,outlines of ,mormon ,philosophy or ,the ,answers ,given by the ,gospel1 as ,revealed ,through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 to the ,questions of ,life4 ,by ,lycurgus ,a4 ,wilson1 ,author of the ,life of ,david ,w4 ,patten4 ,mormonism1 as a theory1 offers the most comprehensive and consistent explanation of the great mystery of existence4--,non-,mormon4 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah #aije ,dedication4 ,to the ,memory of ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith ,through whom the ,lord revealed these principles to man1 and who gave his life in testimony of their truth1 this book is reverently dedicated4 ,,preface4 ,every person1 whether consciously or not1 gradually builds up1 from his observations and reason1 a system of philosophy by which he explains1 to himself at least1 the problems that the new experiences of his life present for solution4 ,it is of great importance1 therefore1 that1 instead of basing one's system of thought upon the contradictory hypotheses of speculative philosophy1 we start right1 so that our ideas on the questions of life may square with the truth as it is known to the ,lord4 ,and these considerations are the excuse for this work4 ,this work is designed rather for study than for reading4 ,to the hasty1 illusioned reader1 it will prove a short1 dull book2 but the studious reader1 who can render a thought into experience1 will find it a voluminous work1 profusely illustrated with pictures such as no painter ever transferred to canvas2 for to him1 because of the nature of the subject1 it will tell the whole beautiful story of life4 ,the thanks of the author are due1 most of all1 to the ,first ,presidency of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 for the helpful criticism of their committee of this work2 and1 next1 to the scores of friends who have given him the benefit of their suggestions4 ,l4 ,a4 ,w4 ,salt ,lake ,temple1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah1 #aije ,,diagram ,,and ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,,introductory ,,conditions ,,precedent ,space ,time ,matter ,intelligences ,,the ,,gospel ,inception ,purpose ,plan ,covenants ,perpetuity ,,conditions ,,subsequent ,nature ,man ,,conclusion ,,by ,,way ,,of ,,text4 ,what a thoughtful man most longs for is some firm center about which he can organize his knowledge of the world1 his experiences of life1 a point of view from which he can gather all into an intelligible unity and from which he can press forward with a deep assurance of divine guidance and an adequate outcome4--,selected4 ,,introductory4 ,history relates of ,hypatia1 the daughter of ,theon1 an eminent mathematician of ,alexandria1 that before being committed to the flames by an ignorant mob1 she exclaimed3-- ,who am ,i1 whence am ,i1 and whither am ,i going8 ,these questions1 elaborated and particularized1 are universal4 ,they belong neither to any time1 nor sect nor civilization4 ,they are the questions of life4 ,they recur to us at every turn in life1 and when life nears its close1 the master-thought with studious men is that they shall soon know the answer4 ,but from that bourne no traveler returns1 as the poet has it1 to enlighten those who remain4 ,and so we are beset by limitations4 ,swung into space with no means of exploring it1 bound to this whirling ball1 circumscribed in all our activities1 without power to determine our lot here1 the moment of our entrance1 nor to extend the time of our exit2 when we seek to know the mysteries of life1 our condition is1 in a way1 as would be that of a family1 inhabiting from time out of mind1 a miniature island in mid-ocean1 without means of communication with the world1 should they1 by conjecture1 try to learn the history and civilization of mankind4 ,our means of observation of the forces about us are very limited1 #a tradition is cut off at our birth1 reason stands powerless for want of analogy1 and the only recourse we have for direct communication with reality1 is revelation4 ,professor ,lewes1 in his ,biographical ,history of ,philosophy1 closes the door of inquiry upon us in this way3 ,to aspire to the knowledge of more than phenomena1 their resemblances and successions1 is to aspire to transcend the limitations of human faculties4 ,to know more we must be more4 #b ,in the midst of these perplexities comes the ,gospel to us as a welcome1 gracious visitor from the realms beyond the reach of our knowledge4 ,the object of this work as intimated by the text1 is to suggest a firm central point about which may be grouped in orderly arrangement1 all our knowledge1 and our guide shall be revelation4 ,in this endeavor we shall be assisted materially1 if we attempt1 however crudely1 a classification of the subject-matter2 and we shall1 therefore1 consider3 ,first1--,the universal1 all-prevailing1 eternal conditions of existence1 under the head of1 #a4 ,,conditions ,,precedent4 ,second1--,the inception1 purpose1 plan1 covenants and perpetuity of this system of organization in which we now find ourselves1 under the head of1 #b4 ,,the ,,gospel4 ,third1--,the results1 the fruits of this ,all-wise arrangement1 under the head of1 #c4 ,,conditions ,,subsequent4 ,it may be said at the outset that the attempt here made is to present in order and to hold up1 as the answer to all the problems of life1 the ,gospel of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 as restored to the earth through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,there are only two reasons that come to mind1 why this effort may not be acceptable2 one is a disbelief on the part of the reader in the divinity of the ,gospel1 the other1 is the inadequacy of this presentation4 ,to the former objection it is sufficient for the inquiring mind to say1 ,judge for yourself whether or not the ,gospel as here set out answers every requirement of life1 where other systems of philosophy all fail2 to the latter we reply1 ,no attempt is here made to present in detail the principles of the ,gospel1 but only to sketch the outlines2 and1 moreover1 the reader is at perfect liberty to supply whatever deficiency he may detect4 ,,part ,i4 ,,conditions ,,precedent4 ,,space4 ,,time4 ,,matter4 ,,intelligences4 ,i4 ,,as ,,to ,,space4 ,the school-boy is told that the idea held by people generally in the days of ,columbus was that if the venturesome ships were to sail too far out on the ocean they would fall off into space2 and in his silent meditations he often wonders where1 in such a case1 those ships would have gone4 ,the natural answer to his mind is that they would have gone down2 but when he learns later that the words down and up relate only to the earth1 and that in speaking of space1 there are no such terms as up or down1 or east or west1 or north or south1 all his ideas of direction are at sea4 ,his conception of space increases1 however4 ,later in school life he studies with interest the movements of the planetarium1 and is surprised to find the earth1 whose geographical extent has hitherto seemed so vast1 represented by such an insignificant ball1 so near the sun4 ,this1 however1 is only the beginning of his surprises4 ,he is told later that1 large as the solar system seems1 yet if our sun1 viewed from one of the fixed stars1 were as large as the orbit of ,neptune1 it would be eclipsed by a pin-head held at arm's length4 ,and so his ideas of space continue to enlarge as he grows in understanding4 ,as we study ,herschel's diagram of the group of stars in which we dwell and let the mind contemplate with the astronomer the nebulae1 supposed by some to be other groups of stars1 much more magnificent than our own1 the mind is lost in wonder at the immensity of space and the grandeur of the works of ,god4 ,but even this is simply a beginning4 ,the ,lord gives us a still deeper insight into the situation when ,he reveals to us the fact that all these vast systems1 as well as other systems of which as yet we know nothing1 are revolving about other systems which are all controlled from a common centre1 ,his first creation1 #c the great ,kolob4 #d ,when1 therefore1 the ,lord1 standing in the midst of ,his works1 comprehending and controlling them all1 speaks to us of the immensity of space1 #e how shall mortal1 finite man1 state his conception of space6 ,how far is the philosopher advanced above the school-boy with his query about the ships of ,columbus8 ,so far as reason can answer the question as to the bounds of space1 it is answered by ,professor ,orson ,pratt4 ,discussing the necessity for endless time and boundless space1 he says3 ,that there must be an endless duration and a boundless space1 are necessary truths which cannot possibly be conceived to be otherwise than they are4 ,these are necessary truths1 whether any being exists to conceive them as such or not4 ,indeed1 if there were no being in existence1 the same unalterable and unchangeable necessity would characterize these truths4 ,endless space and duration cannot be created nor annihilated by any being1 but their continuance has been and must be eternal4 ,these truths do