,,the ,,plan ,,of ,,salvation4 ,,by ,,elder ,,john ,,morgan4 ,,printed ,,and ,,published ,,at ,,the ,,millennial ,,star ,,office1 #bie ,,edge ,,lane1 ,,liverpool4 ,in the midst of the ,christian world there are very many conflicting theories1 in relation to man's existence here and hereafter2 also as to the duties he owes to himself1 his fellow-man and to his ,creator4 ,it is an undisputed question that some knowledge of ,,where ,,we ,,came ,,from1 ,,why ,,we ,,are ,,here1 ,,and ,,where ,,we ,,go ,,after ,,we ,,leave ,,this ,,probation1 is essential to the enjoyment and well-being of the human family4 ,in the following pages of this tract we shall seek to briefly set forth the belief of the ,latter-day ,saints on these points4 ,while they may differ widely from the accepted ideas of the ,christian world1 we may be allowed to mildly suggest1 that this difference is not so much between the sects of the day and the ,latter-day ,saints1 as it is between those sects and the ,bible1 a fact for which we are in no sense responsible1 and a fact that we can in nowise alter or change1 even were we so disposed4 ,it is deemed proper in the commencement of this investigation1 to refer to another point1 so that we may clearly understand each other4 ,it is this3 sincerity of belief does not by any means establish the correctness of a principle4 ,testimony of an unimpeachable character can alone do that4 ,man's belief does not affect a principle in the least4 ,the whole world may believe it and yet it be untrue2 the whole world may refuse to believe it1 and yet it be true4 ,the unbelief of the people of ,noah's day did not stay the flood2 the unbelief of the ,jews did not prove ,jesus an impostor2 and the killing of the apostles did not prove their doctrines false4 ,the assassination of ,joseph ,smith was no proof one way or another as to the divine nature of his authority2 neither will the rejection of the doctrines he taught prove them wrong4 ,if they are true1 though he was slain1 his followers mobbed1 driven and persecuted1 yet in the end they will rise triumphant over every obstacle and grow stronger and stronger1 as error shall grow weaker and weaker4 ,in presenting the principles of pre-existence1 the first principles of the gospel and baptism for the dead1 we shall simply quote scripture2 and we again state that if there is any difference of opinion it is between the reader and holy writ4 ,the apostle ,paul's injunction to the ,thessalonians1 was3 ,prove all things3 hold fast that which is good 7,i4,thess4 #e3ba72 and the wise man ,solomon's assertion1 was3 ,he that judgeth a matter before he heareth it is not wise4 ,let us1 then1 refer to the word of the ,lord1 which is the end of argument1 and see what the teachings of the ,great ,creator of all are4 ,speaking to ,job1 one of the most ancient writers of the ,bible1 ,he says3 ,who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge8 ,gird up thy loins like a man3 for ,i will demand of thee1 and answer thou me4 ,where wast thou when ,i laid the foundations of the earth8 99 99 99 ,when the morning stars sang together1 and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy8 7,job #ch3b-g47 ,job certainly must have been somewhere when the foundations of the earth were laid1 or why the query8 ,there was doubtless more meaning to the words1 ,when ,,all the sons of ,god shouted for joy1 than one at first supposes4 ,the reader asks1 ,who were these sons of ,god8 ,luke1 in giving the genealogy of the human family1 gives the necessary information on this subject3 which was the son of ,enos1 which was the son of ,seth1 which was the son of ,adam1 which was the ,,son ,,of ,,god4 7,luke #c3ch47 ,but let us turn to another text4 ,one of the ancient writers says3 ,then shall the dust return to the earth as it was3 and the spirit shall return unto ,god who gave it4 7,ecc4 #ab3g47 ,let us ask ourselves how it would be possible to return to a place1 point or locality1 which we had never visited4 ,how could we return to ,god unless we had once been in ,his presence8 ,the logical conclusion is unavoidable1 that to enable us to return to him we must have once enjoyed ,his association1 which must have been in a pre-existent state1 before our spirit became clothed with this body of flesh and bone4 ,again1 we find that the apostles must have had some conception of pre-existence1 judging from their question to ,jesus3 ,master1 who did sin1 this man or his parents1 that he was born blind8 7,john #i3b47 ,it will1 doubtless1 require no argument to convince the reader that the justice of ,god would scarcely permit the punishment of the individual before the crime was committed4 ,if so1 then the sin must have been committed before he came upon the earth1 for he was born blind4 ,it was evident that the question was not a doubtful one in the minds of the apostles as to whether a man could sin previous to his existence in the flesh1 but as to whether this particular man had sinned or not4 ,paul1 in his writings to the ,hebrews1 says3 ,furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us1 and we gave them reverence3 shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the ,father of spirits1 and live8 7,heb4 #ab3i47 ,we here gain the information as to who the sons of ,god were who shouted for joy in the beginning4 ,we also learn the reason why we address ,him as1 ,our ,father which art in heaven1 to distinguish ,him from the father of our earthly tabernacles4 ,in other words1 ,he is the father of the spirits that inhabit our bodies1 in precisely the same sense that our earthly fathers are the fathers of our bodies of flesh and bone4 ,when death ensues we bury the earthly body1 which decomposes and mingles with the elements surrounding its place of deposit2 but what of the spirit which returns unto ,god who gave it8 ,when ,jesus appeared to the disciples after ,his resurrection1 ,they were affrighted1 and supposed they had seen a spirit2 but ,he corrected them1 saying1 ,handle me1 and see2 for a spirit hath not flesh and bones1 as ye see me have4 7,luke #bd3 #cg-ci47 ,from these words we gather the information that man1 while existing as a spirit1 did not have a