little star appear in their sky. This will be our sun, +carrying us along in its rays; perhaps at this very moment we are +visible dust of a sidereal hurricane, in a milky way, the transformer +of our destinies. We are mere playthings in the immensity of +Infinitude."[A] + +[Footnote A: Popular Astronomy, C. Flammarion, p. 309.] + +[Sidenote: Scientists believe that heavenly bodies are inhabited by +living, thinking beings.] + +It is not strange that men who have learned to look at the universe in +this lofty manner should go a step farther, beyond the actually known, +and suggest that some of these countless heavenly bodies must be +inhabited by living, thinking beings. Sober, thoughtful truthseekers, +who never advance needlessly a new theory, have suggested, in all +seriousness, that other worlds than ours are peopled. For instance, +"What sort of life, spiritual and intellectual, exists in distant +worlds? We can not for a moment suppose that our little planet is the +only one throughout the whole universe on which may be found the +fruits of civilization, warm firesides, friendship, the desire to +penetrate the mysteries of creation."[A] + +[Footnote A: The Problems of Astronomy, S. Newcomb.] + +Such, then, is in very general terms the view of modern astronomy with +reference to the constitution of the universe. Most of the information +upon which this view rests has been gathered during the last fifty +years. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught that all heavenly bodies are in +motion.] + +Joseph Smith was doubtlessly impressed with the beauty of the starry +heavens, and, in common with all men of poetical nature, allowed his +thoughts to wander into the immensity of space. However, he had no +known opportunity of studying the principles of astronomy, or of +becoming familiar with the astronomical questions that were agitating +the thinkers of his day. Naturally, very little is said in his +writings that bears upon the planetary and stellar constitution of the +universe; yet enough to prove that he was in perfect harmony with the +astronomical views developed since his day. + +First, he believed that stellar bodies are distributed throughout +space. "And worlds without number have I created."[A] "And there are +many kingdoms; for there is no space in which there is no kingdom."[B] +He is further in harmony with modern views in that he claims that +stars may be destroyed, and new ones formed. "For, behold, there are +many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power."[C] "And as +one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof, even so shall +another come."[D] + +[Footnote A: Book of Moses, 1:33.] + +[Footnote B: Doctrine and Covenants, 88:37.] + +[Footnote C: Book of Moses, 1:35.] + +[Footnote D: Doctrine and Covenants, 1:38.] + +At the time that Joseph Smith wrote, there was considerable discussion +as to whether the laws of the solar system were effective with the +stars. The Prophet had no doubts on that score, for he wrote, "And +unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are +certain bounds also and conditions."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 88:38.] + +Likewise, his opinions concerning the motions of celestial objects +were very definite and clear. "He hath given a law unto all things by +which they move in their times and seasons; and their courses are +fixed; even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend +the earth and all the planets. The earth rolls upon her wings, and the +sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, +and the stars also giveth their light, as they roll upon their wings +in glory, in the midst of the power of God."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 88:43, 45.] + +In another place the same thought is expressed. "The sun, moon or +stars; all the times of their revolutions; all the appointed days, +months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, +and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 121:30, 31.] + +The two revelations from which these quotations are made, were given +to the Prophet in 1832 and 1839 respectively, many years before the +fact that all celestial bodies are in motion was understood and +accepted by the world of science. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught that the solar system is only one of +many--in advance of the astronomers of his day.] + +The accepted conception that groups or clusters of stars form systems +which revolve around some one point or powerful star, was also clearly +understood by Joseph Smith, for he speaks of stars of different orders +with controlling stars for each order. "And I saw the stars that they +were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of +God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it: and the +Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the +great one is Kolob because it is near unto me--I have set this one to +govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which +thou standest."[A] That the governing star, Kolob, is not the sun is +evident, since the statement is made later in the chapter that the +Lord showed Abraham "Shinehah, which is the sun." Kolob, therefore, +must be a mighty star governing more than the solar system; and is +possibly the central sun around which the sun with its attendant +planets is revolving. The other great stars near Kolob are also +governing stars, two of which are mentioned by name Oliblish and +Enish-go-ondosh, though nothing is said of the order or stars that +they control. The reading of the third chapter of the _Book of +Abraham_ leaves complete conviction that Joseph Smith taught that the +celestial bodies are in great groups, controlled (under gravitational +influence) by large suns. In this doctrine, he anticipated the world +of science by many years. + +[Footnote A: Book of Abraham, chapter 3.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught that other worlds are inhabited.] + +It is perhaps less surprising to find that Joseph Smith believed that +there are other peopled worlds than ours. For instance, "The reckoning +of God's time, angel's time, prophet's time, and man's time, is +according to the planet on which they reside,"[A] which distinctly +implies that other planets are inhabited. Another passage reads, "The +angels do not reside on a planet like this earth, but they reside in +the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire."[B] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 130:4.] + +[Footnote B: Loc. cit., verses 6 and 7. See also 88:61.] + +While the idea that the planets and stars may be inhabited is not at +all new, yet it is interesting to note that Joseph Smith taught as an +absolute truth that such is the case. Probably no other philosopher +has gone quite that far. + +These brief quotations go to show that the doctrines of the Prophet of +the Latter-day Saints are in full accord with the views that +distinguish the new astronomy. It is also to be noted that in +advancing the theories of universal motion among the stars, and of +great stars or suns governing groups of stars, he anticipated by many +years the corresponding theories of professional astronomers. + +In various sermons the Prophet dealt more fully with the doctrines +here set forth and showed more strongly than is done in his doctrinal +writings, that he understood perfectly the far reaching nature of his +astronomical teachings. + +Did Joseph Smith teach these truths by chance? or, did he receive +inspiration from a higher power? + + + + +Chapter VII. + +GEOLOGICAL TIME. + + +[Sidenote: The history of the world written in the rocks.] + +God speaks in various ways to men. The stars, the clouds, the +mountains, the grass and the soil, are all, to him who reads aright, +forms of divine revelation. Many of the noblest attributes of God may +be learned by a study of the laws according to which Omnipotent Will +directs the universe. + +Nowhere is this principle more beautifuly illustrated and confirmed +than in the rocks that constitute the crust of the earth. On them is +written in simple plainness the history of the earth almost from that +beginning, when the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. +Yet, for centuries, men saw the rocks, their forms and their +adaptations to each other, without understanding the message written +in them. Only, as the wonderful nineteenth century approached, did the +vision open, and the interpretation of the story of the rocks become +apparent. + +[Sidenote: Water and heat among the shaping forces of the earth.] + +How the earth first came into being has not yet been clearly revealed. +From the first, however, the mighty forces which act today, have +shaped and fashioned the earth and prepared it for man's habitation. +Water, entering the tiny cracks of the rocks, and expanding as, in +winter, it changed to ice, crumbled the mighty mountans; water, +falling as rain from the clouds, washed the rock fragments into the +low-lying places to form soil; the water in mighty rivers chiseled the +earth with irresistible force, as shown by the Grand Canyon of the +Colorado. The internal heat of the earth, aided by the translocation +of material by water, produced large cracks in the earth's crust, +through which oceans of molten matter flowed and spread themselves +over the land; the same heat appeared in volcanoes, through which were +spurted liquid earth, cinders and foul gases; as the earth heat was +lost, the crust cooled, contracted and great folds appeared, +recognized as mountains, and as time went on, many of the mountains +were caused to sink and the ocean beds were brought up in their stead. +Wonderful and mighty have been the changes on the earth's surface +since the Lord began its preparation for the race of men. + +[Sidenote: The geological history of the earth is in many chapters.] + +In the beginning, it appears that water covered the whole earth. In +that day, the living creatures of earth dwelt in the water, and it was +the great age of fishes and other aquatic animals. Soon the first land +lifted itself timidly above the surface of the ocean, and formed +inviting places for land animals and plants. Upon the land came, +first, according to the story of the rocks, a class of animals known +as amphibians, like frogs, that could live both in water and on land. +Associated with these creatures were vast forests of low orders of +plants, that cleared the atmosphere of noxious gases, and made it fit +for higher forms of life. Then followed an age in which the +predominating animals were gigantic reptiles, a step higher than the +amphibians, but a step lower than the class of Mammals to which man +belongs. During the age of these prehistoric monsters, the earth was +yet more fully prepared for higher life. Following the age of +reptiles, came the age of mammals, which still persists, though, since +the coming of man upon the earth, the geological age has been known as +the age of man. + +This rapid sketch of the geological history of the earth does very +poor justice to one of the most complete, wonderful and beautiful +stories brought to the knowledge of man. The purpose of this chapter +is not, however, to discuss the past ages of the earth. + +It is, of course, readily understood that such mighty changes as those +just described, and the succession of different kinds of organic life, +could not have taken place in a few years. Vast periods of time must +of necessity have been required for the initiation, rise, domination +and final extinction of each class of animals. A year is too small a +unit of measurement in geological time; a thousand years or, better, a +million years, would more nearly answer the requirements. + +[Sidenote: The earth is probably millions of years old.] + +It is possible in various ways to arrive at a conception of the age of +the earth since organic life came upon it. For instance, the gorge of +the Niagara Falls was begun in comparatively recent days, yet, judging +by the rate at which the falls are now receding, it must have been at +least 31,000 years since the making of the gorge was first begun, and +it may have been nearly 400,000 years.[A] Lord Kelvin, on almost +purely physical grounds, has estimated that the earth cannot be more +than 100,000,000 years old, but that it may be near that age.[B] It +need not be said, probably, that all such calculations are very +uncertain, when the actual number of years are considered; but, all +human knowledge, based upon the present appearance of the earth and +the laws that control known phenomena, agree in indicating that the +age of the earth is very great, running in all probability into +millions of years. It must have been hundreds of thousands of years +since the first life was placed upon earth. + +[Footnote A: Dana's New Text Book of Geology, p. 375.] + +[Footnote B: Lectures and Addresses, vol. 2, p. 10.] + +[Sidenote: The war concerning the earth's age has helped theology and +science.] + +When these immense periods of time were first suggested by students of +science, a great shout of opposition arose from the camp of the +theologians. The Bible story of creation had been taken literally, +that in six days did the Lord create the heavens and the earth; and it +was held to be blasphemy to believe anything else. The new revelation, +given by God in the message of the rocks, was received as a man-made +theory, that must be crushed to earth. It must be confessed likewise +that many of the men of science, exulting in the new light, ridiculed +the story told by Moses, and claimed that it was an evidence that the +writings of Moses were not inspired, but merely man-made fables. + +The war between the Mosaic and the geological record of creation +became very bitter and lasted long, and it led to a merciless +dissection and scrutiny of the first chapter of Genesis, as well as of +the evidence upon which rests the geological theory of the age of the +earth. When at last the din of the battle grew faint, and the smoke +cleared away, it was quickly perceived by the unbiased on-lookers, +that the Bible and science had both gained by the conflict. Geology +had firmly established its claim, that the earth was not made in six +days of twenty-four hours each; and the first chapter of Genesis had +been shown to be a marvelously truthful record of the great events of +creation. + +[Sidenote: The word day in Genesis refers to indefinite time periods.] + +Moses, in the first chapter of Genesis, enumerates the order of the +events of creation. First, light was brought to the earth and was +divided from darkness, "and the evening and the morning were the first +day." Then the firmament was established in the midst of the waters, +"and the evening and the morning were the second day." After each +group of creative events, the same expression occurs, "and the evening +and the morning were the third [fourth, fifth, and sixth] days." Those +who insisted upon the literal interpretation of the language of the +Bible maintained that the word day, as used in Genesis 1, referred to +a day of twenty-four hours, and that all the events of creation were +consummated by an all-powerful God in one hundred and forty-four +earthly hours. An examination of the original Hebrew for the use of +the word translated "day" in Genesis, revealed that it refers more +frequently to periods of time of indefinite duration.[A] When this +became clear, and the records of the rocks became better known, some +theologians suggested, that as we are told that a thousand years are +as one day to God, the day of Genesis 1 refers to periods of a +thousand years each. This did not strengthen the argument. The best +opinion of today, and it is well-nigh universal, is that the Mosaic +record refers to indefinite periods of time corresponding to the great +divisions of historical geology. + +[Footnote A: Compare The Mosaic Record of Creation, A. McCaul, D. D., +p. 213.] + +Even as late as the sixties and seventies of the last century this +question was still so unsettled as to warrant the publication of books +defending the Mosaic account of creation.[A] + +[Footnote A: For instance Aids to Faith, containing McCaul's most able +discussion. The Origin of the World, J. W. Dawson.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith's teachings concerning creation found in the +Book of Abraham.] + +In 1830, certain visions, given to the Jewish lawgiver Moses, were +revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith. These visions are now +incorporated with other matter in the Pearl of Great Price, under the +title, The Book of Moses. In chapter two of this book is found an +account of the creation, which is nearly identical with the account +found in Genesis 1. The slight variations which occur tend only to +make the meaning of the writer clearer. In this account, the +expression "and the evening and the morning were the first [etc.] +day," occurs just as it does in the Mosaic account in the Bible. In +1835, certain ancient records found in the catacombs of Egypt fell +into the hands of Joseph Smith, who found them to be some of the +writings of Abraham, while he was in Egypt. The translation of these +records is also found in the Pearl of Great Price, under the title, +The Book of Abraham. In the fourth and fifth chapters of the book is +found an account of the creation according to the knowledge of +Abraham. The two accounts are essentially the same, but the Abrahamic +version is so much fuller and clearer that it illumines the obscurer +parts of the Mosaic account. We shall concern ourselves here only with +the variation in the use of the word "day." + +[Sidenote: The Book of Abraham conveys the idea that the creative +periods included much time.] + +In Genesis 1:5 we read, "And God called the light Day, and the +darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the +fist day." The corresponding period is discussed in the Book of +Abraham 4:5 as follows: "And the Gods called the light Day, and the +darkness they called Night. And it came to pass that from the evening +until the morning they called night; and from the morning until the +evening they called day; _and this was the first, or the beginning, of +that which they called night and day."_ + +It is to be noted that in Abraham's version names were given to the +intervals between evening and morning, and morning and evening; but +absolutely nothing is said about a _first_ day: the statement is +simply made, that this was the beginning of the alternating periods of +light and darkness which _they,_ the Gods, had named night and day. +According to this version, the first creative period occupied an +unknown period of time. + +In Genesis 1:8 it further says: "And God called the firmament Heaven. +And the evening and the morning were the second day." + +The corresponding passage in the Book of Abraham 4:8, reads, "And the +Gods called the expanse Heaven. And it came to pass that it was from +evening until morning that they called night; and it came to pass that +it was from morning until evening that they called day, and this was +_the second time that they called night and day."_ + +Here it must be noted that nothing is said about a second day. It is +said that it was the second time that _they_ called day--which leaves +the second creative period entirely indefinite so far as time limits +are concerned. + +In Genesis 1:13, it reads, "and the evening and the morning were the +third day." + +In Abraham 4:13, the corresponding passage reads, "And it came to pass +that they numbered the days; from the evening until the morning they +called night; and it came to pass, from the morning until the evening +they called day; and it was the third time." + +Here it is explicitly stated that the Gods numbered the days; +evidently, they counted the days that had passed during the third +creative period, and it was the third time that the numbering had been +done. Again, the third creative period is left indefinite, as to time +limits. + +Gen. 1:19, reads, "And the evening and the morning were the fourth +day." + +Correspondingly, in Abraham 4:19, is found, "And it came to pass that +it was from evening until morning that it was night; and it came to +pass that it was from morning until evening that it was day; and it +was the fourth time." + +This quotation from Abraham, standing alone, would be somewhat +ambiguous, for it might indicate that it was the fourth time that the +periods between evening and morning, and morning and evening were +called night and day. In the light of previous passages, however, the +meaning of the passage becomes clear. Certainly there is nothing in +the verse to confine the fourth creative period within certain time +limits. + +The fifth day in Genesis closes as does the fourth; and the fifth time +in Abraham closes as does the fourth. The remarks made concerning the +fourth creative period apply to the fifth. + +Concerning the sixth creative period, Gen. 1:31, says, "And God saw +everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the +evening and the morning were the sixth day." + +Of the same period Abraham says, "And the Gods said: We will do +everything that we have said, and organize them; and behold, they +shall be very obedient. And it came to pass that it was from morning +until evening that they called night; and it came to pass that it was +from evening until morning that they called day; and they numbered the +sixth time." + +As in the previous periods, the sixth ended by the Gods numbering the +days of the creative period; the sixth period, like those preceding, +being indeterminate as to time. + +Repeated reading and study of the Abrahamic account, as revealed +through Joseph Smith, make it certain beyond doubt that the intent is +to convey the idea that the creative periods included much time, and +that, at the end of each period, the measure of night and day, was +applied to the period, in order that its length might be determined. +Whether or not the different creative periods represented days to the +mighty beings concerned in the creation, we do not know, and it +matters little to the argument of this article.[A] + +[Footnote A: The writer understands the creation, reported in Abraham, +4th chapter, to be spiritual in its nature; but he also believes that +this spiritual account is a perfect picture of the actual material +creation. If chapter 4 of Abraham represents the Gods planning +creation, the measuring of time becomes easily understood. It then +means, "How long will it take to accomplish the work?" All this, +however, has no bearing upon the present argument.] + +Now, then, we must remember that Joseph Smith made this translation +long before the theologians of the world had consented to admit that +the Mosaic days meant long periods of time; and long before geology +had established beyond question that immense time periods had been +consumed in the preparation of the earth for man. + +Joseph Smith, the humble, unlearned, despised boy, unfamiliar with +books and the theories of men, stated with clear and simple certainty, +if his works be read with the eye of candid truth, this fundamental +truth of geological science and the Bible, long before the learned of +the world had agreed upon the same truth.[A] + +[Footnote A: It may be remarked that other geological doctrines were +taught by the Prophet, that science has since confirmed. One of these +was discussed by Dr. J.E. Talmage in the Improvement Era, Vol. 7, p. +481.] + +Standing alone, this fact might be called a chance coincidence, a +result of blind fate. But recalling that it is one of many similar and +even more striking facts, what shall be said, Has ever impostor dared +what Joseph Smith did? Has ever false prophet lived beyond his +generation, if his prophecies were examined? Shall we of this foremost +age accept convincing, logical truth, though it run counter to our +preconceived notions? Glorious were the visions of Joseph the Prophet; +unspeakable would be our joy, should they be given to us. + + + + +Chapter VIII. + +ORGANIZED INTELLIGENCE. + + +[Sidenote: A complete philosophy must consider living beings.] + +The student of the constitution of the universe must take into account +living beings. Plants, animals and men are essentially different from +the mass of matter. The rock, apparently, is the same forever; but the +plant has a beginning, and after a comparatively short existence dies. +Animals and men, likewise, begin their earthly existence; then, after +a brief life, die, or disappear from the immediate knowledge of living +things. + +Man, the highest type of living things, differs from the rock, +moreover, in that he possesses the power to exercise his will in +directing natural forces. Animals and even plants seem to possess a +similar power to a smaller degree. The rock on the hillside is pulled +downward by gravitation, but can move only if the ground is removed +from beneath it by some external force. Man, on the other hand, can +walk up or down the hill, with or against the pull of gravity. + +[Sidenote: Science teaches that all phenomena may be referred to +matter and ether in motion.] + +Modern science refers all phenomena to matter and motion; in other +words, to matter and force or energy. In this general sense, matter +includes the universal ether, and force includes any or all of the +forces known, or that may be known, to man. + +To illustrate: the electrician develops a current of electricity, +which to the scientist is a portion of the universal ether moving in a +certain definite manner. When the vibrations of the ether are caused +to change, light, or magnetism or chemical affinity may result from +the electricity. In every case, matter is in motion. The ear perceives +a certain sound. It is produced by the movements of the air. In fact, +sounds are carried from place to place by great air waves. The heat of +the stove is due to the rapid vibration of the molecules in the iron +of the stove, which set up corresponding vibrations in the ether. + +In nature no exceptions have been found to the great scientific claim +that all natural phenomena may be explained by referring them to +matter in motion.