p. 66 | 62. MORMON EVIDENCES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 5, 1892

62. MORMON EVIDENCES.

Is there any ground for the use of Isa. 29:4, by the Mormon, to prove that any writing would be found buried in the earth which would explain any truth not understood in the Bible in connection with the book of Mormon? A. H.

The text in question has reference to the low state to which Jerusalem (Ariel) would be brought on account of her sins. It reads: "And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust." It is the last text which we should expect anyone to take to prove a divine or heaven-sent message. Jesus said to the Jews, "Ye are from beneath, I am from above." His messages come down from heaven. "Familiar spirits" are always condemned, and a voice like that of one that had a familiar spirit would of itself be condemned. The verse simply means that Jerusalem, that trusted in her wealth, her allies, and her false gods, would be humbled low in the dust. See context and Isa. 8:19, 20.