body of flesh and bone1 but nevertheless1 existed in the exact shape and form that he now possesses4 ,he had eyes to see1 ears to hear1 and many other faculties with which man is here endowed4 ,he was also doubtless in possession of intelligence1 and much that goes to ennoble man4 ,he had the ability to pass from place to place1 increase in knowledge1 and perform certain duties that devolved upon him in that sphere of action4 ,an unembodied spirit is one that has not yet taken upon itself a body4 ,an embodied spirit is one dwelling in the flesh4 ,a disembodied spirit is one that has passed through this stage of existence and laid its body down in the grave1 to be finally taken up again united1 spirit and body1 those of the righteous never more to be separated4 ,the word of the ,lord to ,jeremiah was1 ,before ,i formed thee in the belly ,i knew thee2 and before thou camest forth out of the womb ,i sanctified thee1 and ,i ordained thee a prophet unto the nations4 7,jer4 #a3e47 ,here we have the sure word of the ,lord relating to one of the children of men1 who was but a type of the rest1 only that in this particular case we have the fact made known that1 for good and sufficient reasons1 our common ,father in the heavens saw proper to ordain one of ,his children to a certain office prior to sending him down upon the earth4 ,having so gained the confidence of his ,father while in his first or pre-existent state1 he was ordained to a high and holy calling1 previous to his advent upon the earth1 and we learn from holy writ1 that this confidence was not misplaced1 but that he in honor filled his mission and proved himself true to the trust reposed in him1 not veering or turning a hair's breadth from the line of his duty1 though met by obstacles sufficient to appall the stoutest heart4 ,the reader will please be cautious not to confound the principle of fore-ordination with that of predestination1 in the case of ,jeremiah1 for there is a broad distinction between the two4 ,a man may be fore-ordained1 set apart or commanded to do a certain work1 yet he retains his agency in the matter1 and it is optional with him whether he performs the duty assigned him or not4 ,if predestinated to perform a certain work1 there would be no choice but to do that work4 ,not having any choice1 he would not incur the responsibility of his own actions1 nor control them1 but would be controlled by the power which predestined him4 ,while ,jeremiah was fore-ordained to be a prophet to the nations1 we do not read that he was predestined to fill the office of a prophet by any means4 ,the principle of pre-existence is plainly illustrated in the life of our ,savior1 who thus spake to the people3 ,what and if ye shall see the ,son of man ascend up where ,he was before8 7,john #f3fb47 ,again1 ,and no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven4 ,to all human appearance1 ,jesus resembled very much the rest of the children of our common ,father4 ,so close was this resemblance1 that those by whom ,he was surrounded failed to see any contrast between ,him and any ordinary man4 ,they enquired of each other1 ,is not this the carpenter's son8 is not his mother called ,mary8 and his brethren1 ,james1 and ,joses1 and ,simon and ,judas8 ,let us ask ourselves the question3 ,is it so difficult to comprehend our own pre-existence1 when that of ,jesus is so plainly taught1 and also that of many of the ,biblical characters of whom we read8 ,paul1 the great apostle1 speaking of himself1 says1 ,in hope of eternal life1 which ,god1 that cannot lie1 promised before the world began4 7,titus #a3b47 ,here was a promise made to ,paul of eternal life1 before the world began1 conditioned upon obedience1 as was said to ,cain aforetime1 ,if thou doest well1 shalt thou not be accepted8 7,genesis #d3g47 ,yet1 notwithstanding this promise1 ,paul was under the necessity of performing certain duties to enable him to claim the promise made4 ,after being stricken with blindness on the way up to ,damascus1 and hearing the voice of a risen ,redeemer1 he was told to ,arise and go into the city1 and it shall be told thee what thou must do4 7,acts #i3f47 ,after fasting and prayer1 he was visited at the end of three days1 by one ,ananias1 who had been commanded of the ,lord in vision1 to visit ,paul1 and was furthermore told1 that he was a chosen vessel1 or1 in other words1 one whom the ,lord hath made promises to before the world began1 and who had a mission to perform before ,gentiles1 and kings1 and the children of ,israel4 ,the question of ,ananias was1 ,and now why tarriest thou8 ,arise1 and be baptized1 and wash away thy sins1 calling on the name of the ,lord4 7,acts #bb3af47 ,we have presented for the consideration of the reader but a few ,biblical proofs of man's pre-existence1 out of the many that can be selected1 yet consider that sufficient has been advanced to show conclusively that the claim of the ,latter-day ,saints to a belief in this principle is founded upon holy writ4 ,their ideas only coincide with the prophets and servants of ,god in all ages of the world who have alluded to this subject4 ,having answered the question3 ,where did we come from8 let us now consider ,,why ,,we ,,are ,,here4 ,a wise ,creator must have had some great object in view in the creation of the earth1 and placing upon it ,his children1 to pass through what they are called upon to1 while in this probation4 ,a knowledge of this object is almost positively necessary to enable the human family to act well their part4 ,let us then examine what ,he had in view4 ,the primary object of man's existence upon the earth is to obtain a body of flesh and bone2 for without this it is impossible to advance in the grand scale of being in which he is to move in the eternal worlds4 ,it is necessary also for him to learn1 by actual experience1 the difference between good and evil4 ,as was said of our first parents1 ,and the ,lord ,god said1 ,behold1 the man is become as one of us1 to know good and evil4 7,gen4 #c3bb47 ,it is necessary that man taste the bitter to enable him to appreciate the sweet4 ,no proper appreciation of the value of eternal life could be arrived at1 without