[A] Variations in the kind of matter and the kind of +motion, lead to all the variations found in the universe. + +[Footnote A: Tyndall, Fragments of Science, I. chaps. I and II.] + +[Sidenote: Life is a certain form of motion.] + +By many it has been held that life and its phenomena transcend the +ordinary explanations of nature. Yet, those who have learned, by +laborious researches, that the fundamental ideas of the universe are +only eternal matter, eternal energy and the universe-filling medium, +the ether, find it very difficult to conceive of a special force of +life, which concerns itself solely with very limited portions of +matter, and is wholly distinct from all other natural forces. + +To the student of science it seems more consistent to believe that +life is nothing more than matter in motion; that, therefore, all +matter possesses a kind of life; and that the special life possessed +by plants, animals and man, is only the highest or most complex motion +in the universe. The life of man, according to this view, is +essentially different from the life of the rock; yet both are certain +forms of the motion of matter, and may be explained ultimately by the +same fundamental conceptions of science. Certainly, such an idea is +more beautifully simple than that of a special force of life, distinct +from all other natural forces. + +It is argued by those who uphold this view, that the simple forces of +nature are converted by living things into the higher forces that +characterize life. For instance, to keep the human body, with its +wonderful will and intelligence, in health, it is necessary to feed +it. The food is actually burned within the body. The heat thus +obtained gives to the man both physical and intellectual vigor. It +would really appear, therefore, that heat, which is a well known, +simple physical force, may be converted by the animal body into other +and more complex forces, or modes of motion, such as the so-called +life force. + +[Sidenote: A certain organization characterizes life.] + +Naturally, should science class life as the highest or most complex of +the modes of material motion, the question would arise concerning the +manner in which this conversion were made possible. The answer must be +that the ultimate particles of the matter composing the living thing +are so arranged or organized that the great natural forces may be +converted into life force. It is possible by passing heat through +certain substances to make them luminous, thus converting heat into +light; by employing a dynamo, mechanical energy may be converted into +electrical energy; by coiling a wire around a rod of soft iron, +electricity may be converted into magnetism. In short, it is well +understood in science, that by the use of the right machines one form +of energy may be changed into another. It is generally assumed, that +the human body is so organized that the forces of heat, light and +undoubtedly others, may be converted into higher forms, peculiar to +living things.[A] + +[Footnote A: Compare, Fiske, Outlines of Cosmic Philiosophy, chap. +XVI. Pearson, Grammar of Science, pp. 404-407. Dolbear, Matter, Ether +and Motion, chap. XI, pp. 294-297.] + +[Sidenote: Protoplasm, a highly organized body, is always associated +with life.] + +To substantiate this view, it may be recalled that the fundamental +chemical individual in living thing is a very complex, unstable +substance known as protoplasm. No living cell exists without the +presence of this substance. It is far from being known well, as yet, +but enough is known to enable science to say that it is composed of +several elements, so grouped and regrouped as to transcend all present +methods of research.[A] By means of this highly organized body, it is +assumed that the ordinary forces of nature are worked over and made +suited for the needs of the phenomena of life. + +[Footnote A: Pearson, Grammar of Science, p. 408.] + +The existence of the complex life-characteristic substance protoplasm, +renders probable the view that living things, after all, differ from +the rest of creation only in the kind and degree of their +organization, and that life, as the word is ordinarily used, depends +upon a certain kind or organization of matter,[A] which leads to a +certain kind of motion. + +[Footnote A: Tyndall, Fragments of Science. II, chaps. IV and VI.] + +As to the origin of the special organization called life, science has +nothing to say. Science is helpless when she deals with the beginning +of things. The best scientific explanation of life is that it is a +very complex mode of motion occasioned by a highly complex +organization of the matter and ether of the living body. + +There are still some students who prefer to believe in the existence +of a special vital force, which is not subject to the laws that govern +other forces. This view, however, is so inconsistent with the modern +understanding of the contents of the universe that it has few +followers. + +[Sidenote: The modern conception of life is very recent.] + +The view that life is a special organization by which the great +natural forces are focussed and concentrated, so as to accomplish the +greatest works, necessarily implies a belief in the modern laws of +nature. Since modern science is of very recent development it was +quite improbable for such a conception of life to have been held +clearly before modern times. In fact it is within the last thirty or +forty years that these views have found expression among scientific +investigations. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught the universality of life.] + +As observed in chapters two and three, Joseph Smith taught that the +energy of matter or of ether is a form of intelligence. If, according +to this doctrine, matter and ether are intelligent; then life also +must reside in all matter and ether. Hence everything in the universe +is alive. Further, since all force is motion, universal motion is +universal life. The difference between rock, plant, beast and man is +in the amount and organization of its life or intelligence. For +instance, in harmony with this doctrine, the earth must possess +intelligence or life. In fact the Prophet says "the earth......shall +be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be +quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is +quickened."[A] The statement that the earth shall die and shall be +quickened again, certainly implies that the earth possess life, +though, naturally, of an order wholly different from that of men or +other higher living things. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants 88:25, 26.] + +[Sidenote: Man is coexistent with God.] + +It is an established "Mormon" doctrine that man is coexistent with +God. Note the following statements: "Ye were also in the beginning +with the Father." "Man was also in the beginning with God. +Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither +indeed can be."[A] "Yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more +intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, +they shall have no end, they shall exist after for they are +eternal."[B] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants 93:23 and 29.] + +[Footnote B: Book of Abraham 3:19.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught that man is organized from matter, +spirit and intelligence.] + +In the account of the Creation, given in the Book of Abraham, it is +clearly stated that the Gods organized the earth and all upon it from +available materials, and as the fitting climax to their labors they +"went down to organize man in their own image, in the image of Gods to +form him."[A] The creation of man was in part at least the +organization of individuals from eternal materials and forces. The +nature of that organization is made partly clear by the Prophet when +he says "The spirit and the body are the soul of man."[B] The spirit +here referred to may be compared to the ether of science, vibrating +with the force of intelligence, which is the first and highest of the +many forces of nature. The body, similarly, refers to the grosser +elements, also fired with the universal energy--intelligence. The word +_Soul,_ in the above quotation, means man as he is on earth and is +used as in Genesis. Man, according to this, is composed of matter; the +spirit which may be likened to ether, and energy. The organization of +man at the beginning of our earth history, was only the clothing of +the eternal spiritual man with the matter which constitutes the +perishable body. In confirmation of this view note another statement, +"For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, +inseparably connected, receiveth a fullness of joy, and when +separated, man can not receive a fullness of joy."[C] Here also it is +taught that man is composed of matter, spirit and energy. + +[Footnote A: Book of Abraham, 4th chap. (Note verse 27.)] + +[Footnote B: Doctrine and Covenants 88:15.] + +[Footnote C: Doctrine and Covenants 93:33 and 34.] + +[Sidenote: Intelligence is universal.] + +President Brigham Young has left an interesting paragraph that +confirms the statement that according to "Mormon" doctrine, all matter +is intelligent, and that man is superior only because of his higher +organization. "Is this earth, the air and the water, composed of +life.....?......If the earth, air and water, are composed of life is +there any intelligence in this life?....Are those particles of matter +life; if so, are they in possession of intelligence according to the +grade of their organization?......We suggest the idea that there is an +eternity of life, an eternity of organization, and an eternity of +intelligence from the highest to the lowest grade, every creature in +its order, from the Gods to the animalculae."[A] + +[Footnote A: The Resurrection, p. 3. Ed. of 1884.] + +[Sidenote: Spirit unaided knows matter with difficulty.] + +The statement that man can receive a fullness of joy only when spirit +and element are united, is of itself a scientific doctrine of high +import. This is a world of matter; and a spiritual man, that is one +made only of the universal ether, would not be able to receive fully +the impressions that come from the contact of element with element. To +enjoy and understand this world, it is necessary for the spirit to be +clothed with matter. The ether or spirit world is not within our +immediate view; and it is probable that the material world is far away +from purely spiritual beings. + +[Sidenote: God is the Master-builder.] + +This whole doctrine means that God is the organizer of worlds, and all +upon them. He is not the Creator of the materials and forces of the +universe, for they are eternal; He is the master buidler who uses the +simple elements of nature for his purposes. It is also plain that, +according to "Mormon" doctrine, there is no special life force. The +intelligence residing in a stone is in quality, as far as it goes, the +same as the intelligence possessed by man. But, man is so organized +that a greater amount of intelligence, a fullness of it, centers in +him, and he is as a consequence essentially and eternally different +from the stone. President Young also said, "The life that is within us +is a part of an eternity of life, and is organized spirit, which is +clothed upon by tabernacles, thereby constituting our present being, +which is designed for the attainment of further intelligence. The +matter comprising our bodies and spirits has been organized from the +eternity of matter that fills immensity."[A] + +[Footnote A: Journal of Discourses, vol. 7:285. (Brigham Young.)] + +[Sidenote: A lower intelligence cannot become a higher intelligence +except by disorganization.] + +This doctrine does not permit of the interpretation that a lower +intelligence, such as that of an animal, may in time become the +intelligence of a man. "It remaineth in the sphere in which I, God, +created it."[A] The horse will ever remain a horse, though the +intelligence of the animal may increase. To make any of the +constituent parts or forces of an animal, part of the intelligence of +a man, it would be necessary to disorganize the animal; to organize +the elements into a man, and thus to begin over again. + +[Footnote A: Book of Moses 3:9.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith anticipated science in the modern conception +of life.] + +Men, beasts and plants--those beings that possess the higher life, +differ from inanimate nature, so called, by a higher degree of +organization. That is the dogma of "Mormonism," and the doctrine of +science. About 1831 Joseph Smith gave this knowledge to the world; a +generation later, scientific men arrived independently at the same +conclusion. + +[Sidenote: The thinkers and writers of Mormonism have taught the +foregoing doctrine of life.] + +The thinkers and writers of "Mormonism" have more or less directly +taught the same doctrine. Apostle Orson Pratt believed that the body +of man, both spiritual and earthly, was composed of atoms or ultimate +particles--of the Holy Spirit for the spiritual body and material +elements for the mortal body. It has already been shown that the Holy +Spirit of "Mormonism" may be compared with the ether of science, +vibrating with the greater force of the universe--intelligence. For +instance: "The intelligent particles of a man's spirit are by their +peculiar union, but one human spirit."[A] "Several of the atoms of +this spirit exist united together in the form of a person."[B] +Undoubtedly Elder Pratt believed that the living man is simply +organized from the elements and elementary forces of the universe. + +[Footnote A: Absurdities of Immaterialism, ed. 1849, p. 26.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid, p. 29.] + +Perhaps the best and safest exposition of the philosophy of +"Mormonism" is Parley P. Pratt's Key to Theology. In it he states +definitely that the spirit of man is organized from the elementary +Holy Spirit. "The holiest of all elements, the Holy Spirit, when +organized in individual form, and clothed upon with flesh and bones, +contains, etc."[A] That the earthly body was likewise organized is +equally plain for he says "At the commencement--the elements--were +found in a state of chaos."[B] Then man was "moulded from the earth as +a brick."[C] Again, "The spirit of man consists of an organization of +the elements of spiritual matter,"[D] which finds entrance into its +tabernacle of flesh. In another place he defines creation by asking +"What is creation? Merely organization...... The material of which +this earth was made always did exist, and it was only an organization +which took place during the time spoken of by Moses."[E] + +[Footnote A: Key to Theology, 5th ed., p. 46.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid, p. 49.] + +[Footnote C: Ibid, p. 51.] + +[Footnote D: Ibid, p. 131.] + +[Footnote E: Roberts, Mormon Doctrine of Deity, pp. 278, 279.] + +Numerous other authorities might be quoted to prove that the above is +the "Mormon" view.[A] + +[Footnote A: See especially the Prophet Joseph Smith's Sermon, +Contributor, vol. 4, pp. 256-268.] + +In this chapter the intention has not been to explain fully the +doctrines of Joseph Smith relating to the nature of man, but to call +attention to the fact that the present scientific conception of the +nature of living things is the same as that of "Mormonism." That +"Mormonism" goes farther than science, and completes the explanation, +is to the credit of the Prophet. + +It must not be forgotten that in stating the doctrine that man is +organized from the eternal elements and elementary forces of the +universe, in such a way as to produce the phenomena of higher life, +Joseph Smith anticipated the workers in science by nearly a +generation. + +How wonderful was this boy-prophet of "Mormonism," if all this was +orginated within his own mind! At every point of contact, the sanest +of modern philosophy finds counterpart in the theological structure of +the Gospel as taught by Joseph Smith. Is the work divine? + + + + +THE LAWS GOVERNING THE INDIVIDUAL. + +Chapter IX. + +FAITH. + + +[Sidenote: Faith is the assurance of the existence of "things not +seen."] + +For the government of the individual the first principle in Mormon +theology is faith. Joseph Smith defined faith in the words of the +Apostle Paul, "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for; the +evidence of things not seen." To this the Prophet added "From this we +learn that faith is the assurance which men have of things which they +have not seen."[A] On this principle, with this definition, many young +persons who have ventured upon the sea of unbelief have wrecked the +religion of their childhood; for, the human mind, in some stages of +its development, is disinclined to accept as knowledge anything that +can not be sensed directly. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, Lecture I, verses 8, 9.] + +Nowadays, the young doubter who can not accept as the foundation of +his religion "things which he has not seen," usually turns for comfort +and future growth to the results of science. There he finds truths +upon truths, glorious in their beauty and susceptibility to direct and +unmistakeable proof; and soon he declares that in so-called natural +science, there is no need of faith, for, if a person has only advanced +far enough, every concern of science may be known through one, two or +several senses. + +[Sidenote: Such faith lies at the formation of science.] + +It is true that in the beginning of science no faith seems to be +required; for every statement is based on experiments and observations +that may be repeated by every student; and nothing is "taken on +trust." As the deeper parts of science are explored, however, it is +soon discovered that in science as in theology, a faith in "things +that can not be seen," is an essential requisite for progress. In +fact, the fundamental laws of the great divisions of science deal with +realities that are wholly and hopelessly beyond the reach of man's +five senses. + +[Sidenote: The molecules are beyond man's direct senses.] + +An exposition of the fundamental conception of chemical science will +illustrate the nature of scientific faith. A fragment of almost any +substance may easily be divided into two or three pieces by a stroke +of a hammer. Each of the pieces may be broken into smaller pieces and +this process of division continued until the powder is as fine as +dust. Still, each particle of the dust may be divided again and again, +if we only have instruments fine enough to continue the process. A +question which philosophy asked itself near its beginning was: Is it +possible to keep on dividing the dust particles forever, or is there a +particle so small that it can not be divided again? Neither science +nor abstract philosophy has yet been able to answer this question +fully. However, science has learned that if such a process of division +occurs, in course of time a particle will be obtained which is so +small that if it is divided or broken, the fragments will no longer be +of the same nature as the original substance. These smallest particles +in which the properties of the original substance inhere, are known as +_molecules._ Thus a molecule of sugar, when broken, falls into the +elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; of salt, into sodium and +chlorine and of water into hydrogen and oxygen. + +The size of such a molecule can not be comprehended by the human mind; +its smallness seems infinite. The mortal eye, though aided by the most +powerful miscroscopes of modern days could not distinguish a sugar +molecule or even a pile of thousands of them; placed on the tongue, +there would be no sensation of sweetness; though it were hurled +against our body with the velocity of lightning we should not feel the +impact. To all our senses, the molecule is wholly unknown and no doubt +shall remain so while the earth is as it is. Yet, no fact is better +established than the existence of the realities that we interpret as +molecules. Their relative weights and other properties have been +securely determined. The existence of such a particle is as certain as +is the existence of the sun in the high heavens. + +[Sidenote: Science teaches the composition of the directly unknowable +molecules.] + +Not only does science teach the existence of molecules; it looks +within them and reveals their composition. For instance, a molecule of +the sugar known as glucose, and used by candy makers, is made up of +six particles of the element carbon, twelve of the element hydrogen +and six of the element oxygen. The particles of carbon in the glucose +molecule are so small that if one were divided it would no longer be +carbon; the same with the particles of hydrogen and oxygen: if divided +they would change into something else--into what is not yet known to +man. These smallest particles are called _atoms_ of the elements +charcoal, hydrogen and oxygen. If instead of an atom of carbon, +hydrogen and oxygen, we write C, H, O, the composition of a molecule +of glucose would be written C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}. These are also +indisputable facts of science. If the molecules are far beyond the +range of our senses, the atoms are of course much further removed from +the known world. + +[Sidenote: Science teaches the arrangements of the atoms within the +molecules.] + +But the chemist does not stop here. He is able to state accurately how +the invisible, unsensed atoms are arranged within the unknowable +molecule. In nature are found several glucose-like sugars, the +molecules of which contain the same numbers of carbon, hydrogen and +oxygen atoms. The varying properties of these sugars have been found +to result from the different arrangements of the atoms within the +molecules. The structure of the molecules of three of the most common +sugars are as follows: + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + I II III + DEXTROSE [A] LAEVULOSE [A] GALACTOSE [A] + H2=C-OH H2=C-O H H2=C-OH + | | | + HO-C-H H O-C-H HO-C H + | | | + HO-C-H H O-C-H HC-OH + | | | + H-C-O-H H C-O H HC-OH + | | | + HO-C-H C=O HO-CH + | | | + H-C=O H C=O H-C=O +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Footnote A: Dextrose and laevulose combine to form ordinary cane or +beet sugar. Dextrose and galactose combine to form the sugar found in +milk.] + +Referring to the above diagrams it will be observed that although each +arrangement contains the same number of atoms, yet, because of the +difference in arrangement, they are far from being identical. In fact, +the difference in the properties of the sugars may be referred to the +arrangement of the atoms in the molecules. This truth is one of the +most splendid achievements of modern science. All the facts, here +briefly outlined, are included in the atomic hypothesis, which is the +foundation of the modern science of chemistry. + +[Sidenote: Science requires a strong faith in "things not seen."] + +Science asks us to believe in the existence of particles, unknowable +to our senses, the molecules; then to believe in still smaller +particles, the atoms, which make up the molecules but whose relative +weights and general properties have been determined. Here, a faith is +required in "things