The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-22
At the Tabernacle.

There was a large gathering at the
tabernacle yesterday. The services
were commenced with the usual pre-
liminaries, Stake President Angus NJ.
Cannon presiding.
An overture on the great organ was
rendered in a masterful manner by
John G. Mcclellan, who has recently
returned from Ann Arbor, where he
greatly distinguished himself by his
fine musical talent
Elder David Mckenzie was the
speaker. His text was from John 3. Z:
Except a man be born again he can
not enter into the kingdom OF heaven
This doctrine, he said. of the second
birth has been the subject OF volumes
of commentaries and criticism. The
belief of Latter-day Saints as to what
constituted the death in Eden and the
nature and significance OF me second
birth differs from that of most tneolo-
gians.
What life was it that Adam lost
when he transgressed the divine in
juntion? When the Savior said it was
necessary for all men TO be born
again, it was because of this original
death in the garden, which passed
upon, all the posterity of Adam That
was not a literal but a spiritual death,
for the first parent lived for several
centuries after his Punishment from
the garden.
This doctrine of primeval death and
the second death was taught and ex-
planned by Joseph Smith during his
ministrationS among T. %
Adam died spiritually. This was the
heritage of all his descendants, and
hence the essentially of another or
spiritual life.
Baptism or the regeneration of wa
ter is beautifully typical.
Like the original birth, the baptism
into the new life is of water, blood
and the spirit The water of baptism
does away with sin, the blood of atone
ment is effectual and Gods spirit is
implanted to the regenerated believer.
The fall was necessary to the pro-
gress and perfection OF the race. There
can be no reward for virtue when its
opposite is unknown. God will bless
those who, being cogniZant of evil,
choose to follow in the ways of truth.
How is man 10 overcome the effects
of the fall? The divine mandate comes
down to us through the centuries-be
born again. Philosophy says that in
tuition brings knowledge when, collat-
eral proof and outside evidence sup
ports that intuition or original sense.
The Latter-day Saints feel through the
spirit that this is Gods work and have
heard thousands of their brethren tes-
tify TO the same knowledge.
1t must be remembered that the gift
of the spirit does not, as a rule, come
spontaneously. but is conferred by
Gods servants through the LAYING on
of hands. This was the case when
Peter and John impaired the spirit TO
the saints of Samaria. On a philo-
sophical principle this spirit must be
transmitted from one L.7zy to another.
Thus, one possessed of the Christ-Iife
can give it also to the worthy cornmun-
icant. The wind bloweth where it
listeth. So might it be said of the op-
erations OF the still small voice of the
Hol~ Spirit.
God, whose hand is seen in the
growth of the ILL.,. which is more per
feet than Solomon in his glory. takes
care of the natural life and organism
OF man. Man must place himself in
accordance with the divine law in or
der that he may attain to spiritual
development. Thus, the gift of the
spirit and eternal life are offered tn
the generations, and whose will he
obedient TO his will, will receive the
sanction of divine approval and bless
lngs- Christ said that except We
aDloe IN me ye have NOT
life The life here referred to
is the spiritual life or that w;.io5
Audh loSt. a noted theOlogian re-
Gently said that from the thousands Of
pulpits in the world is being preached
an impossible doctrine. because with
out the spirit of God no man can
spiritually progress. As the life acts
and generates in the pIana 50 acts 1he
spirit in the man. The hcly spirit is
given to make man subservent to
Gods divine will. \ wei known pro
fessor significantly asks if the sancrl-
fication of character C mes by caprice.
We cannot believe SO That very
ordinace. of baptism was instituted
for the reception of the spiritual life.
Thus the whole plan and system is
beautifully harmonious and accords
fully with the teachings of science.
The Bible is a. great and unerring
guide in the search for enlightenment
and truth. The ancient Greeks