having experienced its opposite4 ,a man must feel the effects of sickness to enable him to fully appreciate the great boon of health4 ,he must feel the effects of pain1 before he can enjoy immunity therefrom4 ,he must feel the influence and power of death1 before he can appreciate eternal life4 ,he must comprehend the effects of sin before he can enjoy the rest promised to the faithful4 ,there are many experiences that he can gain in the flesh that cannot be obtained elsewhere4 ,there are ordinances to be performed and eternal unions to be perfected1 that in the wise economy of the great ,creator1 must be effected here on the earth4 ,baptism for the remission of sins and marriage for eternity1 are prominent features of duty that devolve upon man in his second state1 or during his existence upon the earth4 ,it is not all of man's duty to care for himself alone1 to selfishly neglect his fellow-man1 and seek aggrandizement himself at their expense4 ,do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you1 is called the ,golden ,rule1 by which men should be governed in this life4 ,in brief1 man has a work to do to prepare himself for a future exaltation in the eternities to come4 ,he is called upon to work out his salvation with fear and trembling1 for the work done in this life will have its influence in that to come4 ,by obedience to the principles of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 he prepares himself for the grand and glorious exaltation held in reserve for those who worship ,god in ,spirit and in truth4 ,as ,jesus said to ,his apostles1 ,i go to prepare a place for you1 for in my ,father's house are many mansions4 ,having learned why we are here1 let us examine what is the nature of the duties devolving upon us4 ,,faith4 ,to enable a man to perform any work whatever1 requires that he have faith in the ultimate result of the work4 ,no farmer would plant unless he expected to reap2 no builder build1 unless he expected to inhabit2 no speculator invest unless he expected to increase his means2 no journey would be attempted unless there existed hope of reaching the destination4 ,so1 likewise1 no commandment of ,god would be obeyed1 unless there existed faith that certain blessings would follow obedience4 ,with this idea plainly before us1 we can comprehend the assertion of the ,apostle ,paul to the ,hebrews1 ,but without faith it is impossible to please him3 for he that cometh to ,god must believe that he is1 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him4 7,heb4 #aa3f47 ,we find the active workings of the principle of faith in the many cases of healing performed by our ,savior4 ,thy faith hath made thee whole1 was the invariable remark he made to one and all3 and we find him speaking to the apostles in the strongest terms about their lack of this great principle4 ,upon one occasion they came to ,him with the question3 ,why could not we cast him out8 ,and ,jesus said unto them1 ,because of your unbelief3 for verily ,i say unto you1 ,if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed1 ye shall say unto this mountain1 ,remove hence to yonder place2 and it shall remove1 and nothing shall be impossible unto you4 7,matt4 #ag3ai1 #bj47 ,again1 we read1 ,and ,he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief 7,matt4 #ac3eh71 or in other words1 they had no faith in the claim ,he made to being the ,messiah2 consequently1 they were deprived of the blessings that fell to those that had faith1 as mankind to-day are depriving themselves of many great and glorious blessings1 through their unbelief in the divine calling of ,joseph ,smith1 the prophet and seer4 ,we often hear the same cry to-day that greeted the ears of ,jesus1 ,master1 we would see a sign from thee4 ,but ,he answered and said unto them1 ,an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign4 7,matt4 #ab3ch1 #ci47 ,what was true of the generation was true of the individual1 and what was true then is true now1 which places sign-seekers in a most unenviable position1 but doubtless where they justly belong4 ,faith is not produced by sign-seeing1 but in the words of ,paul1 ,faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the word of ,god4 7,rom4 #aj3ag47 ,after the death and resurrection of ,jesus1 ,he left this grand test of faith upon record1 to serve as a guide for all future generations3 ,and these signs shall follow them that believe 7or have faith72 ,in my name shall they cast out devils2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents2 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 7,mark #af3ag1 #ah47 ,but1 says one1 was it not intended that these gifts and blessings should be limited to the days of the apostles1 and to the apostles themselves8 ,read again1 shall follow them that believe2 and again1 the preceding verse reads1 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved4 ,if you limit the signs following the believer to the day of the apostles1 you must also limit salvation to that day4 ,but it is to-day as it was in the day ,paul wrote to the ,hebrews3 ,for unto us was the gospel preached1 as well as unto them3 but the word preached did not profit them1 not being mixed with faith in them that heard it4 7,heb4 #d3b47 ,the cultivation of this principle of faith is the first step in our duties in this life4 ,the second step is that of ,,repentance4 ,repent1 and turn yourselves from all your transgressions3 so iniquity shall not be your ruin4 7,ezek4 #ah3cj47 ,let the wicked forsake his way4 7,isaiah #d3g47 ,repent 99 99 99 every one of you4 7,acts #b3ch47 ,except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish4 7,luke #ac3c47 ,we understand that repentance does not consist in mourning over sins committed1 and then repeating the same sin or one equally heinous1 but that ,ezekiel meant for the people to cease from doing wrong1 to quit their evil practices1 and walk in the paths of rectitude1 virtue and true holiness4 ,for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of2 but the sorrow of the world worketh death4 7,,ii4 ,cor4 #g3aj47 ,we believe that the sorrow of the world here alluded to1 is the too prevalent practice of crying1 