A Rational Theology - John A Widstoe

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Title:ARationalTheologyAsTaughtbytheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints
Author:JohnA.Widtsoe
ReleaseDate:March12,2011[EBook#35562]
Language:English
***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKARATIONALTHEOLOGY***
ProducedbytheMormonTextsProject,http://bencrowder.net/books/mtp.Volunteers:Benjamin
Bytheway,ByronClark,BenCrowder,TomDeForest,EricHeaps,JasonHills,TodRobbins.
RationalTheology
AsTaughtbythe
ChurchofJesusChristof
LatterdaySaints
BYJOHNA.WIDTSOE
PublishedfortheUseoftheMelchizedekPriesthoodbytheGeneralPriesthoodCommittee
1915
Copyright,1915
BYJOHNA.WIDTSOE
PREFACE
Arationaltheology,asunderstoodinthisvolume,isatheologywhich(1)isbasedonfundamental
principlesthatharmonizewiththeknowledgeandreasonofman,(2)derivesallofitslaws,
ordinancesandauthorityfromtheacceptedfundamentalprinciples,and(3)findsexpressionanduse
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/35562/pg35562images.html
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intheeverydaylifeofman.Inshort,arationaltheologyisderivedfromtheinvariablelawsofthe
universe,andexistsforthegoodofman.
Thisvolumeisanexpositionitisnotanargument.TheprinciplesoftheGospel,asheldbythe
ChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints,arestated,briefly,simplyandwithoutcomment,toshow
thecoherence,reasonablenessanduniversalityofthegospelphilosophy.Theauthorityformanyof
thestatementsfoundinthevolumeisgiveninthereferencesincludedintheappendix.Thedoctrines
hereinstatedare,however,thecommonknowledgeofthemembersoftheChurch.Noattempthas
beenmadetocorrelatethedoctrinesdiscussedwithcurrentphilosophicalopinions.Thosewhoareled
tostudythisrationaltheologyinthelightofthebestknowledgeandsoundestthought,willentera
fertilefield,andwillfindasurprisingharmonybetweentheGospelandalldiscoveredtruth.
Thebookcouldnotbemadelarger,wereittoservewellthespecialpurposeforwhichitwaswritten.
Therefore,thetreatmentisbriefandmanyimportantandinterestingsubjectsareomitted.Moreover,
thebookhadtobecompletedwithinashort,settime,andmanyoftheimperfectionsoftheworkare
theresultsofthehurriedpreparation.
EverywriterwhointhisdayattemptsanexpositionoftheGospelmustdrawheavilyupontheclear
thoughtsofthosewho,fromJosephSmithtothelivingworkers,havewrittenandspokeninbehalfof
thetruth.Iacknowledge,gratefully,myobligationtothemakersof"Mormon"literature.Many
friendshave,also,invariousways,givenkindlyaidtothemIofferheartyandsincerethanks.
JOHNA.WIDTSOE.
LOGAN,UTAH.
CONTENTS
FUNDAMENTALSANDPREEXISTENTSTATE.
Chapter1.**TheMeaningofTheology**
ManintheUniverseAMan'sReligionTheologyDefinedThe
GospelThePurposeofthisBook.
Chapter2.**HowKnowledgeisGained**
TheSensesTheSixthSenseTransmittedKnowledgeTheUseofthe
ReasonTheFoundationofRationalTheology.
Chapter3.**Eternalism**
AllKnowledge,theBasisEternalMatterUniversalMatter,
IndestructibleEternalEnergyUniversalIntelligenceEternal
IntelligenceTheEternalRelationshipAnEternalPlanEternalism.
Chapter4.**TheWillofMan**
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ThePrimevalConditionTheIntelligenceofManTheWillofMan
ValueoftheWill.
Chapter5.**TheGreatLaw**
IncreasingComplexityoftheUniverseManandtheGreatLawThe
LawofDevelopment.
Chapter6.**GodandMan**
WhyGodisGodManyGodsWhyManisManGod'sHelptoManMan's
HelptoGodGod'sAttributes.
Chapter7.**ManIsThatHeMayHaveJoy**
ConsciousnessandtheUniverseThePrimevalConditionTheFirst
EstateTheSecondEstateTheThirdEstateEverlastingJoy.
Chapter8.**Man'sFreeAgency**
IntheBeginningTheCouncilinHeavenTheNeedofaSaviorMan's
PartintheGreatPlanFreeAgency.
Chapter9.**TheGreatPlan**
ForgetfulnessSubjecttoEarthConditionsLawstoBeObeyedAn
OrganizationAlltoAcceptthePlanTheMeaningoftheEarthPlan.
THEBEGINNINGOFTHEEARTHWORK.
Chapter10.**TheComingofMan**
MakingoftheEarthTheBuildersTheComingofManThe"Fall"
TheFirstBlessingTheGardenofEdenAWiseBeginning.
Chapter11.**TheCourseoftheGospelonEarth**
AdamHearstheGospelTheFirstDispensationTheFirstApostasy
LaterDispensationoftheMeridianofTimeTheGreatApostasyThe
RestorationTheVitalFacts.
MANANDGOD.
Chapter12.**TheGodsofthisEarth**
TheOrderofGodsPluralityofGodsGod,theFatherGod,the
SonGod,theHolyGhostOtherBeingsSexAmongtheGods.
Chapter13.**Man'sCommunionwithGod**
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TheWilltoAskByPersonalAppearanceBytheVisitationof
AngelsBytheHolySpiritTheEternalRecord.
Chapter14.**ManWalkswithGod**
ReadingGod'sMessageSpiritBlindnessPrayerActivePrayerThe
GiftofUnderstandingManWalkswithGod.
MANANDTHEDEVIL.
Chapter15.**TheKingdomoftheEvilOne**
DescendingBeingsTheDevilManandtheDevilTheDevilSubjecttoGod.
MANANDTHECHURCH.
Chapter16.**WhyaChurch?**
ManHelpedbyGodonEarthThePlanofSalvationforAll
OrderlinessTestofAttitudeAuthorityTheGreatPurposeofthe
Church.
Chapter17.**ConditionsofMembership**
FaithRepentanceBaptismTheGiftoftheHolyGhostContinued
ConformityAcceptanceofAuthority.
Chapter18.**ThePriesthoodintheChurch**
PriesthoodDefinedDivisionsofthePriesthoodTheAaronic
PriesthoodTheMelchizedekPriesthoodAllHoldthePriesthoodThe
PowerofthePriesthood.
Chapter19.**TheOrganizationoftheChurch**
TheGeneralAuthoritiesTheStakesofZionTheWardsofthe
StakesThePriesthoodinStakesandWardsAuxiliary
OrganizationsAllMustWorkTheTenureofOfficeAnUnpaid
MinistryAppointmentsinthePriesthoodCommonConsentBestowal
ofthePriesthood.
Chapter20.**TheAuthorityofthePriesthood**
TheFoundationofAuthorityAbsoluteAuthorityDerivedAuthority
TheAuthorityofOfficeAuthorityandFreeAgencyAuthorityOver
SelfTheExerciseofAuthorityTheUnrighteousExerciseof
AuthorityTheChurchAuthoritative.
Chapter21.**Obedience**
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TheRestraintofNatureAnActiveConditionTheRestraintofMan
TheLifeofLawDisobedienceTheChurchWorthHaving.
Chapter22.**AMissionaryChurch**
AChurchwithaPurposeTheHopeofTodayTemporalSalvationThe
ForeignMissionSystemTheHomeMissionServiceFortheCommon
Good.
Chapter23.**TempleOrdinances**
EducationalSymbolismCovenantsBlessingsTempleAuthority
PossibleRepetition.
MANANDMAN.
Chapter24.**TheBrotherhoodofMan**
CommonOriginCommonPurposesCommonDestinyInterDependence
Brothers.
Chapter25.**TheEqualityofMan**
ThePreexistentEffortTheEarthEffortTheVarietyofGiftsThe
EqualityofOpportunityUnequalEqualityTheTestofEquality.
Chapter26.**MutualSupport**
TheDutyoftheStrongCooperationEducation.
Chapter27.**TheUnitedOrder**
PurposeHistoricalCooperationTithingVoluntaryOfferingsThe
CommonGood.
Chapter28.**WorkfortheDead**
AllMustBeSavedEarthlyOrdinancesAWorkofLoveTheNeedof
RecordsTheResult.
Chapter29.**Marriage**
EternityofSexTheWaitingSpiritsTheMeaningoftheFirst
CommandTheFamilyCelestialMarriageTheSealingPowers.
Chapter30.**TheCommunity**
CommunityDefinedTheIndividualintheCommunityTheRightsoftheCommunity
TrainingfortheCommunityTheSupremacyoftheCommunity.
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MANANDNATURE.
Chapter31.**ManandNature**
TheIntelligenceofNatureALivingEarthTheLowerAnimalsAllfortheUseofMan
Man'sConquestofNatureMiraclesHarmonyofManandNature.
MANANDHIMSELF.
Chapter32.**TheSoundBody**
TheImportanceoftheBodyFoodExerciseRestStimulantsMoral
PurityTheGospelandtheSoundBody.
Chapter33.**EducationfortheInnerLife**
TheSensesTheReasoningPowerTheFeelingsTheSpiritualSense
SymbolismEducation.
Chapter34.**SatisfactionwithDailyWork**
VarietyofEarthlyTasksAllWorkMayBeIntelligentNothing
TemporalSubjectiontoSelf.
Chapter35.**TheHopeofTomorrow**
TodayTomorrowTheResurrectionOurPlaceintheHereafterThe
DestinyofMan.
Chapter36.**TheLawoftheEarth**
TheUnknownMeaningTheEarthLawToLoveGodToLoveaNeighborasOneselfThe
TriumphofMan.
APPENDIXReferencestoAuthorities
INDEX
RationalTheology.
CHAPTER1.
THEMEANINGOFTHEOLOGY.
Earth,starsandthevastnessofspaceyesterday,todayandtomorrow,andtheendlesslyincreasing
knowledgeoftherelationsofforces,presentanillimitableuniverseofnumberlessphenomena.Only
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asawhole,andingeneraloutline,canthehumanmindunderstandtheuniverse.Initsinfinitevariety
ofexpressions,itwhollytranscendsthehumanmind.
**ManintheUniverse.**Inthemidstofthiscomplexity,manfindshimself.Asheprogressesfrom
childhoodtomanhood,andashisslumberingfacultiesareawakened,hebecomesmorefullyawareof
thevastnessofhisuniverseandofthefutilityofhopingtounderstanditindetail.
Nevertheless,consciousmancannotendureconfusion.Fromouttheuniversalmysteryhemustdraw,
atleast,thegeneral,controllinglaws,thatproclaimorderintheapparentchaosand,especiallyishe
driven,byhisinbornandunalterablenature,toknow,ifhecan,hisownplaceinthesystemof
existingthings.Everynormalmandesiresandseeksanunderstandingofhisrelationtoallother
things,andpracticallyeverymanhasworkedoutforhimself,onthebasisofhisknowledge,some
theorywhichexplains,moreorlesssatisfactorily,themysteryofstarandearthandmanandlife.No
otherquestisfollowedbymanwithsuchvigorouspersistence,asisthatofestablishinganintelligible
andsatisfactoryphilosophyofearthlife.
**AMan'sReligion.**Thephilosophy,orsystemofthought,adoptedtoexplainman'splacein
naturedetermineslargelythejoyandmannerofaman'slife.Ifthephilosophybepoorandloose,life
willbeconfusedifrichandfirm,lifewillbeclearcut,andiflawbemadesupreme,lifewillbe
orderly.Thosewhohavenoreligionatallbecometheplaythingsofunknownforces.Everyactofa
man'slifeisinfluencedbythephilosophyofhislife.Itisthemostimportantproductofanindividual
life,andisthemostcompellingpowerinlife.
Inabroadsense,thephilosophy,accordingtowhichamanordershislife,maybecalledthatman's
religion.ItmayormaynotinvolvetheideaofGodoranorganizedbodyofbelievers.Ifitguidesa
life,itisthatlife'sreligion,whetheritleadstoweaknessortostrength.
**TheologyDefined.**Sinceallmenareplacedinthesameuniverse,withapproximatelythesame
powers,andunderconditionsnearlyalike,itispossibleforeachpersontoestablishforhimselfa
religionasabovedefined,fortheguidanceofhislife.Allreligionsmustbeorganizedfromthe
contentoftheone,andsofarasweknow,theonlyuniverseandthepresumptionwouldbe,therefore,
thatthereligionsofallmenshouldbethesame,inasfaratleastasmenarethesame.Infact,
however,duringthecourseofhumanhistory,manymoreorlessdissimilarreligionshavebeen
establishedandaccepted.True,mostofthesereligionsshowclosekinship,butthevitaldifferences
areoftenverygreat.Forinstance,thereligionsofmenfallnaturallyintotwogreatclasses:thosethat
adoptastheircentralideaagreatgoverningintelligenceandpoweraGodandthosethatrefuseto
includeaGodintheirsystemofthought.
AreligionwhichacceptstheideaofaGodisatheology.Thegreatmajorityofthereligionsofmen
aretheologies,forthemajorityofmenbelieveinsomeformofpersonaldivinepower.
**TheGospel.**Thewordgospelisalsofrequentlyused,amongChristians,todesignatethereligion
ofmen.TheGospelisatheologywhichincludesthedoctrineofthelifeandmissionofJesusChrist,
astheSonofGod.AmongChristians,thewordsreligion,theologyandgospelarefreelyusedinthe
samesense.Itiswell,however,tobearinmindthedistinctioninmeaningofthethreewords.The
Christianreligion,theChristiantheologyandtheGospelareequivalentinmeaning.Inthefollowing
pages,thetermsareoftenusedinterchangeablywithoutthequalifyingwords.Indeed,theGospelwill
beusedmostfrequently,andwhereverused,itmustbeunderstoodtostandfortherationaltheology
discussedinthisbook.
