Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-25
CHRISTMAS SERVICE
IN THE TABERNACLE
Elder 0. F. Whitney Delivered
Eloquent Address on
Savior's Mission.
GOOD MUSICAL PROGRAM
President Windcr i'm Charge of Service
Which Was Attended by Several
Hundred People.

Special services. commemorative OF
the birth of the Savior. were held this
morning in the tabernacle. and at
tended by several hundred people. who
enjoyed the excellent program fur
nished. as we'll as the impressive ser
mon preached by Elder Orson F. Whit
ney of the council of twelve.
The services were in charge of Presi-
dent John r. Winder. and there were
present on the stand President Anthon
H. Lund, Heber J Grant, George S.
Richards, Hyrum M. Smith and Orson
F Whitney, of the council of twelve
After selection on the great organ
by Prof ]. ]. Mcclellan, prayer was
offered by Elder F. S. Richards
Shine on, o Star" was then sung
by Miss Edith Grant, after which Prof.
Mcclellan played, Nearer My God to
Thee"
John Robinson then sang the solo.
Nazareth"
BISHOP o. f. WHITNEY.
Elder orson f. Whitney began his
address by reading from the first
chapter of Johns Gospel, regarding
which cometh into the world, and the
word which was made flesh and dwelt
among men, full of grace and truth
In these simple though sublime
words. said Elder Whitney. the beloved
apostle announces the Incarnation OF
the Son of God and this Is the day set
aside Tor the celebration of that event
1t matters not now whether this is the
exact day, the all important fact Is
exemplifed that he did come into the
world and die for the sins of the world
shall take 1t for granted that all
present look upon Christ as the Son
OF God and not alone as q great teach
er- There may be those among us here
who think 1t strange that one mans
life could be effectual in bringing to
life dead world. There is no more
mystery about this than that by one
mans transgresSlon death came into
the world To me death is Just as mys-
terlous as BIRTH and birth Just as
mysterious as death. And the fact that
by one mans transgression death came
Into the world is just as mysterious ns
that by the vicarious work of one
man life came to man
Consider the conditions which led
the second Parsonage of the Godhead
TO give his life for the world. The
Latter-day Saints do not regard Adam
as a criminal, as one who fell wickedly
and waywardly.
We believe in the transgression of
Adam. socalled. this fall being COM
pretended in these words, Adam fell
that man might be, man Is that he
might have joy BY this we mean
that Adams fall gave man his oppor-
tunities in this world. Previous to this
they existed in the spirit world. 1t
was necessary, in the economy OF God.
for the spirit OF man to obtain body,
1t being essential to progress. 1t was
necessary to have a body in order to
go on to perfection. The spirit and
body constitute the soul OF man. and It
is the soul which is redeemed in the
resurrection. Consequently man came
to earth to get 4 body and also get ex-
perience to fit him for glory in the
world to come
All men who have tabernacled in the
| flesh kept their first estate, and their
| reward for obedience there was the op-
portunlty to come here and get bodies.
| All Of the spirits in the first estate were
| not so favored. Lucifer and his hosts
| were not permitted to do SO. but were
| cast out of heaven and they now tempt
man. Adams fall was in reality Il step
! forward.
Adam and Eve became mortal that
| men might be born in the flesh and the
| world peopled with mortal beings To
| do this IL was necessary to break a
| law This was done by Adam and
| Eve. who partook of the forbidden
| fruit and brought sin and misery and
wretchedness into the world.
Notwithstanding this fall OF Adam.
| provision was made to bring immortal
| ity to light and to place man where he
was before the fall Tho Savior was
the person chosen to do this work and
overcome the death which came
through the fall, which was eternal
banishment from God, The world was
placed in pawn by the fall and the
pawnbroker Is death. But God, know
ing from the beginning, that
this would occur. provided
way of escape by the, sacrifice
of the life OF a God. who descended
from his throne of glory and gave his
life to restore the equilibrium and
make 1t possible for Adam, and all men
upon whom death had passed, to live
again and enter the presence of God
He did that for us which We could not
do for ourselves and he asks US to keep
his laws and the commandments of
God. promising us II we do so. that we
shall have eternal life in his presence.
CONDEMNED BY OWN ACTS.
On the day OF Pentecost, Peter told
those who were pricked in their hearts
what they should do to be saved. 1t
Is also said that those who do not
obey tho gospel Will be damned. which
is strong language. But If after God
has given us ITc lnestilS VI cstdPc VIC
reject 1t, it is our own acts that damn
us. not God. II a man falls into pit,
and cannot get out, Is he wise to reject
the aid of q friend who puts down
ladder? The way of God is so simple
that many reject it because of that
fact. When Augustine was first told
The requirements Of the gospel. to repent
OF his sins and be baptized. he dcspised
Il at FIRST. So with Naaman when
told to go and dip in Jordan seven
times. 1t was so simple a cure for his
leprosy that he at first rejected 1t.
These men afterwards accepted OF the
hand OF help. sThey climbed the ladder.
Shall VIC be self sufficient and reject
the means provided by God?
The Savior was provided because
man could not effect his own salvation.
There is no death that we experience
worthy of the name. 1t Is merely the
divorce OF the body and spirit
To save us the Savior descended be-
low all things that he might rise above
all things. And his first words after
his resurrection were, "Ail power, is
given me on earth and In heaven"
At the conclusion of Elder Whltney'5
address. Miss Esther Davis sang ''The
Rosary" after which Miss Edith Grant
sang 20 Ny Father"
The benedicton was pronounced by
A II