not admit of being proved2 for that which has no beginning cannot be preceded by a cause1 and where no cause exists1 there cannot possibly be any foundation for reasoning4 ,there can be no reason why space and duration are as they are and yet we perceive a necessity for them to be as they are4 #f ,but we have a more sure word than unaided reason can offer4 ,we are not left without revelation on this subject1 meager though the reference may be4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 speaking of the light of the sun1 remarks3 ,the sun has no beginning nor end2 the rays which proceed from himself have no bounds1 consequently they are eternal4 #g ,from this simple statement we receive more information than any man in our present condition1 uninspired by the ,lord1 could ever obtain4 ,indeed1 this very question is classed by the philosopher1 ,herbert ,spencer1 as among those the answer to which is unknowable4 ,but when we have this basic fact from which to reason1 we are safe in concluding that if there are no bounds to the light of the sun1 then it must follow that space is boundless4 ,,ii4 ,,as ,,to ,,time4 ,another of the questions of life1 the answer to which is classed by ,herbert ,spencer as among the unknowable1 is time2 and of the same mind apparently is ,thomas ,carlyle1 who says3 ,the illimitable1 silent1 never-resting thing called 'time1' rolling1 rushing on--this is forever very literally1 a miracle1 a thing to strike us dumb4 ,all sorts of ideas have been advanced in all ages of the world as to the mystery of time1 and even its very existence has been called into question1 as witness the following2 ,but the present has no duration and is not time at all4 ,it is but the plane which1 without thickness1 divides past and future4 ,time then is not made up of past1 present and future1 but of past and future only2 and1 as these do not exist1 time itself cannot exist4 #h ,but the only question that concerns us here1 in our search for eternal conditions1 is as to the duration of time4 ,as to this1 we may again refer to the reasoning of ,orson ,pratt2 and we have1 also1 an additional and final assurance from the ,lord1 when ,he says1 in speaking to ,abraham3 ,if there be two spirits1 and one shall be more intelligent than the other1 yet these two spirits1 notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other1 have no beginning2 they existed before1 they shall have no end1 they shall exist after1 for they are gnolaum1 or eternal4 #i ,the inference is plain4 ,if spirits always existed and always will exist1 there never was a beginning and there never will be an end1 of time4 ,,iii4 ,,as ,,to ,,matter4 ,some writer has characterized the passage in ,genesis1 ,god said1 ',let there be light1' and there was light1 as the perfection of beauty in expression2 but we venture to place over against it another1 this1 however1 directly from a ,divine source through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith4 ,what could be more succinct or beautiful or more richly laden with truth respecting conditions precedent than the words1 ,the elements are eternal8 #aj ,that expression is worth more to the scientist who will receive it1 than all the fine-spun theories of so-called philosophy4 ,an acceptance of this truth would put to rest no end of controversy4 ,since the earliest times investigators have believed in the transmutation of matter1 that if they could only find the secret1 they could1 for instance1 turn silver into gold2 and1 again1 it has been the belief until recent years1 that matter could be annihilated4 ,now1 however1 the idea is accepted throughout the entire scientific world that no particle of matter can be destroyed4 ,it may be changed from one form into another1 as water is converted into steam1 but the elements remain unchanged4 ,the transmutation theory1 however1 still haunts the human mind4 ,the elements are eternal4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith adds to this nugget of truth another beautiful thought1 when he says3 ,hence we infer that ,god had materials to organize the world out of chaos--chaotic matter1 which is element1 and in which dwells all the glory4 #aa ,from which we may be assured that in the ,gospel scheme of organization1 this life's drama in the large1 matter plays no unimportant part4 ,we1 therefore1 may conclude3 ,that all the matter now existing always existed and always will exist4 ,that there never was any more matter than there is at present and there never will be any more than there is now4 ,,iv4 ,,as ,,to ,,intelligences4 ,notwithstanding the desire for knowledge1 the simplicity of truth has ever entailed upon it an unfriendly reception at the hands of men4 ,it seems to be almost a law of the human mind that our preconceived notions1 whether true or false1 stand in the way of new ideas1 and usually our principal effort is put forth in trying to reconcile a new thought with the old theory1 rather than in an endeavor to give to each its proper valuation4 ,and this is preeminently the case in relation to our ideas on the eternal existence of personal1 individual intelligences4 ,we can easily conceive of eternally existing matter1 but not so of spirits4 ,perhaps an excuse is afforded us in the fact that ,god is our ,father2 but no earthly father who understands the ,gospel thinks for a moment that his children had no existence until they were begotten by him4 ,he knows they have existed in the spirit world co-equally with himself4 ,he is their father by reason of having given them a tabernacle in which to dwell1 and in the same way did ,god become our ,father4 ,man has a spiritual body as well as a body of flesh and bones1 or1 as ,paul has it1 ,there is natural body and there is a spiritual body4 #ab ,this explains the teachings as to the body1 the astral body1 and the aura1 of the ,yogis1 of ,india1 and is explained by the ,lord as follows3 ,for ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 created all things of which ,i have spoken1 spiritually1 before they were naturally upon the face of the earth4 ,and ,i1 the ,lord ,god1 had created all the children of men2 and not yet a man to till the ground2 for in heaven created ,i them2 and there was not yet flesh upon the earth2 neither in the water2 neither in the air 444 ,and ,i1 the lord ,god1 formed man from the dust of the ground1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life2 and man became a living soul1 the first flesh upon the earth1 the first man also2 nevertheless all things were before created2 but1 spiritually1 were they created and made according to my word4 #ac ,but the whole scheme of the progress of the spirit is detailed in another revelation from the ,lord4 ,this1 however1 is in the ,doctrine and ,covenants3 ,for by the power of my ,spirit created ,i them2 yea1 all things1 both spiritual and temporal4 ,firstly1 spiritual--secondly1 temporal1 which is the beginning of my work2 and again1 firstly1 temporal--and secondly spiritual1 which is the last of my work4 #ad ,that is to say3 first1 the spirit is clothed upon with a spiritual body1 and afterwards with a temporal1 or mortal body2 secondly the spirit1 at the time of the resurrection1 is again clothed upon with the same body1 just as it is laid down2 and afterwards1 the body1 at the time of the restoration1 undergoes a change by which it is not only restored to its proper form in case of malformation1#ae but is rendered immune to the disabilities of mortality1 as was the case with the ,savior when ,he passed into the room where the ,twelve were assembled1 though the door was locked1 or with the ,angel ,moroni when he passed up through the ceiling of the room at the close of his first interview with the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 or made himself visible or invisible at will4#af ,another cause of misconception is the meaning we attach to the word ,creator1 in describing our relationship to the ,lord4 ,we usually take the expression1 ,he is our ,creator1 to mean that we had no existence as individuals until ,he called us into being1 and this in the face of ,his own declaration to the contrary4 ,he says to ,abraham1 as hereinbefore quoted3 ,if there be two spirits1 and one shall be more intelligent than the other1 yet these two spirits1 notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other1 have no beginning1 they existed before2 they shall have no end1 they shall exist after1 for they are gnolaum or eternal4 #ag ,the construction of this statement seems purposely designed to negative the doctrine that spirits owe their origin to ,god1 for1 in that case1 one might well question the justice of the ,creator in giving one spirit so much more intelligence than another4 ,but the fact is1 as the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith has said3 ,god never had the power to create the spirit of man at all4 ,god himself could not create himself4 ,as if determined so to state the fact that his meaning could not be misunderstood1 the ,prophet ,joseph further says3 ,i have another subject to dwell upon1 which is calculated to exalt man4 ,but it is