groaning and moaning over our wrong-doing1 and then continuing the same practice4 ,the third step for man to take in this life to secure salvation in the eternal world1 is to be ,,baptized4 ,he that believeth 7that is1 he that hath faith7 and is baptized shall be saved 7,mark #af3af71 was the emphatic assertion of our ,savior4 ,again we find that man came under condemnation by refusing obedience to this commandment2 ,but the ,pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of ,god against themselves1 being not baptized of him4 7,luke #g3cj47 ,so the world of to-day will1 in the end1 find themselves under condemnation for refusing to obey this principle of the gospel4 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he can not enter into the kingdom of ,god4 7,john #c3e47 ,paul1 writing to the ,hebrews1 says3 ,therefore1 leaving out the principles of the doctrines of ,christ1 let us go on unto perfection3 not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works1 and of faith toward ,god1 of the doctrine of baptisms1 and of laying on of hands4 7,heb4 #f3a1 #b47 ,here are four principles all classed together1 all equally important1 all equally necessary1 and all required at our hands by those fixed and eternal laws of truth and justice by which the worlds are governed1 and by which we may return back into the presence of ,god1 and dwell with the just1 the true and the pure of all ages4 ,the fourth step necessary for man to take while in this state of probation1 is to receive ,,the ,,laying ,,on ,,of ,,hands4 for the reception of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is a principle1 to a great extent1 ignored by the ,christian world1 yet plainly taught in the scriptures4 ,peter and his brethren of the twelve had doubtless all been baptised1 and endeavored to lead holy lives during their association with ,jesus2 yet we find ,him1 just previous to ,his ascension on high1 telling them1 ,behold1 ,i send the promise of my ,father upon you3 but tarry ye in the city of ,jerusalem1 until ye be endued with power from on high4 ,and ,he led them out as far as to ,bethany1 and ,he lifted up ,his hands1 and blessed them4 7,luke #bd3di1 #ej47 ,we find a still further explanation of the manner of obtaining this gift and blessing1 in the ,acts of the ,apostles1 where ,he commanded them that they should not depart from ,jerusalem1 but wait for the promise of the ,father1 which1 saith he1 ye have heard of me4 ,for ,john truly baptized with water1 but ye shall be baptized with the ,holy ,ghost not many days hence4 7,acts #a3d1 #e47 ,turning to the account of the ministry of ,philip in ,samaria1 we find that after the ,samaritans had exercised ,,faith sufficient to cause them to ,,repent1 they had been ,,baptized under the hands of ,philip4 ,now when the apostles which were at ,jerusalem heard that ,samaria had received the word of ,god1 they sent unto them ,peter and ,john2 who1 when they were come down1 prayed for them1 that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost 7for as yet he was fallen upon none of them2 only they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus47 ,then laid they their hands on them and they received the ,holy ,ghost4 7,acts #h3ad-ag47 ,paul1 writing to ,timothy1 charged him thus3 ,neglect not the gift that is in thee1 which was given thee by prophecy1 with the laying on of hands of the presbytery4 7,i4 ,tim4 #d3ad72 and again1 ,wherefore ,i put thee in remembrance1 that thou stir up the gift of ,god1 which is in thee by putting on of my hands4 7,,ii4 ,tim4 #a3f47 ,we also call the attention of the reader to the account of ,paul's visit to the baptized saints of ,ephesus1 and his inquiry of them3 ,have ye received the ,holy ,ghost since ye believed8 ,and they said unto him1 ,we have not so much as heard whether there be any ,holy ,ghost4 99 99 99 ,then they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,and when ,paul had laid his hands upon them1 the ,holy ,ghost came on them3 and they spake with tongues and prophesied4 7,acts #ai3b-e47 ,sufficient has doubtless been said to clearly establish the fact that the gift of the ,holy ,ghost was formerly obtained by the laying on of the hands of those who held the authority to do so4 ,nowhere do we find that the order here laid down has been supplanted or annulled4 ,on the contrary1 the apostle spoke in the strongest terms against any innovation upon the established forms that ,jesus taught them4 ,paul1 writing to the ,galatians1 speaks of those who were perverting the gospel2 doubtless teaching that the laying on of hands was not necessary1 or else that it was done away with1 and says1 ,but though we or an angel from heaven1 preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4 7,gal4 #a3h47 ,the reader has now examined the fourth step for man's advancement in the probation in which he is now living2 and in the words of our ,savior1 ,he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold1 but climbeth up some other way1 the same is a thief and a robber4 7,john #aj3a47 ,we have traced man from a pre-existent state1 before the world began1 when he dwelt in the presence of the ,father1 and of our elder ,brother1 ,jesus1 and mingled with the spirits who have or shall come into this sphere of action4 ,as it is beautifully expressed in one of the songs of ,zion3 ,oh my ,father1 ,thou that dwellest ,in the high and glorious place6 ,when shall ,i regain ,thy presence1 ,and again behold ,thy face8 ,in ,thy holy habitation1 ,did my spirit once reside8 ,in my first primeval childhood1 ,was ,i nurtured near ,thy side8 ,for a wise and glorious purpose ,thou hast placed me here on earth1 ,and withheld the recollection1 ,of my former friends and birth2 ,yet ofttimes a secret something ,whisper'd1 ',you're a stranger here' ,and ,i felt that ,i had wandered ,from a more exalted sphere4 ,this is certainly a grander and nobler conception of man's origin that that of some of the would-be philosophers of to-day1 who advocate the idea of evolution from a lower scale4 ,having described the nature of the duties 7to have faith in ,god and ,his promises1 to repent of his sins1 to be baptized for their