_1. Joy in the Gospel:_ The rejoicing of Adam and Eve on receiving a dispensation of the Gospel, which rejoicing went to the extent of condoning the fact of their fall, (See Book of Moses, V:10, 12) could arise from no other circumstance than that their former knowledge of what was to be accomplished by the earth-life of man had been restored to them. Which knowledge possessed by the pre-existent spirits of man before the foundations of the earth were laid, caused "The Morning Stars to sing together, and all the sons of God to shout for joy." (Job 38:7). Doubtless the contemplation of that "eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus I:2) was sufficient cause for their joy; and it brings home to us the truth, that notwithstanding the presence of evil and sorrow in this world, there has been no blundering in the creation of the earth and the placing of men upon it under circumstances in the midst of which they are called upon to work out their salvation. The purposes of God have not been surprised, nor have they ran awry. On the contrary they are moving forward in majestic procession to the attainment of their end. God is in his world, reconciling it unto himself. Man is here in this world in one of the departments of God's great university to learn of good and evil; of joy and sorrow; to take upon his spirit a clothing of flesh and bone,--elements through which, and only through which, (See Doc. & Cov. Sec. xciii; 33, 34) he may have a larger, nobler and higher life than was possible for him when existing only in spirit form. And the coming in contact with evil and engaging in the struggle with it, brief or more or less prolonged, is but an incident, a means of education, and over evil he will ultimately triumph, and conform his life to the law of God--the law of righteousness. And so, too, will the race, those who succumb permanently to evil will be so few in comparison with those who will triumph, that the calamity of their misfortunes should not weigh against the larger good that shall come to the race, or check the rejoicings of the first pair upon gaining the full vision of God's meaning when he ordained man's earth-existence.