impossible for me to say much on this subject4 ,i shall1 therefore1 just touch upon it2 for time will not permit me to say all4 ,it is associated with the subject of the resurrection from the dead1 the mind of man1 the immortal spirit4 ,where did it come from8 ,all learned men and doctors of divinity say that ,god created it in the beginning4 ,but it is not so4 ,the very idea lessens man in my estimation4 ,i do not believe the doctrine4 ,i know better4 ,continuing1 he adds3 ,we say that ,god himself is a self-existent being4 ,who told you so8 ,it is correct enough2 but how did it get into your heads8 ,who told you that man did not exist in like manner upon the same principles8 ,man does exist upon the same principles4 ,the mind or the intelligence which man possesses1 is co-equal with ,god himself4 ,and again3 ,there never was a time when there were not spirits1 for they are co-equal with our ,father in ,heaven4 #ah ,from all of which we may conclude3 ,that all the spirits now existing always did and always will exist4 ,that the spirits now existing are all that ever did1 or that ever will exist4 ,,summary ,,of ,,conditions ,,precedent4 ,summarizing conditions precedent1 we1 therefore1 find3 ,i4 ,that space is1 always has been1 and ever must be1 without bounds4 ,,ii4 ,that time never had a beginning and cannot have an end4 ,,iii4 ,that matter is uncreated1 indestructible1 eternal4 ,,iv4 ,that intelligences always were and always will be individual entities1 and1 however varied in capacity1 never had a beginning and can never be annihilated4 ,abroad in boundless space1 therefore1 with unlimited time in which to learn1 and labor1 are intelligences surrounded by matter4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,gospel4 ,,inception4 ,,purpose4 ,,plan4 ,,covenants4 ,,perpetuity4 ,v4 ,,inception ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,the glory of ,god is intelligence4 ,perhaps our best conception of chaos1 in miniature1 may be had by observing the floating1 restless1 erratic particles of matter to be seen in the path of a ray of sunshine1 when admitted into a dark room4 ,one's uppermost longing at such a time is to introduce order into this jarring1 discordant sphere4 ,and that condition and that sentiment have no doubt met before4 ,the psychologist would trace the desire back to a time before the formation of ,kolob1 when myriads of eternal1 self-existent spirits lived in the midst of boundless space1 surrounded by unlimited1 indestructible1 unorganized matter1 in a universal chaos4 ,it may be asked if there ever was such a chaotic condition4 ,so far as the creations of ,god are concerned1 it would appear that there was1 for we are informed that ,kolob is the first creation4 #ai ,turn now from this chaos in the streak of sunshine1 chaos in the small1 and let the mind contemplate that chaos at large1 before any of the vast concourse of worlds that roll in space were formed1 when the matter composing ,kolob was yet unorganized2 and the first desire that presents itself to the mind is to know how all this beautiful system by which we are not surrounded was evolved from that riot of matter1 where this order had its inception1 how ,god came to be ,god4 ,in what is without doubt the most wonderful revelation ever given to mankind1 in that it reaches the farthest back and states some of the most important truths1 the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 speaking at the funeral of ,elder ,king ,follett1 at ,nauvoo1 explains in the simplest terms the sublime conception4#bj ,first1 however1 let him state his purpose3 ,in order to understand the subject of the dead1 for the consolation of those who mourn for the loss of their friends1 it is necessary that we should understand the character and being of ,god1 and how ,he came to be so2 for ,i am going to tell you how ,god came to be ,god4 ,we have imagined and supposed that ,god was ,god from all eternity4 ,i will refute that idea1 and will take away and do away the vail1 so that you may see4 ,the mind is here carried back to a time antedating anything of which we have an account anywhere else in the world1 and that there may be no doubt as to the time and the personage referred to1 the ,prophet is very explicit4 ,with reference to the time he says3 ,you ask the learned doctors why they say the world was made out of nothing2 and they will answer1 ',doesn't the ,bible say ,he created the world8' ,and they infer from the word create1 that it must have been made out of nothing4 ,now1 the word create came from the word baurau1 which does not mean to create out of nothing2 it means to organize-- the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship4 ,hence we infer that ,god had materials to organize the world out of chaos-- chaotic matter1 which is element1 and in which dwells all the glory4 ,elements had an existence from the time ,he had4 ,the pure principles of element are principles which can never be destroyed4 ,they may be organized and reorganized but not destroyed4 ,they had no beginning1 and can have no end4 ,as to the personage meant1 one may say1 ,there are many ,gods1 an almost endless chain of creators2 to which one does the ,prophet refer8 ,we are not left in doubt1 for he explains3 ,if the vail were rent today1 and the great ,god1 who holds this world in its orbit1 and who upholds all worlds and all things by ,his power1 were to make ,himself visible1--,i say1 if you were to see ,him today1 you would see ,him like a man in form4 ,and further3 ,my object is to find out the character of the only wise and true ,god1 and what kind of a being ,he is4 ,with these prefatory remarks1 the ,prophet ,joseph proceeds to tell how ,god came to be ,god1 in what must appeal to one as among the divinest words ever uttered4 ,he says3 ,god himself1 finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory1 because he was more intelligent1 saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself4 ,the relationship we have with ,god places us in a situation to advance in knowledge4 ,he has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences1 that they may be exalted with himself1 so that they might have one glory upon another1 and all that knowledge1 power1 glory and intelligence which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits4 ,no wonder that1 in the ecstasy of the moment1 he exclaimed3 ,this is good doctrine4 ,it tastes good1 ,i can taste the principles of eternal life1 and so can you4 ,they are given to me by the revelations of ,jesus ,christ2 and ,i know that when ,i tell you these words of eternal life as they are given to me1 you taste them1 and ,i know you believe them4 ,you say honey is sweet1 and so do ,i4 ,i can also taste the spirit of eternal life4 ,i know it is good2 and when ,i tell you of these things which were given me by the inspiration of the ,holy ,spirit1 you are bound to receive them as sweet1 and ,i rejoice more and more4 ,here1 then1 is the inception of the ,gospel2 the course of study under which we are now working2 the plan of salvation1 by virtue of which all the creations of ,god1 beginning with ,kolob1 were made2 instituted in the beginning by our ,father1 to which ,jesus the ,christ acceded in the grand council in heaven before this earth was made4 ,whether or not1 in the vast eternities preceding the creation of ,kolob1 other plans had been tried and found wanting1 we are not told2 but the fact that1 as the ,prophet ,joseph tells us1 ,god worked out ,his ,kingdom with fear and trembling1 would indicate that ,he had seen many failures4 ,it should be noted here1 that the ruling sentiment in the inception of the ,gospel was the most unselfish love of the ,great ,god for ,his fellow-creatures4 ,not satisfied with ,his own power1 glory and intelligence1 ,he must1 by force of ,his affection for those of lesser estate1 formulate a plan by which they might arrive at the same station as ,himself4 ,it will not1 therefore1 be surprising to find that ,love occupies a high place among the virtues cultivated by the ,gospel4 ,,vi4 ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,the instructor in school or college1 before commencing his work1 carefully lays out his courses of study with a definite purpose in view for each course1 and is able at the outset to give not only an outline of the work to be done1 but the purpose of each course1 so that he can tell the applicant for instruction which course will fit him1 for example1 for practice as a civil engineer4 ,and this line of procedure is of great importance4 ,under such an arrangement1 the student at every stage of his advancement1 will have in mind the purpose of his work1 and whatever the obstacles in his path may be1 will be impelled to press on with confidence in the wisdom of each step1 and an assurance that success will finally crown his best endeavors4 ,it is1 therefore1 necessary for us to inquire the purpose for which the ,gospel was instituted2 and1 aside from the inference that may be drawn from what has already been said on the inception of the ,gospel1 the ,lord has given us a direct statement of ,his designs4 ,after giving an account of a vision in which ,moses beheld the earth and all the inhabitants thereof1 the record proceeds3 ,and it came to pass that ,moses called upon ,god1 saying1 ,tell me1 ,i pray thee1 why these things are so1 and by what thou madest them8 ,and1 behold1 the glory of ,god was upon ,moses1 so that ,moses stood in the presence of ,god1 and he talked with him face to face2 and the ,lord ,god said unto ,moses1 ,for mine own purpose have ,i made these things4 ,here is wisdom1 and it remaineth in me4 ,and by the word of my power have ,i created them1 which is my ,only ,begotten ,son1 who is full of grace and truth4 ,and worlds without number have ,i created2 and ,i also created them for mine own purpose2 and by the ,son ,i created them1 which is mine ,only ,begotten4 ,and the first man of all men have ,i called ,adam1 which is many4 ,but only an account of this earth1 and the inhabitants thereof1 give ,i unto you4 ,for1 behold1 there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power4 ,and there are many also which now stand1 and numberless are they1 unto man1 but all things are numbered unto me1 for they are mine and ,i know them4 ,and it came to pass1 that ,moses spake unto the ,lord1 saying1 ,be merciful unto thy servant1 ,o ,god1 and tell me concerning this earth1 and the inhabitants thereof1 and also the heavens1 and then thy servant will be content4 ,and the ,lord ,god spake unto ,moses1 saying1 ,the heavens1 they are many1 and they cannot be numbered unto man1 but they are numbered unto me1 for they are mine1 and as one earth shall pass away1 and the heavens thereof1 even so shall others come2 and there is no end to my works1 neither to my words4 ,for this is my work and my glory1 to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man4 #ba ,we have here1 then1 a plain statement of the purpose of the ,lord in formulating the ,gospel1 and we may now inquire as to the course of procedure to be followed to accomplish the object in view4 ,,vii4 ,,plan ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,we may use still further the comparison of instructor and pupil4 ,the plan of the work he is to pursue is laid before the student at the outset4 ,all the steps of his progress are pointed out to him from the opening of his course until his graduation4 ,in outline he can trace his work throughout1 and can tell at any stage of his advancement how far he has come1 and what yet remains to be done before he can claim his diploma4 ,just so the ,lord has outlined the course of procedure under the ,gospel plan1 and1 as with the student1 so we may know how far we have advanced4 ,following is a remarkable disclosure in which we have the plan outlined3 ,and they who keep their first estate shall be added upon2 and they who keep not their first estate1 shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate2 and they who keep their second estate1 shall have glory added upon their heads forever and ever4 #bb ,when the time had arrived for the council in heaven to name a ,savior1 according to the plan of the ,father1 to come to the earth in the meridian of time and make possible the resurrection from the dead1 there was a rebellion1 the account of which gives us an indication of the dividing point in our progress between the first and second estates4 ,it reads as follows3 ,and the ,lord said1 ,whom shall ,i send8 ,and one answered like unto the ,son of ,man3 ,here am ,i1 send me4 ,and another answered and said3 ,here am ,i1 send me4 ,and the ,lord said3 ,i will send the first4 ,and the second was angry1 and kept not his first estate1 and at that day1 many followed after him4 #bc ,additional information as to the proportion of that host of spirits who followed after him1 is given in the ,doctrine and ,covenants3 ,for1 behold1 the devil was before ,adam1 for he rebelled against me1 saying1 ,give me thine honor1 which is my power3 and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency2 and they were thrust down1 and thus came the devil and his angels4 #bd ,we learn1 therefore3 ,that1 according to the plan of the ,gospel1 there are two estates1 with varying glories attached to each4 ,that one-third of the host of heaven into the midst of whom the ,lord came down in the beginning1 had not made sufficient progress when the time came for peopling this earth1 to keep their first estate1 and ,that the two-thirds who remained faithful up to that time1 were introduced to the next step of advancement by being permitted to take bodies upon this earth1 and are1 accordingly1 on the way to the keeping of the second estate1 to which is attached the glory of eternal lives4 ,here1 then1 with an illustration in the case of this earth1 is the outline plan of the ,gospel4 ,,viii4 ,,covenants ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,pursuing the comparison of instructor and student still further1 we find that their relations are governed by an implied contract from beginning to end4 ,the student who sets out to take a course of instruction in civil engineering1 for instance1 agrees1 on his part1 to follow the directions of the instructor throughout the term of years prescribed to complete the work4 ,on the part of the instructor an agreement is made that if the student will so follow the course laid out1 for the stated number of years1 he shall receive a diploma as a civil engineer4 ,it is proper1 therefore1 for us to make an inquiry as to the agreement1 if any1 entered into in the beginning between the ,great ,formulator of this course of study we are pursuing1 and the world of mankind4 ,it is interesting to note here that the late ,president ,lorenzo ,snow looked upon the passage about to be quoted1 ,i came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen1 as going the farthest back of any of the revelations we have1 direct from the ,almighty4 ,we may here gather from the following quotation1 the covenant entered into by the spirits1 in the beginning3 ,i came down in the beginning in the midst of all the intelligences thou hast seen4 ,now1 the lord had shewn unto me1 ,abraham1 the intelligences that were organized before the world was2 and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones2 and ,god saw these souls that they were good1 and he stood in the midst of them1 and he said3 ,these ,i will make my rulers2 for he stood among those that were spirits1 and he saw that they were good2 and he said unto me3 ,abraham1 thou art one of them1 thou wast chosen before thou wast born4 ,and there stood one among them that was like unto ,god1 and he said unto those who were with him3 ,we will go down1 for there is space there1 and we will take of these materials1 and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell2 and we will prove them herewith1 to see if they will do all things whatsoever the ,lord their ,god shall command them4 #be ,the spirits1 therefore1 after this plan of the ,gospel had been presented to and accepted by them1 had agreed to do all things whatsoever the ,lord their ,god should command them4 ,in accord herewith is the statement of ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith that not order1 but obedience1 is the first law of heaven4 ,as to the covenant made by the ,lord in ,his part of the contract1 we read in the ,doctrine and ,covenants3 ,and also all they who receive this ,priesthood receiveth me1 saith the ,lord2 for he that receiveth my servants receiveth me2 and he that receiveth me receiveth my ,father2 and he that receiveth my ,father1 receiveth my ,father's ,kingdom2 therefore all that my ,father hath shall be given unto him2 and this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the ,priesthood4 ,therefore1 all those who receive the ,priesthood1 receive this oath and covenant of my ,father1 which he cannot break4 #bf ,as it is designed in the ,gospel plan for the redemption of the dead1 that all men who have arrived at years of accountability and who during their life time here were subject to law1 shall have the ,priesthood conferred upon them1 either in person or by proxy1 it will be seen how wide the application of this covenant will extend4 ,the great covenants pertaining to the ,gospel are1 accordingly2 on the part of the spirits1 obedience to whatever law is given them2 on the part of the ,lord1 to those who are the most faithful1 a fullness of ,his glory4 ,but1 as will be seen hereafter1 provision is made for all1 even for the least of ,his creatures4 ,,ix4 ,,perpetuity ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,certainly a system of such grandeur and comprehensiveness as the ,gospel must have within itself the seeds of perpetuity4 ,no catastrophe the mind of man can contemplate would compare with that which would result if all this beautiful fabric should at some time1 by any mischance1 go to pieces4 ,but the elements not only of continuity but of continuous growth1 are in the ,gospel1 and the wisdom of ,god shall not be destroyed4 ,the spirits1 whether they place themselves under the course of instruction provided for in the ,gospel or not1 are eternal1 as are1 also1 the elements with which1 under