The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-25

in memory of the Nativity. than they are
in determining the precise date of the
event; therefore, we say, all hail our
Christmas day!
Some devout Christians have pro-
claimed-and not without cause-againss
the extreme festive character of the day,
to the almost entire exclusion of the
solemnity that attaches to it; seeing that
the birth of the Savior involves conse-
quences that are eternal in their char.
acter, affecting the whole human race.
The mystery that has enshrouded tbs
birth OF the Savior, according to the
learned dissertations of profound theolog-
ians of past ages, as well as those of our
time, is really no mystery at all when
viewed in the light of revelation, true
reason and common sense.
To claim that God does anything, or
brings to pass any event-no matter how
important--that pertains to this earth con.
trary to natural laws, is altogether un-
tenable ground
Therefore, to admit that the law pertain.
ing to procreation was altogether ignored
In the law of Jesus, and that His begettin4
and birth were a mysterious and incompre-
henslble result of an equally mysterious
act on the part of heaven, angels or the
Holy Ghost is an unwarranted assumption
and more worthy the mythology of anciens
heathens than of enlightened Christians OF
the nineteenth century.
Il am the son of God,' was an announce
ment made by himself eighteen centurieE
ago, and is no more strange than the say
Ing OF any other man to-day am the son
OF John, or Joseph or Matthew, ETC., and
should be accepted as equally true. Theirs
is no mystery about the last assertions
neither should there be about the frs.
The Godhead are separate and distinct ia
their persons, their character and their
missions, but united in the grand work Of
the salvation and redemption of Adams
race-ln restoring that which was lost
through the fall and, finally, in the eIeva-
ton of man to the same plane that they
themselves occupy. In this great work
they act as a unit.
Is 1t any wonder, then, that the motheT
of this promised Savior should be undeR
the special watchcare or that she should
receive special ministrations from the Holy
Ghost before the birth of her child, for waa
there not involved in that birth conse-
quences of the most vital character in
which the Holy Ghost was directly inter-
ested, as well as humanity in generals
Neither is there any wonder that God
the Father should endorse this Son by the
proclamation: ''This is my beloved Son in
whom am well pleased"
Follow we now His history-H1s Iowly
birth; His exile in the land of Egypt His re-
turn to Nazareth; His appearance before
the learned doctors at the age of II wears,
confounding them by His questions and an
sWers His baptism by John; the recognition
nj Him by His father at this time; His long
fast, which was altogether unprecedentedt
His successful contest with the ''Son OF
Perdihon," after that fast and at otheP
times; His ordination OF twelve men to tho
apostleship and the organization of His
church; His healing of the sick, restoring
the deaf and blind to their hearing and
sight, as well as raising the dead; the last
supper, when He so truthfully pointed oua
His betrayer; His agony in the garden
when feeling the weight of the sins of the
world, which caused the blood to oOze from
his pores and Him to exclaim ''lf it be pos
sible let this cup pass;'' and then, His be-
trayal by one of His own disciples.
Also that memorable trial at which Hs
was honorably acquitted; the final yielding
of PLATE to the popular clamor, cruelty
Him." the bearing Of His own cross to ths
scene of the cruel murder, being tainted
and abused by the populace on the way,
the further humiliation of being crucifed
between two thieves; His patient listening
to one of the criminals who manifested
penitence and comforting him in his last
moments.
Contemplating, as He did at that time.
the terrible responsibility that must rest
upon the Jewish nation for His cruel death,
and although He had prophesied the de-
struction of their temple, their city and its
environs, as well as the terrible caIamitiea
that would befall themselves, yet He for
got His own bodily sufferings and the ago.
MES of death which He was then enduring.
and in the fullness of His GodIfke soul ex.
claimed: "Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do" The life-blood
being row nearly exhausted through the
cruel wounds so fouly inflicted, He made
His final and grand exclamation which will
resound through the ages, aye and through
the eternities 200: sit is finished"
Thus was yielded life that is without q
parallel in the worlds history
Surely the birthday of so noble charao-
ter should be celebrated in such an appro-
pirate manner as to show our appreciation
of His worth, both in life and in death, and
should never be allowed to degenerate into
a day of mere feasting and folly.
Let the evergreen, then, be profusely
scattered around; whether it be the Druids'
sacred mistletoe, the branches of the pine.
/ the holly or any Others for the evergreens
) are emblems of immortality and relate alike
to acts, the memory of which should neveY
die out, as well as to that immortality
, which has been secured to man by HiR
whose birth we this day celebrate.