Earliest known reference to "spirit birth" in a letter from LS to EW in February 1842.
Lorenzo Snow, Letter to "Elder Walker," February 14, 1842. Transcription prepared by Edith Romney.
Some thirteen thousand years ago in Heaven or in Paradise (say) we came into existence or in other words received a spiritual organization according to the laws that governs spiritual births in eternity. We were there and then (say) born in the express image and likeness of him by whom we received our spiritual birth possessing the same faculties & powers but in their infantile state yet susceptable of an elevation equal to that of those possessed by our Spiritual Father But in order to effect this we must needs be planted in a material tabernacle. Accordingly the great machine was set in motion whereby bodies for the immortal sons and daughters of God came into being; Previously redeemed souls sang together. and the sons of God or the spirits awaiting to be perfected shouted with joy in anticipation of one day being like their Father in all things both in relation to becoming the Father of Spirits an that of Glorified bodies so that God might be "all in all" so we might be called by his name by spirits yet unborn and thus have an everlasting and ever increasing kingdom of our own like unto that of his own . . .