**ThePurposeofThisBook.**Thisvolumeisdevotedtotheexpositionofthefundamental
principlesofarationaltheologyaphilosophyoflifewhich,becauseofitscompleteharmonywith
allknowledge,shouldbetheonetowhichallmenmightgiveadherence.
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CHAPTER2.
HOWKNOWLEDGEISGAINED.
Knowledgeisthematerialuponwhichthereasoningmindofmanacts.Justasphysicalstrengthcan
neitherbedevelopednorexercisedunlessmaterialbodiesareathand,somentalstrengthcanneither
bedevelopednorexercisedunlessfactsorknowledgeareinman'spossession.Theacquisitionof
knowledgeorexperienceisthefirststeptowardsformulatinganacceptablereligion.Itisofinterest,
therefore,toconsider,briefly,thesourcesofhumanknowledge.
**TheSenses.**Througheyes,ears,nose,thesenseoftasteandthecomplexandpoorlyunderstood
senseoffeeling,manbecomesacquaintedwiththeuniverse.Thatwhichisseenbytheeyes,heardby
theears,smelledbythenose,tastedbythemouth,orfeltbyanypartofthebody,becomesimpressed
andregistereduponthemind,therelater*tobeused.Thedetailedmethodbywhichknowledgeis
addedtomanisnotunderstood.Thetheoriesthatprevailconcerningtheentranceofknowledgeinto
thehumanmindneednotherebediscussed.
Itfollowsthatthemanwhowishestogainmuchknowledgemustguardhissensesfromharm,and
mustsharpenthem,sothatduringthefewdaysoflifetheymaydoasmuchasispossibletohelpman
establisharationalreligionforhisguidance.Thefoundationofhumanknowledgeisderivedfromthe
directactionofthesenses.
**TheSixthSense.**Importantasarethesensesinaddingknowledgetoman,yetitmustbe
admittedthattheyrecognizewithouthelponlyaverysmallpartoftheuniverse.Ouruniverseis
infiniteinitsvarietyofexpressionofthatmanfeelscertain,anditcouldhardlybeexpected,
therefore,thatman,whoadmittedlyisyetfarfromperfection,shouldbeabletoknow,evenwiththe
greatestaid,alloftheuniverse.
Thetruththatanimmeasurablepartoftheuniverseliesoutsideofhumanexperience,isborneinupon
everythinkingman.Inrecenttimes,thedevelopmentsofsciencehaveemphasizedthisvastregionof
theunknown.Themysteryofelectricity,inthetelephoneandtelegraphthewonderofspace,in
wirelesstelegraphythemarveloftheelements,speakclearlyofplacesandconditionsofwhichweas
yethavenoclearandaccurateconception,andbeforewhichthesensesofman,unaided,stand
helpless.
Nevertheless,glimpsesintothisunknownregionmaybehadbyhelpstothesenses.Bythetelescope
thefarisbroughtnearbythemicroscopethesmallismadelargebythephotographicplateunseen
lightismadevisiblebythewelltunedcoilofwirethewirelessmessageistakenoutofspacebythe
spectroscope,lightisbrokenintoitselements,andsoonthroughalmostthewholefieldofhuman
endeavor.Factsthataregatheredinsuchanindirectwayareascorrectlycertainasarethosethatare
senseddirectly.Theworldwouldlosetremendouslyshouldallthetruthgatheredthroughaidstothe
sensesberemoved.
Manhimself,throughwhatmaybecalled,forwantofabettername,thesixthsense,maybecomea
greataidtohisowndirectsenses.Byproperexertionhemayinterceptmessagesfromoutthedirectly
unknown,ascompletelyasthismaybedonebymanmadeinstruments.Throughouthistorythis
powerofmanhasbeenrecognizedandusuallyrespected.Theexperienceorknowledgethusgained
should,whenproperlyexaminedbythemind,begivenanequalplacebesidethatgaineddirectly
throughthecommonersenses.Prophets,poets,menofvisionandfaith,haveallbuildedtheirwork
largelyuponthiskindofknowledgeorinwardfeeling.
**TransmittedKnowledge.**Theinexhaustibleuniverseandthelimitedpowersofman,makeit
possibleforapersontodiscoverforhimselfrelativelyaverysmallamountoftruth.Mucheffortmay
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besavedandmoreknowledgegained,ifeachpersonlearnasmuchashemayofwhathasalready
beenlearned,towhichhemayaddthelittlenewdiscoverythathemaymake.
Thismethodofobtainingknowledgehasbeeninvoguesincethefirstday.Whatthefirstmanlearned,
hetoldtoothers,andtheyinturncommunicatedit,withtheadditionofwhatevernewknowledgethey
hadgained.Thuscomesthepresentvalueoftraditionthespokenrecord,andofbooksthe
writtenrecord.Menwhodesiretobuildasafereligionorasafescience,makethemselvesfamiliar
withasmuchastheycanofwhatisalreadyknown,insteadofattemptingtotraversetheknownfield
asoriginaldiscoverers,andtothistransmittedknowledge,theyaddwhateverinthecourseoftheir
pursuittheymaydiscoverindependently.Thosewhointhepresentdaywillacceptonlywhatthey
themselvesdiscover,willmakeslowprogress.Tothemthetreasuriesofthegreatestagewillnotbe
opened.
If,inthecourseofevents,itbecomesnecessaryforGodtospeaktoamanforthebenefitofmany,it
wouldbecontrarytorationalthinkingthateachmanforwhomthemessagewasgiven,shoulddirectly
hearGod'svoice,unless,indeed,themeansofcommunicatingtheknowledgebecomeeffectually
blocked.Suchtransmittedknowledgeiseverywhitassoundasthatacquiredbydirectcommunion
withnature.
True,theknowledgealreadypossessedbymanissolargethatitcaninnowisebetransmitted,inall
itsdetails,tooneman.Theeffortsofhumanityaredirected,therefore,tothedevisingofgeneral
statements,orlaws,whichembodythemeaningofamultitudeoffacts,whiletheyareyeteasily
intelligibletothehumanmind.Moreandmoreimportantwillbecometherepositoriesofsuchgeneral
principlescontainingtheknowledgeofmankind.TheBible,initsvariousbooks,presentssuchgreat
underlyingprinciplesofourknowledgerelatingtoseveralveryimportantphasesofearthlife.
**TheUseoftheReason.**Whetherknowledgebeobtainedbyanyorallofthemethodsindicated,it
shouldbecarefullyexaminedinthelightofreason.Theonlyknowledgethatwillhelpinthe
establishmentofasatisfactoryreligionistrueknowledge.Truthistheendofthesearch.Falseor
apparentlytrueknowledgeoftenintrudesitselfupontheattentionandattimesitissowelldisguised
astobedangerouslydeceptive.Manmustlearnoftheuniverse,preciselyasitis,orhecannot
successfullyfindhisplaceinit.Amanshouldthereforeusehisreasoningfacultyinallmatters
involvingtruth,andespeciallyasconcerninghisreligion.
**TheFoundationofRationalTheology.**TheGospel,orrationaltheology,isfoundedontruth,on
alltruth,for"truthisknowledgeofthingsastheyare,andastheywere,andastheyaretocome,"and
"truthhasnoend."Inbuildingaphilosophyoflifeaman,therefore,cannotsaythatsometruthmust
beconsideredandothertruthrejected.Onlyonthebasisofalltruth,thatis,alltrueknowledge,can
hisreligionbebuilt.Further,theperfectionofhisknowledge,thatis,theextentofhistruth
possessions,willdeterminethevalueofhisreligiontohim.Therefore,"itisimpossibleforamanto
besavedinignorance,""amanissavednofasterthanheobtainsknowledge,"and"thegloryofGod
isintelligence."
CHAPTER3.
ETERNALISM.
TheconceptionsnecessaryforlogicalthoughtbelongtotheGospelaswellastoscience,fora
satisfactorylifephilosophymustbebasedonallknowledgeknowntoman.
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**AllKnowledge,theBasis.**TheGospel,asthelargestknowledge,mustincludetheknowledgeof
allsciences.Theconceptionsoftimeandspacearequiteasnecessaryintheologyasinnaturalscience
orinanyotherbranchofhumanthought.TheGospeldoesnotclaim,however,possessionofultimate
knowledgeconcerningspaceortimeorotherfundamentalconceptions.Indeed,manis,ordinarily,
allowedtoworkoutforhimselfthetruthsoftheuniverseandtoorganizethemintosystemsof
thoughtwhichhemayfollowprofitably.Knowledgeisgivendirectlybyasuperiorintelligenceonly
whenitbecomesindispensable.Moreover,thereareinnumerablephenomenaintheuniversewhich
cannotbeexplainedbythehumanunderstandingasatpresentdeveloped.Thedistinguishingfeature
oftheGospelisthatitpossessesthekeytothefinalphilosophyoflife.Inoutlineitofferstheentire
planoflifeintheuniverseandmanmayengageforalltimetocomeintheelaborationand
developmentofeachdepartmentofthisgreatuniversalplanofhumanlife,withoutrequiringan
expansionoftheoutline.Theplaniscomplete.
**EternalMatter.**Thesaddestfeatureofmanmadereligionsistheirlackofsecurity.Oneman
constructsonetheologyanotheradifferentone,andmenflockhitherandthither,acceptingtheone
thatappears,forthemoment,tobethebest,withoutthedeepfeelingthattheonefinallyacceptedis
absolutelytheoneandonlycorrectsystemofthought.Yet,thisislogicallyabsurd,forahouseis
eitherredornotredastickisstraightornotstraightamanhastruthoronlythesemblanceoftruth.
Twodifferenttruthscannotbeparallelwithrespecttothesamething.Thefinalphilosophyoflife
mustbebasedonirrevocabletruth.Thatwhichistruemustalwaysremaintrue,thoughthe
applicationsmaychangegreatlyfromgenerationtogeneration.Itistheabsenceofsuchfundamental
certainties,nodoubt,thatleadsmenintoanewsearchforasatisfyingreligion,orthatdrivesthem
awayfromtheiroldtheology.
TheGospelofJesusChristisobviouslyasystemfoundedonunvaryingcertainties.Itsdoctrinesrest
ondemonstratedtruthsthatlieatthefoundationofallsound,acceptablethinking.Forinstance,asa
cornerstoneoftheology,theGospelrecognizes,inconnectionwiththeexistenceofspaceandtime,
theexistenceofmatter.Withoutmatter,themindofmanwouldhavenomaterialonwhichtoact,and
theexistenceofmatterbecomes,therefore,afundamentalconceptionoftheGospel.Itisthebusiness
ofmantobecomeacquaintedwithmatterinallofitsforms,sofarasmaybepossible,inorderto
provideafoundationonwhichthereasoningmindofmanmayincreasinglybuilditspower.
TheGospelholdsstrictlytotheconceptionofamaterialuniverse.Muchinconsistencyofthoughthas
comefromthenotionthatthingsoccurinamaterialandanimmaterialstate.Thisunthinkable
conditionhasbeenmadethebasisofdoctrinesconcerningGodandman,whichhaveledtoutter
confusionofthought.TheGospelacceptsthenaturalview,supportedbyallhumanexperience,that
matteroccursinmanyforms,somevisibletotheeye,othersinvisible,andyetothersthatmaynotbe
sensedbyanyofthesensesofman.Inshort,thereisnosuchthingasimmaterialmatter,butsome
formsofmatteraremorerefinedthanothers.Light,heat,andothersimilarforcesareheldbyscience
tobemanifestationsofasubtlestateofmatter,beyondtheimmediatesensesofman,whichhasbeen
calledether.Infact,matterasordinarilyknown,andether,afinerformofmatter,areeveryday
conceptionsofscience.Thematerialuniversemayappearinavarietyofformsbutmanrecognizes,
directly,onlythatformwhichistheordinarymatterofourdailylives.
**UniversalMatterIsIndestructible.**Matteriseternal,thatis,everlasting.Whetherthevarious
formsofmattermaybeconvertedoneintotheother,isnotdefinitelyknown.Anysuchconversion
would,however,leavethetotalquantityofmatterunchanged.God,thesupremePower,cannot
conceivablyoriginatematterhecanonlyorganizematter.Neithercanhedestroymatter.Godisthe
Master,who,becauseofhisgreatknowledge,knowshowtousetheelements,alreadyexisting,forthe
buildingofwhateverhemayhaveinmind.ThedoctrinethatGodmadetheearthormanfromnothing
becomes,therefore,anabsurdity.Thedoctrineoftheindestructibilityofmattermakespossiblemuch
theologicalreasoningthatwouldbeimpossiblewithoutthisdoctrine.
Thenatureofmatterisnot,inandofitself,asubjectofdeepconcerninpracticalreligion.Bythe
slow,laboriousmethodsofman'ssearchfortruth,thenatureofmatterwillgraduallyberevealed.
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Whetheritshallbefoundtobesomethingdistinct,oraformoftheuniversalenergy,willnotbeof
consequenceintheGospelstructure.Thatmatter,whateveritis,iseternal,is,however,aprincipleof
highesttheologicalvalue,foritfurnishesafoundationforcorrectreasoning.
**EternalEnergy.**Matter,whereverfoundandinwhateverform,alwayspossessesenergy.Itis
frequentlysaidthatmatterinmotion,only,canimpressthehumanmind.Matterwithoutmotion,were
itconceivable,couldnotberecognizedbythehumanmindasatpresentconstituted.Matterisalways
associatedwithenergyenergywithmatter.Itisnotconceivablypossibletoseparatethem.Whether
oneisamanifestationoftheother,sothatthereisonlymatteroronlyenergy,oriftheyaredistinct
things,wedonotknow.Allsoundthoughtrecognizes,however,theexistenceofenergythroughout
theuniverse.Energyappearsinmanyforms,suchasheat,light,electricity,magnetism,gravitation,
and,accordingtotheGospel,themanyspiritualforces.Thesevariousformsofenergyseemtobe
convertible,oneintotheother,thusindicatingtheexistenceofonecentralforce,ofwhichallother
forcesaremanifestations.Thequestionofenergywillprobablybeansweredgradually,asthe
knowledgeofmanincreases.