remission1 and to receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost7 that he must perform in this life to lay a foundation for future exaltation1 we now turn to the consideration of man's ,,future ,,existence4 ,upon this subject there is a great diversity of opinion among men1 and almost every possible conjecture has1 from time to time1 held the attention of the human family4 ,if we are to judge by the accepted creeds of the ,christian world1 we find that an almost universal belief exists in future punishment4 ,we find1 also1 that the fear of future punishment is used as a mighty power to influence the minds of the people in a religious sense4 ,the fearful horrors of the never-ending punishment of the guilty are portrayed in the liveliest colors from the ,christian pulpits of the land4 ,they are so clearly defined1 that in many instances we find that the love and justice of ,god are lost sight of in the description of the fearful character of the punishment ,he inflicts1 not so much upon unbelievers as upon those who reject the creeds1 articles of faith and discipline1 whereby men seek to know ,god4 ,let the reader lay aside preconceived notions1 tradition and prejudice1 and examine this subject with a desire to know the truth4 ,we shall again refer to holy writ1 and ask the candid attention of the reader to the proofs we place before him4 ,if we had the history of two persons1 the one good and the other bad1 after they left the earth1 or laid down their bodies in death1 it would serve as a guide to decide upon the future destiny of the whole human family4 ,fortunately1 there is left upon record such information1 and by it we can determine this all-important question4 ,no one will dispute the assertion that ,jesus of ,nazareth was appropriately termed the ,just ,one1 a person of pure and holy life4 ,the confession of guilt by one of the men crucified beside ,jesus1 is testimony enough to convict him of being a bad man4 ,we received the due reward of our deeds3 but this man hath done nothing amiss 7,luke #bc3da71 were the words of the malefactor1 thus confessing that death was the proper penalty for the many crimes he was guilty of4 ,now1 here are two persons who were born upon the earth1 lived out a certain number of years1 and then laid down their lives1 their bodies becoming cold and inanimate in death1 while their spirits1 freed from their earthly tenements1 passed into another stage of existence1 leaving their remains to be cared for in the ordinary rites of sepulture4 ,while suffering the agonies of crucifixion1 a conversation was carried on between them1 which will serve our purpose in opening up an investigation4 ,and he said unto ,jesus1 ,lord1 remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom4 ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ,verily1 ,i say unto thee1 to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise4 7,luke #bc3db1 #dc47 ,the request of the thief was so far favorably looked upon1 that he had the promise that he should accompany ,jesus to a place which ,he designated as paradise4 ,he could not have consistently granted him the privilege of entering into ,his kingdom1 when ,he had replied to ,nicodemus3 ,except a man be born of water 7baptized7 and of the ,spirit 7received the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost7 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god4 7,john #c3e47 ,the thief1 not having attended to these ordinances1 could lay no claim to that privilege2 but1 says ,jesus1 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise4 ,we are aware that the majority of the ,bible-believing world are of the opinion that the thief was permitted to enter heaven1 and enjoy the presence of ,god2 but is this idea a correct one8 ,let us candidly examine it1 and see2 for upon it hangs a great principle of truth4 ,after the body of ,jesus had lain three days in the tomb1 the spirit again entered into it4 ,the angels rolled the stone away from the mouth of the sepulchre1 and the resurrected ,redeemer of the world walked forth1 clothed with an immortal body of flesh and bones4 ,mary1 who seems to have had some special interest in the ,savior1 came early to the tomb1 and weeping1 discovered that the body of her ,master was not there4 ,a voice spake to her1 saying1 ,mary4 ,she turned herself1 and saith unto ,him1 ,rabboni2 which is to say1 ,master4 ,jesus saith unto her1 ,touch me not2 for ,i ,,am ,,not ,,yet ,,ascended ,,to ,,my ,,father3 but go to my brethren1 and say unto them1 ,i ascend unto my ,father1 and your ,father2 and to my ,god1 and your ,god4 7,john #bj3af1 #ag47 ,here we have the assertion of ,jesus1 ,himself1 that during the three days immediately subsequent to ,his crucifixion1 while ,his body lay in the tomb1 ,his spirit did not go into heaven or the presence of ,his ,father4 ,logically1 it must follow1 neither did that of the thief4 ,the generally accepted idea1 therefore1 of the thief being saved1 must inevitably fall to the ground4 ,jesus asserted that ,to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise1 and upon ,his return to the earth1 ,he informed ,mary that ,he had not ascended to ,his ,father4 ,the question naturally arises1 where had ,he been during these three days8 ,we are not left in doubt upon this point1 but scripture plainly points out the character of the duties ,he was called upon to perform1 while ,his body rested in peace in the new-made tomb of ,joseph4 ,he to whom ,jesus transferred the keys of the kingdom of heaven1 and who stood at the head of the twelve apostles1 would certainly be accepted as a competent witness in this matter2 and1 by turning to his epistles1 we gain this information3 ,for ,christ also hath once suffered for sins1 the just for the unjust1 that ,he might bring us to ,god1 being put to death in the flesh1 but quickened by the ,spirit3 by which also ,he went and ,,preached ,,unto ,,the ,,spirits ,,in ,,prison4 7,i4 ,peter #c3ah1 #ai47 ,here we have an account of what ,he was doing during the three days absence from the body3 preaching unto the spirits in prison1 also a very clear explanation as to where the thief went4 ,it was to a prison