that can not be seen," and in the properties of +these things. True, the scientist does not pretend to describe the +atoms in detail, he does not need to do that to establish the +certainty of their existence. He looks upon them as ultimate causes of +effects that he may note with his physical senses. Does theology +require more? Does any sane man in asking us to believe in God, for +instance, attempt to describe him in detail? + +The scientist goes farther than this, however, for he asks us not only +to have faith in the invisible, untasteable, unfeelable atoms, but +also in the exact manner in which these atoms are arranged within the +molecule. True, it is claimed, only, that the relative arrangement is +known, yet the faith required still leads us far beyond the simple +faith in atoms. Has any man asked us to believe that he can describe +the structure of God's dwelling? No principle taught by Joseph Smith +requires a larger faith than this. + +[Sidenote: The conception of the ether requires large faith.] + +Not only in chemistry are such transcendent truths required. The +fundamental conception of physics requires, if possible, a larger +faith. The explanations of modern physics rest largely upon the +doctrine of the universal ether. This ether is everywhere present, +between the molecules and atoms; in fact the things of the universe +are, as it were, suspended in the ocean of ether. This ether is so +attenuated that it fills the pores of the human body without +impressing itself upon our consciousness, yet some of its properties +indicate that its elasticity is equal to that of steel. As shown in +chapter 5, the most eminent scientists of the day declare that the +existence of this world-ether is one of the few things of which men +may be absolutely sure. Yet the ether cannot be seen, heard, tasted, +smelled or felt. To our senses it has neither weight nor substance. To +believe the existence of this ether requires a faith which is +certainly as great as the greatest faith required by Mormon theology. + +Numerous other illustrations might be cited, without greatly +emphasizing the truth that the great fundamental doctrines of science +require a great faith in realities that are beyond the reach of our +senses. + +[Sidenote: Faith comes slowly and naturally.] + +The great foundations of science have not come as a "great wakening +light," but have come slowly, through a process of normal, guided +growth. The first experiment was made, from which a simple conclusion +was drawn; the second experiment furnished a second conclusion; the +two results combined produced a third conclusion, and so on through +thousands of experiments and conclusions, until the brilliant +conceptions of modern science were attained. In short, the scientist +works very simply by careful observation of nature, "the earth and its +fullness," and by as careful reasoning from the observed facts. The +mind builds noble structures of the materials the senses bring. The +same method may be employed in gaining faith in the principles of +theology; and the Apostle Paul tells us distinctly that the +righteousness of God is revealed from "faith to faith," and that the +eternal power of God and the Godhead and "the invisible things of Him +from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by +the things that are made." The scientist, likewise, begins with the +things that are made and proceeds "from faith to faith," gaining "here +a little, and there a little," until a faith is reached which, to him +who has not followed its growth, may seem absurd in its loftiness. + +[Sidenote: Science cannot progress without faith.] + +Certainly, no man can progress in science unless he has faith in the +great inductions of scientific men. Faith is as indispensable for +scientific progress as for theological advancement. In both cases it +is the great principle of action. + +This subject merits more extended discussion, but the exposition of +the nature of faith is outside the argument running through these +chapters. It must be sufficient to remark again that Mormonism is +strictly scientific in stating as the first principle of the guidance +of the individual, that of faith in unseen things; for that is the +basic principle for the beginner in modern science.[A] + +[Footnote A: Read for a fuller exposition, We walk by Faith, +Improvement Era, Volume 3, p. 561.] + + + + +Chapter X. + +REPENTANCE. + + +The second principle for the government of the individual, according +to Mormon theology, is repentance. So commonly has this principle been +discussed from its relation to moral law that its counterpart in all +human effort has often been overlooked. + +[Sidenote: Repentance follows faith.] + +To repent is first to turn from old practices. Thus, he who violates +any of God's laws renders himself liable to certain punishment, but, +if he repents, and sins no more, the punishments are averted. +Naturally, such a change of heart and action can come only after faith +has been established. No man will change a habit without a +satisfactory reason. In fact, all the actions of men should be guided +by reason. Repentance then is a kind of obedience or active faith; and +is great in proportion to the degree of faith possessed by the +individual. Certainly, the repentance of no man can transcend his +faith, which includes his knowledge. + +[Sidenote: Scientific repentance follows scientific faith.] + +So it is in science. For centuries, wounds of the body were treated +according to certain methods, assumed to be correct; and, especially +in time of war, large numbers of the patients died. Then it was found +that low forms of life--the bacteria--infected the wounds, and caused +the high mortality. This led to the antiseptic treatment in surgery, +which destroys germ life, and leaves the wound absolutely clean. As a +consequence the mortality from flesh and other wounds has diminished +remarkably. The medical profession repented, or turned away, from its +former methods, and the reward was immediately felt. However, before +antisceptic surgery was finally and fully established, faith in the +practice had to be awakened among the members of the profession. A +chemist, making refined analysis may apply a certain factor, assumed +to be correct in his calculations, but in reality incorrect. As a +result, the determinations are wrong. When later, the correct factor +is discovered, and applied, the results of the work become correct. +Repentance from the previous error, changes the chemist's work from +wrong to right. In fact, in any department of knowledge, when it is +discovered that a law of nature has been violated, it becomes +necessary, if further progress is desired, to cease the violation. +Should a scientist persist in violation of a known law, he knows that +the consequences, great or small will certainly follow. + +[Sidenote: Repentance means adopting new habits; not simply turning +from old ones.] + +To repent is more than to turn from incorrect practices. It implies +also the adoption of new habits. The man who has turned from his sins, +may learn of a law, which he has never violated, yet which if obeyed, +means progress for him. If he does not follow such a law, but remains +neutral in its presence, he certainly is a sinner. To repent from such +sin, is to obey each higher law as it appears. In the spiritual life, +it is impossible for the person who desires the greatest joy to remain +passive in the presence of new principles. He must embrace them; live +them; make them his own. + +Not only must the worker in science turn from scientific error; he +must also accept new science as it is discovered. When the chemist, +working with the best known analytical methods, learns that a more +rapid or more accurate method has been found, he must adopt the new +fact, in order to make the results of his work more accurate. When the +chemists of a hundred years ago learned of the atomic hypothesis, it +became necessary to adopt it, in order to insure more rapid progress +in chemistry. Those who failed to accept the new doctrine worked in +greater darkness, and made no material progress. Newton's doctrine of +gravitation opened a new method of investigating the universe. Those +who did not adopt it were soon outdistanced by their more active +colleagues. + +In every such case, the obedience yielded to the new knowledge is a +kind of repentance. When a person, in religion or science, ceases to +break law, he ceases from active evil; when he accepts a new law, he +ceases from passive evil. No repentance can be complete which does not +cease from both active and passive evil. + +[Sidenote: Repentance is active faith.] + +Viewed in this manner, then, repentance is obedience to law and is +active faith. The law, before it is obeyed, must be understood--that +is, faith must precede repentance. Therefore, the obedience yielded +can increase only with the knowledge or faith of the individual. As +the Prophet Joseph Smith stated it, "No man can be saved in ignorance" +and "a person is saved no faster than he gains intelligence." + +Repentance is as truly the second principle of action for individuals, +in the domain of science as of theology. + + + + +Chapter XI. + +BAPTISM. + + +A repentant man turns from previous violation of law, and accepts +every new law that may be revealed to him. Repentance is obedience; +and the repentant person is always ready to obey righteous laws. + +Baptism is one of the laws of the Kingdom of God. "Except ye repent +and be baptized ye can in nowise enter the Kingdom of God." The +repentant person must of necessity accept this law with the others +with which he may be familiar. + +[Sidenote: The equivalent of baptism found in science.] + +Students of science, who agree that faith and repentance have a place +in science, frequently assert that the equivalent of baptism is not +found in external nature. This claim may be proved false by examining +the nature of law. + +The chemist must frequently produce the gas hydrogen. To do it, an +acid must be poured upon fragments of certain metals. In thus +producing the gas, the chemist obeys law. The astronomer who studies +the stars discovers that by using a piece of glass properly ground, +his powers of vision appear to be strengthened. He therefore prepares +such lenses for his telescopes, and thus obeys law. The surgeon uses +antisceptics in the treatment of wounds because he has learned that +such application will destroy germ life, and thus the surgeon obeys +law. The electrician has found that by winding a wire in a certain +manner around iron and rotating it near a magnet, electric currents +are set up. He builds dynamos according to such principles, and thus +shows his obedience to law. + +It must be noted that the scientist does not know just _why_ acid +added to metal produces hydrogen, or _why_ a certain curved lens +brings the stars nearer; or _why_ certain chemicals destroy low forms +of life or _why_ wire wound in a certain way when rotated in the +magnetic field will produce electricity. Nature requires, without +volunteering an explanation, that to produce hydrogen, see the stars, +destroy germs and produce the electric current, certain invariable +laws must be obeyed. + +Baptism is essentially of the same nature. To enter the Kingdom of +God, a person must be baptized. Just _why_ baptism should be the +ordinance that opens the door, no man knows. It undoubtedly has high +symbolic value; but the symbolism might be expressed in many other +ways. All that man can do is to obey. + +[Sidenote: It is unreasonable to do only what is fully understood.] + +Men say at times that they will do nothing which they do not fully +understand, and therefore they will not be baptized. It would be as +unreasonable for a man to say that because he does not fully +understand why a certain winding of the wire is necessary to produce +electricity he will not produce this wonderful natural force. All +theology and all science contain laws that must be obeyed in order to +obtain certain results, although the full reasons for the required +combinations are not understood. + +He who is baptized, enters the Kingdom of God. He who throws acid on +metal enters the kingdom of hydrogen; he who grinds the lens right, +enters the kingdom of the stars; he who uses antisceptics right, +enters the kingdom of lower life, and he who winds the wire correctly, +enters the kingdom of electricity. Yielding obedience to any of these +various laws, is a form of baptism, which gives entrance to a kingdom. + +[Sidenote: Baptism is obedience to law.] + +The essential virtue of baptism is obedience to law. The prime value +of any natural law is attained only after obedience has been yielded +to it. Baptism is conformity to certain details in entering God's +Kingdom. Scientific baptism is conformity to certain details in +entering the kingdom of science. Only by baptism can a man attain +salvation; only by using lenses of the right curvature can a man view +the stars. Religious success does not rest in the degree to which +every law is explained; but rather in the degree to which all known +laws are obeyed. Scientific success does not rest upon the degree to +which every law is explained; but rather in the degree to which every +discovered law is obeyed and applied for man's advancement. + +In science and in theology man must be content "to see through a +glass, darkly." Until the essential nature of infinitude itself shall +be understood, man must be content to learn to use unexplained laws. +Science is the great explainer, but she explains relations and not the +absolute foundations of phenomena. + +After faith or knowledge has been obtained, the alpha and omega of +religious or scientific progress is obedience. The cry of universal +nature is, Obedience! + +Viewed rationally, therefore, the baptism taught in theology is an +ordinance which has its counterpart in every department of science. +Joseph Smith was strcitly scientific in classing baptism as the third +great principle governing human action. + + + + +Chapter XII. + +THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. + + +[Sidenote: The gift of the Holy Ghost is a gift of intelligence.] + +Baptism by water is insufficient to open the door to God's Kingdom. +The Gift of the Holy Ghost, obtained by the laying on of Hands by one +having authority, completes the ordinance. Not only Joseph Smith, but +the Savior Himself taught distinctly that to enter the Kingdom of God, +a person must be baptized by water and by fire; and the promise is +given that those are "baptized by water for the remission of sins, +shall receive the Holy Ghost."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 84:63, 64.] + +Jesus, speaking to His disciples, taught that "the Comforter, which is +the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach +you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I +have said unto you."[A] This clearly implies that the promised gift is +essentially a gift of increased intelligence with the added power that +results from a more intelligent action. That this is the Mormon view +of the effect of the Gift of the Holy Ghost may be amply demonstrated +from the standard works of the Church and from the writings of the +leading interpreters of Mormon doctrine. Parley P. Pratt in the Key to +Theology says, "It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, +enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affection +* * * *. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical +and intellectual man."[B] The Prophet Joseph Smith declared "This +first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure +intelligence. It is * * * * powerful in expanding the mind, +enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present +knowledge."[C] Concisely expressed, therefore, Joseph Smith and the +Church he restored, teach that the Gift of the Holy Ghost, is a gift +of "intelligence." + +[Footnote A: John 14:26.] + +[Footnote B: Key to Theology, 5th ed., pp. 101, 102.] + +[Footnote C: History of the Church, Vol. III, p. 380.] + +[Sidenote: Science furnishes an equivalent of the gift of the Holy +Ghost.] + +If the equivalents of faith, repentance and baptism are irrevocable +laws for the individual who studies science, the question arises, Is +there also, a scientific equivalent for the Gift of the Holy Ghost? +Even a superficial view of the matter will reveal such an equivalent. +To use again the illustrations employed in the preceding chapter, if +the chemist has obeyed natural law in producing hydrogen, that is, has +been baptized into the kingdom of hydrogen, he may by the proper use +and study of the gas obtained, add much to his knowledge. He may learn +that it is extremely light; that it forms an explosive mixture with +air; that it will destroy many vegetable colors, and will burn with an +almost invisible flame. Thus, the possession of the gas enlarges the +knowledge and develops the intelligence of the scientist. Is not this +another form of the Gift of the Holy Ghost? + +The man who is baptized into the kingdom of heavenly bodies by +grinding the lenses right, is enabled to learn many new facts +concerning the nature and motions of celestial bodies; and thus +receives intelligence. He who obediently winds the wire correctly +around the iron core, may generate a current of electricity with which +many mighty works may be accomplished. Do not these men, as their +intelligences are expanded, receive a Gift of the Holy Ghost, as a +reward for their obedience to the demands of nature? + +It would be possible to carry the comparisons into every scientific +action without strengthening the argument. In science, if a person has +faith, repentance and is baptized, that is obeys, he will receive +added intelligence, which is the equivalent of the Gift of the Holy +Ghost as taught in theology. The four fundamental laws for the +guidance of the individual are identical in Mormon theology, and in +modern science. + +Just why the laying on of hands should be necessary to complete the +ordinance of baptism is not known, any more than the reasons are known +for the results that follow the numberless relations that may be +established by mortal man. However, the dogma of the Gift of the Holy +Ghost, is logically the fourth step in attaining scientific salvation. + +Thus, each of the minor laws of Mormonsim might be investigated, and +be shown to have a scientific counterpart. For the purpose of this +volume, however, a more extended consideration of the laws governing +the actions of the individual, is unnecessary. + + + + +Chapter XIII. + +THE WORD OF WISDOM. + + +It has already been remarked that the nature of the mission of Joseph +Smith made it unlikely that references to scientific matters, and much +less to isolated scientific facts, obtainable by proper methods of +experimentation should be found in the writings of the Prophet. +Nevertheless, in a revelation given March 8, 1883, statements are made +that can now be connected with facts of science, not generally or not +at all known, at the time the revelation was received. + +"Inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, it is +not good, * * * strong drinks are not for the belly but for the +washing of your bodies."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:5, 7.] + +[Sidenote: The doctrine that alcohol is injurious to man is +scientific.] + +At the time this was written, many persons believed that the use of +alcoholic drinks was injurious to human health; but more, especially +among the uneducated classes, held quite the opposite opinion. Since +that day, the question concerning the value of alcohol in any form has +been greatly agitated, and much new light has been obtained. This is +not the place to examine this famous controversy, but a few quotations +from authoritative books, which are not controversial in their nature, +will show the coincidence between the position of science, and the +doctrine of Joseph Smith, in respect to this matter. + +The _United States Dispensatory_ (17th ed.) speaks of the medicinal +properties of alcohol as follows, "It is irritant even to the skin, +and much more so to the delicate organs; hence, the various abdominal +inflammations that are so frequent in habitual drunkards. A single +dose of it, if large enough, may produce death. The nervous symptoms +caused by alcohol show that it has a very powerful and direct +influence upon the nerve-centers. The arterial pressure and the +pulse-rate are both increased by moderate doses of alcohol, by a +direct influence upon the heart itself. * * * Taken habitually in +excess, alcohol produces the most deplorable results, and is a very +common cause of fatal maladies."[A] + +[Footnote A: Page 129, art., Alcohol Ethylicum.] + +Dr. W. Gilman Thompson in his authoritative book on _Practical +Dietetics,_ speaking of the constant use of alcoholic beverages, says, +"The use of alcohol in any shape is wholly unnecessary for the use of +the human organism in health. * * * * The lifelong use of alcohol in +moderation does not necessarily shorten life or induce disease in some +persons, while in others it undoubtedly produces gradual and permanent +changes which tend to weaken vital organs so that the resistance of +the body to disease is materially impaired. * * * * Many persons +should be particularly warned against the use of alcohol. * * * * +Although alcohol is such a strong force-producer and heat-generator, +its effect in this direction is very soon counter-balanced by its +stronger influence in lowering the general tone of the nervous system +and in producing positive degeneration in the tissues."[A] + +[Footnote A: Pages 206, 207.] + +The recent newspaper statements that alcohol has been shown to be a +food are based on a complete misunderstanding. The experiments +demonstrated that alcohol is burned within the body--which is the +simplest manner in which the body can rid itself of the alcohol. + +No more authoritative opinions on this subject can be found than those +contained in the two volumes from which quotations have been made--and +the strongest opinions are not quoted. In spite of the isolated claims +made for alcohol, the fact remains that the knowledge of the world +indicates that alcohol is a poison to the human system; that it is not +"for the belly." However, the value of the external use of alcohol, +for various purposes, has never been denied. On the contrary almost +every up to date practitioner recommends the external use of alcohol, +as for instance after baths for lowering the temperature of fever +patients. In this matter, then, Joseph Smith was in perfect harmony +with the latest results of science. It is strange that he, unlearned +as he was, should have stated what is now known as truth, so clearly +and simply, yet so emphatically, more than seventy years ago, before +the main experiments on the effect of alcohol on the human organsim +had been made. + +[Sidenote: The doctrine that tobacco is injurious to man is +scientific.] + +"And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is +not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to +be used with judgment and skill."[A] Although tobacco has been used +for several centuries by civilized man, the real cause of the effect +which it has upon the human body was not understood until the early +part of the last century. In 1809, a chemist separated from tobacco an +active principle, in an impure state, some of the properties of which +he observed. In 1822, two other chemists succeeded in isolating the +same principle, in a pure condition, and found it to be a colorless, +oily liquid, of which two to eight per cent is found in all tobacco. +This substance has been called nicotine; later investigations have +shown it to be one of the most active poisons known. Tobacco owes its +activity entirely to this poison."[B] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:8.] + +[Footnote B: Wormley, Micro-chemistry of Poisons, 2nd ed., pp. 434, +435.] + +The intensely poisonous nature of nicotine is illustrated by a number +of cases on record. One drop placed on the tongue of a cat caused +immediate prostration, and death in seventy-eight seconds. A smaller +drop was placed on the tongue of another cat, which resulted in death +after two minutes and a half. A third cat to which a similar quantity +had been administered was dead after seventy-five seconds. A man who +was accustomed to smoking took a chew of tobacco, and after a quarter +of an hour accidently swallowed the mass. An hour later he became +unconscious and died. In another case, in which an ounce of tobacco +had been swallowed, death resulted in seven hours. In still another +case, one ounce of tobacco was boiled in water, and the solution drunk +as an remedy for constipation. The patient died in three quarters of +an hour.