OfonethingtheGospel,aswellasscience,isperfectlycertain,namely,thattheenergyinthe
universeisindestructible.Changeditmaybe,fromheattolight,fromlighttoelectricity,from
electricitytomagnetism,orfromanyformtoanyotherformofenergy,butdestroyeditcannotbe.
Likematter,energyhadnobeginningandcanhavenoend.God,possessingthesupremeintelligence
oftheuniverse,canuseenergyinaccomplishinghisends,butcreateit,ordestroyit,hecannot.
Undiminished,everacting,universalenergywillcontinuethroughalltimes.
**UniversalIntelligence.**Inoneparticular,however,theGospelgoesbeyondtheteachingsof
modernscience.TheGospelteachesthat,associatedwiththeuniversalenergythatvivifiesuniversal
matter,andpossiblyidentifiedwithit,isuniversalintelligence,aforcewhichisfeltwherevermatter
andenergyarefound,whichiseverywhere.Theforcesoftheuniversedonotactblindly,butare
expressionsofauniversalintelligence.Thatadegreeofintelligenceispossessedbyeveryparticleof
energizedmattercannotbesaidnorisitimportant.Thegreatconsiderationisthat,sinceintelligence
iseverywherepresent,alltheoperationsofnature,fromthesimplesttothemostcomplex,arethe
productsofintelligence.Wemayevenconceivethatenergyisonlyintelligence,andthatmatterand
intelligence,ratherthanmatterandenergy,arethetwofundamentalsoftheuniverse!
**EternalIntelligence.**Throughouttheuniversearefound,inadditiontoindestructiblematter,
everlastingenergyanduniversalintelligencepervadingspace.
"ManwasalsointhebeginningwithGod."Thedoctrinethatmanisaneternalbeingleadstountold
possibilities.Eternalmanlivedapersonallifebeforetheearthlifebegan,andhecontinuesapersonal
existencehereafter.
**TheEternalRelationship.**Thephenomenaoftheuniverseresultfromtheinteractionofmatter,
energyandintelligence.Thesefundamental,universalelementsareforeveractinguponeachotherto
producetheinfinitevarietyoftheuniverse.Nevertheless,spaceisnotfilledwithdisorderchaosdoes
notprevail.Onthecontrary,theuniverse,sofarasknown,isessentiallyorderly.Thiscomesfromthe
greatlawofcauseandeffect.Ifenergyactsonmatterinagivenway,adefiniteeffectisobtained.
Underlikeconditions,thesamecausewillforevergivethesameeffect.Where,therefore,like
conditionsarepermanentlyoperating,likeresultswillalwaysbefound.Thislawliesatthefoundation
oftheorderlinessofnature."Thereisalawirrevocablydecreedinheavenuponwhichallblessings
arepredicated,anditisonlybyobediencetothislawthatanyblessingmaybeobtained."
**AnEternalPlan.**TheGospelitself,thesocalledplanofsalvation,orGreatPlan,inobedienceto
whichmenguidetheirearthlives,iseternal.Itisnotatemporaryortransientthing,madeprimarily
forthehandfulofmenandwomenonearth,butitisaneternalplanbasedupontheeverlasting
relationshipoftheelementsoftheuniverseaplanwhich,insomeform,isadaptedeverywhereand
forever,fortheadvancementofpersonalbeings.Thismustbeso,foritleadstoadefiniteend,andin
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accordancewiththelawofcauseandeffect,itmusthaveauniversalmeaning.
**Eternalism.**TheGospelisfoundedontangibleandeternalthingsandrelationships.Theseeternal
realities,nodoubt,intheiressence,liebeyondthefullunderstandingofman,justastimeandspace
transcendhumanunderstanding.Thisconception,carriedfarenough,leadstoagospelorlife
philosophywhichisunshakable,becauseitrestsuponeternalcertainty.Withoutcertainty,manis,in
thegreataffairsoflife,merelythedriftwoodofexistence,movedhitherandthitherbythewindof
doubt.
TheGospelmaybesaidtobeThePhilosophyofEternalism.TheGospelisimmersedintheoceanof
eternity.
CHAPTER4.
THEWILLOFMAN.
ThedoctrineoftheeternalnatureofmanismostcharacteristicoftheGospel.Itisadoctrinewhich
givesgreatsatisfactiontoallwhohaveacceptedtheGospel.
**ThePrimevalCondition.**Allthatisreallycleartotheunderstandingisthatmanhasexisted
"fromthebeginning,"andthat,fromthebeginning,hehaspossesseddistinctindividualityimpossible
ofconfusionwithanyotherindividualityamongthehostsofintelligentbeings.Throughendlessages,
manhasrisenbyslowdegreestohispresentstate.Possibly,withrespecttothecomingday,man
understandsaslittleasdidthespiritualbeingswithrespecttopresentdayconditions.
**TheIntelligenceofMan.**Tospeculateupontheconditionofmanwhenconsciouslifewasjust
dawningismostinteresting,butsolittleisknownaboutthatfaroffdaythatsuchspeculationis
profitless.Nevertheless,ofsomethingspertainingtothebeginningwearefairlycertain.Thebeing
whichlaterbecameman,eveninthefirstdaypossessedintelligence.Thatis,hewasabletobecome
awareoftheexternaluniverse,tolearn,andbyaddingknowledgetoknowledge,tolearnmore.Then,
asnow,theuniversewasfilledwithmatteracteduponbymanyforces,andanintelligentbeinginthe
midstoftheinteractionofforcesandmatter,musthavebecomeaware,measurably,ofwhatwas
goingon.Fromthebeginning,theegoofmanhasbeenaconsciousbeing,sayingtoitself,"ThisisI
thatisnotI.Thislifeisapartfromthelifeofalltherestoftheuniverse."
**TheWillofMan.**Inadditiontohispowertolearnandhisconsciousnessofhisownexistence,
thespiritualpersonalitypossessed,from"thebeginning,"thedistinguishingcharacteristicofevery
intelligent,conscious,thinkingbeinganindependentandindividualwill.Nooneattributesoclearly
distinguishesmanasdoestheintelligentwillorthewilltoactintelligently.Itwasbytheexerciseof
theirwillsthatthespiritsinthebeginninggatheredinformationrapidlyorslowly,acquired
experiencesfreelyorlaboriously.Throughtheexerciseoftheirwillstheygrew,orremainedpassive,
orperhapsevenretrograded,forwithlivingthingsmotioninanydirectionispossible.
Naturally,theoriginalspirit,possessing,withallotherattributesofintelligence,thepowerofwill,
exercisedthatwilluponthecontentsoftheuniverse.Theexerciseofthewilluponthematterand
energywithinreach,enabledtheintelligentbeings,littlebylittle,toacquirepower.Bytheuseofhis
willuponthecontentsoftheuniverse,manmusthavebecomewhathenowis.
**ValueoftheWill.**Theabovedoctrineinvolvestheideaofselfeffort.Itisonlywhenthewillis
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exercisedinacertaindirectionthatthesupportofotherforcesmaybeinvitedsothatprogressinthat
directionmaybeaccelerated.Fromthebeginning,thedeliberateuseofthewillhasmovedpersonal
beingsonwardandinthislatestdayofourexistence,itisthewillthatmovesmenintogreaterlives.
Undoubtedly,thewillofmanwilldeterminethecompletionofthestructurebuiltthroughallagesinto
aperfectedman.
TheGospel,restinguponeternal,indestructibleprinciples,maintainsthelivingsupremacyofthewill
ofman.Theculture,traininganduseofthewill,forgoodorforevil,determineprimarilythedirection
ofanindividuallife.
CHAPTER5.
THEGREATLAW.
Theinnumerableinteractionsofthematter,energyandintelligencesoftheuniverse,mustbeheld
togetherbysomegreatlaw.Thisuniversallawtowhichalllesserlawscontribute,mustbeofreal
concerntothemanwhoseeksatruephilosophyoflife.
**IncreasingComplexityoftheUniverse.**Ithasalreadybeensaidthatauniversecontrolledby
intelligenceandunderthereignofthelawofcauseandeffectcannotbeconceivedtobeinconfusion.
Manisabsolutelycertain,ifhisknowledgeisrational,that,whetheritbeyesterday,todayor
tomorrow,thesameact,underthesameconditions,willproducethesameresult.Underasetofgiven
conditions,arayofsunshinepassedthroughaglassprismwillalwaysbebrokenintothesame
spectrum,orastraightstickstandinginwaterwillalwaysappearcrooked.Whetherinthephysical,
mentalormoralworld,thelawofcauseandeffectreignssupreme.
Quiescenceintheuniversecannotbeconceived,forthentherewouldbenouniverse.Constantaction
ormovementcharacterizestheuniverse.Themultiplicityofactionsuponeachother,ofthevarious
formsofmatter,energyandintelligence,composingtheuniverse,mustcauseanequalmultiplicityof
effects.Moreover,increasingintelligentwills,actinguponmatterandenergy,mustanddoproducean
increasingseriesofreactionsamongtheforcesoftheuniverse.
Moreover,eachnewsetofeffectsbecomesthecauseofstillothereffects.Thus,inouruniverse,aswe
conceiveittobeconstituted,increasingcomplexitywouldseemtobethegreatresultantlawofthe
operationofuniversalforces.Thisisthegreatlawofnature,towhicheverylivingthingmust
conform,ifitistobeinharmonywithallotherthings.Inauniversecontrolledbyintelligence,itis
onlynaturaltofindeverythingwithintheuniversemovingalongtowardsoneincreasingpurpose.As
newlighthascometoman,thecertaintyofthislawasacontrollingone,hasbecomemoreandmore
emphatic.
**ManandtheGreatLaw.**Thelawofincreasingcomplexityisfundamental.Sincemanis
constantlybeingacteduponandactinguponmatterandenergy,hemusthimselfbebroughtunderthe
subjectionofthegreatlaw.Thatis,undernormalconditions,hewillincreaseincomplexity.Asman
observesphenomenaandreasonsuponthemandappliesthemhegrowsinknowledge.Wherehe
formerlyhadonefacttouse,henowhasmany.Thisistheessenceofhiscomplexity.Acarpenter
withonetooldoeslessandpoorerworkthandoesonewithafullkitofmoderntools.Likewise,man,
ashegathersexperience,becomesmorepowerfulinusingtheforcesofnatureintheaccomplishment
ofhispurposes.Withthisthoughtinmindthegreatlawbecomesalawofincreasingpower,of
progressivemasteryovertheuniverse.Forthatreason,thelawexpressingtheresultantofthe
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activitiesofuniversalforcesisoftencalledthelawofprogression.
Thedegreeofman'sgrowthorprogressionwilldependuponthedegreehiswillisexercised,
intelligently,uponthethingsabouthim.Itisevenconceivablethatbythemisuseofwill,manmay
losesomeofhisacquiredpowers.Inanycase,theoperationofthewill,undernormalconditions,adds
powertomanandbytheuseoftheintelligentwillinaworldofmatterandenergy,theincreasingly
complexmangrowsinpowerandstrengthtowardsperfection,inanincreasinglyinterestingworld.
Thosewhodonotconformtothelawofprogressionareabnormalanddonotexerttheirpowers,to
therequisitedegree,intherightdirection.
Natureisinexhaustibleinthepossiblenumberofinterrelationsamongmatter,energyand
intelligence.Itfollows,therefore,thatmanwillforeverbeabletoaddknowledgeuntoknowledge,
poweruntopower,orprogressuntoprogress.Thislawofprogressionisthegreatlawoftheuniverse,
withoutbeginningandwithoutend,towhichallotherlawscontribute.Byadherencetothislawthe
willing,intelligentbeingshaverisentotheirpresentsplendidstateofmanhood,andbyfurther
compliancewiththislawtheywilladvancetoafutureGodlikestateofperfection.Thesupreme
intelligenceandperfectedwilloftheuniverse,God,hasattainedHispositionbyanobedient
recognitionoftheconditionsofthelawofprogression.
ThelawofprogressiongiveshopeandpurposetothosewhoaccepttheGospel.Thefeelingof
securitythatcomesfromtheknowledgethattheelementsoftheuniverseareeternal,ismadeliving
bythehopeestablishedbythegreatlawthatthereispurposeinalltheoperationsoftheuniverse.
Whatevermanmaydo,whateverhislifemaybring,providedallhisfacultiesareworkingactively
amongthethingsandforcesabouthim,heisacquiringknowledge,therebypower,and,underthelaw
ofprogression,heisbeingmovedonwardtoamoreadvancedpositionthanhenowoccupies,in
whichhemaydomightierwork.Men,discouragedbytheirfailuretoaccomplishexactlywhatthey
desire,oftenspeakoftheirlivesaspurposeless,butitisidletalk,for,infact,nointelligentlifewhich
concernsitselfvigorouslywiththethingsaboutit,canbesaidtobepurposeless.Suchalifeadheres,
automatically,tothelawofprogression,andisthereforemovingontothegreatdestinyofsupreme
powerandaccompanyingjoys.Theonlypurposelesslifeistheonethatdoesnotuseitsfaculties.It
matterslittlewhattasksmendoinlife,ifonlytheydothemwellandwithalltheirstrength.Inan
infiniteuniverse,onecannotpossiblylearnallordoall,atonce.Abeginningmustbemade
somewhere,andcornerbycorner,departmentbydepartment,spacebyspace,allwillbeknownand
conquered.Intheend,allmustbeexplored,andwhetheronebeginintheeastorthewestcannot
mattermuch.Thebigconcernistowhatextentamanofferhimself,mindandbody,tohiswork.
