Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 8, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 23.

1514.—The People Called Mormons.

Are the people called Mormons mentioned in prophecy? L. P.

We think they are in Matt. 24: 24-26:— “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”

Spiritualism has told us that Christ’s second coming is manifest in the secret chambers. Mormonism tells us that He will come to the desert, to Utah. Christ tells us, “Go not forth.” When He comes, every eye shall see Him. Matt. 24: 27; Rev. 1: 7. Labor to convert them from their errors to the truth as it is in the Bible. They now worship man.

1515.—Speaking with Tongues. 1 Cor. 14: 5, 9, 10.

Will you please explain 1 Cor. 14: 5, 9, 10? The Mormons claim that it is the mystery of God speaking to some of them. A. J. F.

The gift of tongues, not “unknown tongues,” as in our common version, is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God in the church. It was given, as were the other gifts, “to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12: 7); “for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ.” None of these gifts are given at man’s will, but are given and are to be exercised as the Spirit will. 1 Cor. 12: 4-11. There is much meaningless babble, which shrewd impostors and half-crazed or demon-possessed enthusiasts have palmed off upon their duped followers as “unknown tongues,” a gift of God. Paul shows that every voice ought to have significance; if it does not, and can not be made plain, it better not be heard. The gift was bestowed to reach those who needed to hear, as on the day of Pentecost; and will ever be exercised when the need exists and God’s people have the humility and faith to claim the promise.

1516.—“Hard Nuts for Seventh-dayists.”

To Various Correspondents.—It is not a hard thing to pile up negatives; but there is no particular virtue in them. Very many of the “Hard Nuts” referred to are sophistical negatives, intended to puzzle and confound. All that is in them of any worth has been answered scores of times in various ways. There is no trouble in them to him who knows the Bible, or to him who sees consistency and harmony in God’s government, tho he may not know His Bible so well. The publication above referred to seems to have greatly pleased the writer and those who wish an excuse for disobeying God.

1517.—The Spirit of God.

In John 4: 24 it says that God is a spirit. New Thought says, “God is not a personal being, only a spirit.” I know He is a personal being, but I can not explain the difference between Him and His Spirit. F. K.

First of all, let us not think of the word “spirit” as representing nothing. It may represent something more substantial than mere material metal or stone. Angels, both good and evil, are called “spirits,” and each of them has individuality, personality. Christ is called “spirit.” 1 Cor. 15: 45. And so also, God is a spiritual Being, having personality and a local habitation, the center of the universe. What His Spirit is, in all its marvelous manifestations, we do not know. In a word, we would say that God’s Spirit is the outflowing of His life, carrying with it to all parts of the universe the power of His presence. A telephone system is a feeble illustration of this. The one at the head of the system, with all connections made, could speak to all parts of the system at the same time. The presence of his voice is everywhere present in the system. This touches upon only one phase of presence; God’s system takes all phases into account.