world1 where he could have an opportunity to hear the ,savior preach the gospel of deliverance to the captive spirits1 which sometime were disobedient1 when once the long-suffering of ,god waited in the days of ,noah4 7,i4 ,peter #c3bj47 ,we now understand what ,isaiah1 the prophet1 meant1 when speaking of ,jesus4 ,he says1 ,that thou mayest say to the prisoners1 ,go forth4 7,isaiah #di3i47 ,and again1 ,he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound4 7,isaiah #fa3a47 ,and again1 ,to open the blind eyes1 to bring out the prisoners from the prison1 and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house4 7,isaiah #eb3g47 ,how appropriately do these passages coincide with1 and support the assertion of ,peter1 relative to ,jesus preaching to the spirits in prison4 ,men1 who in the days of the flood failed to obey the commandments of ,god1 and for two thousand long1 weary years had suffered the penalty for their wrong doing1 had been fulfilling the principle so clearly enunciated by our ,savior1 when ,he said1 ,verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,thou shalt by no means come out thence1 till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing4 7,matt4 #e3bf47 ,and that servant1 which knew his lord's will1 and prepared not himself1 neither did according to his will1 shall be beaten with many stripes4 ,but he that knew not1 and did commit things worthy of stripes1 shall be beaten with few stripes4 7,luke #ab3dg1 #dh47 ,with what joy must these long-suffering spirits1 held in confinement1 have greeted the ,redeemer when ,he appeared and preached to them the glad tidings of great joy1 and presented for their acceptance the ,,everlasting ,,gospel6 ,through its means they could have their prison doors opened1 and themselves delivered from the grasp of ,lucifer1 the son of the morning1 who is appropriately described as one who made the earth to tremble1 and did shake kingdoms2 that made the world as a wilderness1 and destroyed the cities thereof2 that opened not the house of his prisoners4 7,isaiah #ad3af1 #ag47 ,how grand and glorious is the plan of salvation that the ,creator has ordained for ,his children1 reaching from eternity to eternity1 and covering in its details every possible emergency2 controlling1 guiding and directing their footsteps while in a pre-existent state2 teaching them while sojourners upon the earth1 and extending beyond the grave into the spirit world1 there to cause their hearts to rejoice and gladden under its benign influence1 growing and increasing in might and majesty1 power and glory1 as the ages roll by1 until the inspired words of our ,divine ,master shall be fulfilled3 ,every knee shall bow1 and every tongue confess4 ,well might ,jesus say to the apostles just previous to ,his death1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,the hour is coming1 and now is1 when the dead shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god3 and they that hear shall live 99 99 99 ,marvel not at this3 for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice4 7,john #e3be-bh47 ,turning again to the epistle of ,peter1 we find this assertion1 ,who shall give account to him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead4 ,for1 for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh1 but live according to ,god in the spirit4 7,i4 ,peter #d3e1 #f47 ,jesus1 upon one occasion1 when explaining the gospel to the apostles1 said1 ,whosoever speaketh a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but whosoever speaketh against the ,holy ,ghost1 it shall not be forgiven him1 neither in this world1 neither in the world to come4 7,matt4 #ab3cb47 ,this1 in perfect plainness1 explains itself to mean1 that there is a class of sins that can be forgiven in this world1 and a class that cannot2 also that there is a class of sins that can be forgiven in the world to come1 and a class that cannot4 ,peter1 speaking of the patriarch ,david1 says1 ,for ,david is not ascended into the heavens4 7,acts #b3cd47 ,but ,david himself1 knowing full well that the mercy of the ,lord endureth forever1 says1 ,for thou will not leave my soul in hell4 7,psalm #af3aj47 ,he knew that after he had paid the penalty of the deeds done in the body1 there would be a way whereby he might gain a place in the midst of the righteous in the presence of ,god4 ,if the present generation desire to know what will be the result of their disobedience to the proclamation of the principles of the gospel1 and their contending against the servants of ,god who proclaim them1 let them read what ,isaiah says3 ,the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard1 and shall be removed like a cottage4 99 99 99 ,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the ,lord shall punish the hosts of the high ones that are on high1 and the kings of the earth upon the earth4 ,and they shall be gathered together1 as prisoners are gathered in the pit1 and shall be shut up in the prison1 and after many days shall they be visited4 7,isaiah #bd3bj-bb47 ,after having waited1 perhaps1 as long as they did who rejected the word of ,god in the days of ,noah--after having passed through1 perchance1 thousands of years of punishment1 until they have paid the uttermost farthing1 then the gospel will again be presented to them1 and they will be visited4 ,another opportunity will be given them to hearken unto the truth1 but in the meantime1 the saints of former and latter days will have advanced in the scale of progression and passed beyond the reach of those who1 to-day1 reject the counsel of ,god against themselves1 being not baptized4 ,a separation will have taken place1 in which there shall be weeping and wailing1 sorrow and mourning1 over the neglect to obey the gospel when there was opportunity4 ,in accordance with divine law1 they were judged every man according to their works 7,rev4 #bj3ac71 not indiscriminately consigning all grades and classes of sinners to the same punishment1 and that to continue forever1 but meting out judgment according to their works1 some with many stripes and some with but few4 ,would it not be a libel upon justice1 if a judge1 presiding over one of our