Uponthatwillgrowthdepend.
**TheLawofDevelopment.**Thelawofprogressionisthenalawofendlessdevelopmentofallthe
powersofmaninthemidstofauniversebecomingincreasinglycomplex.Nomorehopefulprinciple
canbeincorporatedintoaphilosophyoflife.
CHAPTER6.
GODANDMAN.
Thedoctrineofman'spreexistenceleadstoanunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenGodand
man,whichmustlieattheverybasisofrationaltheology.
**WhyGodisGod.**TodeterminethisrelationshipbetweenGodandmanitisnecessarytodiscuss,
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first,theconditionsunderwhichGodbecameGod.Asalreadysaid,Godisthesupremeintelligent
Beingintheuniverse,whohasthegreatestknowledgeandthemostperfectedwill,andwho,
therefore,possessesinfinitepowerovertheforcesoftheuniverse.However,ifthegreatlawof
progressionisaccepted,Godmusthavebeenengagedfromthebeginning,andmustnowbeengaged
inprogressivedevelopment,and,infiniteasGodis,hemusthavebeenlesspowerfulinthepastthan
heistoday.Whileitisfollyformantoattempttounravelindetailthemysteryofthepast,yetitis
onlylogicaltobelievethataprogressiveGodhasnotalwayspossessedhispresentposition.
Itisclearalsothat,aswitheveryotherbeing,theprogressofGodbeganwiththeexerciseofhiswill.
In"thebeginning"whichtranscendsourunderstanding,Godundoubtedlyexercisedhiswill
vigorously,andthusgainedgreatexperienceoftheforceslyingabouthim.Asknowledgegrewinto
greaterknowledge,bythepersistenteffortsofwill,hisrecognitionofuniversallawsbecamegreater
untilheattainedatlastaconquestovertheuniverse,whichtoourfiniteunderstandingseems
absolutelycomplete.Wemaybecertainthat,throughselfeffort,theinherentandinnatepowersof
GodhavebeendevelopedtoaGodlikedegree.Thus,hehasbecomeGod.
God,thesupremeBeingoftheuniverse,absolutelytranscendsthehumanunderstanding.His
intelligenceisasthesumofallotherintelligences.Therecanbenorationaldiscussionofthedetails
ofGod'slifeornature.Tohimwegivethemostcompletedevotion,fortousheisinallrespects
infiniteandperfect.HisGodhood,however,wasattainedbytheuseofhispowerinsimpleobedience
tothelawshediscoveredashegrewinexperience.
**ManyGods.**DuringtheonwardmarchoftheSupremeBeing,otherintelligentbeingswere
likewiseengaged,thoughlessvigorously,inacquiringpowerovertheforcesoftheuniverse.Among
manyintelligentbeingsthusmovingonward,thereislittleprobabilityofanytwoattainingexactlythe
sameplace,atthesametime.Thereisrathertheprobabilityofinfinitegradationfromthelowestto
thehighestdevelopment.NexttoGod,theremaybe,therefore,otherintelligentbeingssonearly
approachinghispowerastobecoequalwithhiminallthingssofarasourfiniteunderstandingcan
perceive.ThesebeingsmaybeimmeasurablyfarfromGodinpower,neverthelessimmeasurablyfar
aboveusmortalmenoftheearth.SuchintelligentbeingsareasGodstous.Underthisdefinitionthere
maybeagreatnumberofintelligentbeingswhopossesstoagreaterorlessdegreethequalityof
Godhood.Theacceptanceoftheprecedingdoctrinesmakesitalmostalogicalnecessitythatthereare
manygodsorbeingssohighlydevelopedthattheyareasgods,infactareGods.Thisisafundamental
doctrineoftheGospel.
**WhyManisMan.**Itisfairlyevidentfromwhathasbeensaidwhymanisman.Manissubjectto
eternallaws,andinthefaroffbeginninghemusthaveexercisedhiswillmoreslowlyornotatall
perhaps,even,aslawscametohimheignoredoropposedthem.Asmoreknowledgeandpowerare
attained,growthbecomesincreasinglymorerapid.God,exaltedbyhisgloriousintelligence,is
movingonintonewfieldsofpowerwitharapidityofwhichwecanhavenoconception,whereas
man,inalowerstageofdevelopment,movesrelativelyatasnaillike,thoughincreasingpace.Manis,
nevertheless,movingon,ineternalprogression."Asmanis,GodoncewasasGodis,manmay
become."Inshort,manisagodinembryo.Hecomesofaraceofgods,andashiseternalgrowthis
continued,hewillapproachmorenearlythepointwhichtousisGodhood,andwhichiseverlastingin
itspowerovertheelementsoftheuniverse.
**God'sHelptoMan.**Selfeffort,theconsciousoperationofwill,hasmovedmanonwardtohis
presenthighdegree.However,whileallprogressisduetoselfeffort,otherbeingsofpowermay
contributelargelytotheeaseofman'sgrowth.God,standingalone,cannotconceivablypossessthe
powerthatmaycometohimifthehostsofotheradvancingandincreasingworkerslaborinharmony
withhim.Therefore,becauseofhisloveforhischildrenandhisdesiretocontinueinthewayofeven
greatergrowth,heproceededtoaidothersintheironwardprogress.
Knowledgemaybetransmittedfromintelligencetointelligence.Godofferedtothewaitingintelligent
beingstheknowledgethathehadalreadygained,sothattheyneednottraversethatroad,butmight
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attacksomeotherphaseofuniversalexistence.Hedevisedplansofprogressionwherebythe
experiencesofonepersonmightbeusedbyaninferiorone.Eachpersonshouldgiveofhisexperience
toothers,sothatnoneshoulddounnecessarywork.Inthatmanner,throughtheunitedeffortofall,
thewholeraceofprogressivebeingswouldreceiveanaddedonwardimpetus.
**Man'sHelptoGod.**Theprogressofintelligentbeingsisamutualaffair.AloneGodinthe
universecannotfindgreatjoyinhispower.God,beinginharmonywitheternallaws,canprogress
bestasthewholeuniversebecomesmorecomplex,oradvances.Thedevelopmentofintelligence
increasesthecomplexityoftheuniverse,foreachactiveindividualmaybringnewrelationshipsinto
view,andincreasesmanyfoldthebodyofacquiredtruth.Inthatsense,themanwhoprogresses
throughhisincreaseinknowledgeandpower,becomesacolaborerwithGod,andmaybesaid,
indeed,tobeahelptoGod.Itisacomfortingthought,notonlythatweneedGodbutalsothatGod
needsus.True,theneedGodhasofusisrelativelysmall,andthehelphegivesusisinfinitelylarge,
yettherelationexistsforthecomfortandassuranceofman.
**God'sAttributes.**Toanalyzethesupremeintelligenceoftheuniverse,theGodwhomwe
worship,isafutileattempt,towhichmenofshallowminds,only,givetheirtime.Thatwhichis
infinitetranscendsthehumanunderstanding.TheGospelacceptsthiscondition,calmly,knowingthat,
intheschemeofthings,greatertruthswillcomewithincreasedpower,until,intheprogressoftime,
weshallunderstandthatwhichnowseemsincomprehensible.Forthatreason,eternal,oreverlasting,
orinfinitethingsarethingsunderstoodbyGod,thesupremeandgoverningPower,butnotunderstood
byus.Thus,"eternalpunishmentisGod'spunishmentendlesspunishmentisGod'spunishment."
Likewise,everlastingjoyorendlessblessingsareGod'sjoyandGod'sblessings.Manacknowledges
inthismannerthatallthingsarerelativetoGod.
MandoesnotunderstandGodfully,yetanunderstandingbetweenmanandGoddoesexistinthat,
Godinthecourseofhisprogressionhasgoneovertheroadthatwearetravelingandtherefore
understandsusfully.Heunderstandsourdifficulties,ourhopes,oursorrows,ourfaultsandour
follies.Godissupreme,andhisjusticeisperfecthisloveisunmeasurableandhismercywithoutend
forhisjusticeandloveandmercyaretemperedbythememoryofhisownupwardcareer.God's
relationtomanis,inaliteralsense,thatoffathertoson,forweareofthesameracewithGod.We
mayrestsecurethatGod'sattributesare,withothers,thosethatmanpossesses,madegreatand
beautiful.HeisourFatherwhoknowsandunderstandsus.
CHAPTER7.
MANISTHATHEMAYHAVEJOY.
Istheincreasingpowerofmanasufficientrewardfortheeffortandstrugglethatmustaccompany
progression?ThisisaquestionthatcomestoeverystudentoftheGospel.Powerinitselfmaynotbe
theidealendofexistence.Itbecomesnecessary,therefore,todetermineifthereisassociatedwith
power,giftsthatmakeworthwhiletheeternalsearchingoutofknowledgeinorderthatgreaterpower
maybewon.
**ConsciousnessandtheUniverse.**Intelligentspiritshavepossessed,fromthebeginning,a
consciousnessoftheworldinwhichtheyfoundthemselves.Theymusthavebeensusceptible,from
thefirst,offeelingpleasureandpain,andmusthavehadequivalentsofoursenses,which,possibly,
werekeenerthanthosewenowpossess.Whentheywereplacedinoppositiontoanylawofnature,
painoritsequivalentundoubtedlyresultedexactlyastoday.Whentheymovedalongwithlaw,joy
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musthavebeensensed,astoday.Intelligentbeingscannotrejoiceinpain,therefore,fromthe
beginning,toavoidpainandtosecurejoy,theyhavesearchedoutandobeyedlaw.Themore
advancedtheintelligence,thegreaterthenumberoflawsthatareunderstoodtowhichadaptationmay
bemade,andthereforethegreaterthepossibilityofjoy.Thesearchforincreasingpower,carriedon
byallnormalbeingsisthenreallyasearchforagreaterandmoreabidingjoy.ThereisnoGodliness
inpain,exceptasitisanincidentinsecuringmoreknowledge.Truefreedom,whichisfulljoy,isthe
completerecognitionoflawandadaptationtoit.Bondagecomesfromignoranceoflaworopposition
toit.
**ThePrimevalCondition.**Man'sapproachtoafullnessofjoyispicturedinhisrevealedhistory.
Throughtheveilofforgettingweseebutdimlyourpreexistentcondition.TheGospelstudentdoes
notreallyconcernhimself,greatly,withthedetailsofthelifebeforethisonesomuchneedstobe
doneinthislifethatheiscontentwiththegreatoutlinesofpreexistentlife,whichmayassisthimto
understandtheeternaljourneyofintelligence.Oftheprimevalconditionofmanlittleisknown.He
foundabouthimmanyforces,operatingindiverseways,andtocontrolthem,andthustosensejoy,
hebegantostudythem.Thestoryofthatearlydayofstrivingforthegreatestgoalhasnotbeentoldto
mortalman.
**TheFirstEstate.**Matterexists,perhaps,inmanyforms,butmaybeclassified,astheponderable
matterofearth,knowndirectlythroughthesenses,and,astheimponderablematterwhichcannotbe
senseddirectlybyman.Thissecondclass,oftencalledspiritmatter,isperhapsmostimportant,forit
isnotunlikelythatfromitarederivedallotherformsofmatter.
Itwasoffirstimportancethattheintelligentbeingsaimingattheconquestoftheuniverse,should
learntounderstand,thoroughly,thepropertiesofuniversalmatter,inallofitsforms.Asnearlyascan
belearned,theeffortsofmanwerefirstdevotedtoeducationinthepropertiesofspiritmatter.We
werebegottenspiritsbyGod,whothusbecameourFather,andwearehissonsanddaughters.Our
careerinthespiritworldisoftenspokenofasman'sfirstestate.
Howlongmanremainedinthefirstestate,isnotknown.Undoubtedly,however,itwaslongenough
toenablehimtobecomethoroughlyfamiliarwiththemanifestationsofallformsofspiritsubstance.
Onlywheneducationinthisdivisionoftheuniversewascompletedwerewepermittedtoenterthe
nextestate.
**TheSecondEstate.**Thekindofmattercharacteristicofthisearthandthesocalledmaterial
universe,alsoformsanimportantpartoftheuniverse.Nospiritcanacquirerealmasteryoverthe
universeuntilthisformofmatterissothoroughlyunderstoodastobeusedandgoverned.Thenext
stepintheeducationoftheseintelligentbeingswasthereforetoteachthemfamiliaritywithgross
matter.Consequently,thespiritspassedoutofthespiritworld,andwerebornintotheworldofearthly
things,theworldwenowoccupy,asmenandwomenclotheduponbyabodyconsistingofgross
matter,sothatintimatefamiliaritywiththenatureandpossibilitiesofgrossmattermightbeacquired.
Thisiscalledthesecondestateofman.
Thebusinessofmanistobecomesothoroughlyacquaintedwithearthconditions,thatthroughthe
possessionofanearthlybody,hemaygoon,forever.
**TheThirdEstate.**Wepassoutofthis,butreappearinanotherworld,forabrieftimeseparated
fromourearthwonbody,butfinallypossessingbodiesofbothkindsofuniversalmatter.Inthis
estate,boththespiritmatterandthegrossermattercomposingourfinalbodiesarerepresentedby
theiressences,andthereforepermitperfectfreedomandeaseofmovementandthought.These
celestialbodies,astheyarecalled,connecttheintelligencewithallpartsoftheuniverse,andbecome
mightyhelpsintheendlesssearchfortruth.Thisisthethirdestateofman.
Suchthenarethethreeestates,andasfarasknown,alltheestatesofman.
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Whethertheoutline,asherepresented,initsdetails,ispreciseornot,matterslittle.Theessential
thingisthatmanhastoundergoexperienceuponexperience,toattainthedesiredmasteryofthe
externaluniverseandthatwe,ofthisearth,arepassingthroughanestatedesignedwhollyforour
furthereducation.
