W. W. Phelps:
CHRISTMAS ADDRESS.
As time will shortly pass
the Isthmus,
I thought I’d drop a word
for Christmas;
For sure the era of a
Savior,
Has much to do with earth’s
behavior.
Before this world had its
beginning,
Or Lucifer began his
sinning,
By asking Father’s
“honor,”—(meant hence,
To save the world without
repentance,)
While in the sinless realms
of spirits,
He said:--“I’ll save men on
their merits.”
The lamb was slain—he died
a martyr,
Then rose triumphant,
conq’ring after:
And so he lives for our
salvation,
To raise us from our
degradation,
Which Satan brought from
his new college,
And Eve “partook” to gain
the knowledge;
And Adam “ate,” for he was
human,
And plagued a world to
please a woman!
And down “fell” all in
common sorrow--
With hopes to rise again
to-morrow:--
But oh!
to-morrow!—boundless ocean!
With all her tempest waves’
commotion,
Has lengthened out the
awful terror--
And let the world go on in
error,--
Till yonder comes the
dreaded trouble!
“The wicked must be burnt
as stubble!”
The suffering now must be
exquisite;
“It must,” said Christ upon
his visit,
“For earth has sinned and
killed my servants,
“And all is under my
observance:
“I was; I am; and will be
ever,
“And none can stay my
hands; no, never!
“To-day I bring glad
tidings—‘tis well!
“Why will ye die, O house
of Israel?
“Repent; be washed; do
right, be clever;
“And you can live in bliss,
forever.” (W. W. Phelps, Deseret Almanac, for the Year of Our Lord, 1853
[Salt Lake City: W. Richards, 1853]: 26)
Eliza
Roxcy Snow:
Christ conquered death: And to the
Saints of God,
Who live to do His will, death has no
sting;
'Tis a kind porter to admit us where
A realm of light and beauty shines
around—
A world of glorious Immortality!
A world? Yes, words of vast immensity.
And what of us? To be our very selves,
Free from all imperfections consequent
Upon the curse entailed through Adam's
Fall—
To enjoy life's sweet
associations—those (Eliza R. Snow, "Immortality," in Eliza R. Snow, Recitations
for the Primary Associations, in Poetry, Dialogues and Prose, Book No. 2 [Salt
Lake City: Deseret News Company, 1882], 71)