ordinary courts1 should award to every criminal brought before him1 the same punishment8 ,if ye then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children1 how much more shall your ,father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask ,him8 ,certainly the law of poor1 weak1 mortal man is not superior to that of the ,judge of all4 ,paul beautifully and aptly expresses the principle in writing to the ,corinthians3 ,if in this life only we have hope in ,christ1 we are of all men most miserable 7,i4 ,cor4 #ae3ai72 but knowing that the gospel would be preached to the spirits in prison1 and that untold millions of those who failed to accept the gospel here would do so there1 he felt to rejoice in his heart instead of being the most miserable of men4 ,he was fully aware that there was but one way to be saved1 ,one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism 7,eph4 #d3e72 that it was positively necessary for man to pass through the door to enter into the sheepfold2 that the many devices whereby men sought to save themselves must of necessity fail1 for ,god's house is a house of order4 ,he knew there was only one name under heaven whereby men might be saved2 that obedience to this law was a prime necessity to salvation1 for in vain do ye say1 ,lord1 ,lord1 and do not the things ,i command you4 ,knowing these facts1 the life of every good and true man1 as was ,paul1 would be rendered miserable at the thought that so many millions of the human family must irretrievably perish1 and be subject to torture throughout all the eternities to come2 but understanding the great principle of the mission of our ,savior to the prison world1 they can rejoice in the fact that the plan of salvation is a complete one4 ,they have hope that1 not only in this life1 but in the life to come1 the gospel will be preached and men be taught its precepts4 ,we here introduce the evidence of some learned men1 who have a reputation for scholarly ability1 far and wide4 ,professor ,taylor ,lewis1 a prominent ,english writer1 states3 ,we are taught that there was a work of ,christ in ,hades1 ,he descended into ,hades2 ,he made proclamation in ,hades to those who are there1 in ward4 ,bishop ,alford says3 ,i understand these words 7,i4 ,peter #c3ai7 to say that our ,lord1 in ,his disembodied state1 did go to the place of detention of departed spirits1 and did there announce ,his work of redemption2 preach salvation in fact1 to the disembodied spirits of those who refused to obey the voice of ,god when the judgment of the flood was hanging over them4 ,professor ,a4 ,hinderkoper1 a ,german writer1 says3 ,in the second and third centuries every branch and division of the ,christian church1 so far as their records enable us to judge1 believed that ,christ preached to the departed spirits 4 7,haley's ,discrepancies of the ,bible47 ,these writers were willing to ignore the teachings of tradition1 and let the words of inspired men mean just what they said1 without any private interpretation4 ,god1 being no respecter of persons1 it would be manifestly unjust for one portion of the human family to have the privilege of hearing the sound of the gospel in this life1 while so great a proportion never hear it1 and lie under condemnation from that fact4 ,no2 the plan of salvation is complete1 and1 reaching from our pre-existent state1 applies to our present condition1 and will extend to the future state1 until every son and duaghter of ,father ,adam has had ample opportunity to embrace its tenets1 and live in accordance with its spirit4 ,we have now examined the gospel proof of pre-existence1 and quoted the testimony of ,jesus and many of the servants of the ,most ,high4 ,we have gone over the ground of the duties that pertain to this life1 connected with faith1 repentance1 baptism for the remission of sins1 and the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1,a and examined the scriptures relative to preaching to spirits in prison4 ,footnote ,a3 ,should the reader desire a more complete treatise on these important points1 we refer him to ,tract ,no4 #a4 ,we now take one more step in our investigation1 and shall endeavor to learn if there is a way wrought out for the deliverance of the prisoners bound and captive in the grasp of ,satan4 ,the fact of their being preached to1 is one evidence that something could be done to mitigate their condition1 for it would be cruelty intensified1 if1 after being taught the gospel1 it would be necessary to inform them that there was no deliverance4 ,the word of the ,lord through the prophet ,malachi1 was ,behold1 ,i will send you ,elijah the prophet1 before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord3 and ,he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children1 and the heart of the children to their fathers1 lest ,i come and smite the earth with a curse4 7,mal4 #d3e1 #f47 ,here was a work for the translated prophet of ,israel to perform at some future period of time1 with the fearful consequence of non-compliance placed before us1 that the ,lord would smite the earth with a curse4 ,the nature of that work is briefly set forth as turning the heart of the fathers to the children1 and that of the children to the fathers4 ,the apostle ,paul asserts that they without us could not be made perfect1 or in other words1 that their salvation was necessary to our happiness or perfection4 ,jesus1 speaking to ,nicodemus1 said3 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,but1 asks the reader1 how shall a spirit be born of water1 or baptized in water8 ,very many of those who have gone into the spirit world had never submitted to the ordinance of baptism1 while vast numbers of those who had been baptized1 had the ordinance administered by persons who had no rightful authority whatever1 and whose acts ,god will not by any means recognize4 ,they stand in the same position to the kingdom of ,god that a man does1 who1 as an alien to the government of the ,united ,states1 has received his papers of citizenship from a man who held no office under government1 and1 as a consequence1 had no authority to confer those rights upon any one4 ,paul1 writing to the ,hebrews1 