**EverlastingJoy.**Itfollowsthat,ineachestate,witheachonwardstep,aprofounderknowledgeof
thelawsofnatureisattained.Whenconscious,activewillsarethusatwork,thenewknowledge
makespossibleamoreperfectadaptationofmantolaw.Themorecompletelylawisobeyedthe
greatertheconsciousnessofperfectjoy.Throughouteternallife,increasingknowledgeisattained,
andwithincreasingknowledgecomesthegreateradaptationtolaw,andintheendanincreasingly
greaterjoy.ThereforeitisthateternallifeisthegreatestgiftofGod,andthattheplanofsalvationis
priceless.
CHAPTER8.
MAN'SFREEAGENCY.
Thequestionoftherightsofeachintelligentbeingaspertainingtohimselfandtoallothersmust
alwayshavebeenandmustalwaysremainachiefone.
**IntheBeginning.**Ineachintelligentbeinghasresided,fromthebeginning,anindividualand
distinctwill,which,ofitself,hasbeenactinginsomedegreeupontheexternaluniverse.Eachbeing,
withitsdevelopingwill,haslearnedmoreandmoreofnaturalforcesandofthemethodsof
controllingthem.Eachhasstriventoadapthisknowledgeofsurroundingforcestohisownparticular
needsordesires.Clearly,sincemanywillshavebeensoengaged,itmighteasilyoccurthatdifferent
willsmightuseacquiredknowledgeindifferentwaystosuittheirdifferentdesires.Itiseasily
conceivable,therefore,thatonewillmightattemptsotocontrolthesurroundingforcesastogiveitself
joy,yettoaffectanotherwilladversely.Ingeneral,whateverisdesirableforoneisdesirableforall,
sinceallspiritsarecastinthesamemoldandhavethesamederivation.Nevertheless,when
individualityisassumed,itisequallyclearthatthereisalwaysapossibilityofonewillcrossing
anothertothedetrimentofoneorpossiblyboth.
Theuniversalplanmayfollowitsdevelopingpath,unhindered,onlywhenalltheintelligentbeings
withinitlaborharmoniouslytogetherfortheupbuildingofeachandall.Theonlysolutionforthe
problemofthepossibleconflictsresultingfromtheactivitiesofagreatnumberofbeingsisan
agreementamongthemrelatingtothegeneralgood.Lawsestablishedforthecommunityofbeings
mustbeobeyedasrigidlyasthosefoundinexternalnature.Eachmayactfreelyandtohisfullpower
inanydesiredwaysolongasthegenerallawsrespectingthefreedomofallothersarenotviolated.
Therightofanindividualcannevertranscendtherightsofthecommunity.
**TheCouncilinHeaven.**Adimthoughwonderfullyattractivepicturehascomedownofanevent
inthespiritualestateofman,thefirstestate,thatdealsdirectlywiththegreatquestionoftheoneand
themany,theindividualandthecommunity.
Therehadbeenborn,intime,afamilyofspirits,theinnumerabledestinedhostsofearth,who,at
length,seemedfittedforfurthereducationinanotherfield.God,theFatherofthesespirits,sawthat
theywerereadyforfurtherlight,andcamedownamongthem,todiscusstheirfuture.AstheSupreme
Being,Godhadinmindaplan,theGreatPlan,wherebyeachspiritcouldenteruponhissecondestate
andbecomeacquaintedwiththepropertiesofgrossmatter.However,aseachintelligentspirit
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possessedafreeanduntrammeledwillwhichmustberespected,Godcalledtogetherthespiritsin
question,andpresentedtheplanfortheirapproval.
IntheGreatCouncilthenheld,ofwhichadimanddistantpictureonlyhasbeenleft,thegreat
questionwaswithrespecttoman'sfreeagency.Theessenceoftheproposedplanwasthatthespirits,
forgettingtemporarilytheirsojournintheirspirithomeshouldbegivenabodyofgrossermatter,and
shouldbesubjecttothisformofuniversalmatter,andevenbebroughtintoatemporaldeath.Tobring
aneternal,freespiritunderthebondageofmatterandforgetfulness,itwasnecessaryforsomeoneto
begintheworkby,figurativelyspeaking,breakingalaw,sothattheracemightbebroughtunderthe
subjectionofdeath.Thismaybelikened,roughly,tothedeliberatebreaking,forpurposesofrepairor
extension,ofawirecarryingpowertolightacity.Someonehadtodivertthecurrentofeternal
existence,andthustemporarilybringman'searthlybodyunderthesubjectionofgrossmatter.Adam,
thefirstman,waschosentodothiswork.Bythedeliberatebreakingofaspirituallaw,heplaced
himselfunderthebanofearthlydeathandtransmittedtoallhisposteritythesubjectiontodeath.This
wasthesocalled"sinofAdam."Toobtainorgivegreaterjoys,smallerpainsmayoftenhavetobe
endured.
**TheNeedofaSavior.**Thepurposeoftheearthcareerwas,however,twofold,tolearnto
understandgrossmatter,andtoacquireabodymadeoftheessenceofsuchmatter.Thebodieslaidin
thegravemust,therefore,beraisedagain.Asthespirits,bytheirownacthadnotbroughtupon
themselvesdeath,sobytheirownacttheyshouldnotconquerit.Itwasnecessary,therefore,that
someone,intime,shouldreunitethebrokenwiresandreestablishtheflowofeternallife,andthusto
conquerdeath.ForthisworkJesusChristwaschosen.Jesusactuallycameonearth,livedandtaught
theancientGospelagaintothechildrenofmen,andintimesuffereddeathsothattheactofAdam
mightbeatonedfor.Bythiswork,thepurposeoftheearthlifewascompleted,andthusJesusChrist
becamethecentralfigureintheplanofsalvation.
Whydeath,socalled,shouldbenecessaryforustoachieveanintimateknowledgeofmatter,andwhy
Jesusshoulddietopermitthecurrentofeternallifetoflowfreelybetweentheearthlybodyandthe
eternalspirit,arenotfullyknown.ThroughAdammanwasbroughtonearth,subjecttodeath
throughJesus,theChrist,hewasliftedoutofdeathtocontinueaneternallifeinassociationwiththe
earthacquiredbody.
**Man'sPartintheGreatPlan.**Inthisgreatgatheringintheheavensmanyquestionsarose.By
AdammanwastocomeonearthbyJesushewastoberesurrected.Inbothofthesegreatacts,man
hadnopart,beyondpermittinghimselftobeactedupon.Intheplan,whatwastobeman'spart?
Lucifer,agreatleaderintheCouncil,proposedthat,sinceotherswereactingformaninbringinghim
onandtakinghimawayfromtheearth,itwasnotnecessaryforman,duringhisearthcareer,to
exercisehisownwill.Luciferproposedthat,inspiteofhimself,hiswill,hisdesiresandhis
individuality,manshouldbeplacedonearth,andbetakenfromit,andwithouteffort,befilledwitha
knowledgeofearthconditions.Allmenshouldbeforcedintosalvation.JesusChrist,whobecamethe
Saviorofmen,objectedtothischangeinGod'splan,asitinterferedwiththeessentialrightof
intelligentbeingstoactforthemselves.Jesusinsistedthat,aswithoutwilltherecanbenogrowth,
man,placedonearththroughtheagencyofAdamandresurrectedandbroughtintoafulllifethrough
theagencyofJesus,shouldretain,duringhisearthcareer,hisfullfreeagency.Thoughhemightwalk
anforgetfulnessofthepast,andhavenovisionsofthefuture,hewouldyetbeallowedafreeand
untrammeledagencyashewalkedintheclearnessoftheearth'sday.Whileuponearthhemightlearn
muchorlittle,mightacceptalaworrejectit,justashehadbeen,privilegedtodoinallthedaysthat
hadgonebefore.
Thesetwoviewsregardingman'spartintheplanled,wearetold,toagreatdifferenceofopinion
amongthespirits.Naturally,thefirstpropositionappealedtomany,foritistheeasywayofobtaining
victory,ifvictoryitmaybecalled.Theotherwayseemsalwayssomewhathardandbitter,thoughin
theendthejoyobtainedsurpassesthatattainedwithouteffort.Lucifer,wholedthefightforthefirst
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method,couldnotagreetotheoriginalplanwhichwasfinallyacceptedandso,inthatgreat,dimday,
manyofthespiritsfollowedLucifer,andhavenotyetenteredupontheirearthcareers,butare
independentlyandinoppositiontoGod'swill,followingpathsthatarenotleadingthemonward.The
majorityacceptedGod'slaw,aschampionedbytheSon,thoughitissaidthatmanyweakandfearful
spiritsremainedneutral,daringneithertoacceptnortorejecteitherproposition.Thehostswho
acceptedtheplanofGod,girdedthemselveswiththenecessarystrengthtobeginthepilgrimage,
endinginanearthlydeath,butreaching,throughtheresurrection,intoaneternallifeofexceedingly
greatprogress.
**FreeAgency.**Ontheearth,aselsewhere,then,thefreeagencyofman,asexpressedinthe
individualwill,issupreme.Thoughourenvironmentisthatofgrossmatter,andthoughwedwellin
forgetfulnessofthepast,ourfreeagencyisasvigorousasever.However,thefreeagencyofman
cannottranscendtheplanwhichallofusofearthaccepted,together,inthedayoftheGreatCouncil.
Man'swillisalwayscircumscribedbygreatlawsthatareselfexistentorthatareformulatedormay
beformulatedforthebenefitoftherace.Themanymustdeviselawswherebyindividualand
communityprogressaresimultaneous.Itisthefullrightoftheindividualtoexercisehiswillinany
waythatdoesnotinterferewiththelawsmadeforthemanyand,underproperconditions,thelaws
forthemanyareofequalvaluetotheindividual.Underthelawwearefree.
CHAPTER9.
THEGREATPLAN.
TheplanproposedbyGodforthegovernmentofthespiritswhoenteredupontheirearthcareersis
revealedonlysofarasitisnecessaryfortheguidanceofman.WemayremaincertainthattheGreat
Planisbaseduponeternallawsthatalwayshavebeenandalwayswillbeoperative.Matters
pertainingtoman'searthlifearemattersofeternalinterestandthelawsformulatedfortheguidance
ofmanonearthmustbelawswhichinsomeformarefundamentalfortheguidanceofmaninany
placeandatalltimes.NothingistemporaryortransientaboutthePlanitself,foritrestsoneternal
foundations.
**Forgetfulness.**AconditionofthePlanseemstobethatthespirits,transferredtothisearth,shall
remainonearthinforgetfulnessofanearlierexistence.Asinadream,inmomentsofdeepspiritual
fervor,doweoccasionallyseemtorecallourpreexistentlife.Aveilhasbeendrawnoverthepast
and,withouttheaidofmemory,manfightshisbattlewiththeworldofgrossmatter.This
forgetfulnessseemsreasonable.Thespiritofmanacceptedtheearthplanindetail,andifhe
rememberedeverystepthatledtothisacceptance,andeverydetailofthePlanitself,therewouldnot
bemuchreasonfortheexerciseofwillinadheringtoit.Leftasheis,withlittlememorytosteady
him,hemustexerciseallhispower,tocompelsurroundingforcestoservehiminsearchingoutthe
pastandinprophesyingforthefuture.Bysuchvigorousexerciseofhiswillhedevelopsamore
intimateacquaintanceshipwiththethingsoftheearth.
**SubjecttoEarthConditions.**Intimacywiththeconditionsofearth,alone,willgiveamanfinal
knowledgeofthem.Suchinformationcannotbeobtainedsecondhandnorbycasualorsuperficial
acquaintanceship.Forthatreason,probably,manhasbeenbroughtsocompletelyunderthesubjection
ofgrossmatter,thathehasnopoweroveritbeyondthatwhichhegainsasheobtainsknowledgeofit.
Hence,onthisearth,strippedofallpower,andleft,asitwere,helplessinthemidstofcontending
universalforces,manmustsearchoutthenatureofthethingsabouthimanddeterminetheirlaws
beforeheacquirespowerovernatureandtherebybringshimselfintoaconditionofjoy.Inthefaceof
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theimpendingchangecalleddeath,manispossiblymoredeterminedtoacquirethepowerthatwill
lifthimfromthegraveandgivehimaneternalassociationwithalltheelementsoftheuniverse,
includinghisearthlybody.
**LawstobeObeyed.**Toenterintothefullnessofprogressivejoy,amanmust,ashasbeensaid,
naturallysubjecthimselftothelawsoftheuniverse.InGod'sPlanforlifeonearth,isasystemof
laws,representingeternalrealities,towhichmanmustconform.Suchalaw,forinstance,isfaith,
which,initssimpleuniversalmeaning,isman'scertaintythatintheuniverseisfoundeverythinghe
maydesireforhisupbuildingandadvancement,andthattheeternalrelationsofuniversalforceswill
prevailforhisgood.Anothersuchfundamentallawtowhichmanmustconform,isthatofrepentance,
whichinitslargersense,ismerelyfaithmadeactive.Passivefaithcandolittleforman's
advancement.Yetanothersuchlawisthatofbaptism,whichisessentiallyobediencetoexistinglaws.
AndstillanothersuchlawisthatofthegiftoftheHolyGhost,whichperhapsmeansthatamanmay
placehimselfintouchwiththewholeoftheuniverseandtodrawknowledgefromit,includingthe
beingsofsuperiorintelligencethatitcontains.Theseandotherlawsaregivenasguidesforman.
Theysharpenhisfreeagencydevelophishabitsofobediencetolaw,andestablishforhim
communicationwithGod.Moreover,aplanformulatedbyanintelligentBeingmustbecomposedof
laws,foreventheinfiniterelationshipsofmatterandenergyfallnaturallyintogroupsofinvariable
laws.ThelawsofthePlan,likethoseabovestated,arelogicalnecessities,iftheearthplanisatall
accepted.