its plan1 they become united2 and by following the thought behind the revelations here to be quoted1 we may trace therein the design of the ,maker for the stability of ,his work4 ,in relation to the union of spirit and element1 we read in the ,doctrine and ,covenants3 ,for man is spirit4 ,the elements are eternal1 and spirit and element1 inseparably connected1 receiveth a fullness of joy2 and1 when separated1 man cannot receive a fullness of joy4 #bg ,here1 without doubt1 it may be noted in passing1 we have one of the great discoveries by which ,god came to be ,god4 ,as to the continuity of the union between spirit and matter1 we quote the words of the ,prophet ,amulek1 recorded in the ,book of ,mormon3 ,now1 behold1 ,i have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body1 and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body4 ,i say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body2 that is1 from death1 even from the first death unto life1 that they can die no more1 their spirits uniting with their bodies1 never to be divided1 thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal1 that they can no more see corruption4 #bh ,our next step will be a consideration of the ,priesthood1 which is designed by the ,gospel plan to form a never-ending bond of union between those who arrive at their exaltation under its provisions4 ,we read in the ,book of ,mormon3 ,this ,high ,priesthood being after the order of ,his ,son1 which order was from the foundation of the world--or1 in other words1 being without beginning of days or end of years1 being prepared from eternity to all eternity1 according to ,his foreknowledge of all things4 #bi ,we may now turn to a consideration of the process by which an increase of the dominion of all those who are faithful1 is provided for in the ,gospel4 ,in the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 we read3 ,and1 again1 verily ,i say unto you1 if a man marry a wife by my word1 which is my law1 and by the new and everlasting covenant1 and it is sealed unto them by the ,holy ,spirit of promise1 by him who is anointed1 unto whom ,i have appointed this power1 and the keys of the ,priesthood2 and it shall be said unto them1 ye shall come forth in the first resurrection2 and if it be after the first resurrection1 in the next resurrection2 and shall inherit thrones1 kingdoms1 principalities1 and powers1 dominions1 all heights and depths--then shall it be written in the ,lamb's ,book of ,life1 that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood1 and if ye abide in my covenant1 and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood1 it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them1 in time1 and through all eternity1 and shall be of full force when they are out of the world2 and they shall pass by the angels1 and the gods1 which are set there1 to their exaltation and glory in all things1 as hath been sealed upon their heads1 which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds for ever and ever4 ,then shall they be ,gods1 because they have no end2 therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting1 because they continue2 then shall they be above all1 because all things are subject unto them4 ,then shall they be ,gods1 because they have all power4 #cj ,it is not the purpose of this work to go outside of the strict boundaries of revelation1 but one cannot refrain at this point from giving a little rein to the spirit of inquiry4 ,when this glorious consummation shall have been attained1 will not the whole process of world-making and world-peopling1 in this order of spirits1 be gone all over again8 ,shall spirits who have never heard of this plan of organization be visited by such a being1 who shall afterward be in a position to say1 ,in the beginning ,i came down into the midst of these spirits1 and taught them this same ,gospel plan1 a new earth was formed1 another ,adam came upon it1 a ,savior was provided8 ,in the enduring union between the spirits and element1 in the eternal nature of the bond entered into by those who receive the ,holy ,priesthood1 and in the never-ending increase of those who properly contract the marriage relation1 is manifest1 therefore1 the wisdom of ,god in providing for the perpetuity and growth of ,his dominion1 as well as for the exaltation of those spirits who render obedience to the ,gospel4 ,,summary ,,of ,,the ,,gospel4 ,summarizing the ,outline of the ,gospel here presented1 we find3 ,i4 ,that the ,gospel had its inception when ,god1 finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory1 because he was more intelligent1 saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself4 ,,ii4 ,that the purpose of ,god in so doing was to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man4 ,,iii4 ,that under the plan of the ,gospel there are two estates1 the keeping of both of which shall entitle the spirits to be added upon for ever and ever4 ,,iv4 ,that the covenants entered into by the parties involved were1 on the part of the spirits1 obedience in all things to whatsoever the ,lord their ,god should command them1 or1 in other words1 to the best light under which they lived upon the earth2 and1 on the part of the ,lord1 that all who receive the ,holy ,priesthood and are faithful thereto1 shall receive a fullness of ,his glory4 ,v4 ,that the perpetuity of the ,gospel plan is assured by the increased power of those who receive bodies1 with which their spirits shall be inseparably connected2 by the eternal bond entered into under the covenant of the ,holy ,priesthood2 and by the enduring union of the sexes in a never-ending increase of posterity4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,conditions ,,subsequent4 ,,nature1 ,,man #a4 ,general1 #b4 ,special4 ,x4 ,,nature4 ,but only an account of this earth1 and the inhabitants thereof1 give ,i unto you4--,book of ,moses #a3ce4 ,we come now to consider the fruits of this tree of life1 the ,gospel1 as relates to nature1 the environment of man4 ,while we may view with wonder and with awe the marvelous works of ,god about us in the heavens1 sill our interests1 as ourselves1 are confined to the earth upon which we dwell4 ,it is true1 the ,lord has given us some notion of the vastness of ,his works1 of ,kolob1 the first creation1 nearest the celestial or residence of ,god2 first in government1 last pertaining to the measurement of time1 whose day is equal to a thousand years1 according to the measurement of this earth2 #ca of ,oliblish1 which is the next grand governing creation1 holding the key of power also1 pertaining to other planets2 #cb and has revealed to us that were it possible that men could number the particles of the earth1 yea1 and millions of earths like this1 it would not be a beginning to the number of ,his creations2 #cc yet a knowledge of ,his dominions1 except in this general way1 concerning any other of ,his creations than this earth1 is withheld from us4 ,we have1 however1 a number of revealed truths concerning the earth that would add greatly to the interest as well as to the enlightenment of the scientific world1 if they were accepted4 ,if1 for instance1 it had been known to and received by science1 that this earth was organized or formed out of other planets1 which were broken up and remodeled and made into the one on which we live1 #cd how many vain theories and how much useless work would have been saved6 ,how many times the earth1 or portions of it in another planet1 was peopled by the ,lord before ,adam was placed upon it1 we are not informed2 but from the fact that he was commanded to replenish1 or re-fill it1 we may infer that it had1 in some form1 been inhabited before our first parents came here4 ,but of this no account is given us by revelation4 ,how fully and how wisely the earth was prepared before being sent on its present voyage1 with provisions1 with material for clothing1 with fuel1 and with all the necessities and comforts of life1 is matter of common knowledge4 ,the ,lord has given us the name by which this part of ,his dominion is known to ,him1 as ,idumea1 #ce and1 as to the order to which it belongs among ,his diversified creations1 we have a wonderful revelation in the ,doctrine and ,covenants1 as follows3 ,the poor and meek of the earth shall inherit it4 ,therefore it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness1 that it may be prepared for the celestial glory2 for after it hath filled the measure of its creation1 it shall be crowned with glory1 even with the presence of ,god the ,father2 that bodies of the celestial kingdom may possess it for ever and ever2 for1 for this intent was it made and created1 and for this intent are they sanctified4 ,and1 again1 verify ,i say unto you1 the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom1 for it filleth the measure of its creation and transgresseth not the law1 wherefore1 it shall be sanctified2 yea1 notwithstanding it shall die1 it shall be quickened again1 and shall abide the power by which it is quickened1 and the righteous shall inherit it4 #cf ,the following passage respecting the final condition of the