[A] These, and numerous other cases, illustrate the intensely +poisonous nature of tobacco. The evil effects of the repeated use of +small amounts of tobacco, in smoking or chewing are also well +understood. + +[Footnote A: Ibid, pp. 436, 437.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith probably did not know the poisonous nature of +tobacco in 1833.] + +It was in 1828, about five years before Joseph Smith's doctrine with +respect to tobacco was given, that nicotine was obtained in a pure +state. Many years later the chemists and physiologists learned to +understand the dangerous nature of the tobacco poison. It does not +seem probable that Joseph Smith had heard of the discovery of nicotine +in 1833; the discovery was announced in a German scientific journal, +and in those days of few newspapers, scientific news, even of public +interest, was not made generally known as quickly as is the case +today. In fact, Hyrum Smith, the brother of the Prophet, on May 29, +1842, delivered a sermon upon the Word of Wisdom in which he says, +"Tobacco is a nauseous, stinking, abominable thing;"[A] but nothing +worse, thus basing his main objection to it on the revealed word of +the Lord. Had Joseph and his associates been familiar with the +isolation of nicotine and its properties, they would undoubtedly have +mentioned it in sermons especially directed against the use of +tobacco. In any case, at a time when it was but vaguely known that +tobacco contained a poisonous principle, it would have been extremely +hazardous for the reputation of an impostor to have claimed a +revelation from God, stating distinctly the injurious effects of +tobacco. + +[Footnote A: The Contributor, vol. iv., p. 13; Improvement Era, Vol. +4. pp. 943-9.] + +It should also be noted that Joseph Smith says that when tobacco is +used for bruises and all sick cattle, it should be used with judgment +and skill, thus impressing caution even in the external application of +the herb. This is fully borne out by facts, for it has been found that +"the external application of tobacco to abraded surfaces, and even to +the healthy skin, has been attended with violent symptoms, and even +death."[A] + +[Footnote A: Wormley, Micro-chemistry of Poisons, p. 436.] + +In the matter of the chemistry and physiological action of tobacco, +then, the Prophet, in 1833, was in full accord with the best knowledge +of 1908. In the emphasis of his doctrine, he even anticipated the +world of science. + +"And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:9.] + +[Sidenote: The doctrine that tea and coffee are injurious to man is +scientific.] + +When this statement was made, in 1833, the meaning of the expression +hot drinks was not clearly understood. Many believed that the only +meaning of the above statement was that drinks that are hot enough to +burn the mouth should not be used. Others, however, claimed for the +doctrine a deeper meaning. To settle the difficulty, appeal was made +to Joseph Smith who explained that tea, coffee and similar drinks were +meant by the expression hot drinks. From that time on, the Church has +taught that tea and coffee should not be used by mankind.[A] + +[Footnote A: See The Contributor, vol. iv. p. 13; Improvement Era, vol +4, pp. 943-9.] + +In the year 1821, several chemists isolated from coffee a bitter +principle, of peculiar properties, which was named caffein. In 1827, +the same substance was found to occur in tea. Numerous analysis show +that there are between one and two per cent of caffein in coffee, and +between three and six percent in tea. Later investigations have shown +that caffein belongs to the vegetable poisons, and that its poisonous +action is very strong. + +Among the medical properties of caffein are the following, "in doses +of three to five grains, it produces a peculiar wakefulness--after a +dose of twelve grains, it produces intense physical restlessness and +mental anxiety. Upon the muscles it acts as a powerful poison--it is +used in medicines as a brain and heart stimulant."[A] Fatal cases of +poisoning are also on record. + +[Footnote A: U. S. Dispensatory, 17th ed., pp. 278 and 279.] + +Caffein is not in any sense a food, but, as a stimulant, must be +classed with tobacco, opium and other similar substances. Owing to its +action on the heart and circulation, the body becomes heated, and in +that sense a solution of caffein is a "hot drink." The use of tea and +coffee in health is now generally condemned by the best informed +persons in and out of the medical profession. Dr. W. Gilman Thompson +says, "The continuance of the practice of drinking coffee to keep +awake soon results in forming a coffee or tea habit, in which the +individual becomes a slave to the beverage. * * * Muscular tremors are +developed, with nervousness, anxiety, dread of impending evil, +palpitation, heartburn, dyspepsia and insomnia. * * * It produces +great irritability of the whole nervous system and one may even +overexcite the mind."[A] While it is true that one cup of coffee or +tea does not contain enough caffein to injure the system, yet the +continual taking of these small doses results in a weakening of the +whole system, that frequently leads to premature death. + +[Footnote A: Practical Dietetics, p. 199.] + +The U. S. Consular and Trade Report for January, 1906,[A] warns +against the use of coffee in the following words, "The important +connection between consumption of coffee and epilepsy which deserves +to be known everywhere, serves as a warning to be extremely careful +with coffee made of beans containing caffein, and at any rate, +children should be deprived of it entirely, otherwise their health +will be exposed to great danger." + +[Footnote A: Page 249.] + +Besides caffein, both tea and coffee contain an astringent known as +tannic acid. In coffee this substance is present only in small +quantity, but in tea from four to twelve per cent occurs. Tannic acid +is the substance found in oak bark, and has the property of making +animal tissues hard--that is, makes leather of them. The habitual tea +drinker subjects the delicate lining of the stomach and intestines to +the action of this powerful drug. + +Without going into further details, it is readily seen that the +teachings of Joseph Smith, in 1833, in relation to the value of tea +and coffee in human drinks, harmonizes with the knowledge of today. +Moreover, he was in advance, in the certainty of his expressions, of +the scientists of his day. It is true that caffein had been found in +coffee and tea a few years before the revelation of 1833, but the +physiological action of the drug was not known until many years +afterwards. Besides, as in the case of tobacco, the Church leaders in +speaking against the use of tea and coffee did not mention the +poisonous principle that had recently been discovered in them; thus +revealing their ignorance of the matter. + +[Sidenote: The doctrines regarding the values of herbs and fruits +harmonize with recent scientific truths.] + +"And again, * * * all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the +constitution, nature, and use of man. Every herb in the season +thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used +with prudence and thanksgiving."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants 89:10, 11.] + +This doctrine, which seems self-evident now, also evidences the divine +inspiration of the Prophet Joseph. At the time this revelation was +given, food chemistry was not understood; and, in fact, it was not +until about 1860, that the basis upon which rests our knowledge of +food chemistry, was firmly established. We now know that every plant +contains four great classes of compounds: mineral substances, fats, +sugars and starches, and protein, or the flesh-forming elements. We +further know that no plant can live and grow without containing these +groups of nutrients. It is also well understood that these substances +are necessary for the food of the animal body, and that animal tissues +are, themselves, composed of these groups, though in different +proportions. In short, it has long been an established fact of science +that any plant that does not contain a poisonous principle, may by +proper cooking be used as a food for man. + +When Joseph Smith wrote, this was a daring suggestion to make, for +there was absolutely no fact aside from popular experience, upon which +to base the conclusion. The qualifying phrase, "all wholesome herbs," +undoubtedly refers to the existence of classes of plants like coffee, +tea, tobacco, etc., which contain some special principle injurious to +the health. + +[Sidenote: The doctrine concerning the use of meats is scientific.] + +"Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, +have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they +are to be used sparingly; and it is pleasing unto me that they should +not be used only in times of winter, or of cold, or of famine."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:12, 13.] + +The breadth of this doctrine lies in the fact that it is not +absolutely forbidden to eat meat, as in all probability a fanatic, +guided by his own wisdom, might have done; yet it must be observed, +the implication is clear that it is possible for man to live without +meat. Vegetarianism had been taught and practiced long before the days +of Joseph Smith; but there had been no direct, positive proof that +plants contain all the substances necessary for the sustenance of +life. As stated above, it is now known that every class of nutritive +substance found in meat is also found in plants. This is in full +harmony with the implied meaning of Joseph Smith in the statement +regarding the abstaining from meat. + +[Sidenote: The distinction between the values of grains is also +scientific.] + +"All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the +staff of life. * * * All grain is good for the food of man, as also +the fruit of the vine, that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the +ground or above the ground. Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for +the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, +and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, +and for mild drinks, as also other grain."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 89:14, 16 and 17.] + +The first part of this teaching, that all grain can be used by man and +beast, corresponds to the earlier statement that all wholesome plants +may be used by man. The latter part respecting the best grain for +certain classes of animals, is of a different nature and merits +special consideration. As already mentioned, all plants and plant +parts contain four great groups of nutritive substances. The relative +proportions of these grains are different in different plants or plant +parts. For instance, wheat contains about 71.9 per cent of starch and +sugar; corn, 70.2 per cent; oats, 59.7 per cent; rye, 72.5 per cent; +and barley, 69.8 per cent. Wheat contains about 11.9 per cent of +protein or the flesh-forming elements; corn, 11.4 per cent; oats, 11.8 +per cent; rye, 10.6 per cent; and barley 12.4 per cent.[A] It has +further been demonstrated that a man or beast doing heavy work, +requires a larger proportion of starch and sugar in his dietary than +does one which has less work to do. Likewise, different classes of +animals require different proportions of the various nutrients, not +only through life but at the various periods of their lives. This +principle has been recognized so fully that during the last +thirty-five or forty years the attention of experimenters has been +directed toward the elucidation of laws which would make known the +best combinations of foods for the various classes of farm animals, as +well as for man. It must also be remarked that recent discoveries in +science are showing more deep-seated differences in the composition of +grains, than those here mentioned, as also corresponding differences +in various classes of animals. Science will soon throw more light on +this subject, and in all probability will confirm the views of Joseph +Smith, with respect to the grain best adapted to certain animals. + +[Footnote A: The Feeding of Animals, Jordan, p. 424.] + +A thoughtful reading of the above quotation clearly shows that Joseph +Smith recognized the fundamental truth of food chemistry; namely, that +while all plants contain the elements necessary for animal growth, yet +the proportions of these elements are so different as to make some +plants better adapted than others to a certain class of animals. That +the "Mormon" prophet should have enunciated this principle from twenty +to thirty years in advance of the scientific world, must excite wonder +in the breast of any person, be he follower or opponent of Joseph +Smith. + +The discussion of the important statements made in section 89 of the +book of _Doctrine and Covenants,_ might be elaborated into a volume. +The merest outline has been given here. The physiological teachings of +the prophet concerning work, cleanliness and sleep, might also be +considered with profit. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith anticipated the world of science in the word +of wisdom.] + +To summarize the contents of this chapter: Joseph Smith clearly +recognized and taught the physiological value of alcohol, tobacco, +anticipated the tea and coffee, at a time when scientific world of +science discoveries were just beginning to reveal the active +principles of these commodities. The probability is that he knew +nothing of what the world of science was doing in this direction, at +the time the doctrine was taught. Joseph Smith clearly recognized and +taught the fundamental truths of food chemistry, and the food relation +of vegetable products to man, nearly a generation before scientists +had arrived at the same doctrine. Whence came his knowledge? + + + +THE DESTINY OF EARTH AND MAN. + +Chapter XIV. + +THE LAW OF EVOLUTION. + + +[Sidenote: Whence? Where?] + +To every intelligence the question concerning the purpose of all +things must at some time present itself. Every philosophical system +has for its ultimate problem the origin and the destiny of the +universe. Whence? Where?--the queries which arise before every human +soul, and which have stimulated the truth-seekers of every age in +their wearisome task of searching out nature's laws. Intelligent man +cannot rest satisfied with the recognition of the forces at work in +the universe, and the nature of their actions; he must know, also, the +resultant of the interaction of the forces, or how the whole universe +is affected by them; in short, man seeks the law of laws, by the +operation of which, things have become what they are, and by which +their destiny is controlled. This law when once discovered, is the +foundation of religion as well as of science, and will explain all +phenomena. + +[Sidenote: The only rational philosophy is based on science.] + +It was well toward the beginning of the last century before +philosophical doctrines rose above mere speculation, and were based +upon the actual observation of phenomena. As the scientific method of +gathering facts and reasoning from them became established, it was +observed that in all probability the great laws of nature were +themselves controlled by some greater law. While many attempts have +been made to formulate this law, yet it must be confessed, frankly, +that only the faintest outline of it is possesesd by the world of +science. + +The sanest of modern philosophers, and the one who most completely +attempted to follow the method of science in philosophical writings, +was Herbert Spencer. Early in his life, he set himself the task of +constructing a system of philosophy which should be built upon man's +reliable knowledge of nature. A long life permitted him to realize +this ambition. Though his works are filled with conclusions which +cannot be accepted by most men, yet the facts used in his reasoning +are authentic. By the world at large, the philosophy of Herbert +Spencer is considered the only philosophy that harmonizes with the +knowledge of today. + +[Sidenote: All things are continually changing.--This is the +foundation of evolution.] + +After having discussed, with considerable fullness, the elements of +natural phenomena, such as space, time, matter, motion and force, Mr. +Spencer concludes that all evidence agrees in showing that "every +object, no less than the aggregate of objects, undergoes from instant +to instant some alteration of state."[A] That is to say that while the +universe is one of system and order, no object remains exactly as it +is, but changes every instant of time. + +[Footnote A: First Principles, p. 287.] + +In two directions only can this ceaseless change affect an object; it +either becomes more complex or more simple; it moves forward or +backward; it grows or decays. In the words of Spencer, "All things are +growing or decaying, accumulating matter or wearing away, integrating +or disintegrating."[A] This, then, is the greatest known fundamental +law of the universe, and of all things in it--that nothing stands +still, but either progresses (evolution), or retrogrades +(dissolution). Now, it has been found that under normal conditions all +things undergo a process of evolution; that is, become more complex, +or advance.[B] This, in its essence, is the law of evolution, about +which so much has been said during the last fifty years. Undoubtedly, +this law is correct, and in harmony with the known facts of the +universe. It certainly throws a flood of light upon the phenomena of +nature; though of itself, it tells little of the force behind it, in +obedience to which it operates. + +[Footnote A: Loc. cit., p. 292.] + +[Footnote B: Loc. cit., p. 337.] + +Spencer himself most clearly realized the insufficiency of the law of +evolution alone, for he asks, "May we seek for some all-pervading +principle which underlies this all pervading process!"[A] and proceeds +to search out this "all-pervading principle" which at last he +determines to be the persistence of force--the operation of the +universal, indestructible, incomprehensible force, which appears as +gravitation, light, heat, electricity, magnetism, chemical affinity +and in other forms.[B] + +[Footnote A: First Principles, p. 408.] + +[Footnote B: Loc. cit., p. 494.] + +[Sidenote: Evolution does not admit a final death.] + +A natural question now is, Is there any limit to the changes undergone +by matter, and which we designate as evolution? "Will they go on +forever? or will there be an end to them?"[A] As far as our knowledge +goes, there is an end to all things, a death which is the greatest +known change, and as far as human experience goes, all things tend +toward a death-like state of rest. That this rest is permanent is not +possible under law of evolution; for it teaches that an ulterior +process initiates a new life; that there are alternate eras of +evolution and dissolution. "And thus there is suggested the conception +of a past during which there have been successive evolutions analogous +to that which is now going on; and a future during which successive +other such evolutions may go on ever the same in principle but never +the same in concrete result."[B] This is practically the same as +admitting eternal growth. + +[Footnote A: Loc. cit., p. 496.] + +[Footnote B: Loc. cit., p. 550.] + +The final conclusion is that "we can no longer contemplate the visible +creation as having a definite beginning or end, or as being isolated. +It becomes unified with all existence before and after; and the force +which the universe presents falls into the same category with space +and time, as admitting of no limitation in thought."[A] + +[Footnote A: Loc. cit., p. 564.] + +[Sidenote: Spirit and matter are alike.] + +It is interesting to note the conclusion concerning spirit and matter, +to which Mr. Spencer is led by the law of evolution. "The materialist +and spiritualist controversy is a mere war of words, in which the +disputants are equally absurd--each thinking that he understands that +which it is impossible for any man to understand. Though the relation +of subject and object renders necessary to us these antithetical +conceptions of spirit and matter; the one is no less than the other to +be regarded as but a sign of the Unknown Reality which underlies +both."[A] + +[Footnote A: First Principles, pp. 570 and 572.] + +While the law of evolution, as formulated by Spencer and accepted by +the majority of modern thinkers, is the nearest approach to the truth +possessed by the world of science, yet there is no disposition on the +part of the writer to defend the numerous absurdities into which +Spencer and his followers have fallen when reasoning upon special +cases. + +[Sidenote: Evolution and natural selection do not necessarily go +together.] + +Many years before Mr. Spencer's day, it had been suggested, vaguely, +that advancement seemed to be the great law of nature. Students of +botany and zoology were especially struck by this fact, for they +observed how animals and plants could be made to change and improve +under favorable conditions, by the intervention of man's protection. +In 1859, Mr. Charles Darwin published a theory to account for such +variation, in which he assumed that there is a tendency on the part of +all organisms to adapt themselves to their surroundings, and to change +their characteristics, if necessary, in this attempt. He further +showed that in the struggle for existence among animals and plants, +the individual best fitted for its environment usually survives. These +facts, Mr. Darwin thought, led to a process of natural selection, by +which, through long ages, deep changes were caused in the structure of +animals. In fact, Darwin held that the present-day plants and animals +have descended from extinct and very different ancestors.[A] The +experiences of daily life bear out the assertion that organic forms +may be changed greatly--witness the breeding of stock and crops, +practiced by all intelligent farmers--and all in all the theory seemed +so simple that numerous biologists immediately adopted it, and began +to generalize upon it. Having once accepted the principle that the +present-day species have descended from very unlike ancestors, it was +easy to assume that all organic nature had descended from one common +stock. It was claimed that man, in a distant past, was a monkey; still +earlier, perhaps, a reptile; still earlier a fish, and so on. From +that earliest form, man had become what he is by a system of natural +selection. In spite of the absence of proofs, such ideas became +current among the scientists of the day. In this view was included, of +course, the law of evolution or growth, and thus, too, the law became +associated with the notion that man has descended from the lower +animals. In fact, however, the law of evolution is just as true, +whether or not Darwin's theory of natural selection be adopted. + +[Footnote A: Origin of Species, p. 6.] + +In justice to Darwin, it should be said that he in nowise claimed that +natural selection was alone sufficient to cause the numerous changes +in organic form and life; but, on the contrary, held that it is only +one means of modification.[A] + +[Footnote A: Origin of Species, p. 6; also Darwin and After Darwin +Romanes, Vol. II. pp. 2-6.] + +Professor Huxley, who, from early manhood, was an eminent and ardent +supporter of the Darwinian hypothesis frankly says, "I adopt Mr. +Darwin's hypothesis, therefore, subject to the production of proof +that physiological species may be produced by selective breeding; and +for the reason that it is the only means at present within reach of +reducing the chaos of observed facts to order."[A] After writing a +book to establish the descent of man from apes, Professor Huxley is +obliged to confess that "the fossil remains of man hitherto discovered +do not seem to take us appreciably nearer to that lower pithecoid +form, by the modification of which he has, probably, become what he +is."[B] + +[Footnote A: Man's Place in Nature, p. 128.] + +[Footnote B: Loc. cit., p. 183.] + +This is not the place to enter into this famous controversy. The +relation of the theory of natural selection to the law of evolution is +not established; that man and the great classes of animals and plants +have sprung from one source is far from having been proved; that the +first life came upon this earth by chance is as unthinkable as ever. +Even at the present writing, recent discoveries have been reported +which throw serious doubt upon natural selection as an all-sufficient +explanation of the wonderful variety of nature. The true scientific +position of the Darwinian hypothesis is yet to be determined. + +The moderate law of evolution which claims that all normal beings are +advancing, without asserting that one form of life can pass into +another, is, however, being more and more generally accepted, for it +represents an eternal truth, of which every new discovery bears +evidence. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught the law of eternal growth--evolution.] + +Were it not that the law of evolution is of such fundamental value in +the understanding of natural phenomena, it would hardly be expected +that the calling of Joseph Smith would necessitate any reference to +it. Besides, upwards of fifteen years elapsed after the martyrdom of +Joseph and Hyrum Smith before the world of science conceived the +hypothesis. One of the leading doctrines of the Church resembles the +spirit of the law of universal growth so nearly that one is forced to +believe that the great truth embodied by this doctrine is the truth +shadowed forth by the law of evolution. + +The doctrine of God, as taught by Joseph Smith, is the noblest of +which the human mind can conceive. No religion ascribes to God more +perfect attributes than does that of the Latter-day Saints. Yet the +Church, asserts that God was not always what he is today. Through +countless ages he has grown towards greater perfection, and at the +present, though in comparison with humankind, he is omniscient and +omnipotent, he is still progressing. Of the beginning of God, we have +no record, save that he told his servant Abraham, "I came down in the +beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen."[A] + +[Footnote A: Book of Abraham, 3:21.] + +As told by Joseph Smith, in May, 1833, John the Apostle said of God, +Jesus Christ, "And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at +first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; +and thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the +fulness at first."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 93:12-14.] + +[Sidenote: Man will develop until he becomes like God.] + +Man, likewise, is to develop until, in comparison with his present +condition, he becomes a God. For instance, in speaking of the +salvation to which all men who live correct lives shall attain, the +Prophet says, "For salvation consists in the glory, authority, +majesty, power and dominion which Jehovah possesses;"[A] and in +another place, "Then shall they be Gods, because they have no end; +therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they +continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject +unto them. Then shall they be Gods, because they have all power."[B] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, Lectures on Faith, 7:8.] + +[Footnote B: Doctrine and Covenants, 132:20.] + +That this is not a sudden elevation, but a gradual growth, is evident +from many of the writings of Joseph Smith, of which the following are +illustrations. "He that receiveth light and continueth in God, +receiveth more light, and that light groweth brighter and brighter +until the perfect day."[A] "For if you keep my commandments you shall +receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; +therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace."[B] + +[Footnote A: Ibid., 50:24.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid., 93:20.] + +In various sermons Joseph Smith enlarged upon the universal principle +of advancement, but few of them have been preserved for us. In a +sermon delivered in April, 1844, the following sentences occur, "God +himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted Man, and sits +enthroned in yonder heavens. You have got to learn how to be Gods +yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods +have done before you; namely, by going from one small degree to +another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to +grace, from exaltation to exaltation."[A] + +[Footnote A: Contributor, vol. 4, pp. 254 and 255.] + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith anticipated science in the statement of the +law of evolution.] + +The preceding quotations suffice to show that with regard to man, +Joseph Smith taught a doctrine of evolution which in grandeur and +extent surpasses the wildest speculations of the scientific +evolutionist. Yet Joseph Smith taught this doctrine as one of eternal +truth, taught him by God. There can be no doubt that the truth behind +Spencer's law of evolution, and the doctrine taught by the "Mormon" +prophet, are the same. The great marvel is that Joseph Smith, who knew +not the philosophies of men, should have anticipated by thirty years +or more the world of science in the enunciation of the most +fundamental law of the universe of living things. + +[Sidenote: Animals are subject to evolution.] + +Now, it is true that Joseph Smith did not extend this law to the lower +animals; but it must be remembered that his mission on earth was to +teach a system of redemption for men. Yet, it is an interesting +observation that he taught that men and animals had a spiritual +existence, before they were placed on earth. "For I, the Lord God, +created all things of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they +were naturally upon the face of the earth. And out of the ground made +I, the Lord God, to grow every tree, naturally, that is pleasant to +the sight of man; and man could behold it. And it became also a living +soul. For it was spiritual in the day that I created it; for it +remaineth in the sphere in which I, God, created it."[A] + +[Footnote A: Book of Moses, 3:5 and 9. See also Doctrine and +Covenants, 29:31, 32.] + +If, in common with men, animals and plants were created spiritually, +it may not be an idle speculation that the lower forms of life will +advance, in their respective fields, as man advances in his. However, +a statement in the above quotation must not be overlooked, "It +remaineth in the sphere in which I, God, created it." This would +preclude any notion that by endless development a plant may become an +animal, or that one of the lower classes of animals become a high +animal, or a man. Is not this the place where, perhaps, the evolution +of science has failed? All things advance, but each order of creation +within its own sphere. There is no jumping from order to order. The +limits of these orders are yet to be found. + +Spencer's belief that one period of evolution follows another[A] is +brought strongly to mind in contemplating the doctrine of Joseph Smith +that man, and other things, had first a spiritual existence, now an +earthly life, then a higher existence after death. Is not the +parallelism strong--and may it not be that here, also, the "Mormon" +prophet could have shown the learned philosopher the correct way? + +[Footnote A: First Principles, p. 550.] + +[Sidenote: God is the compelling power of evolution.] + +Finally, one other suggestion must be made. Spencer, after a long and +involved argument, concludes (or proves as he believes) that the great +law of evolution is a necessity that follows from the law of the +persistence of force. In chapter two of this series, the scientific +conception of the persistence of force was identified with the +operations of the Holy Spirit, as taught by Joseph Smith. This Spirit +is behind all phenomena; by it as a medium, God works his will with +the things of the universe, and enables man to move on to eternal +salvation, to advance, and become a God; every law is of necessity a +result of the operation of this Spirit. Here, again, the "Mormon" +prophet anticipated the world of science; and his conceptions are +simplier and more direct than those invented by the truth-seekers, who +depended upon themselves and their own powers. + +Marvelous is this view of the founder of "Mormonism." Where did he +learn in his short life, amidst sufferings and persecution such as few +men have known, the greatest mysteries of the universe! + + + + +Chapter XV. + +THE PLAN OF SALVATION. + + +[Sidenote: Why am I on earth?] + +In the preceding chapter the law of evolution was shown to be the +cementing law of nature, which explains the destiny of man. To live is +to change, and (if the change is right) to grow. Through all the ages +to come righteous man will increase in complexity and will grow +towards a condition of greater knowledge, greater power and greater +opportunity. + +While the great law of evolution may be quite sufficient for the +general survey, it does not explain the special conditions amidst +which organized intelligences find themselves. Man asks, Why am I on +earth? Science is silent. Up to the present time, many scientific men +have not found it necessary to postulate an intelligent force behind +the phenomena of nature, which would explain our earthly existence. + +The Mormon answer to this question lies in the Mormon doctrine of the +plan of salvation. There can be no attempt to harmonize the Mormon +plan with that of science, for science has none; but, that the Mormon +plan of salvation is strictly scientific, and rests upon the +irrevocable laws of the universe can certainly be demonstrated. + +[Sidenote: Perfection comes only when matter, spirit and intelligence +are associated.] + +Fundamental, in the doctrines of Joseph, is the statement that all +intelligence is eternal; and that God at the best is the organizer of +the spirits of men. The ether of science has been compared with the +Holy Spirit of Mormonism. The spirit body may be likened to an ether +body of man, and is the condition of his original existence. From the +original condition, at man's spiritual birth, under the law of +evolution he has steadily grown in complexity, which means in power. + +In the universe are recognized ether or spirit, force or intelligence, +and matter. Matter may act upon the ether and the ether upon matter; +but ether acts most effectively upon ether, and matter upon matter. +The original man, in whom intelligence and other forces acted through +a purely spiritual or ether body, could impress matter and be +impressed by it only in part. The man was imperfect because he did not +touch directly the world of matter, and could know only in part the +phenomena of the material world, which forms an integral part of the +universe. In the words of Joseph Smith, "Spirit and element +inseparably connected, receiveth a fullness of joy, and when +separated, man can not receive a fullness of joy."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 93:33, 34.] + +For man's perfection, it then became necessary that his spiritual body +should be clothed with a material one, and that he should become as +familiar with the world of matter, as he had become with the world of +spirit. God, as the supreme intelligence, who desired all other +spirits to know and become mighty, led in the formulation of the plan, +whereby they should obtain knowledge of all the contents of the +universe. + +[Sidenote: The fall of Adam necessary to perfect intelligence.] + +For the purpose of perfecting the plan, a council of the Gods, or +perfected intelligences was called. It was decided to organize an +earth from available materials, and place the spirits on it, clothed +with bodies of the grosser elements. An essential function of +intelligence is free agency; and that the spirits might have the +fullest opportunity to exercise this agency in their earthly career, +they were made to forget the events of their spiritual existence. To +learn directly the nature of grossest matter, the earth bodies of +necessity were made subject to the process of the disintegration +called death. + +To make possible the subjection of eternal, spiritual organized +intelligences to perishable, material structures, certain natural laws +would naturally be brought into operation. From the point of view of +the eternal spirit, it might mean the breaking of a law directed +towards eternal life; yet to secure the desired contact with matter, +the spirit was compelled to violate the law. Thus, in this earth life, +a man who desires to acquire a first hand acquaintance with magnetism +and electricity, may subject himself to all kinds of electric shocks, +that, perhaps, will affect his body injuriously; yet, for the sake of +securing the experience, he may be willing to do it. Adam, the first +man, so used natural laws that his eternal, spiritual body became +clothed upon with an earthly body, subject to death. Then in begetting +children, he was able to produce earthly bodies for the waiting +spirits. + +According to this doctrine, the socalled Fall of Adam was +indispensable to the evolving of organized intelligences that should +have a complete acquaintance with all nature, and a full control over +their free agencies. If laws were broken, it was done because of the +heroism of the first parents, and not because of their sinfulness. + +Mormon theology does not pretend to say in what precise manner Adam +was able to secure his corruptible body; neither is science able to +answer all the "whys" suggested by recorded experiences. The doctrines +of Joseph Smith maintain, however, that the events connected with the +introduction of organized intelligences on this earth, were in full +accord with the simple laws governing the universe. That the Mormon +view of this matter, so fundamental in every system of theology, is +rational, can not be denied. + +[Sidenote: The atonement was in harmony with natural law.] + +However, the bodies given to the spirits continued for only a few +years; then they were disorganized in death. Adam's work had been done +well. After the death of the mortal body, the spirit was still without +a permanent body of matter, that would complete his contact with the +elements of the universe. Therefore, it was necessary to bring other +laws into operation, that would reorganize these dead material bodies +in such a way that they would no longer be subject to the forces of +disorganization, death and decay. The eternal spiritual body, united +with this eternal material body, then constituted a suitable home for +eternal intelligence, whereby it might be able, under the law of +evolution to attain the greatest conceivable knowledge and power. + +The personage who directed the laws that cancelled the necessary work +of Adam, and made the corruptible body incorruptible was the Savior, +Jesus Christ. As Adam, by his personal work, made the earth career +possible for all who succeeded him; so Jesus, by His personal work, +made it possible for the spirits to possess immortal material bodies. + +Conditions that may be likened to the atonement are found in science. +Suppose an electrical current, supplying a whole city with power and +light, is passing through a wire. If for any reason the wire is cut +the city becomes dark and all machines driven by the current cease +their motion. To restore the current, the ends of the broken wire must +be reunited. If a person, in his anxiety to restore the city to its +normal conditions, seizes the ends of the wire with his bare hands, +and unites them, he probably will receive the full charge of the +current in his body. Yet, as a result, the light and power will return +to the city; and one man by his action, has succeeded in doing the +work for many. + +The actual method by which Jesus was enabled to make mortal bodies +immortal, is not known to us. Neither can we understand just why the +shedding of the Savior's blood was necessary for the accomplishment of +this purpose. Like the work of Adam, the exact nature of the atonement +is unknown. Still, throughout this plan of Salvation, every incident +and accomplished fact are strictly rational. There is no talk of a +God, who because of his own will, and in opposition to natural laws, +placed man on earth. + +[Sidenote: Earth life is a link in man's evolution.] + +The presence of organized intelligences in earth is simply a link in +the evolution of man. The plan of salvation is the method whereby the +evolution of man is furthered. The intelligence who conforms to the +Plan, at last attains salvation, which means eternal life and endless +development, directed by the free agency of an organized intelligence +clothed with an incorruptible body of spirit and matter. + +Can any other system of theology produce an explanation of the +presence of man on earth, which connects earthly life with the time +before and the time after, on the basis of the accepted laws of the +universe? + +Flawless seems the structure reared by the Mormon Prophet. Had he been +an imposter, human imperfection would have revealed itself +somewhere.[A] + +[Footnote A: It must not be assumed that in this chapter has been +given a full account of the Mormon doctrine of the Atonement. These +essays are not in any sense a full exposition of Mormon theology.] + + + + +THE REGION OF THE UNKNOWN. + +Chapter XVI. + +THE SIXTH SENSE. + + +[Sidenote: The six senses, need help to reorganize many phenomena of +nature.] + +The five senses are the great gateways through which all the knowledge +in man's possession has been obtained. Examine the matter as we may, +the truth of this statement persists. By seeing, hearing, smelling, +tasting and feeling, only, is man brought into contact with external +nature and himself, and is furnished material upon which the intellect +can act. True it is, that the sense of feeling may be divided into a +number of poorly known sub-senses, of which that of touch is the best +known, but, probably, these are very nearly related, and we may still +maintain the existence of the _five_ senses of man. + +Wonderful as these senses are, yet, in the presence of many natural +phenomena, they are very weak, and require help, in order that the +operations of nature may be recognized. Take, as an illustration, the +refined sense of sight. Light, coming from a distant star, is readily +recognized; the same quantity of light coming from a house, half a +mile distant, is even more distinctly sensed by the eye. In both these +cases, though the light is recognized, the sensation is not so sharply +defined as to produce a distinct image of the star or of the house. To +make the images of distant objects distinct, the telescope has been +invented; and this instrument is a most important aid to the sense of +sight. The microscope is a similar aid to the eye, by which the +lightrays coming from minute objects are so bent and arranged that the +object appears magnified, and may be sensed in its details by the eye. +The ear-trumpet is a similar device for collecting, concentrating and +defining sound waves that ordinarily would be, to the ear, a confusion +of sounds. The ear-trumpet is a mighty help to the sense of hearing. + +The light which passes through the lenses of the telescope and +microscope, is the light which is ordinarily recognized by the eye. +The instruments effect no change in the light; they merely arrange the +waves so as to produce a clear and distinct outline of the objects +from which the light comes. Likewise, the sound waves entering the +ear-trumpet are in nowise changed in their essential nature, but are +simply rearranged or concentrated to produce a more definite +impression on the ear. Instruments similar to those here mentioned are +the simplest aids to man's senses. + +With respect to many forces of nature, the unaided senses of man are +helpless. The subtle force of magnetism, for instance, appears +incapable of affecting directly any of the senses. A person may hold a +powerful lodestone in his hand and feel no influence different from +that coming from a piece of sandstone. A person may work near a wire +carrying a current of electricity, and, though it is well known that +peculiar conditions exist in the universal ether around such a wire, +yet, through his five senses, he may never become aware of the +existence of this current. A piece of uranium ore, as has been found +in recent years, emits various kinds of rays related to the now famous +X- or Roentgen rays, yet no indication comes directly through any of +the five senses that such is the case. In fact, men of science worked +with the ores of uranium for many years before discovering the +emission of ether waves. In the light which comes from the sun are +numerous forms of energy that do not directly affect the senses, and +therefore remained unknown for many centuries. Numerous other +illustrations might be quoted to show the existence of natural forces +that are beyond the direct recognition of man. In the great ocean of +the unknown, lie, undoubtedly, countless forces that shall never be +known by a direct action upon the senses of man.[A] + +[Footnote A: The writer is aware of the beliefs held by many students +regarding the so-called touch sense, heat sense, magnetic sense, +electrical sense, spiritual sense, etc. So little is known of these +subdivisions of the sense of feeling, that they are not considered in +this popular writing. There is, moreover, no evidence that the +magnetic sense, as an example, if it exists, is a direct effect of +magnetic forces; it is as easily believed that the body somehow +converts magnetic forces, under certain circumstances, into other +forces that may be sensed by man.] + +[Sidenote: The advance of knowledge requires instruments that convert +natural phenomena into intelligible forms. Thus the unknown is +revealed.] + +As is well understood, however, even these apparently unknowable +manifestations of nature may be known, if proper aids be secured. In +every case the problem is this: To obtain some medium, be it natural +or manufactured, which transforms the unknown force into a known +force, that is capable of affecting the senses of man. The search for +such media is one of the most important labors of science. For +instance, sunlight has been known from the beginning of the human +race, and its nature has been studied by almost every generation of +thinkers. To the time of Newton, it was only white light--or little +more. Newton discovered that if a ray of white light be allowed to +fall upon a triangular prism or glass, it is dispersed or broken into +a number of colored rays known as the spectrum. All sunlight, passed +through a glass prism, produces this colored spectrum; and the colors +are arranged invariably in the same order; namely from violet through +the intermediate colors to red. By passing this spectrum through +another prism, white light is produced. Sunlight was thus proved to +consist of a number of kinds of colored light. The eye alone is +incapable of resolving white light into its elements: the glass prism +thus becomes an aid to the sense of sight, by which a new domain of +science is laid open to view. + +Above the red end of the spectrum, obtained from white light, nothing +is visible, yet if a delicate thermometer be placed there, the +increase in temperature shows the presence of certain invisible heat +rays, and by moving the thermometer, it may be shown that the +invisible heat spectrum is longer than the light spectrum itself. +This, again, makes known to man a world that the five senses can +recognize only with difficulty; and in this case, the thermometer is +the necessary aid. + +Even more interesting is the violet end of the spectrum. Like the red +end, it is invisible. In fact, for centuries it was believed that the +light spectrum represented the whole spectrum. During the last century +it was found that if a photographic plate be placed below the violet +end of the spectrum, it is affected by invisible light rays, which are +popularly denominated chemical rays. By placing the photographic plate +in various positions, it has been discovered that the chemical +spectrum is as long as the visible part. Since the days of Newton, +therefore, the known part of the spectrum of sunlight has been trebled +in length, and there is no certainty that all is now known concerning +the matter. In this particular, the photographic plate has become a +means of revealing an unknown world to the senses. + +If a low tension current of electricity passes through a wire, it +cannot be sensed directly by man; but if a delicately adjusted +magnetic needle be placed above and parallel to such wire, the current +will turn the needle to one side and keep it there. The magnetic +needle then makes known the presence of a current of electricity which +has no appreciable effect upon any of man's five senses. Similarly, +the magnetic currents passing over the earth are not felt by man in +such a way as to be recognized, but a magnetic needle, properly +adjusted, will immediately assume an approximately north and south +direction, in obedience to the pull of the magnetic currents. In this +manner the magnetic needle, again, reveals to man