**AnOrganization.**Itfollowsofnecessitythatifthereisaplan,theremustalsobeanorganization.
Theplanisnotforonealone,butformany.AllmustbeservedandblessedbytheGreatPlan.Those,
therefore,whosubjectthemselvestotheearthplanwithitslaws,mustneedsgroupthemselvessothat
thelawsmaybeoperativeforall.Apersonmaybeabletoserveintheadvancementofthewholerace
ofman,onlywhenthereisaunityofpurposeandeffect,whichcanbesecuredonlybyorganization.
Thequestionoforganizationinvolvesthoseofpriesthood,authority,andothers,latertobediscussed.
**AlltoAcceptthePlan.**Theearthplan,fullycompleted,mustbeacceptedordefinitelyrejected
byallthespiritswhohaveappearedonearthinconformitywiththeirvoteintheGreatCouncil.That
isfundamental.ThosewhoenterupontheirearthcareersmayacceptorrejecttheGospelbut,since
thefullsuccessofthePlanisbasedupontheadvancementofallthespirits,itbecomesnecessaryto
useeverypossibleefforttosecureforthePlanarecognitionofallthosewhoaccepteditinthespirit
world,andwho,therefore,entereduponthepilgrimageofearth.God'spurposeinthePlanwillbe
incompletesolongasonesoulremainsunconverted.
Lifeonearthdealsdirectlywithgrossmatterandtheforcespertainingtoit.Thelawsformulatedfor
theguidanceofman,areespeciallydevisedforearthconditions,andbelongtotheearth.Forinstance,
baptism,thesymbolofobediencetoGodandacceptanceofhislove,isnotnecessarilyanordinance
thatbelongselsewherethanonearth.Moreprobably,waterbaptismisessentiallyanordinanceofand
forthisearth.Itisunlikelythatwaterbaptismispracticedinafutureestate.Ifitbetrue,thenallwho
enterupontheearthcareer,andwhodesireattheyearsofdiscretiontheperfectedjoyderivedfrom
theGospel,musthavebaptismonthisearth.Shouldsomeofthespiritsrefuse,whileonearth,to
accepttheGospel,orfailtohearit,baptism,belongingtotheearth,mustbedoneforthem,
vicariously,onearth,sothatthey,havinghadtheworkdoneforthemhere,mayacceptorrejectthe
ordinanceintheirlifebeyondthegrave.Thisisthemotiveoftheworkforthedead.Theearth
ordinancesmustbedonebyorforeverysoulbornupontheearthsothattheearthexperiencemaynot
beinvain,shouldtheGospelbeacceptedintheremotestdayofeternity.Thisviewbecomesmore
importantwhenitisrecalledthatordinancesoftheearth,belongingprimarilytotheearth,standfor
vast,eternalrealities,indispensabletoman'sprogress.
WhenthesimpleordinancesoftheGospel,aspertainingtotheearth,havebeendoneforthedead,
thenmaythedeadbejudgedasoftheearth,andmayreceivetheblessingsoftheobedientwho
conformtolaw.
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**TheMeaningoftheEarthPlan.**Theearthplan,planofsalvation,orGreatPlan,fortheguidance
ofthespiritsplacedonearth,mayperhapsbemoreclearlyunderstoodifitiscomparedtothegreat
chartinthecaptain'scabinbywhichthevesselissteered.Lifeonearthisasthelargeandangry
ocean.Thechancesofshipwreckandofbeingdrivenoutofthesetcourse,aremany.If,however,the
oceaniswellcharted,themarinerscanbetteravoidthesunkenreefs,andthedangerousplaces,and
afterthestormcanmorereadilyreturntothecoursesothatthedestinedportmaybeenteredwitha
goodbillofhealth.TheGospelissuchachart,onwhichthejourneyisoutlined,showingthedangers
ofthejourney,thehavensofrestandthefinaldestination.Ifamanacceptthechart,anduseitinhis
life'scareer,hewillfindthevoyagepleasantandhisarrivalsecure,andhislifewillbeasthatofone
castinpleasantplaces.earthsothattheearthexperiencemaynotbeinvain,shouldtheGospelbe
acceptedintheremotestdayofeternity.Thisviewbecomesmoreimportantwhenitisrecalledthat
ordinancesoftheearth,belongingprimarilytotheearth,standforvast,eternalrealities,indispensable
toman'sprogress.
WhenthesimpleordinancesoftheGospel,aspertainingtotheearth,havebeendoneforthedead,
thenmaythedeadbejudgedasoftheearth,andmayreceivetheblessingsoftheobedientwho
conformtolaw.
**TheMeaningoftheEarthPlan.**Theearthplan,planofsalvation,orGreatPlan,fortheguidance
ofthespiritsplacedonearth,mayperhapsbemoreclearlyunderstoodifitiscomparedtothegreat
chartinthecaptain'scabinbywhichthevesselissteered.Lifeonearthisasthelargeandangry
ocean.Thechancesofshipwreckandofbeingdrivenoutofthesetcourse,aremany.If,however,the
oceaniswellcharted,themarinerscanbetteravoidthesunkenreefs,andthedangerousplaces,and
afterthestormcanmorereadilyreturntothecoursesothatthedestinedportmaybeenteredwitha
goodbillofhealth.TheGospelissuchachart,onwhichthejourneyisoutlined,showingthedangers
ofthejourney,thehavensofrestandthefinaldestination.Ifamanacceptthechart,anduseitinhis
life'scareer,hewillfindthevoyagepleasantandhisarrivalsecure,andhislifewillbeasthatofone
castinpleasantplaces.
THEBEGINNINGOFTHEEARTHWORK
CHAPTER10.
THECOMINGOFMAN.
ThedecisionarrivedatintheGreatCouncilwaspromptlycarriedoutbythosetowhomtheauthority
todosowasconfided.
**MakingoftheEarth.**Thefirststep,incarryingouttheGreatPlan,wastosecureaplaceon
whichthedesiredexperiencemightbegained.Toaccomplishthis,theearthwasmadefrommaterials,
foundintheuniverse,which,bytheintelligentpowerofGod,werecollectedandorganizedintothe
earth.Theearthwasnotmadefromnothing,norbythefiatofGod,exceptashiswillandwords
determinedthattheworkshouldbeundertaken.Intheclumsywayofman,byaddingstonetostoneor
materialtomaterial,theearthwasnotmaderather,greatforces,existingintheuniverse,andsetinto
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ceaselessoperationbythedirectingintelligenceofGod,assembledandbroughtintoplacethe
materialsconstitutingtheearth,until,inthecourseoflongperiodsoftime,thisspherewasfittedfor
theabodeofman.Inthemakingoftheearth,asinallothermatterspertainingtothedestinyofman,
theworkwasdoneincompleteandorderlyharmonywiththeexistinglawsoftheuniverse.The
Mosaicsixdaysrepresentsuccessivestagesintheearth'sconstruction,eachmeasuredbyagesof
time.Theforcesofnatureactsteadilybutslowlyintheaccomplishmentofgreatworks.
**TheBuilders.**Thecreationoftheearth,thedetailsofwhicharenotknown,musthavebeen
marvelouslyandintenselyappealinginitsinteresttotheintelligentbeingswho,becauseoftheir
exaltedknowledge,hadthenecessarypowerovertheelementsandforcesoftheuniverseto
accomplishtheformingofanearth.ThreegreatintelligentBeingswereinsupremeauthorityinthe
buildingoftheearth,namely,God,theFather,hisSon,Jehovah,whobecametheChrist,andMichael,
whobecamethefirstman,Adam.Thesethreebeingswerenaturallytheonesconcernedinthemaking
ofanearthforthesojournofthespirits,foritwasthroughtheagencyofGod,theFather,thatthe
spiritualbodieswerestartedontheroadofeternalprogressionitwasaboutthemissionofJehovah,
theSonofGod,thatthedifferencesofopinionragedintheGreatCouncil,and,finally,itwasAdam,
orMichael,whowasappointedtobetheonetocomeupontheearth,andtheretosubjecthimselfto
death,sothattheprocreationofspiritsinearthlytabernacles,mightbestarted.Thesethreebeings,
whoaresovitallyconcernedinthedestiniesofthehumanrace,hadchargeofthemakingofanearth
whichshouldbeasuitableandapleasanthabitationfortheearthcladspirits.
**TheComingofMan.**Theearthatlastwasfinished.Adam,thefirstman,andhiswife,Eve,then
appearedonearth.Thestatementthatmanwasmadefromthedustoftheearthismerelyfigurative,
andmeansthathewasmadeofuniversalmaterials,asistheearth.Likewise,thestatementthatGod
breathedintomanthebreathoflifeisonlyafigureoftheexistenceofthespiritwithinthebody.The
exactprocesswherebymanwasplaceduponearthisnotknownwithcertainty,norisitvitaltoaclear
understandingoftheplanofsalvation.Wemayrestassuredthatthefirstmanandthefirstwoman
wereeternalbeings,whosubjectedthemselvestolifeonthisearth,sothattheprocessofclothing
eternalspiritswithmortalbodiesmightbeginontheearth.AdamandEve,inviewofthegreat
sacrificestheymadetomaketheGreatPlanareality,arethegreatheroandheroineofhumanhistory.
**The"Fall."**Biblicalloreandtraditionsamongalloftheracesofman,tellofthe"fall"ofthefirst
parentsfromthegraceofGod.Aneventcalledthefalldidoccur,butitwasanecessarypartofthe
GreatPlan.AdamandEvewereeternalbeings,andwerenotunderthebanofmortaldeath.Subjectto
deaththeymustbecome,however,iftheirposterityshouldinheritcorruptiblebodies.Thefallthen
wassimplyadeliberateuseofalaw,bywhichactAdamandEvebecamemortal,andcouldbeget
mortalchildren.Theexactnatureofthiseventortheexactmannerinwhichthelawwasusedisnot
understood.TheBibleaccountis,undoubtedly,onlyfigurative.Therewasnoessentialsininthefall,
exceptthattheviolationofanylaw,whetherdeliberatelyorotherwise,isalwaysfollowedbyan
effect.The"fall"ofAdamandEvewasnecessary,forwithoutit,therewouldhavebeennobegetting
ontheearthofspiritswithmortalbodies,andthePlanproposedandconfirmedintheGreatCouncil
wouldhaveremainedinoperative."Adamfellthatmanmightbe."
**TheFirstBlessing.**Thecurse,socalled,pronouncedbyGoduponAdamashewentoutofthe
GardenofEden,thatinthesweatofhisbrowheshouldearnhisbread,ispossiblythegreatestofall
humanblessings,anditisasimpleextensionofagreateternallaw.Fromthebeginningofthedim
past,whenmanslumberedwithonlyafeeblethoughtofhispossiblevastfuture,thegreatlawofhis
progresshasbeenthatonlypersonaleffortcanachievedesirablethings.Thepricetobepaidfor
advancementisvigorousselfeffort.Theactivewillprecedeseverystepofprogress.Toexercisethe
willmeanslabor,whichmaywellberepresentedby"thesweatofthebrow."Thesocalledcurse,
however,carrieswithitthemagnificentpromisethatman,bytheexerciseofhispowers,maysubdue
theearth,andmakeitserveallhisneeds.InauniversecontrolledanddirectedbytheintelligentGod,
therecanbenoquestionbutthat,ultimately,theintelligentwillshallcontrolforitsownusenotonly
thethingsofthisearthbutalltheforcesoftheuniverse.Thesubjectiontowhichtheearthwillbe
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broughtdependsentirelyuponthedegreetowhichmanexerciseshiswill,thatis,thedegreetowhich
heacceptsthebenefitsofthefirstblessing.
**TheGardenofEden.**Thefirstdaysonearthofthefirstmanandthefirstwomanareofintense
interesttoeverystudentofthesubject,anditistoberegrettedthatsolittleknowledgeofthoseearly
timeshassurvivedthevicissitudesoftime.IntheGardenGodwalkedwithmanandtaughthimthe
livingtruth.AccordingtotheProphetJosephSmith,theGardenofEden,thefirsthomeofAdamand
Eve,waslocatednearthecityknownasIndependence,Missouri.Tothenorthandeastof
Independence,somescoresofmiles,isprobablytheplacewhereAdamdweltafterhehadbeendriven
outoftheGarden.TheStateofMissouri,andthecountryaroundit,is,therefore,oftremendous
interesttothosewhoaccepttheGospelasrestoredinthelatterdays.
**AWiseBeginning.**Inallmatterspertainingtothebeginningofman'searthcareer,itmaybe
observedthatproperpreparationshavebeenmade.Therehasbeennoblinddestinyworkingout
unknownpurposesinstead,intelligentforceshaveprovidedformanfrombeginningtoend,sothat
thewholeschemeofman'slife,hereandhereafter,isoneoforderandsystem.
CHAPTER11.
THECOURSEOFTHEGOSPELONEARTH.
TheGreatPlanprovidedthatmanshouldcomeuponearthwiththememoryofhispasttakenfrom
him,sothat,beginninghisearthlifeasachild,hemightrepeatonearththeeffortsthatearnedforhim
progressinthepreexistentlife.EvenAdamandEveforgotthedetailsoftheirpreviouslives,forit
wasnecessarythatallbeunderthesamelaw,andthatnoimproperstrengthbederived,byanyone,
fromthepreexistentexperiences.
**AdamHearstheGospel.**Theonlyrationalthingthatcouldbedonetospiritssoplacedonearth
wastoteachthemfullythestoryofman'soriginanddestinyandthemeaninganddutiesoftheearth
life.Thepleaofignorancewouldnotthenbevalid.Consequently,soonafterthefirstparentshadbeen
drivenoutoftheGardenofEden,anangelappearedandtaughtAdamthestoryofmanfromthefirst
tothelastday.Theplanofsalvation,includingtheatoningsacrificeofJesus,theorganizedChurch,
thepurposeandpowersofthepriesthoodandtherightsanddutiesofmanuponearth,whetherwithin
orwithouttheChurch,wasfullyunfolded.Adam,thefirstearthpupilofGod,wastaught,ashisfirst
lesson,thegreatphilosophyovershadowingtheexistenceofman.WhenAdamhadbeentaughtall
this,andhadacceptedthetruth,hewasbaptized,evenasmenarebaptizedtoday,andheenteredinto
alltheotherordinancesoftheGospelandwasgivenfullauthoritythroughthePriesthoodconferred
uponhimtoofficiateinGod'snameinallmatterspertaining,undertheGreatPlan,tothewelfareof
man.