speaks of baptism in the plural3 ,not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works1 and of faith toward ,god1 and of the doctrine of baptisms4 7,heb4 #f3a1 #b47 ,many have supposed this passage to sanction the idea of different modes of baptism1 but1 by turning to another of ,paul's epistles1 we learn clearly his meaning4 ,we gain also the information how we may be instruments in the hands of a wise ,creator in doing a work for the dead3 ,else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8 ,why are they then baptised for the dead8 7,i4 ,cor4 #ae3bi47 ,we here have an explanation as to how their prison doors may be opened1 and they set free3 by the ordinance of the gospel through the baptism for the dead4 ,those that are in the flesh can do a vicarious work for their dead1 and become saviors upon ,mount ,zion4 ,we here insert an account of the visit of ,elijah to the earth1 in fulfillment of the promise of the ,lord through ,malachi4 ,on the #crd day of ,april1 #ahcf1 the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery1 while in the temple at ,kirtland1 had the vision of heaven opened1 and ,elijah1 the prophet1 who was taken to heaven without tasting death1 stood before them and said3 ,behold the time has fully come1 which was spoken of by the mouth of ,malachi1 testifying that he 7,elijah7 should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the ,lord come1 to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children1 and the children to the fathers1 lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse4 ,therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands1 and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the ,lord is near1 even at the doors4 7,doctrine and ,covenants1 new edition1 page #dje47 ,elijah the prophet having come1 and conferred the authority to baptize for the dead1 the ,latter-day ,saints are assiduously engaged in erecting temples1 wherein this ordinance may be performed4 ,the object of ,elijah's visit having been partially accomplished1 in causing the hearts of the fathers1 dead and gone1 to turn to the children here on earth1 the children are feeling after the fathers and seeking to open their prison doors1 and to bring them through the door of baptism into the sheep fold4 ,not only are the elders of ,israel traveling1 preaching the gospel1 and baptizing the people by the thousand1 but the saints are flocking to the temples of the ,lord1 and redeeming their dead from the grasp of ,satan4 ,they are performing a great and mighty work for the human family who have lived upon the earth in different ages of the world's history1 and who1 in some instances1 by revelation1 make manifest to their children or friends the fact that they have accepted the gospel in the spirit world4 ,the patriarchs and prophets of former days1 with ,peter1 ,james and the apostles who lived in the meridian of time1 with ,joseph ,smith1 ,brigham ,young1 and other prophets of the dispensation of the fullness of times in the latter days1 are earnestly engaged in the work of giving information and directing the preaching of the gospel in the spirit world4 ,associated with our ,father in the heavens1 with the angels1 and the good and true of the earth1 we can afford to smile at the puny efforts of man to overthrow the work of ,god4 ,what6 can man strive against the bucklers of ,jehovah8 ,can the designs that have been in process of fulfillment since the world began1 now be stayed in their onward progress1 because they do not happen to meet the approval of the people of to-day8 ,in conclusion1 let us examine one more question that has doubtless presented itself to the mind of the reader1 and that is the question of future punishment4 ,if1 by preaching to the spirits in prison1 bringing them to a knowledge of the truth1 and being baptized for them1 released them from their prison house1 it logically follows that there must be an end to future punishment4 ,we hear the question asked1 ,do not the scriptures say it is 'eternal punishment' and 'everlasting punishment'8 ,we answer1 ,yes4 ,but let us not put any private interpretation on these terms1 but correctly understand their meaning4 ,eternal punishment is ,god's punishment2 everlasting punishment is ,god's punishment2 or1 in other words1 it is the name of the punishment ,god inflicts1 ,he being eternal in ,his nature4 ,whosoever1 therefore1 receives ,god's punishment1 receives eternal punishment1 whether it is endured one hour1 one day1 one week1 one year1 one age4 ,and they were judged every man according to their works4 7,rev4 #bj3ac47 ,some shall be beaten with few and some with many stripes4 7,luke #ab3dg1 #dh47 ,here we have plainly set forth the fact that all men are not punished alike1 that some receive a greater punishment than others2 that as their works are1 so shall be the punishment awarded them4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god3 and the books were opened3 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life3 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 ,and the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them4 7,rev4 #bj3ab1 #ac47 ,these were the words of ,john upon the ,isle of ,patmos1 and most impressively he adds1 ,and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy1 ,god shall take away his part out of the book of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book4 7,rev4 #bb3ai47 ,we consider that enough has been said to establish the principles we have advanced1 and we call upon all to whom these words shall come1 to exercise faith in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 to repent of their sins1 to be baptized for the remission of them1 to receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the ,holy ,ghost1 and then to serve the ,god of ,israel with all their might1 mind and strength4 ,produced by ,villate ,brown ,mc,kitrick and ,jared ,ure1 ,mormon ,texts ,project ,intern 7,mormon,texts,project4org7 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,this edition is meant to reproduce the original #aiba edition4 ,any changes that vary from the original were minor and essential for readability4