earth1 gives further light upon this beautiful thought4 ,the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith says3 ,this earth1 in its sanctified1 immortal state1 will be made like unto crystal1 and will be a ,urim and ,thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon1 whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom1 or all kingdoms of a lower order1 will be manifest to those who dwell on it2 and this earth will be ,christ's4 #cg ,as to the final condition of the animals and plants of the earth1 the ,lord explains3 ,for all old things shall pass away1 and all things shall become new1 even the heaven and the earth1 and all the fullness thereof1 both men and beasts1 the fowls of the air and the fishes of the sea2 and not one hair2 neither mote shall be lost1 for it is the workmanship of mine hand4 #ch ,from all of which1 and from other like revelations1 too numerous to mention here1 we gather3 ,that while we may speculate upon the multitude of the ,lord's creations1 we have1 except from our observations of the heavens about us1 and the meager information vouchsafed us by revelation1 no detailed account of any planet but of the earth on which we dwell4 ,that the earth is on the way to eternal1 celestial glory1 where it will shine of its own light1 in which condition it will be inhabited by celestial beings1 not only by mankind1 but by the elect of the animal and vegetable kingdoms as well4 ,,xi4 ,,man4 ,,general ,,considerations4 ,and it came to pass that ,moses looked and beheld the world upon which he was created1 and as ,moses beheld the world and the ends thereof1 and all the children of men which are1 and which were created of the same1 he greatly marveled and wondered4--,book of ,moses #a3h4 ,the fruits of the ,gospel as relates to the peopling of the earth through ,adam1 are not fully ripe4 ,the generations of that lineage are still incomplete2 but it is interesting to study the general outline of the plan which was laid for that purpose before the earth was formed1 a part of which has now been rendered into history4 ,as made known to ,john the ,revelator on the ,isle of ,patmos1 this plan1 presented to him by signs the meaning of which was revealed#ci to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 contemplated the division of human history into seven periods of one day each1 according to the ,lord's reckoning4 ,the first should be a day of peace2 the second1 a day of war and conquest2 the third1 a day in which commerce should have its rise2 the fourth1 a day of war2 the fifth1 a day of persecution2 the sixth1 a day of preparation for the ,sabbath1 or ,millennium2 the seventh1 a day of peace and rest4 ,let the student follow down the history of the world with this outline in mind1 and he cannot fail to be impressed with the coincidence1 so far1 of the prophecy and its fulfillment4 ,not only were the periods set1 and the work to be accomplished in each determined1 but the order in which the spirits to take bodies on this earth should come forth1 was outlined before the earth was made4 ,abraham says1 as hereinbefore quoted3 ,now the ,lord had shown unto me1 ,abraham1 the intelligences that were organized before the world was1 and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones2 and ,god saw these souls that they were good1 and he stood in the midst of them1 and he said1 ,these ,i will make my rulers2 for he stood among those that were spirits1 and he saw that they were good2 and ,he said unto me1 ,abraham1 thou art one of them1 thou wast chosen before thou wast born4 #dj ,when we recall the promise made to ,abraham1 after his advent upon the earth1 that through him and his seed should all the children of the earth be blessed2 when we see in the history of the world how the seed of ,israel has been scattered among all nations2 and when we witness the purpose of the ,lord1 now going forward1 to gather into one family under that lineage all the descendants of ,adam1 this passage and that promise take on peculiar significance4 ,furthermore1 that the course of the star of empire was set from the first1 is evident from the revelation given to ,adam three years before his death at the altar of ,adam-ondi-,ahman1 as related in the ,doctrine and ,covenants4 ,we read3 ,and ,adam stood up in the midst of the congregation2 and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age1 being full of the ,holy ,ghost predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation4 #da ,among those spirits in the midst of whom the ,lord stood when ,he saw and chose as ,his rulers the noble and great ones1 there were no doubt many who were less intelligent4 ,how could these spirits be so placed in the generations of ,adam's race as to make the most of them8 ,the solution of the problem is disclosed in the following extract from the ,book of ,mormon3 ,for1 behold1 the ,lord doth grant unto all nations1 of their own nation and tongue1 to teach his word2 yea1 in wisdom1 all that he seeth fit that they should have2 therefore1 we see that the ,lord doth counsel in wisdom1 according to that which is just and true4 #db ,superior minds1 that is to say1 have been sent to the earth1 among all peoples1 in all ages of the world1 to teach1 to bring forth new inventions1 to give laws1 to make discoveries1 to establish or to overthrow governments1 according to the varying capacities and intelligence and necessities of the peoples among whom they were appointed by the ,supreme ,head to labor4 ,the sentiment awakened by a contemplation of this passage of scripture1 is one of the utmost reverence1 admiration and love for a ,being of such wisdom and mercy4 ,but not only has the ,lord determined the general course of civilization on the earth1 but even the work of individuals1 apart from ,his prophets1 has been under ,his direction1 as was that of ,columbus1 of whom we read in the ,book of ,mormon1 as follows3 ,and ,i looked and beheld a man among the ,gentiles who was separated from the seed of my brethren by many waters2 and beheld the ,spirit of ,god1 that it came down and wrought upon the man2 and he went forth upon the many waters1 even unto the seed of my brethren1 who were in the promised land4 #dc ,instances of this character1 however1 are too numerous to mention here1 but they show that not only in a general way1 but in many details1 the peopling of the earth has proceeded under a well-defined1 predetermined plan4 ,not only has the history of mankind on the earth been outlined from the beginning1 but the rewards awaiting them1 according to the light they have received and their obedience thereto1 have been fixed4 ,for it will be remembered from what was developed under the head of ,covenants of the ,gospel1 that all who have taken bodies upon the earth in the lineage of ,adam1 are under the same promise of obedience to whatsoever the ,lord their ,god shall command them1 in their day and generation4 ,after describing the torment of those spirits who become sons of perdition1 the revelation to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith and ,sidney ,rigdon1 continues3 ,and again1 we bear record1 for we saw and heard1 and this is the testimony of the gospel of ,christ1 concerning them who come forth in the resurrection of the just1 they are they who received the testimony of ,jesus1 and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial1 being buried in the water in his name1 and this according to the commandment which he has given1 that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins1 and receive the ,holy ,spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power1 and who overcome by faith1 and are sealed by the ,holy ,spirit of promise1 which the ,father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true4 ,they are they who are ,priests and ,kings1 who have received of his fullness1 and of his glory4 ,and are ,priests of the ,most ,high1 after the order of ,melchisedek1 which was after the order of ,enoch1 which was after the order of the ,only ,begotten ,son2 wherefore1 as it is written1 they are ,gods1 even the sons of ,god--wherefore all things are theirs1 whether life or death1 or things present1 or things to come1 all are theirs and they are ,christ's and ,christ is ,god's4 ,and they shall overcome all things2 wherefore let no man glory in man1 but rather let him glory in ,god1 who shall subdue all enemies under his feet--these shall dwell in the presence of ,god and his ,christ for ever and ever4 ,these are they whom he shall bring with him when he shall come in the clouds of heaven1 to reign on the earth over his people4 ,these are they who shall have part in the first resurrection4 ,these are they who are just men made perfect through ,jesus the mediator of the new covenant1 who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood4 ,these are they whose bodies are celestial1 whose glory is that of the sun1 even the glory of ,god1 the highest of all1 whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical4 ,and1 again1 we saw the terrestrial world1 and behold and lo1 these are they who are of the terrestrial1 whose glory differs