**TheFirstDispensation.**Aschildrenandchildren'schildrencametoAdamhetaughtthem
carefullyallthathadbeentaughthim,sothattheknowledgeofthelawmightremainupontheearth.
TheordinancesoftheGospelwerepracticed,therighteouswereorganizedintotheChurch,evenas
today,andtheauthorityofthePriesthoodwastransmittedbyAdamtohischildren,andbythemto
theirchildren,sothatthepreciousgiftmightnotbelost.InthosedaystheChurchwasprobablyfully
organized,accordingtothepatriarchalorderatleastinthedaysofEnoch,theseventhfromAdam,it
seemsquiteclearthattheChurchwasestablishedwithallofitsessentialparts.Theactivityinbehalf
oftheGospelwhichbeganwithAdamandcontinueduntilNoah,atthetimeofthegreatflood,is
ordinarilyknownasthefirstdispensationoftheGospel.
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**TheFirstApostasy.**Fromthebeginningofhisearthcareer,Adamretainedhisfreeagency.God,
directlyorthroughagents,mightteachandcommand,butAdam,afreeagent,hadtherighttoaccept
orrejectasseemedhimbest.Adam'schildren,likewise,thoughtaughtbythepatriarchoftheraceof
thewayofrighteousness,couldacceptorrejectforthemselveswhateverwastaughtthem.Free
agencywaswithmaninthatearlydayasitisnow.
ThedescendantsofAdamsoonbegantoexercisetheirfreeagency,somefor,andmanyagainst,the
GreatPlan.CainexercisedhisfreeagencyinthemurderofAbel.Astimewenton,largenumbers
departedfromthetruthconcerningman'splaceintheuniverseastaughtbyAdam,andrefusedto
accepttheGospel.ConcurrentlywiththeestablishmentoftheChurchinthefirstdispensationthere
was,therefore,afirstgreatapostasy.Itiseverso,ithaseverbeenso,andwilleverbeso,thatina
worldofintelligentbeings,possessingfreeagency,somewillacceptandsomewillrejectthetruth.
Nodoubt,intheprocessoftime,truthwilltriumph,andallmaybebroughttounderstandthewillof
God,buttheconquestisattendedbymanytemporarydeparturesfromthetruth.Nevertheless,Adam
andthosewhoremainedtruetohisteachings,continued,faithfully,toteachtootherstheeternaltruth,
sothattheymightperchancebemadetoreturntothegreattruthwhichtheyhadsolightlycastaside.
**TheLaterDispensations.**Thefirstapostasyculminatedintheflood,whichwassentbecauseof
theviolenceofthefirstapostasyandthecorruptionofmen.Asfarasknown,onlyNoahandhis
immediatefamilywerepreserved.Inthem,however,wasrepresentedallthebloodoftheworld.To
thenewraceNoahexplainedfullythatthefloodwasdue,entirely,tothewickedhardnessofthe
heartsofthepeople,andtheirrefusaltoaccepteternaltruthortorespecttheauthorityofGod,and
thatitwasnecessary,shouldcalamitybeavoided,toliveinaccordancewiththeGreatPlan.Tothem
all,theGospelwastaughtinitspurity.Nevertheless,itwasonlyashorttimebeforeapostasyagain
occurredamongmany.Thefreeagencyofmancannotbecurbed.Yet,probably,therehasnotbeen,
sincetheflood,suchuttercorruptionasprevailedduringthefirstapostasy.
Fromthedaysoftheflood,Godorhismessengershaveappearedonearth,atvarioustimes,torestore
thetruthortokeepitaliveintheheartsofthefaithful,sothatmanmightpossessafullknowledgeof
theGospelandthattheearthmightneverneedtobewithoutthestoryoftheGreatPlanandthe
authorityofthePriesthood.Forinstance,Melchizedek,thehighpriest,possessedafullmeasureofthe
authorityoftheholypriesthood.ToAbraham,Godandhisangelsappeared,andendowedhimwith
theauthorityofGod.Soon,downthecourseoftime,therearenumerousinstancesoftheappearance
ofGodtomentohelpthechildrenofmentoaperfectunderstandingofthegreattruthsthatmustbe
understoodandobeyed,ifmenaretocontinueintheirprogressivedevelopment.Itisnotknownhow
manymenandwomenatvarioustimeshavereceivedsuchvisitations,butitisprobablethathostsof
menandwomenatvarioustimes,evenwhentheChurchhasnotbeenorganized,havereceivedand
usedthetruthoflifeasembodiedintheGreatPlan.
**TheDispensationoftheMeridianofTime.**Inthecourseofhumanhistoryandinaccordance
withtheGreatPlan,JesustheSonofGod,appearedonearth,toatonefortheactofAdamandEve,
who"fell"thatmenmightbe.Thisiscalledthedispensationofthemeridianoftime.Jesusdidliveon
earth,andgavehislifesothatmortalbodiesmayrisefromthegraveandpassintoaneternal
existence,beyondthereachofcorruption.DuringthesojournofJesusonearth,hedevotedhimselfto
arestatementoftheGospel,includingthestoryofthepastandthepresentandthehopeofthefuture.
AtnotimesincethedaysofAdam,hadtheGospelbeensofullytaughtandmadesosimplyclearto
theunderstandingasinthedaysofJesus.UndertheteachingsoftheSavior,theChurchwasre
establishedinorderandcompleteness.
**TheGreatApostasy.**AftertheascensionofJesus,theChurchremained,forsometime,fully
organized.Thousandsflockedtoit,andthepeoplelivedinaccordancewiththedoctrinestaughtby
theSavior.Soon,however,historyrepeateditself.Intherightoftheirfreeagency,menrefused,in
manycases,toobeythelawsandordinancesoftheGospel,andmoreoftenchangedthemtosuittheir
ownconvenience.Suchdeparturesfromthetruthbecamemorenumerousandmoreflagrantastime
woreon,untilerrorpermeatedthewholeChurch.Atlast,aboutsixhundredyearsafterChrist,the
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GospellawsandordinanceshadbecomesocompletelywarpedthatitwasasiftheChurchhad
departedfromtheearth.TheauthorityofthePriesthoodnolongerremainedwiththeChurch.This
wasthegreatapostasy.Fromthattime,completedarknessreignedformanycenturies.Inthosedays,
however,manyhonestmencouldseethatthetruthwasnotupontheearth,andhopedthatthesimple
principlesoftheGospelmightagainbecorrectlypracticedbyman.AmongsuchmenwereLuther
andmanyothers,whousedtheirbestendeavorstoshowthepeoplethaterrorruled.Atlastmanywere
awakened,andthedaysoftheReformationbegan.TheReformationwasaperiodofpreparationfor
thelastrestorationoftheGospelonearth.Manyyearswererequiredbeforethedarknessofcenturies
couldbeliftedfromthesoulsofmen.
**TheRestoration.**Finally,asmenbrokethroughthedarkness,asintelligencebecamediffused
amongallmen,andasliberalityofthoughtgrewandbecamerespected,theworldwasreadyforthe
eternaltruth.AgaintheGospelwasrestoredwiththeauthorityofthePriesthoodandtheorganization
oftheChurch.Onanearlyspringday,intheyear1820,inthewoodsofwesternNewYork,Godthe
Father,andGodtheSon,appearedtoafourteenyearoldboynamedJosephSmith,whohadfaithfully
askedfordivinehelp.Throughtheinstrumentalityofthisboy,guidedconstantlybyGod,theChurch
wasreestablished,theauthorityofthePriesthoodagainconferreduponmanymen,andafulnessof
knowledgepertainingtoman'splaceintheuniverseofferedtoallwhowouldlisten.Intimethe
ChurchwasorganizedpreciselyaswastheprimitiveChurch,andmorefullythanatanyothertimein
thehistoryoftheworld.Thiswasthegreatrestoration.
**TheVitalFacts.**TheGospelwasfullytaughttothefirstman,whointurntaughtittoothers.The
Churchwasorganizedfromthebeginning.Asapostasydimmedmen'sknowledgeoftheGospeland
underminedtheChurch,thefulltruthwasrepeatedlyrestored.Atleastfourtimeshasacomplete
statementoftheGreatPlanbeenmadetothepeopleoftheearthatthetimeofAdam,ofNoah,of
JesusChristandofJosephSmith.Consequently,theGospelhasbeenontheearthandwithinthe
reachofmenpracticallyduringthewholecourseoftheearth'shistory.Thefundamentaltruthsofthe
GreatPlanweretaughttoFatherAdamandsincethattimehavebeenscatteredbroadcastoverthe
earth.Thiswidedisseminationofthetruth,inallages,explainsthefactthatpracticallyeverylife
philosophyproposedbymancontainssomeofthetruthsoftheGospel.Ineverysystemoftheology
andineverysectthereisacertainmeasureoftruth,forallhavedrawnfromtheonefountain.All,no
doubt,seekfortruth,andbelievethattheyhavefounditbut,infact,theyhaveonlyfragments,
pickeduphereandthereandworkedintoasystem.Thefulltruthmustencompassthecomplete
philosophyofmanandtheuniverse,includingtheauthoritytoactforGodintheworkingoutofthe
Plan.ThosewhothusacceptthewholePlan,constitutetheChurchofChrist.Inthechurchesofthe
worldthereismuchoftruthandconsequentlynoneiswhollywrong,thoughattimesthetruthhas
beensowarpedthatitappearsworsethanuntruth.Inthematteroffulltruth,andofauthority,
however,dotheChurchanditsimitatorsdifferabsolutely.Therecanbenoduplicatesetoftruth,and
nodoubleseatofauthority.
Itisclearthatfreeagency,forwhichtheheavenlybattlewaswaged,isinfulloperationuponthe
earth.AtfirstsightitmayseemthatLucifer'splanwouldhavebeenbest,forbyitallmen,inspiteof
themselves,wouldhavebeengiventheearthexperienceandkeptintherighteouspaththatleadsto
salvation.Yet,theoriginofman,andthedoctrinethathecanadvanceonlybyselfeffort,makeit
unthinkablethatheshouldallowhimselftobe,asitwere,blindfoldedandthencompellinglydirected
bysomegreaterpower.Menaredirected,nodoubt,bybeingsofhigherintelligence,butinthat
directingourwillsmustbeallowedtoplaytheirpart.Therecanbenorealsatisfaction,ifitwere
possible,inadvancementwhichhasbeenforceduponmanLucifer'splanwasimpossible.
Itmustalsoberemembered,thatmenarenotnecessarilyevilbecausetheydonotaccepttheGospel.
Somefinditimpossibletounderstandthetruthbecausetheirheartsaresosetuponotherthings,and
othershavebeenledbytheirfreeagencyinonedirection,whereastheGospelwouldleadthemin
another.Nevertheless,thoughmenarenotevilbecausetheyrefusetoaccepttheGospel,theyretard
themselvesofnecessity,whentheyfailtoobeythelawandtherebytheyinviteuponthemselvesthe
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punishmentthatcomeswithoutfailtoallwhoarenotinfullharmonywiththegreat,controlling
universallaws.
MANANDGOD.
CHAPTER12.
THEGODSOFTHISEARTH.
TheconceptionofauniversedirectedbyaGodofintelligencecannotincludeaGodofmystery.In
mysterythereisonlyconfusion.Itdoesnotfollowthatbecauseheisnotmysteriousheisfully
comprehended.InourgeneralconceptionofGod,hisorigin,hisdestiny,andhisrelationtous,we
understandhimclearlybut,inthedetailsofhisorganization,powersandknowledgehetranscends
ourunderstanding.Intelligentmandwellinginauniversecontainingmanysuperiorintelligentbeings
willoftenfindneedofthehelpthathigherintelligenceonlycangive.Earthboundasweare,weneed
acloseacquaintancewiththeGodwhoshapesthedestiniesofmen.ThebetterGodisknown,the
bettermaytheeternaltruthswelearnbeappliedinourdailylives.
**TheOrderofGods.**Godhashadnobeginningandwillhavenoend.Fromthefirst,bythe
exerciseofhiswill,hehasconstantlyacquirednewknowledgeandtherebynewpower.Becauseof
thewisdomwhichhehasgained,andthelovetherebybegottenfortheunnumberedhostsofstriving
intelligentbeings,heformulatedtheplanwhichwillleadthemreadilyandcorrectlyinthewayof
continuedprogression.InsofarasmanacceptstheplanofsalvationheisbeingeducatedbyGod,to
becomeevenasGodis.Godandmanareofthesamerace,differingonlyintheirdegreesof
advancement.True,toourfiniteminds,Godisinfinitelybeyondourstageofprogress.Nevertheless,
manisoftheorderofGods,elsehecannotknowGod.
**PluralityofGods.**Sinceinnumerableintelligentbeingsaremovingonwardindevelopment,there
mustbesomeinalmosteveryconceivablestageofdevelopment.Ifintelligentbeings,fartranscending
theunderstandingofman,becalledGods,theremustbemanyGods.God,angelandsimilarterms
denotemerelyintelligentbeingsofvaryingdegreeofdevelopment.Thethought,however,thatthere
isapluralityofgodsandotherbeingsofvaryinggrades,isathoughtoffundamentaltruth,whichmay
beappliedineverydaylife,foritgivestheassurancethatitispossibleforall,byselfeffortandby
gradualsteps,toattainthehighestconceivablepower.
