Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-13
WHO WAS THE F1RsTBoRNr

we are informed that the doctrine
has been promulgated tn some places
from the stand and in Sunday schools
( that Satan in his original estate, be-
fore he fell through transgresslon, was
+ the elder brother OF Christ and shat
I he had the right to devise plan
whereby 10 save mankind, which plan'
ON account Of It's taking away the Tree
agency Of man WAS rejected. and that
az the Savior was accepted in It's place.
we arc requested 10 explain this mat
4 ter and state whether II Is right or
wrong.
According 10 the revelations OF God
through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the
splrits Of all mankind on this globe
were pre-existent aud were with the
Father before the world VAS that this
Globe vas formed for their especial
benefit, 30 that they might come here
and obtain physical bodies out OF tho
sJements composing the earth The
introduetion OF death through the
fransgression Of law was foreseen ny
the Eternal Father, and q means OF re-
domptlon from It's effects was consider
ed. and presented 10 the spiritual hosts
who were predestined TO come to the
earth IN their several times and places
According TO the revelations Of God
10 Abraham on this subject as given IN
the Pearl OF Great Price, and the rev.
clation to the Prophet Moses in tho
same book. the Beloved Son." who
was with the Father from the begin
ming and by whom the worlds were
framed. offered himself as the Redeem
err according 20 the viii Of the Father,
but Lucifer presented plan which
was not in conformity with the nina
and purpose OF the Father and was
therefore rejected and he rebelled ana
led away many into darkness. (See page
IA That the Beloved Son was first to
offer himself is clear from page eS,
which relates how after the two prop
EDITIONS had been made. God said. Il
Win send the FIRST, and the second was
angry and kept not his first estate. and
In that day many followed after him
In section 90 OF the Doctrine ana
4 Covenants Is revelation given by the
/ savior Himself. In which this occurs:
/ "And now verify | say unto you !
\ Was in the beginning with the Father
and am the ilrstborn." That Is plain
and direct statement and should be
Sufficient. IT Is further stated In the
same revelation. MAN was also In the
BEGINNING with Cod The New Testa-
r,ent sears out the declaration concern
ing "The Beloved son."In Collohhians !,
Jesus Is sroken OF in this way: WHO
"a the image OF the invisible God, the
firslborn Of every creature tverse lb)
"And he Is before all things and by him
oil things consist" verse I'D. Jesus
was the "only Bcgotten" OF the Father
"a the flesh, but Ho was the First Be-
gotten" in the spirit, In tho epistle to
the Hebrews, chapter one. verse six. we
read; oAnd again, when He brlngeth
IN the first begotten into the world he
saith, let all the angels of God wor-
ship HIM" We might quote many other
,assages from the scriptures in support
Of this point, but we do not consider
It necessary.
The doctrine OF the Church is that
Christ. who was 'rhe Word" was In
4 the beginning with God; that He was
God that He is the God Of this earth.
( even Jehovah. that lie was before all
+ tile spirits who were In the beginning
with the Father; that although Luclfei
I was "a son OF the morning" and in
4 great power and authority. the Beloved
Son was before him and Luclfer sought
+ to take his honor from him. He pro-
rosed to take away the agency of man.
kind, when the intellIgences above should
f be ,abernacled In flesh, and thereby all
would be redeemed, because they would
not have power to sin and would not
be placed IN any test. But the plan Of
+ the Eternal Father comprehended the
Z ordeals which are needful TO prove and
4 try mankind, to demonstrate their fit-
( ness for Story and power and dominion
In worlds without end. They are to
come TO Judgment. and according to
their works they VIII be exalted or ie'
based.
Through the redemption wrought out
I by Christ, they Will all be raised from
! the death that was the consequence OF
Adams transgresslon, and only the re-
4 heilious end wilfully wicked. who love
/ darkness rather than light and choose
aiillalion with Satan rather than fell
/ lowship with God and Christ and light
and truth, will go away with the devil
and his angels at the final Judgment.
I Christ IS the First Born. He is at
I The head Of the race. lie win be ex-
( allied above all He was sinless and
1 perfect Before Him every knee shall
/. bow, not only because OF his birthright,
/ hut because OF his fitness for that eter-
nal exaltntion