from that of the church of the first born1 who have received the fullness of the ,father1 even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament4 ,behold1 these are they who died without law1 and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison1 whom the ,son visited1 and preached the gospel unto them1 that they might be judged according to men in the flesh4 ,who received not the testimony of ,jesus in the flesh1 but afterwards received it4 ,these are they who are honorable men on the earth1 who were blinded by the craftiness of men4 ,these are they who receive of his glory1 but not of his fullness4 ,these are they who receive of the presence of the ,son1 but not of the fullness of the ,father2 wherefore they are bodies terrestrial1 and not bodies celestial1 and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun4 ,these are they who are not valiant in the testimony of ,jesus2 wherefore they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our ,god4 ,and now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial1 that the ,lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the ,spirit4 ,and again1 we saw the glory of the telestial1 which glory is that of the lesser1 even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament4 ,these are they who received not the gospel of ,christ1 neither the testimony of ,jesus4 ,these are they who deny not the ,holy ,spirit4 ,these are they who are thrust down to hell4 ,these are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil1 until the last resurrection1 until the ,lord1 even ,christ the ,lamb shall have finished his work4 ,these are they who receive not of his fullness in the eternal world1 but of the ,holy ,spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial2 and the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial2 and also the celestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them1 or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them1 for they shall be heirs of salvation4 ,and thus we saw in the heavenly vision1 the glory of the telestial1 which surpasses all understanding1 and no man knows it except him to whom ,god has revealed it4 ,and thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial1 which excels in all things the glory of the telestial1 even in glory1 and in power1 and in might1 and in dominion4 ,and thus we saw the glory of the celestial1 which excels in all things-- where ,god1 even the ,father1 reigns upon his throne for ever and ever2 before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence and give him glory for ever and ever4 ,they who dwell in his presence are the church of the first born1 and they see as they are seen1 and know as they are known1 having received of his fullness and of his grace2 and he makes them equal in power1 and in might1 and in dominion4 ,and the glory of the celestial is one1 even as the glory of the sun is one4 ,and the glory of the terrestrial is one1 even as the glory of the moon is one4 ,and the glory of the telestial is one1 even as the glory of the stars is one1 for as one star differs from another star in glory1 even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world2 ,these are they who are liars1 and sorcerers1 and adulterers1 and whoremongers1 and whosoever loves and makes a lie4 ,these are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of ,almighty ,god1 until the fullness of times when ,christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet1 and shall have perfected his work4 ,when he shall deliver up the kingdom1 and present it unto the ,father spotless1 saying--,i have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone1 even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of ,almighty ,god4 ,then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory1 to sit on the throne of his power to reign for ever and ever4 ,but behold1 and lo1 we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world1 that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven1 or as the sand upon the sea shore1 and heard the voice of the ,lord1 saying--these all shall bow the knee1 and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne for ever and ever2 for they shall be judged according to their works1 and every man shall receive according to his own works1 his own dominion1 in the mansions which are prepared1 and they shall be servants of the ,most ,high1 but where ,god and ,christ dwell they cannot come1 worlds without end4 ,from all of which it appears that the history of mankind was pre-arranged from beginning to end1 before the foundations of the earth were laid4 ,,xii4 ,,man4 ,,special ,,considerations4 ,adam fell that men might be2 and men are1 that they might have joy4 --,,ii ,nephi #b3be4 ,many of the results of the ,gospel with regard to man have been dwelt upon in the discussion up to this point1 but there remain some considerations of importance yet to be detailed1 particularly the object of his coming to this earth4 ,we turn now1 therefore1 to a study of the special end in view under the ,gospel plan1 in clothing the spirit with mortality4 ,the purpose of man's existence here is two-fold4 ,one object is manifest from a revelation already quoted1 as follows3 ,for man is spirit4 ,the elements are eternal1 and spirit and element1 inseparably connected1 receiveth a fullness of joy2 and when separated1 man cannot receive a fullness of joy4 #dd ,the spirit of man1 we here learn1 must become inseparably connected with element in order to receive the fullness of joy designed for him by the ,gospel1 therefore1 he must take upon him a mortal tabernacle1 and1 for that reason1 after having advanced in intelligence far enough to retain his first estate1 he is sent to an earth4 ,under the ,divine plan1 a ,savior1 one who is given power to lay down ,his life and to take it up again1 is provided1 to become the first fruits of the resurrection1 to open the grave1 that the spirit and body may be reunited1 nevermore to be separated4 ,another object of our coming here is equally important1 and relates to our spiritual growth4 ,we may use a comparison4 ,the teacher in school1 acquainted with the order in which the different powers of the mind develop in childhood1 adapts his instructions to the growth in progress at any particular period4 ,while not at all neglecting the general training of the child1 he will direct his efforts particularly1 at different stages of progress1 to the development for example of perception1 of imagination1 of comparison or reason1 in his pupil1 as the mind under his charge grows in power4 ,this procedure is necessary from the fact1 that1 as psychologists tell us1 unless the powers of the mind are exercised as they develop1 they remain dormant or only partially developed1 as1 for instance1 the love of poetry or of music1 if these pleasures are not cultivated in childhood4 ,and just so1 we may be assured1 is the plan of the ,gospel adapted to the development of the powers of the spirit of man in the different stages of his progress through the first and second estates4 ,at what stage of progress1 then1 it may here be asked1 have we now arrived2 and what powers of the soul are the experiences of mortality specially designed to enlarge8 ,man finds himself thrust into the world1 surrounded by sorrow1 injustice and poverty1 and1 if he contemplates these conditions without knowing the purpose of the ,lord in sending him here1 he may exclaim with ,schopenhauer1 ,if ,god made the world1 ,i should not care to be ,god4 ,but the ,gospel testifies to the mercy and wisdom and goodness of the ,lord1 for in it we learn that the very conditions of which the philosopher complains are designed to develop the attributes for the full growth of which the spirit is given the schooling of mortality4 ,let us consider4 ,we are here cut off from any understanding of our pre-existent state or any knowledge of the hereafter1 and must perforce accept the providences of the ,lord and ,his designs for our future welfare on trust1 and so the attribute of faith is developed4 ,furthermore1 notwithstanding all the failures and sorrows and trials of life1 we are impelled by an innate self-renewing power to press onto the end1 thus exercising hope4 ,dr4 ,johnson has well said3 ,it is necessary to hope1 though hope should be always deluded2 and its frustrations1 however frequent1 are yet less dreadful than its extinction4 ,and1 again1 all our environments1 as children1 as husbands or wives1 as parents1 as brothers or sisters1 as rulers1 as ruled1 as king or shepherd1 as neighbors1 as citizens1 call our our affections2 and1 so is love developed4 ,the attributes of faith1 hope and love1 or1 as ,wagner has it1 in his ,simple ,life1 confidence1 hope and kindness1 are1 moreover1 ever spoken of by inspired writers as those most to be cultivated4 ,and1 too1 these qualities and the means for their exercise are universal4 ,they obtain alike with all classes1 in all ages of the world4 ,man1 therefore1 is placed upon the earth to develop spiritually1 in faith1 in hope and in love1 but most of all1 as is consonant with the part that