the existence and +presence of forces that he cannot sense directly. + +A piece of glass into which has been incorporated a small amout of the +element uranium, is an instrument which reveals many wonders of the +unsensed world. If the uranium glass be brought near the violet end of +the spectrum of sunlight, it immediately glows, because it has the +power of changing the invisible chemical rays into ordinary, white +light rays. With such an instrument, darkness can be literally changed +into light. Similarly, many of the class of rays to which belong the +X-rays, and which are dark to the eye, and do not directly affect any +of the other senses, are converted by uranium glass into visible rays. +This glass, then, becomes another means whereby the world which does +not directly affect our senses, may be made known. + +The X- or Roentgen rays have been mentioned several times. It is +generally known that they have the power of passing through the body +and various other opaque bodies. The rays themselves are invisible, +both before entering and after leaving the body; moreover, they do not +affect any of the other senses of man. Were it not that the power is +possessed of changing these rays to light rays, man could know nothing +of the Roentgen rays. In fact, a screen, covered with powdered +crystals of a chemical compound known as barium platinocyanide, is +held behind the object through which the rays are passing, and the +moment they touch this substance they are changed to light rays, and +the screen glows. Or, instead, a photographic plate may be used, for +the Roentgen rays affect the materials from which these plates are +made. The screen of barium platinocyanide is, therefore, another means +for revealing the unknown world. + +[Sidenote: "Tuning" to establish sympathetic vibrations is a form of +the aids for explaining the unknown.] + +Such illustrations might be multiplied, but would add no strength to +the discussion. There is, however, another class of instruments which +enable the senses to recognize natural forces that do not act directly +upon the consciousness of man. If a musical note is produced on a +violin, near a piano, the piano string which is stretched or tuned +right, will give out the same note. The sound waves from the violin +penetrate the piano, and the string which is tuned to give out the +same note takes up the energy of the sound waves, and is set in +vibration, with the result that the same note is given out by the +piano. This is known as sympathetic vibrations. It is possible, +therefore, to make a piano give out any note within its range, without +any solid object touching the instrument. In the universal ether, +which surrounds and penetrates all things, are numberless waves of all +kinds, and of all vibrations. If the proper instrument be used, and +tuned aright, it is possible to separate from this tumult of waves any +desired kind or degree of wave motion, and to convert it into some +known form of energy, say electricity. + +This principle is used in modern wireless telegraphy. Electric waves +are sent out by the operator with a certain rapidity. These waves +radiate into space, in all directions, and are lost, apparently, in +the confusion of myriads of other waves. Nevertheless, if the waves +are not by some chance totally destroyed, it is possible to obtain +them again, by the use of a receiving instrument which is tuned +exactly the same as that used by the operator, at the station where +the waves are sent out. A message sent from London may be received +anywhere on earth where the receiving instruments are tuned aright; at +the same time, if the peculiar note or vibration of the message is not +known, so that the receivers can not be tuned properly, the message, +though it be all about it, can never be received. + +Such aids to our senses do not depend so much upon the nature of the +material, as upon the degree to which it is brought into sympathy with +the force to be recognized. + +[Sidenote: With proper aids man's senses may discover the whole of +nature.] + +Now, though our senses are imperfect, and recognize only a small part +of the phenomena of nature, yet it is very probable that, with such +helps as have been described, nothing in nature need remain forever +unknown. The means by which the forces of nature, that cannot be +sensed directly, are brought to man's recognition may well be named, +collectively, man's sixth sense. + +The progress of science depends upon the discovery of aids to man's +senses; a new and vast field is invariably opened whenever a new aid +is discovered. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith recognized the existence of media which render +the unknown, known.] + +In the works of Joseph Smith, which teach that there is no real line +of demarkation between the natural and spiritual worlds, it would be +not surprising to find recognized the scientific principle, above +discussed, that by the use of proper instruments, the world outside of +the five senses, may be brought within man's consciousness. + +According to the story of Joseph Smith, he was first visited by an +angel, September 21, 1823, when the Prophet was less than eighteen +years of age. Among other things, the angel told the boy that "there +was a book deposited, written on gold plates," giving an account of +the former inhabitants of the American continent; "also, that there +were two stones in silver bows--and these stones, fastened to a +breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and +Thummim--deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of +these stones were what constituted 'Seers' in ancient or former times; +and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the +book."[A] This reference to the Urim and Thummim, and their purpose, +makes it clear that the Prophet, at the beginning of his career, +recognized (whether consciously or unconsciously we know not), the +existence of means or media by which things unknown, such as a strange +language, may be converted into forms that can reach the +understanding. + +[Footnote A: History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 12.] + +[Sidenote: The Book of Mormon was translated by such aids--the Urim +and Thummim.] + +When the actual work of translation began, the Urim and Thummim were +found indispensable, and in various places the statement is made that +the translation was made, "by means of the Urim and Thummim."[A] On +one occasion, when the Prophet, through the defection of Martin +Harris, lost a portion of the manuscript translation the Urim and +Thummim were taken from him, and the power of translation ceased. Upon +the return of the instruments the work was resumed.[B] While it is +very probable that the Prophet was required to place himself in the +proper spiritual and mental attitude, before he could use the Urim and +Thummim successfully, yet it must also be true that the stones were +essential to the work of translation. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 10:1.] + +[Footnote B: History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 23.] + +[Sidenote: Revelations were received by such aids.] + +The Urim and Thummim were not used alone for translation, but most of +the early revelations were obtained by their means. Speaking of those +days, the Prophet usually says: "I enquired of the Lord through the +Urim and Thummim, and obtained the following."[A] The "stones in +silver bows" seemed, therefore, to have possessed the general power of +converting manifestations of the spiritual world into terms suitable +to the understanding of Joseph Smith. + +[Footnote A: History of the Church, vol. 1, pp. 33, 36, 45, 49 and +53.] + +The doctrine of the use of the Urim and Thummim is in perfect harmony +with the established law of modern science, that special media are +necessary to bring the unknown world within the range of man's senses. +To believers in the Bible, the use of the Urim and Thummim can offer +no obstacles, and to those who possess a rational conception of +God--that he is the Master of the universe, who works his will by +natural means--it cannot be more difficult to believe that God's will +may appear through the agency of special "stones in silver bows," than +to concede that invisible ether waves, become luminous when they fall +upon a piece of uranium glass. The virtue possessed by the latter +glass is no more evident than is the virtue claimed by Joseph Smith to +be possessed by the Urim and Thummim. + +It is a noteworthy fact that the Prophet does not enter into an +argument to prove the necessity of the use of the Urim and Thummim. +Only in an incidental way, as he tells the straightforward story of +his life, does he mention them; and with a simplicity that argues +strongly for his veracity, does he assume that, of course, they were +necessary and were used as he recounts. A shrewd imposter, building a +great theological structure as is the Church founded by Joseph Smith, +would have appreciated that difficult questions would be asked +concerning the seer stones, and would have attempted to surround them +with some explanation. Joseph Smith offers no defense for the use of +these instruments; neither does the scientist excuse himself for using +uranium glass, in the study of certain radiations. + +[Sidenote: As the Prophet placed himself in tune with the unknown, he +became less dependent on external aids.] + +The Prophet did not always receive his revelations by the assistance +of the Urim and Thummim. As he grew in experience and understanding, +he learned to bring his spirit into such an attitude that it became a +Urim and Thummim to him, and God's will was revealed without the +intervention of external means. This method is clearly, though +briefly, expressed in one of the early revelations: + + Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would + give it unto you, when you took no thought, save it was to ask me; + but, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your + mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right, I + will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you + shall feel that it is right; but if it be not right, you shall + have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought, + that cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 9:7-9.] + +[Sidenote: The "testimony of the spirit" is scientific.] + +The essence of this statement is that if a person will concentrate his +powers so as to come into harmony with God, truth will be revealed to +him; and is not that like the tuning of a coil of wire so that it can +take up the waves of certain lengths, that may be passing through the +ether? If an inert mass of iron can be so tuned, can anyone refuse to +believe that man, highly organized as he is, can "tune" himself to be +in harmony with the forces of the universe? The universal ether of +science is like the Holy Spirit, and the waves or energy of the ether +is like the intelligent action of that Spirit controlled by God. Heat, +light, magnetism, electricity, and the other forces, become, then, +simply various forms of God's speech, any of which may be understood, +if the proper means of interpretation is at hand. + +In the Book of Mormon, the Prophet states that "When ye shall receive +these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal +Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye +shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in +Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the +Holy Ghost; and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth +of all things."[A] + +[Footnote A: Moroni 10:4, 5.] + +This involves the principle discussed above. By placing oneself in +harmony with the requirements of the subject in hand, the truth must +become known, even as an instrument properly tuned must feel the +influence of the ether waves with which it is in harmony. + +Again, then, the conceptions of the Mormon Prophet rise to equal +heights with the best theories of the scientists. In simple phrases, +apparently unconscious of the philosophical meaning of the doctrines, +Joseph Smith recognized the various means whereby man's senses may be +enabled to seize upon and comprehend the natural forces which to man's +unaided senses must remain unknown forever. + +It cannot be justly claimed that the Prophet anticipated the world of +science in the recognition of this principle, but reading his works in +the light of modern progress, it cannot be denied that he placed a +greater value upon the aids to man's senses, with respect to the +subtle forces of the universe, than did any of his contemporaries. +That acknowledgment is a wonderful tribute to the powers of an +unlearned boy. + +Evidence crowds upon evidence, and testimony upon testimony, until the +opposition of logic falls away; and Joseph Smith rises above the fog +of prejudice, a mighty prophet of our God. + + + + +THE FORCE OF FORCES. + +Chapter XVII. + +THE NATURE OF GOD. + + +[Sidenote: Nearly all thinkers believe in God or an equivalent.] + +In every philosophy of the universe, the question concerning the +primary cause of the phenomena of nature always arises. Ancient and +modern philosophers, alike, have discussed the probability of the +existence of this primary cause and its properties. Plato, putting the +words into the mouth of Socrates, declares, "I do believe in the +Gods."[A] Aristotle, the greatest of early thinkers, assumed that a +God exists, from whom all other forces are derived. For example, "From +a first principle, then, of this kind--I mean, one that is involved in +the assumption of a First Mover--hath depended the Heaven and +Nature."[B] Spencer, speaking in these latter days, likewise implies +the existence of the equivalent of the God of men, thus, "If religion +and science are to be reconciled, the basis of reconciliation must be +this deepest, widest and most certain of all facts--that the Power +which the universe manifests to us is utterly inscrutable."[C] + +[Footnote A: Plato, The Apology, chap. XXIV.] + +[Footnote B: Aristotle, Metaphysics, chap. VII, sec. 4.] + +[Footnote C: First Principles, p. 48.] + +To the great majority of men, in all ages, the idea of a God or Power, +has appeared to be a necessity. Naturally, there has been a great +variety of opinions concerning the nature of God, or the great Power +behind things. Some, including the early Greek thinkers, looked upon +God as a personal being of transcendental attributes; others gave Him +a more shadowy form, and made of Him nothing more than an all +pervading spiritual essence. Still others, considering the relations +of all natural operations to the infinite power of God, identified Him +with Nature, and then, with astonishing shortsight denied His personal +existence. Thus, by degrees, arose the various theists, who accepted a +personal God with varying attributes; the pantheists, who identified +God with nature, and the atheists, who denied absolutely God, or any +equivalent. Among those who have adopted the idea of God, the chief +dispute has been largely as to His personality; to the atheists the +essential consideration has been that the laws of nature are +self-operative and need no directing force such as is implied in the +conception of a God. + +[Sidenote: Science points to a force of forces.] + +As modern science arose, certain conceptions became established which +were directly related to the idea of God. In obedience to the modern +tendency towards simplification, the great variety in the material +world has been referred to a few elements (nearly 80); and all the +forces of nature are now held to be modes of motion of matter or of +the one all pervading substance, the ether. The complexity of nature +is produced by new combinations of matter, ether and motion. According +to this doctrine, all the phenomena in the universe may be explained +by referring them to the action of forces upon matter and ether. There +is a limited number of elements, which, at the present, can not be +converted into each other. There is only one ether, which can probably +exist in various degrees of density. There are numerous forces, which +may be converted into each other. Thus light may be changed into heat; +heat into electricity and electricity into light again. + +Scientists have long asked if there is one great universal force, of +which all other forces are merely variations. Usually, the thinkers +have agreed that the indications point to such a central force, which +by many has been identified with gravitation. Newton and many of the +men who followed him in the development of the theory of gravitation, +agreed that probably the force of gravitation is the source of all +other natural forces. Thus the doctrines of modern science point to +_one_ force from which all other forces are derived; and thus, the +complexity of nature has been simplified, by explaining it on the +assumption of this one force. Those who believe in God have claimed +that this points to one great Being as the mover behind all things; +the atheists have declared, that these scientific conceptions indicate +that there is no real necessity for a God; and many honest searchers +who have reached this closed door, have declared, "I do not know. It +may be God; it may be force. It cannot be known." + +[Sidenote: "Mormonism" teaches that intelligence is the force of +forces.] + +"Mormonism" has harmonized science and theology in its conception of +God. As has been shown earlier in this volume, Joseph Smith taught +that the central force of the universe is intelligence. Gravitation, +heat, light, magnetism, electricity, chemical attraction, are all +various manifestations of the all-pervading force of intelligence. +This, it may be seen, is the simple theory advanced by scientists, +with the definition of the first force added. + +[Sidenote: God is the greatest intelligence.] + +The "Mormon" Prophet taught, further, that the individual is organized +intelligence; that the organization is the instrument whereby +intelligence may be concentrated, focussed and directed. Man is +superior to beasts because his organization permits a greater use of +the universal force of intelligence. Under the law of evolution, man's +organization will become more and more complex. That is, he will +increase in his power of using intelligence until in time, he will +develop so far that, in comparison with his present state, he will be +a God. Conversely, God, who is a superior organization, using and +directing the force of intelligence, must at one time have possessed a +simpler organization. Perhaps, at one time He was only what man is +to-day. God, in "Mormon" theology, is the greatest intelligence; it +will always remain the greatest; yet, it must of necessity, under the +inexorable laws of the universe, grow. God is in no sense the Creator +of natural forces and laws; He is the director of them. + +The correct conclusion from this doctrine is that all the forces of +nature are supported by intelligent action. This leads of necessity to +order in nature. Blind forces, acting independently of intelligence, +could not have brought about the perfect order that appears everywhere +in the universe. Every atom of matter; every particle of ether is +endowed with a form of intelligence. All the attractions, repulsions +and equilibriums among natural objects are modes of expression of the +force of intelligence. The explanations of the mysteries of nature +will be greatly simplified when the "Mormon" doctrine of the position +of intelligence in universal phenomena is clearly understood by +scientific workers. + +[Sidenote: Many grades of intelligence; hence, many Gods.] + +Since these teachings practically imply the definition that God is a +superior intelligence evolved from a lower condition, there can be no +logical objection to the idea that there are many Gods. Yet, "Mormon" +theology acknowledges the supremacy of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and +Jacob. God transcends all human imagination. He is omniscient, and +omnipotent; for His great knowledge enables Him to direct the forces +of nature. He is full of love and mercy, because these qualities are +attributes of intelligence, which God possesses in the highest degree. +The "Mormon" idea of God, is delicate, refined, advanced and +reasonable. + +The interesting fact about this matter is, naturally, that in this +conception of God, Joseph Smith was strictly scientific. He departed +from the notion that God is a Being foreign to nature and wholly +superior to it. Instead, he taught that God is part of nature, and +superior to it only in the sense that the electrician is superior to +the current that is transmitted along the wire. The great laws of +nature are immutable, and even God can not transcend them. + +This doctrine of God was taught by Joseph Smith early in his career. +Can ignorance or disease produce such a logical climax of a scientific +system of belief? Such a conclusion would be absurd. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + +Chapter XVIII. + +JOSEPH SMITH'S EDUCATION. + + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith's early educational opportunities were very +limited.] + +Joseph Smith had few educational advantages during his life. His +scientific teachings do not rest upon information gained in schools or +from books. His parents fully appreciated the value of an education, +but the pioneer lives which they led, and their numerous financial +misfortunes, made it impossible for them to realize their desires for +the education of their children. The Prophet's mother writes that when +Joseph was about six years old, Hyrum, the elder brother, was sent to +an academy at Hanover, New Hampshire, and the smaller children to a +common school.[A] It is probable that throughout the wanderings of the +family, the children were given such meager schooling as was possible. +Joseph was a "remarkably quiet, well-disposed child," and his life up +to the age of fourteen was marked only by those trivial circumstances +which are common to childhood.[B] + +[Footnote A: History of the Prophet by his Mother, Improvement Era, +Vol. 5, p. 166.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid., p. 247.] + +A few months after his fourteenth birthday, the future prophet beheld +his first vision. In his autobiography he mentions that at the time +"he was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by +his daily labor."[A] This would indicate that at this age he was +spending little or no time in school. During the time that elapsed +between his fourteenth and eighteenth years, there is nothing to show +that the boy was receiving scholastic education. The Prophet says that +he was left to all kinds of temptation, and mingled with all kinds of +society.[B] Nothing is said about the acquirement of book learning. +About the age of nineteen he writes, "As my father's worldly +circumstances were very limited, we were under the necessity of +laboring with our hands, hiring out by day's work and otherwise, as we +could get opportunity. In the month of October, 1825, I hired with an +old gentleman by the name of Josiah Stoal. During the time I was thus +employed, I was put to board with a Mr. Isaac Hale--it was there I +first saw my wife (his daughter), Emma Hale. On the 18th of January, +1827, [when the Prophet was a little more than twenty-one years old] +we were married, while I was yet employed in the service of Mr. Stoal. +Immediately after my marriage, I left Mr. Stoal's and went to my +father's, and farmed with him that season."[C] From his eighteenth to +his twenty-second year, then, there is evidence that he worked as an +ordinary laborer, and attended no school. + +[Footnote A: History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 7.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid., p. 9.] + +[Footnote C: History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 16, 17.] + +It seems, moreover, that Joseph Smith was not a boy to gather +information from books, for his mother says of him, when he was +eighteen years old, that "he seemed much less inclined to the perusal +of books than any of the rest of our children, but far more given to +meditation and deep study."[A] From the records extant, the conclusion +is justifiable that from his fourteenth to his twenty-second year +Joseph Smith received practically no school education, and did no +extensive reading. What he might have gathered from conversation with +others during that time is unknown to us. However, it is known that +the heavenly messengers who visited him at intervals gave him much +valuable information, which more than compensated for his poor +scholastic advantages. + +[Footnote A: History of the Prophet Joseph, Improvement Era, Vol. 5, +p. 257.] + +One month before his twenty-second birthday, the golden plates were +delivered to the Prophet, and the next two and a half years he was +engaged with various assistants in translating the Book of Mormon; +though at different times during this period he farmed and did other +manual labor. During this period (twenty-two to twenty-four and a half +years of age), he most certainly attended no school nor gave special +attention to worldly knowledge. + +On the 6th of April, 1830, when the Prophet was twenty-four years and +four months old, the Church was organized. The life led by the Prophet +from this time to 1844, when he was assassinated, was not conducive to +the gathering of information, and quiet, deep reflection. During +almost the whole of this period his life was in danger; scores of +times he was arrested on trumped-up charges; the Church was driven +from place to place; he built at least three cities, and two temples; +organized and governed the body of the Church; taught the doctrinal +system accepted by his followers; organized the public ministry of the +Church for spreading the Gospel among all men, wrote his +autobiography; compiled the revelations given him, and made a revision +of parts of the Bible. + +[Sidenote: Joseph Smith taught the importance of schools and +education.] + +The mistake must not be made, however, of assuming that because the +Prophet's education had been limited, he lacked a due appreciation of +schools and scholastic attainments. On the contrary, at a very early +date in the history of the Church, schools were organized even for the +older men, that they might improve their time and make up in a manner +for the lack of opportunity during their early days. During the winter +of 1832-3, a school of the prophets was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, +and another in Independence, Missouri, at which the elders of the +Church received various instructions. In the discussion relative to +the building of temples, references to schools being held in them were +always made, and, in fact, in the fall of 1835, when a portion of the +Kirtland temple was finished, "schools were opened in the various +apartments." Many "were organized into a school for the purpose of +studying the Hebrew language."[A] The reading of Greek had previously +been begun. In these languages as well as in German, the Prophet +acquired considerable facility. His studies tended, of course, towards +the interpretation of the Bible and the explanation of Gospel truths; +though at times his investigations appeared quite foreign to his +special work, as when, in 1838, he began the methodical study of law. + +[Footnote A: Autobiography of P. P. Pratt, p. 140.] + +When the city of Nauvoo was chartered, a section was included, +providing for the establishment of a university, to be called the +University of the City of Nauvoo, under the direction of which should +be taught "all matters pertaining to education, from common schools up +to the highest branches of a most liberal collegiate education."[A] + +[Footnote A: History of Joseph Smith, George Q. Cannon, pp. 341, 343.] + +In numerous revelations did the Lord urge the Prophet and the Church +to gather information from every source, of which the following +quotations are good illustrations: "Teach ye diligently, that you may +be instructed in theory, in principle, of things both in heaven and in +the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which +are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, +things which are abroad; the wars and perplexities of the nations, and +a knowledge also of countries and kingdoms. Seek ye out of the best +books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study."[A] "Obtain a +knowledge of history, and of countries and of kingdoms, of laws of God +and man."[B] "Study and learn and become acquainted with all good +books, and with languages, tongues and peoples."[C] "It is impossible +for a man to be saved in ignorance."[D] A more comprehensive outline +of education can hardly be imagined. The energetic manner in which the +Church has acted upon these instructions, during its whole history, +need not be recounted here. + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 88:78, 79, 118.] + +[Footnote B: Ibid., 93:53.] + +[Footnote C: Ibid., 90:15.] + +[Footnote D: Ibid., 131:6.] + +However much the Prophet sought for knowledge, even from books, in his +later life, the fact remains that the evidence in our possession +indicates that, up to the time of the organization of the Church, his +book learning was very slight, and that during the years immediately +following, his time was so fully occupied with the details of the +organization that little or no time was given to education, as +ordinarily understood. These statements are of especial importance, in +view of the fact that all the principles discussed in this volume were +enunciated before the end of the year 1833. + +[Sidenote: Though the Prophet had little book learning, the spiritual +and intellectual growth was great.] + +The associates of the Prophet are unanimous in saying that his +spiritual and intellectual growth was marvelous, from the time that +the work of the ministry fell upon him. He was transformed from a +humble country lad to a leader among men, whose greatness was felt by +all, whether unlearned or educated, small or great. Of himself the +Prophet said, "I am a rough stone. The sound of the hammer and chisel +was never heard on me until the Lord took me in hand. I desire the +learning and wisdom of heaven alone." Certainly, his whole history +shows that the great learning which he did manifest was acquired in a +manner very different from that followed by the majority of men. + + + + +A SUMMARY RESTATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES. + +Chapter XIX. + + +[Sidenote: Philosophy and its methods.] + +In its broadest sense, philosophy includes all that man may know of +the universe--of himself and of the things about him. To be worthy of +its name, a system of philosophy must possess certain comprehensive, +fundamental principles, which if clearly understood, make intelligible +to the human mind any or all of the phenomena in the universe. The +simpler these foundation principles are, the greater is the system as +a philosophy. In the words of Spencer, "Philosophy is knowledge of the +highest degree of generality," or "completely unified knowledge."[A] + +[Footnote A: First Principles, pp. 133 and 136.] + +It is to be observed, that the great laws of nature are inferred only +from a number of lesser laws that have been gathered by man. A +generalization which is not built upon numerous confirmatory +observations, is at best an uncertain guess, which can be accepted +only when demonstrated to be correct by numerous isolated experiences. +The rational philosopher proceeds from the many to the few; he groups +and groups again, until the wide, fundamental laws have been attained. + +In olden days, and at times today, this method was not pursued. A +philosopher, so called, would assume that a certain statement or idea +were true. Upon this idea an elaborate, speculative, philosophical +superstructure was reared. If by chance, and the chance usually came, +the fundamental notion were shown to be false, the whole system fell +with a crash into the domain of untruth. + +It is the glory of modern science that by its methods, innumerable +facts, correct so far as present instruments and man's senses will +allow, have been gathered; and, that present day philosophy is built +upon these certain facts. The errors, if any exist, of this philosophy +lie not in the foundation stones, but in the inferences that have been +drawn from them. Modern philosophy rests upon the truths of the +universe, and not upon the wild speculations of men. + +[Sidenote: The fundamental conceptions of scientific philosophy.] + +The philosophy of science, which is the basis of all rational +philosophy, rests upon the doctrine of the indestructibility of +matter. Matter cannot be destroyed, and it is unthinkable that it ever +was created. True, matter may appear in various forms: the tangible +coal may escape through the chimneys as an intangible gas; water may +vanish into vapor; gold may unite with acids to form compounds +entirely unlike gold. However, the weight of the coal in the gases +passing through the chimney is the same as the weight of the coal fed +into the stove; the water vapor in the air weighs precisely as much as +the water that was in the vessel; the gold in the compound weighs the +same as the metallic gold used; in every case matter has been changed +into another form, but has not been destroyed. + +Along with this fundamental principle, science holds the doctrine of +the indestructibility of energy. Matter of itself is dead and useless; +it is only when it is in motion or in the possession of energy that it +can take part in the processes of nature. Matter without energy is not +known to man; however inert it may be, it possesses some energy. The +ultimate particles of all things,--rock and plant, and beast and +man--are in motion; that is, they possess energy. The immediate source +of energy for this earth is the sun, though the ultimate source of +universal energy is not known. + +Energy may appear in various forms, as light, heat, electricity, +magnetism, gravitation and mechanical motion; and each of these forms +of energy may be changed into any of the others. In every change, +however, there is no loss, but simply a change of condition. That +which men call energy, the vivifying principle of matter, is +indestructible. It has never had a beginning, and shall never have an +end. + +To the mind of man, however, a motion independent of something in +motion, is inconceivable. An ocean wave without water is nonsense. It +is equally difficult to conceive of energy which is immaterial, +passing from the sun to the earth, through empty space. There must be +something between the earth and the sun, which carries the energy. +Such reflections have led the thinkers to the belief that all space is +filled with a subtle medium, now called the ether, through which +energy passes in the form of waves. Today, few doctrines of science +are so well established as that of the universal ether. The ether is a +refined kind of matter which fills all space, and permeates all +things. It is in the table on which I write; in and through the ink; +between the ultimate particles of the glass of the ink bottle. This +earth, and all heavenly bodies, are simply suspended in the +all-and-ever-present ocean of ether. By the agency of the ether, +energy is carried from the sun to the earth, and may be carried +anywhere in space. Light, heat, electricity, magnetism and gravitation +are all various manifestations of ether motion. Many scientists +believe that this world--ether is the original matter from which the +various elements have been made. + +On these three doctrines, the indestructibility of matter, the +indestructibility of energy, and the existence of the universal ether, +rest primarily the explanations of the phenomena of nature. Hand in +hand they stand, an almost perfect example of the greatness of the +human mind. + +[Sidenote: "Mormonism" and science have the same fundamental laws.] + +The religion founded by Joseph Smith rests upon the same or similar +laws. To the very beginner in "Mormon" theology, it is a familiar fact +that Joseph Smith taught that matter is eternal, and has not been nor +can be created. Matter is coexistent with God. God, himself, is +material, in the sense that His body is composed of a refined kind of +matter. In the fundamental laws that underlie all nature, there is +perfect harmony between science and "Mormonism". Few religions can say +as much. In most systems of theology, it is assumed that the ruling +power, God, can create matter. In "Mormon" theology he can only +organize it. + +It is not quite so well understood that the doctrine of the +indestructibility of energy lies also at the foundation of "Mormon" +theology, and was taught by Joseph Smith. It was clearly comprehended +by the Prophet and his associates that intelligence is the vivifying +force of all creation--animate or inanimate--that rock and tree and +beast and man, have ascending degrees of intelligence. The +intelligence spoken of by the Prophet corresponds fully with the +energy of science. + +That the Prophet did not use the word current among scientific men at +that time does not destroy the validity of this claim. Different words +have no quarrel when they mean the same. + +The Prophet also taught that this intelligence fills all space, and +that it may appear in various forms, such as heat, light, and +electricity, and that it is eternal, and can neither be created nor +destroyed. These are the very qualities assigned to energy by +scientific workers. This doctrine and its coincidence with the +doctrine of science appears marvelous, when it is recalled that the +Prophet laid down these teachings in 1831, more than ten years before +they were discovered by scientists, and a generation before they were +generally accepted by the scientific world. + +The Prophet did not stop with the enunciation of these two fundamental +doctrines. He declared that a refined medium, called the Holy Spirit, +fills all space, whereby intelligence is conveyed from place to place. +In the terms of Joseph Smith, the forces of nature, such as heat, +light and electricity, are simply various manifestations of the +intelligence of the Holy Spirit; in the terms of science, of the +energy of the universal ether. The parallelism is complete. The Holy +Spirit, in "Mormon" theology, corresponds with the ether of science. +This doctrine, too, was enunciated many years before the corresponding +doctrines were established among men of science. + +[Sidenote: Cause and effect.] + +The Prophet also taught the unchanging relation of cause and effect, +which brings the whole universe under a reign of law, and overthrows +the mysticisms of old. This doctrine was emphasized at a time when the +world was just beginning to insist upon it. He further taught clearly +the manner in which nature's laws may be discovered by man. + +[Sidenote: Astronomy.] + +The Prophet further taught that all the heavenly bodies are in motion; +that the solar system is but a small part of a greater and grander +whole, controlled by the same laws, and that some of these other +worlds are inhabited. These doctrines, which now form the foundation +of the new astronomy, was discovered and accepted by the world of +science after the days of Joseph Smith. + +[Sidenote: Geology.] + +He also held clear and modern views regarding time limits in geology, +or the prehistoric ages of the world, at a time when students were not +agreed on the subject. + +[Sidenote: The individual.] + +Moreover, the "Mormon" prophet declared that the living beings found +on earth were organized from the commonly occurring elements and +forces of nature in such a manner that through them the force of +intelligence might exert itself in the greatest degree. Hence the +individual is only an organized intelligence. This, too, is in perfect +harmony with the results of the latest scholarship. + +[Sidenote: The laws for the individual.] + +On the basis of the fundamental laws, above defined, what does science +require of its devotees? How does it affect the actions of the +individual? As in theology, the scientific worker must have faith in +the principles that have been discovered. It is not possible in one +lifetime for a man to repeat all the work of preceding workers, to +demonstrate the accuracy of their results. Much must be taken on +trust; though at any time, should it be necessary, the earlier work +may be repeated. Besides requiring faith in the principles discovered +and enunciated by others, science demands that its every worker shall +believe in things that lie far beyond the reach of man's senses. + +In theology, at least in the system established by Joseph Smith, a +similar faith is required of the individual. God and angels have been +seen by very few individuals. These realities must be accepted by +faith. In the words of the Prophet Joseph, "Faith is the assurance +which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, +and the principle of action in all intelligent beings." With respect +to the first principle of science and theology, "Mormonism" is in +entire accord with the best philosophy. The individual, whether +scientist or theologian, must base his work on faith. + +The scientist who has acquired faith in a law of nature will no longer +transgress that law. He will obey it. If he establishes the faith that +a wire connected in a certain way with the electric dynamo carries a +current sufficiently strong to destroy life, he will not wantonly +seize that wire in his hands. Before this faith came to him, he +probably came near losing his life, by the careless handling of the +charged wire. To conform to the laws of nature is scientific +repentance. Faith in science or religion is a high form of +intelligence and is opposed to ignorance. Repentance is the use of +this intelligence for the benefit of man. + +In "Mormonism" the second principle of action for the individual is +repentance. If faith in God has been attained and his laws have been +made clear, the believer will no longer violate those laws; he will +obey them. That is repentance. Not by a jot or tittle does this kind +of repentance differ from the repentance taught by science. True, +science does not _speak_ of repentance, but it _thinks_ it. In the +matter of the great principle of repentance, governing the action of +workers in science or theology, "Mormonism" is eminently sane and +philosophical. Faith does not compel men to repent; but it is a +necessary precedent. The man who does not repent in science or +theology, after he has acquired faith, renders himself liable to +injury and retards his own progress. + +In the system of theology taught by Joseph Smith, baptism is the third +great principle to be obeyed by the individual; that is, unless +baptism follows faith and repentance it is impossible to enter the +kingdom of God. In science there is a counterpart of baptism which is +the third principle of scientific progress. + +A man who has attained faith in electricity resolves to refrain from +violating any of the laws of electricity. If he desires to produce a +current of electricity, he winds a wire around a piece of iron, and +revolves the coil in the field of a magnet, and the current is +produced. If the wire has not been wound in a certain definite manner, +and has not been placed in the proper relation to the magnet, no +current can be produced. The scientist may rail and object that it is +all nonsense to insist that the work be done just so to produce the +current. Nature is inexorable. The man to enter the kingdom of the +electric current must yield obedience to the order of nature; he must +receive a scientific baptism. + +The baptism taught by the theology of Joseph Smith is nothing more +than obedience to law. Just why it is necessary to be buried in the +water to enter the Church, perhaps no man fully knows. Nor does any +one know just _why_ the wire must be wound, just so, to produce the +current of electricity. Of one thing every thinker may be certain, +that the essential principle of baptism is as necessary in science as +in theology. In this matter also, then, Joseph the Prophet is +eminently philosophical. + +The fourth principle in "Mormon" theology teaches that after baptism, +the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred which enlightens the mind, +clears the intelligence, and brings man nearer the presence of God. So +also in science, to the man who obeys the law of nature, come greater +power and intelligence, to him who winds the wire right, the electric +current comes, with all its latent powers. Thus is the Holy Ghost +conferred in science; and thus, also, in a more subtle and greater +degree is it conferred in the Church. The dogma of Joseph Smith and +the teachings of science harmonize perfectly in the examination of the +fourth fundamental principle of the philosophy governing the +individual. + +[Sidenote: Evolution.] + +It is becoming fairly well demonstrated that the ceaseless changes and +transformations in nature cause a greater and greater complexity in +nature. This, in other words, means that the earth and all on it are +developing and progressing. According to Darwin and his followers, man +and animals advance. Only those who progress, persist; those who +retrograde, die. Creation as a whole grows and develops, and must of +necessity do so. By this law, the purpose of the earth and the +universe is explained to be endless growth. The law of evolution is +the great cementing law of science. Even so, in the philosophy of +Joseph Smith, the doctrine is taught that all things advance; that man +shall continue to advance, in intelligence, and all pertaining to it, +until he shall become as God is now. Meanwhile, our God will also +increase in his fulness, and ever be a God to us. Through this +doctrine, all the principles of the Gospel are made coherent. All the +requirements of man have in view his eternal growth. Man's presence +here on earth is simply that he may better learn to understand the +nature of gross matter, and thus to develop and progress more +completely. + +It is remarkable that Joseph Smith taught the law of evolution as an +eternal truth, twenty or more years before Darwin published his views. + +[Sidenote: God.] + +Above the law of laws is the force of forces--or the central force of +the universe. Science has little to say of God. It is content to +accept the laws of nature as they are found. Yet, at times, in some +branches of science, a knowledge of the beginning of things is +desired. Usually science answers, "I do not know;" but it nevertheless +affirms that there must be a central force, unknown and unnamed, to +which the manifestations of all other forces may be referred. Science, +which is essentially orderly, is chaotic when the question of the +beginning of things is raised. The "Mormon" Prophet left no such +weakness in his philosophy. He, too, realized the necessity of a +controlling universal force. This he named God. God is an organized, +material being, filled with the form of energy known as intelligence. +"The glory of God is intelligence." All other forces of nature may be +converted into intelligence; and from intelligence all other forces +may be obtained; God is the center of these forces, and their +directing power. Because of this centralization, nature is orderly. +Natural laws are not, as supposed by some philosophers, accidental +relations of phenomena, observed and recorded by man. The force of +intelligence controls all phenomena; there is mind behind the +operations of nature. God, himself a part of nature, is not the +creator of nature, but the organizer and director of it. What a +beautifully reasonable climax that is to the wonderful philosophy of +Joseph the Prophet! + +The intelligence of God is organized; therein lies his individuality +and life. Man is organized intelligence; therein lies his life. +Through obedience to law, intelligence grows; by the violation of law, +which is sin, it decays. It is the degree of organized intelligence +that ultimately distinguishes one man from other men; men from beasts, +beasts from plants, and plants from rocks. Since intelligence, as +defined by Joseph Smith, corresponds with the main form of energy of +the universe, the doctrine of God, and all other beings, and of life, +finds expression in terms of energy. That is exactly what science +demands. + +[Sidenote: Theology and science agree.] + +Is it any wonder that workers in science, who have been taught the +doctrine of an immaterial God who is able to create something from +nothing, and to transcend all laws of nature, depart from the faith of +their childhood? Truth is truth forever. Scientific truth cannot be +theological lie. To the sane mind, theology and philosophy must +harmonize. They have the common ground of truth on which to meet. + +Thus, on every hand, from the highest to the lowest, from the force of +forces and the law of laws to the fundamental laws governing the +operations of the universe, and the actions of the individual, the +philosophy of the "Mormon" Prophet is consistently referred back to +matter, energy and law. In its completeness, it transcends the +philosophy of science. Wherever the doctrines of "Mormonism" and +science meet, they agree. No discord has yet been found between them. +Science is daily confirming the truth of the universe--embracing +philosophy of the unlearned founder of "Mormonism." + +Back of the revelations of the greatness of the Prophet's knowledge +that come to all who enter upon such a discussion, stands the eminent +fact that "Mormon" philosophy is plain, simple, and easily understood. +There is no need and no room for mysteries in the teachings of Joseph +the Prophet. Similarly, the philosophy of men, based upon nature, is +essentially simple, and easily understood. Only untruth needs to hide +itself in mysteries. + +One hundred years have passed since Joseph, honored and chosen of God, +entered the school of life. Face to face with God, Joseph learned the +Gospel, planned before the foundations of the world were laid, and he +taught it to a careless world. It is not Joseph Smith's philosophy; +but God's code of fundamental laws, which the world is laboriously +deciphering in the beautifully written pages of nature. Is it any +wonder that the philosophy is perfect? + +Of simple brilliancy must have been the mind of the Prophet which was +able to discover in the forgotten corners of thought the priceless +gems of controlling, universal truth. + + + + +Chapter XX. + +CONCLUDING THOUGHTS. + + +It has been shown in the preceding chapters that Joseph Smith +recognized and stated the fundamental laws of all science, the +fundamental principles of physical and biological science and +astronomy, together with a great number of scientific facts, and made +these statements usually in advance of workers in science. + +It is a surprising fact that a young man of twenty-eight, who had had +no educational advantages of schooling, or reading, or society, should +state clearly and correctly known laws of science; but it is marvelous +that he should state fundamental laws that the workers in science did +not discover until many years later. Every honest man, be he friend or +enemy, must marvel, and ask, "Whence did this man derive his +knowledge?" + +Was he a man of lively imagination who guessed shrewdly? If so, he was +the shrewdest guesser the world has known. All that he said has come +true; his bitterest enemies have been unable to prove incorrect +statements of facts. Their attacks have always been on the origin of +the work, on its ethical ideals (which are largely personal opinions), +and on the probability that Joseph Smith was the real founder of +"Mormonism"--thus tacitly admitting the greatness of the work. Had he +been a guesser, simply, he would have failed somewhere, and thus +revealed his weakness. But let any man show one error in the inspired +writings of Joseph Smith, even when he dealt with matters which lay +far outside of his daily mission. Though thousands of persons have +felt impelled to war against "Mormonism," no such error has been +found. All human logic denies that he was a guesser. + +Did he receive his knowledge from well educated persons, who kept +themselves in the background? No documentary evidence has been found +to substantiate such a view. Primarily, it is unlikely that men of +intelligence and education would hide behind an ignorant boy, from the +time he was fourteen until his death at thirty-nine years of age. +There was nothing to gain by it; the prophet never had more wealth +than just enough to live on; the pleasure that his power over his +followers gave him, was more than offset by the ceaseless persecution +which followed him. Besides, nearly all the fairly well educated men +who joined the Church in the early days were given prominent positions +in the Church, yet it is known that they were instructed or chastised +by the youthful prophet whenever occasion required, as were those of +no or little education. Joseph Smith was always greater than any of +his followers. But above all, no educated man would have been able to +tell Joseph, by means of his education, of things not yet known. The +idea that Joseph Smith was only a dummy for clever heads is not +tenable. + +Since ordinary means were beyond his power, how did he acquire his +knowledge? How was he able to look into the future, and reveal its +secrets? "Ah," says a new philosopher, "I have it, he was epileptic, +and had trances, during which his visions appeared;" and the +philosopher proceeds to write a book proving his theory to be +correct.[A] What a pitiful attempt to push the question into the +region of the unknown; and at the same time, what a splendid +acknowledgment of the fact that the life and labors of Joseph Smith +transcend ordinary human explanations! Do epileptics, in their +phantasms, see orderly systems of truth, which are carried into effect +in their days of health and sanity? Does the epileptic see the truth +that shall be revealed in the coming ages, and teach it with a stately +soberness of language which admits of no uncertainty? If so, then +might the race well long for the time when the great gift of +healthful, reasoning imagination shall be exchanged for the ghastly +disease of epilepsy. Folly of follies! The life, writings and works of +Joseph Smith are healthy, above all else; no trace of physical, or +mental, or spiritual disease can be found in them. His teachings are +given as eternal truths revealed by the God of nature; and they rise +loftily above the vague theorizings of the investigator, or the +uncertain gibberish of the diseased intellect. Clearness, reason, +logic in method and execution, characterize the teachings and works of +Joseph Smith. Have such qualities ever indicated disease? + +[Footnote A: The Founder of Mormonism. Riley.] + +To the person who can rise above his prejudices, and confess to +himself that he is not able to explain in the manner of men how Joseph +Smith came by his knowledge of ideas, men and things, comes the strong +conviction that the "Mormon" prophet was inspired by a mightier power +than men possess; and if that conviction is followed by a prayerful +desire to know what that power is, the testimony will be given that +from God, the Controller of the universe, known by various men under +divers names, did Joseph Smith receive, directly, the truths which +fill the pages of his published writings, and direct the lives of his +followers. + +God spoke to Joseph, and gave him the revelations necessary for +building his kingdom in the last days. Little more than was necessary +did the Lord reveal, but occasionally, for the comfort of the prophet +and his associates, truths were given which hinted of the glorious +order of the universe. May it not be, also, that the Lord showed +Joseph many truths, similar to those touched upon in these papers, in +order that later generations might have additional testimonies of the +divinity of the latter-day work? Under the influence of the Holy +Spirit, the boy Joseph grew into a man, whose mind was filled with the +great vision of the contents and the destiny of the universe, +including the future lot of mankind. No man has had a nobler education +than that received by Joseph Smith. + +When the historian of future days shall review the history of the +growth of science, and shall judge men by the record that they have +left behind them, he will place Joseph Smith as the greatest +philosopher of science of the nineteenth century, and possibly of the +twentieth. Then will men reverently speak of that mighty mind and +clear vision, which, inspired by the God of heaven, saw, as in an open +book, the truths which men have later developed, through ceaseless +labor and countless vigils. Then shall the thinkers of the future +speak of him as Joseph, the clearsighted. + +Knowledge, concentrated into wisdom, is the end of existence. To those +who live according to God's law, knowledge will come easily. It will +continue to come to his people, until it shall be the most intelligent +among the nations. The Lord has said it. + +"How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the +heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the +Missouri River in its decreed course, or turn it up stream, as to +hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the +heads of the Latter-day Saints."[A] + +[Footnote A: Doctrine and Covenants, 121:33.] + + + + +APPENDIX. + +Chapter XXI. + +A VOICE FROM THE SOIL. + + +I. + +"--the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, +and left like a wilderness."--_Isaiah, xxvii:_ 10. + +It is a fact, which has impressed itself upon all readers of history, +that countries which have been the homes of the most powerful and +cultured nations, are now great stretches of the veriest desert. No +country teaches this truth better than the extensive valley of the +Mesopotamia which looms giant-like in the dawn of history. Upon its +plains and highlands, the great nations of antiquity acted the +tragedies of their existence; like the schoolboys' snowman, they rose, +with vast proportions, in a day, and fell ere the setting of the next +sun. In this district, advanced and retreated with wonderful +precision, as it appears to us so many ages removed from the time of +action, the Chaldeans, the Babylonians and the Assyrians; here the +Medes and Persians achieved the victories that made them famous, and +here came all the great generals of old to crown their successes. A +hundred populous cities clustered, in the lower part of the valley, +around Babylon the great, the most marvelous city of any past age; a +hundred cities were in the upper half, with Nineveh, also magnificent +and great, as their center. From Mesopotamia come evidences of +art--painting, sculpture, music, literature and architecture--the +indication of a higher civilization. Still, today, even the sites of +many of the great cities are lost, and Mesopotamia is a stretch of +barren land. + +To the west of Mesopotamia is the valley containing the promised land +of Palestine--it, also, has fallen from its former splendor, and is a +desert compared with the days of its greatest prosperity. Still +further west and south lies the land of Egypt, in the valley of the +Nile. It was the fostermother of science, and the shaker of empires. +It has fallen likewise; and a blight has come upon the soil, until it +bears the appearance of a sandy waste. Over the sites of other famous +nations of antiquity, in Europe and Asia, hovers, today, the spirit of +desolation. + +The same story is told on the American continent. Peru, the land of +the Incas, once populous, powerful, wealthy, is today largely a +wilderness. Mexico, the Aztec home, is now a vast desert, in spite of +the evidence, through the discovered ruins of mighty cities and +gigantic temples, that it was once the home of a strong people. +Central America tells a similar story. It seems to be a general fact +that wherever a large people lived formerly, there, today, a desert +often occurs. + +However, these countries are deserts only because human effort is no +longer applied to them; by proper treatment the lands would again be +raised to the flourishing condition that prevailed in their prosperous +days. Intrinsically the soils are extremely fertile, but are dry and +require the application of water to make the fertility suitable for +the use of crops. The soils of Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Peru and +Mexico, raise crops of wonderful yields when properly irrigated; and +there is abundant proof that in former days irrigation was practiced +in these countries on a scale far larger than in Utah or in any other +country of the present day. + +Many of the old irrigation canals of Babylon still exist, and prove +the magnitude of the practice, there, of the art of irrigation. The +old historians, also, agree in explaining the ingenious devices by +which whole rivers were turned from their courses to flow over the +soil. In Egypt, likewise, irrigation was more commonly practiced in +the past than it is today; though even now a large portion of the soil +of that country is made to yield crops by the artificial application +of water. In Peru, Central America, and Mexico, the irrigation canals +that remain from prehistoric days are even more wonderful as feats of +engineering and as evidences of a populous and enlightened condition +of the country than the massive temples and extensive cities that are +also found. In the construction of these canals every precaution, +apparently, was taken to have the water applied to the lands in the +right manner, and to reduce the loss to a minimum. In some places +immense canals remain, that are tiled for miles, on sides and bottom, +in order to render them watertight, and thus prevent any loss by +seepage. + +Instead of saying, then, that the countries where most great nations +have lived are now deserts, we may as well say that most great nations +have lived in countries where irrigation was necessary; in fact, that +history indicates that a dense population, and high culture, usually +go hand in hand with a soil that thirsts for water. What can science, +the great explainer, say on this subject? + + +II. + +"Science moves, but slowly, slowly, moving on from point to +point."--_Locksley Hall_. + +A plant feeds in two ways--by its leaves, and by its roots. The leaves +feed from the air; the roots from the soil. In the air is found a +colorless, heavy gas, known as carbon dioxide, which is made up partly +of the element of carbon, or charcoal. When an animal or a plant is +burned at a low heat, it first chars, showing the presence of +charcoal; then if the burning be continued, it disappears, with the +exception of the ash, as the gas, carbon dioxide. Since animal and +vegetable matters are constantly being burned upon the earth's +surface, naturally the air contains a perceptible quantity of carbon +dioxide. The leaves of a living plant, waving back and forth, draw +into themselves the carbon dioxide with which they come into contact, +and there break it up and take the carbon away from it. The carbon +thus obtained by the leaves is built into the many ingredients of a +plant, and carried to the parts that are in greatest need. The plant +is able to do this by virtue of the peculiar properties of the green +coloring matter in all its leaves, leaf green; which acts, however, +only in the presence of bright sunlight. Since one-half or more of the +dry matter of a plant is carbon, the importance of the +leaf-air-feeding of a plant may be understood. + +The water which a plant contains and the incombustible portions, the +mineral matters or ash, are taken directly from the soil by means of +the roots. The old idea that vegetable mould and other corbonaceous +matters are also taken from the soil by the roots has been shown to be +erroneous. The mineral portions of a plant are of the highest value to +the life of the plant--without them, in fact, it languishes and dies. +If a soil on which a plant is growing contains, for instance, no iron, +the leaves become pale, soon white, and finally they lose the power of +appropriating carbon from the air. If potash is absent from the soil, +the plants growing upon it will develop in an imperfect manner and +finally die. It has been found by careful experiment that seven +mineral substances must be found in every soil, if it shall support +the life of plants, namely: (1) Potash; (2) lime; (3) magnesia; (4) +oxide of iron or iron rust; (5) sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol; (6, +phosophoric acid, and (7) nitric acid or aqua fortis. The fertility of +any soil or soil district is determined by the quantity of these +indispensable ash ingredients contained by it. + +All soils are produced by the breaking down of the mountains under the +influence of weathering. The broken down rock is washed into the +hollows and lowlands by the rains and floods of melted snow, and there +forms soil. Soil may, therefore, be defined, in a general way, as +pulverized rock. Nearly all rocks contain the elements above +enumerated as being essential to a plant's life; and nearly every soil +will, consequently, be in possession of them. Rocks, however, in being +subjected to the action of weathering, undergo other changes than mere +pulverization. The potash, lime and other plant foods held by a rock +are in an insoluble condition, and can not be taken up with any ease +by the plant roots. As the rock is pulverized in the process of +weathering, it is also made more soluble, and the juices of the plant +roots can then absorb the needed foods with greater facility. This +process of making the soil more soluble, continues while time lasts, +and every year will find the soil more soluble than the year before, +if there are no opposing actions. Therefore, the fertility of a soil +is determined not only by the quantity of plant food it contains, but +also by the condition of solubility the soil constituents are in. + +According to the facts above given, it would be fair to infer that a +soil becomes more fertile with every year that passes. This would be +the case were it not for opposing tendencies. First, the crops grown +upon a soil remove considerable quantities of mineral plant food. This +alone would not seriously affect the fertility of a soil did not other +forces act in conjunction with it. The most important cause of +lowering the fertility of soils is the loss of plant food due to +drainage. In districts of abundant rainfall, as, for instance, the +Eastern United States, sufficient rain falls to soak the soil +thoroughly and to drain through and go off as drainage water. The +water, in passing through the soil, will dissolve, as far as it can, +the soluble ingredients, including the plant foods, and carry them +away into the rivers and finally into the ocean. This action, +continued for many years, will rob the soil to feed the ocean; in +fact, the saltness of the ocean is due, largely, to the substances +washed out of the soils. Most of the poor soils of the world have been +rendered infertile in this way. If, on the other hand, only a small +quantity of rain falls upon the soil--an amount sufficient to soak the +soil without draining through--the water will gradually be evaporated +back into the air, and there will be no loss of plant food. In such a +district the soils, if they are treated right, become richer year by +year, even though subjected to tillage, if the tillage be according to +our best knowledge. + +In every rainless district, or in every district where the rainfall is +so slight as to render irrigation necessary, the soils would be +expected to be richer than in a place of abundant rainfall. Leaving +out of consideration differences due to local conditions, this has +been verified by the study of soils from many parts of the world. The +soils of an arid district contain more soluble plant food than those +of a humid district, and, with proper treatment, will not only raise +larger crops, but remain fertile much longer. They will also bear +harsher treatment, closer cultivation, and are in every respect +superior to the water-washed soils of a humid country. A recent study +of the soils of Utah has shown that the fertility of our soils is +exceedingly high, and that they will endure long and close +cultivation; that is, that because of the peculiar climatic conditions +of the State, they can support bountifully a large population. + +Several years ago Dr. E. W. Hilgard, an eminent student of climate and +soils, threw out the suggestion that upon the facts just discussed +rests the explanation of the historical datum that the great nations +of antiquity on this and on other continents sought for the abodes the +rainless, arid stretches of the world. A large, active population, +which does not depend on other peoples for its support, must of +necessity possess the most fertile lands, which are found only in +districts of limited rainfall. In the whole history of the world, the +great granaries of the world have been located on the arid stretches; +and on our continent, the great West, largely arid, is becoming the +source of the food staples of the nation. Utah is the heart of the +arid region of North America; her soils are heavy with wealth of plant +food. If the time comes that her valleys be filled with people, +crowding in from the nations of the earth, her soils, responding to +the better treatment which science is developing day by day, will +display their strength, and feed the world, should the demand be made. + + +III. + +"Therefore will I make solitary places to bud and blossom, and to +bring forth in abundance, saith the Lord."--_Doctrine and Covenants_. + +Sixty years ago the facts of plant feeding, as just outlined, were +practically unknown. The erroneous ideas of the preceding century +still held full sway. In 1840 Liebig published his treatise on +agricultural chemistry which threw a faint light on the relation of +the plant and the soil. During the twenty years following, the +indispensable nature of some of the plant foods was ascertained; and +it is only within the last ten or fifteen years that the superiority +of arid districts over humid ones, for the purpose of supporting man, +has been demonstrated. Even today it is a new light which has not been +fully received. + +In 1842 Joseph the Prophet wrote: "I prophesied that the saints would +continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky +Mountains * * * and some of you will live to go and assist in making +settlements and build cities and see the saints become a mighty people +in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." Why did Joseph Smith speak of +the Rocky Mountains as a gathering place for his people? Was it simply +because the place was far off and offered, apparently, good security? +If so, he builded better than he knew. But what prompted Brigham Young +to plant his cane by the shore of an alkali lake and say, Here we +shall remain? That certainly was not for security only. Perhaps he was +tired of wandering? Though he may have been so, yet he was not the man +to give up when near something better. Perhaps he thought the valley +fair, and the blue mountains may have rested his eyes? If that was the +motive of settlement, he, too, builded better than he knew. Certainly +it is that these two men who historically hold the responsibility for +bringing the Latter-day Saints here, did not know, by the world's +learning, that the valleys of Utah are filled with the richest soil, +waiting only to yield manifold to the husbandman; for the world did +not yet know, and had no means for predicting it. These men were not +scientists. They had no laboratories in which, by long hours, over +long drawn fires, and among a hundred fumes, to draw out for +themselves the law of the fertility of arid soils, which has but +recently become the property of modern science. It is not likely that +the records of a lost learning, unknown today, taught them this fact. +Though they had had such records, they were unlettered men, and the +ancient tongues would have been dead indeed to them, had they +attempted an interpretation by their own efforts. Why then, did they +bring the people here? Was it a chance move? A blind effort, acting +out the desperation that comes from long persecution? If an element of +chance entered into the location in the valleys of Utah, it was akin +to wisdom. + +_And it was wisdom_ of the highest kind; at which the world ever +stands in reverent wonder; inspiration from the living God. The logic +that science, itself, applies to facts in the deduction of its laws, +makes it impossible to believe that the settlement of the pioneers in +the Salt Lake Valley was a chance move. Nothing, from the point of +view of human wisdom, encouraged the pioneers to remain in Utah--they +were in the center of a desert; the leaders were urged by many of the +company to go on, for there were fairer climes to the west or the +south, or on the islands of the sea. But the leaders were possessed of +a wisdom higher than that of men, and founded an empire on the wastes +of the Great American Desert. + +Now, let every reader of this paper consider these wonderful facts: Of +the vast possibilities of agriculture in Utah being the same with +those of the countries where the great nations of the world have +lived; of a people, claiming that the nations shall in the future flee +to it for safety, making its home in a place which possesses the +capabilities of supporting the nations; and of the choice of that +country when it was named a desert; when science, the world's +knowledge, did not dream of the fertility of that desert any more than +it was able to give a correct explanation of the fertility of the +valley of Mesopotamia: and every honest heart will recognize the +unseen hand of the God of Israel, guiding the people of God to the +destined land. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Joseph Smith as Scientist, by John A. 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