sentiment played in the inception of the ,gospel1 in love4 ,accordingly1 ,paul exclaims3 ,and now abideth faith1 hope1 charity1 these three2 but the greatest of these is charity4 #de ,further and final evidence as to the importance of the cultivation of love is found in the reply of the ,savior to the lawyer who asked1 ,master1 which is the great commandment in the law8 for1 ,jesus said unto him1 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul and with all thy mind4 ,this is the first and great commandment4 ,and the second is like unto it1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself4 #df ,that there is a reason1 and what the reason is1 for the paramount importance of the cultivation of the attributes of faith1 hope and love in the present stage of our progress1 is disclosed in a remarkable passage in the ,book of ,mormon4 ,it reads as follows3 ,behold1 ,i will show unto them that faith1 hope and charity1 bringeth unto me--the fountain of all righteousness4 ,and ,i1 ,moroni1 having heard these words1 was comforted1 and said1 ,o ,lord1 thy righteous will be done1 for ,i know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith2 for the brother of ,jared said unto the mountain ,zerin1 remove1 and it was removed4 ,and if he had not had faith1 it would not have moved2 wherefore thou workest after men have faith1 for thus didst thou manifest thyself unto thy disciples4 ,for after they had faith1 and did speak in thy name1 thou didst show thyself unto them in great power4 ,and ,i also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man2 yea1 even among the mansions of thy ,father1 in which man might have more excellent hope2 wherefore man must hope1 or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared4 ,and again ,i remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world1 even unto the laying down of thy life for the world1 that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men4 ,and now ,i know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men1 is charity2 wherefore1 except men shall have charity1 they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy ,father4 #dg ,we may here summarize the last topic3 ,why is man thrown into the world without a knowledge of his pre-existence1 of the purpose for which he is here1 or of his destination8 ,that faith may be engendered in his bosom4 ,why is his life made up of failures1 of disappointments1 of sorrow8 ,that he may cultivate hope4 ,why is he surrounded by the ties of kinship2 why are sickness and sorrow and death all about him2 why are care and responsibility the portion of each individual in every station in life8 ,that the attribute of sympathy1 of affection1 of love1 may be developed within him4 ,why does he stand in particular need at this stage of his advancement of faith1 hope and love8 ,he has kept his first estate and is well on the way toward his trial for the keeping of his second estate1 where he will require the attributes of a ,god1 and these three1 faith1 hope and love1 are the means by the exercise of which he must acquire the power to reach that exalted destination4 ,herein is the justice of ,god in ,his dealings with mankind made manifest2 for1 in the light of eternity1 who should care for worldly honors or a seat among the mighty8 ,the poor and humble have within their reach every facility for advancement that is vouchsafed to any1 in this state of probation4 ,indeed1 it would seem that even more opportunity to gain eternal riches is afforded the meek of the earth than is given to those most highly favored of the world4 ,the ,gospel is1 therefore1 at once the true incentive to1 and the sufficient justification of1 the simple1 the courageous1 the hopeful and the kindly life4 ,,conclusion4 ,what1 then1 of our text8 ,does the ,gospel1 as revealed by the ,lord through the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 furnish a thoughtful man with a firm center about which he can organize his knowledge of the world8 ,could any man originate a system of philosophy at once so simple1 so reasonable1 so comprehensive and so beneficent8 ,do not the answers it gives to the questions of life bear all the marks of ,divinity8 ,in answer1 we shall here revert1 both by way of summary1 and by way of conclusion1 to those universal questions with which we opened this discussion1 and answer them in behalf of each son and daughter of ,adam4 ,who am ,i8 ,whence am ,i8 ,why am ,i here8 ,whither am ,i going8 ,from the time when1 as an intelligent1 self-existent1 independent being1 abroad in boundless space1 surrounded by exhaustless1 indestructible matter1 with limitless time in which to operate1 ,i received a knowledge of the ,gospel plan which was formulated by the ,great ,god who upholds this world and all worlds and all things by ,his power1 ,i have been pursuing the course of advancement therein provided2 under the covenant that if ,i shall render obedience to ,him in all things1 ,i shall become like ,him2 or that1 failing in so high an exaltation1 ,i shall have glory added upon my head forever1 in degree according to my faithfulness4 ,having kept my first estate1 ,i am here to take upon my spirit a body1 thus inseparably connecting spirit and element2 and to exercise particularly the attributes of faith1 hope and love2 that in so doing ,i may gain power1 and may thereby be enabled to keep my second estate4 ,from this state of probation ,i am going to the world of spirits for a season1 and later to a reunion with my body1 when ,i shall be given all the glory ,i am capable of receiving2 conditioned always upon my faithfulness to the light the ,lord has given me here4 ,for this is the message of the ,gospel to each soul in the world3 ,be true to the light ,god gives you and perform with integrity the work ,he has assigned you1 exercising faith1 hope and charity2 so doing1 you may rest your soul secure in the arms of ,his love4 ,footnotes #a ,in this series of light rays it is plain that there are two gaps1 or unknown regions1 regarding which we have to confess total ignorance relative to the part they play in the economy of the universe4 ,may there not exist vibrations still more rapid8 ,that question we are not permitted to answer4 ,be that as it may1 the invisible rays are incomparably more numerous than the visible ones4 ,our eyes thus see almost nothing of that which exists4 ,our assumed knowledge is only an insignificant islet in the midst of the ocean of the infinite4--,sir ,william ,crookes4 #b ,introduction4 #c ,pearl of ,great ,price1 ,book of ,abraham1 ,diagram ,no4 #b1 ,fig4 #a4 ,no attempt is made here1 nor in other references to this passage of ,scripture1 to place a limitation to the activities of the ,great ,creator4 ,it is sufficient to say that ,he has given us information so far back and no farther4 #d ,book of ,abraham1 #c3a-d1 and ,diagram ,no4 #b4 #e ,doctrine and ,covenants #fh3ab4 #f ,great ,first ,cause1 ,par4 #a4 #g ,compendium1 p4 #bhg4 #h ,brown's ,metaphysics p4 #bbj4 #i ,book of ,abraham #c3ah4 #aj ,doctrine and ,covenants #ic3cc4 #aa ,journal of ,discourses1 ,,vi41 p4 #f4 #ab #a ,corinthians #ae3dd4 #ac ,pearl of ,great ,price1 ,book of ,moses #c3e-g4 #ad ,doctrine and ,covenants ,sec4 #bi3ca1 #cb4 #ae ,sermon by ,pres4 ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 at the funeral services of ,wm4 ,c4 ,staines1 #ahha4 #af ,the late ,james ,s4 ,brown1 in telling his experience at the time his leg was amputated1 related that his spirit left his body1 and1 as the spirit hovered above the mutilated and lifeless remains1 he could see that1 while the leg of flesh and bones had been removed1 yet the spiritual body remained whole1 and the place from which the leg had been removed was still occupied by the spiritual leg1 over which the knife and saw of the surgeon had no power4 ,there was the spirit1 the life1 hovering above the death bed1 there was the spiritual body only partially enveloped by the mutilated remains1 and there was the mortal body dismembered and cold in death4 ,the common experience of those who have had any limb amputated1 that they1 without thinking1 try to use the dismembered part1 is to the same effect4 #ag ,book of ,abraham #c3ah4 #ah ,journal of ,discourses ,,vi41 p4 #f4 #ai ,book of ,abraham1 ,diagram ,no4 #b1 ,fig4 #a4 #bj ,journal of ,discourses ,,vi41 ,first ,discourse4 #ba ,pearl of ,great ,price1 ,book of ,moses #a3cj-ci4 #bb ,book of ,abraham #c3bf4 #bc ,book of ,abraham #c3bg1 #bh4 #bd ,sec4 #bi3cf1 #cg4 #be ,book of ,abraham #c3ba-be4 #bf ,sec4 #hd3ce-dj4 #bg ,sec4 #ic3cc1 #cd4 #bh ,alma #aa3de4 #bi ,alma #ac3g4 #cj ,sec4 #acb3ai1 #bj4 #ca ,book of ,abraham1 ,diagram ,no4 #b1 ,fig4 #a4 #cb ,book of ,abraham1 ,diagram ,no4 #b1 ,fig4 #b4 #cc ,pearl of ,great ,price1 ,book of ,moses #g3dj4 #cd ,compendium1 p4 #bhg4 #ce ,doc4 and ,cov4 #a3cf4 #cf ,sec4 #hh3ag-bf4 #cg ,doc4 and ,cov4 #acj3i4 #ch ,doc4 and ,cov4 #ci3bd1 #be4 #ci ,doc4 and ,cov4 ,sec4 #gg4 #dj ,book of ,abraham #c3bb1 #bd4 #da ,sec4 #ajg3ef4 #db ,alma #bi3h4 #dc #a ,nephi #ac3ab4 #dd ,doc4 and ,cov4 #ic3cc1 #cd4 #de ,i ,cor4 #ac3ac4 #df ,matt4 #bb3ce-ci4 #dg ,ether #ab3bh-cd4