Adivisionoflaborisnecessaryamongmenonearth,anditisonlyreasonablethatasimilardivision
oflabormayexistinallintelligentsystems.Theconceptionofacommunityofmenmaybeappliedto
thecommunityofheavenlybeings.Inthecommunityofmen,differentmenhavedifferentdutiesso,
perhaps,onanexaltedscale,thegodsareorganizedwithaperfecteddivisionoflabor.
**God,theFather.**God,theFather,thegreatestGodconcernedinourprogression,isthesupreme
God.HeistheFatherofourspirits.Heisthebeingofhighestintelligencewithwhomwedeal.Toour
sensesandunderstandingheisasperfection.Inhisfulnesshecannotbefathomedbythehuman
mind,anditis,indeed,uselessformantoattempttodefineindetailthegreatintelligentbeingsofthe
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universe.God,theFather,thesupremeGod,hasgonethrougheveryphaseoftheGreatPlan,which
weareworkingout.Therefore,hehashadourexperiencesortheirequivalents,andunderstandsfrom
hisownexperiencethedifficultiesofourjourney.Hisloveforusisanunderstandinglove.Ourearth
troubleswemaylayfullybeforehim,knowingthatheunderstandshowhumanheartsaretouchedby
thetribulationsandthejoysoflife.
God,theFather,thesupremeGodofwhomwehaveknowledge,isthegreatestintelligenceinthe
infiniteuniverse,sinceheisinfiniteinallmatterspertainingtousandtranscendswhollyour
understandinginhispowerandwisdom.WeknownogreaterGodthantheomniscient,omnipotent
Father.
**God,theSon.**WiththeFatherisassociatedhisonlybegottenSononearth,JesusChrist,who
cameonearthandsubmittedhimselftoapainfulandignobledeathsothatallmenmightberaised
fromthegravewiththebodyoffleshandbonesmadeindestructibleandeverlasting.Becauseofthe
centralpositionoccupiedbyJesusintheGreatPlan,heisessentiallytheGodofthisearth.He,also,is
beyondourunderstanding,hesitsontherighthandoftheFather,andisonewiththeFatherinallthat
pertainstothewelfareofthehumanrace.Tousheisperfect,possessingalltheattributesofthe
Father.WhetherheisasfaradvancedastheFatherisanidlequestion,sincehesurpassesour
understanding.Inallmatterspertainingtotheearth,theSonistheagentoftheFather.Throughhim
thewilloftheFatherpertainingtothisearthisgiven.AllourcommunicationswiththeFatherare
madeinthenameoftheSon,sothattheymaybeproperlyauthorized.Thisisinsimpleaccordwith
theorderthatprevailsintheheavensandthatshouldprevaileverywhereonearth.
**God,theHolyGhost.**TheFatherandtheSonandtheHolyGhostconstitutetheGodhead,or
TrinityofGods,guidingthedestiniesofmenonearth.God,theHolyGhost,isapersonageofspirit,
whopossessesspecialfunctionswhichhavenotyetbeenclearlyrevealed.Weknowthatthismember
oftheGodheadisaknowledgegiverandaninspirerofallthatisgreatandnobleanddesirable,and
thathisfunctionsintheGodheadareindispensabletothewelfareofman.
**OtherBeings.**Manyotherintelligentbeings,superiortous,nodoubttakepartintheworkof
manonearth.Thereareangelsandspiritswhonodoubthaveassignedtothemthecareofthemen
andwomenwhowalkupontheearth.Manisnotalonehewalksinthemidstofsuchheavenly
company,fromwhomhemayexpecthelpifheseekitstrongly.Aplanfortheschoolingofintelligent
spirits,walkinginsemidarknessthroughtheacquiescenceofbeingsofhigherintelligence,mustofa
certaintyincludesuchcontinuousthoughinvisiblehelp.
**SexAmongtheGods.**Sex,whichisindispensableonthisearthfortheperpetuationofthehuman
race,isaneternalqualitywhichhasitsequivalenteverywhere.Itisindestructible.Therelationship
betweenmenandwomeniseternalandmustcontinueeternally.InaccordancewiththeGospel
philosophytherearemalesandfemalesinheaven.SincewehaveaFatherwhoisourGod,wemust
alsohaveamother,whopossessestheattributesofGodhood.Thissimplycarriesonwardthelogicof
thingsearthly,andconformswiththedoctrinethatwhateverisonthisearth,issimplyarepresentation
ofgreatspiritualconditions,ofdeepermeaningthanwecanherefathom.
CHAPTER13.
MAN'SCOMMUNIONWITHGOD.
Manisnotlefttohimselfonthefaceoftheearth.Thoughhismemoryhasbeentakenaway,hewill
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notbeallowedtodriftunwatchedandunassistedthroughthejourneyonearth.Atthebest,manis
onlyastudentwhooftenneedstheassistanceofateacher.Itisindispensable,therefore,toknowhow
communicationmaybeestablishedbymanwithintelligentbeingswherevertheymaybe.
**TheWilltoAsk.**ThefirstofthefundamentalprinciplesbywhichmanmayconferwithGod,is
thatmanmustshowhisdesiretoreceive,byaskingforhelp.Manhastherighttorejectwhateveris
offeredhiminthemidstofplentyhemayrefusetoeat.Therefore,whateveramangainsfromthe
surroundingwisdomisinitiatedeitherbyapetitionorbyareceptiveattitudewhichisequivalenttoa
request.Unlessamanask,heisinnoconditiontoreceive,andordinarilynothingisgivenhim.On
extraordinaryoccasions,whenGodusesamantoaccomplishhispurposes,somethingmaybegiven
withouttheinitiatoryprayer,butsuchgiftsarerarelyofvaluetothemanhimself.Togethelpfrom
without,amanmustaskforit.Thatisthelaw.Historyconfirmsthisdoctrine.AdamprayedtoGod
andtheangelcametoexplaintheplanofsalvation.JosephSmith,thelatterdayrestorerofthe
Gospel,prayedinthegroveandtheFatherandtheSonappeared.Itisunnaturaltobelievethatgifts
aregivenwithoutprayer.Thattheanswerisoftenoverwhelminglygreaterthantheexpresseddesire,
isonlyasignoftheloveoftheGiver,anddoesnotremovethenecessityofasking,asthefirststepin
obtainingwhatapersondesires.Itisprobablethatnorequest,addressedtoabeingofsuperior
intelligence,isrefused.However,theanswercomesatatimeandplacenotpredeterminedbyman.
**ByPersonalAppearance.**Inanswertoprayer,Godmayappearpersonally.Thereisnophysical
orspiritualreasonwhyGodshouldnotappeartohischildreninpersonwheneverhesodesires.In
fact,sacredhistoryindicatesthatGodappearedtoAdamintheGardenofEden,toAbrahaminthe
HolyLand,toMosesonthemountain,toJosephinthesacredgrove,andtomanyothersatvarious
timesduringtheearth'shistory.Likewise,JesusChrist,theSonofGod,liveduponthisearthand
walkedandtalkedwithmen.TolimitthepowersofGodbysayingthathecannotorwillnotnow
appeartoman,istomakehimacreatureoflesspowerthanispossessedbyman.
**BytheVisitationofAngels.**ThewillofGodmaybetransmittedtomanbyvisible
representativeswhoarebeingsofalowerdegreeofintelligence.Angelshavefrequentlyvisitedmen
andbroughttothemdivinemessagesconcerningtheirownaffairsortheaffairsoftheworld.After
AdamwasdrivenoutoftheGardenofEden,anangelcameandlaidbeforehimthephilosophyof
man'sexistence.Similarly,angelsappearedtoEnoch,Noah,Abraham,Moses,JosephSmithand
numerousothers,manyofwhicharenotrecordedinhistory.Thesevividpersonages,intelligent
beingsvastlysuperiortoman,knowingwellthelawsofnatureandthereforeabletocontrolthem,
maybewithman,thoughtheyarenotseenwiththenaturaleye.Mostprobablywewalkinthemidst
ofsuchinvisibleintelligentspirits.Thedevelopmentfromtheearthjourneycomeslargelyfromthe
selfeffortsofman,who,apparently,mustdependuponhimself.Ifatwillhecouldbringtohisaid
visible,supernaturalbeings,totidehimoverhisdifficulties,hisneedofselfdevelopmentandself
dependencewouldbecomeverysmall,andthemanwouldnotgrowstrong.
**BytheHolySpirit.**Godisapersonalbeingofbodyabodylimitedinextent.Hecannot,
therefore,atagivenmomentbepersonallyeverywhere.Timeandspacesurroundhimasthey
surroundus.ItisdifficulttobelievethatGodcaninpersonanswerthenumberlesspetitionsreaching
histhrone.Nevertheless,itisknowndistinctlythatGod,byhispower,willandwordiseverywhere
present.Itisalmostasdifficulttobelievethat,inspiteofthehostsofheavenlybeings,personal
administrationsarepossibleinthegreatmajorityofthecountlesspetitionstoGod.Godmustbe,
therefore,inpossessionofotheragencieswherebyhiswillmaybetransmittedathispleasuretothe
uttermostconfinesofspace.ThechiefagentemployedbyGodtocommunicatehiswilltothe
universeistheholyspirit,whichmustnotbeconfusedwiththeHolyGhost,thepersonagewhoisthe
thirdmemberoftheGodhead.Theholyspiritpermeatesallthethingsoftheuniverse,materialand
spiritual.BytheholyspiritthewillofGodistransmitted.Itformswhatmaybecalledthegreat
wirelesssystemofcommunicationamongtheintelligentbeingsoftheuniverse.Theholyspirit
vibrateswithintelligenceittakesupthewordandwillofGodasgivenbyhimorbyhispersonal
agents,andtransmitsthemessagetotheremotestpartsofspace.Bytheintelligentdominationand
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infiniteextentoftheholyspirit,thewholeuniverseisheldtogetherandmadeasonewhole.Byits
meansthereisnoremotenessintowhichintelligentbeingsmayescapethedominatingwillofGod.
Bytheholyspirit,Godisalwayswithus,and"isnearerthanbreathing,andnearerthanhandsand
feet."Theintelligentearthlymanifestationsoftheholyspiritarecommonlyspokenofasthenatural
forces.Itisconceivablethatthethundersandthelightnings,themovementsoftheheavenlybodies,
theebbandflowoftheoceans,andallthephenomenaknowntoman,areonlymanifestationsofthe
willofGodastransmittedandspreadbythemeasureless,inexhaustible,infinite,allconductingholy
spirit.
Bytheholyspirit,whichfillseveryperson,manmayobtaininformationfromGod.Byitsmeans
comethemessageswhichtranscendtheordinarymethodsofacquiringknowledge.Byitmanmay
readilycommunicatewithGod,orGodwithhim.Whenapersonuttershisprayerinfaithitis
impressedupontheholyspirit,andtransmitted,sothatGodmayreadtheman'sdesire.
Thisdoctrineofarationaltheologyhasbeenduplicatedinamodestwaybythedevelopmentof
wirelesstelegraphy.Accordingtoscience,theuniverseisfilledwithasubtlesubstancecalledthe
ether,onthewavesofwhichthemessageisspreadthroughouttheuniversetobetakenupbyany
personwhohastheproperreceivingapparatus.
**TheEternalRecord.**Sothoroughlypermeatedwiththeholyspiritistheimmensityofspacethat
everyactandwordandthoughtisrecordedandtransmittedeverywhere,sothatallwhoknowhowto
readmayread.Thuswemakeanimperishablerecordofourlives.Tothosewhoselivesareordered
wellthisisablessedconceptionbuttothoseofwickedlives,itismostterrible.Hewhohasthe
receivingapparatus,inwhosehandsthekeyisheld,mayreadfromtherecordoftheholyspirit,an
imperishablehistoryofallthathasoccurredduringtheagesthathavepassedintheworld'shistory.
Thissolemnthought,thatinthebosomoftheholyspiritisrecordedallthatpertainstotheuniverse
ourmostsecretthoughtandourfaintesthopehelpsmantowalksteadilyinthemidstofthe
contendingappealsofhislife.WecannothidefromtheMaster.
CHAPTER14.
MANWALKSWITHGOD.
TheknowledgeofmeansofcommunicationbetweenmanandGodisofgreathelptomaninallthe
affairsofhislife.
**ReadingGod'sMessage.**InpossessionoftheholyspiritisarecordofthewillofGodwith
respecttoallthingsandalloccurrences,greatorsmall,intheuniversefromthefirstday.Thebig
problemofmanistoreadthemessageofGodasitisheldbytheholyspirit.Inwirelesstelegraphy,a
sparkcoilsetsupwavesintheetherandothercoilssimilarly"tuned,"receivethewavesanywherein
theuniverse.Inwirelesstelegraphytheallimportantthingisthatthetransmittingandreceiving
instrumentsbetunedalike,foronlythenmaythemessageberead.Thesameprincipleholdswiththe
holyspirit.Thegiverandthereceivermustbe"tuned"alike,thatis,mustbeinharmony,ifthe
messagesaretopassreadilyandunderstandinglyfromonetotheother.Theclearnessofthemessage
dependswhollyuponthedegreetowhichthistuningapproachesperfectharmony.
**SpiritBlindness.**Therearemanywho,walkingamongvastspiritualforces,yetfeelthemselves
whollyalone.Theydonothavetheassurancethatthereissomethingorsomeonenearthemwhich
maynotbeknownbytheordinaryjudgmentofthesenses,yetwhichmaybeknownbyman.These
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personsaresountunedastobeunabletounderstandthemessagesoftheholyspirit.Manywillnotbe
broughtintoanunderstandingharmonywiththeholyspiritothersmerelyfinditsohardtobe
broughtintotunewiththeinfinitethattheywouldratherbewithoutthemessagesthantodothe
necessarylaborofacquiringharmoniousrelationswiththeholyspirt.Thosewhocannotfeelandin
partcommunewiththeholyspirit,areblindtothelargerpartoftheuniverse,whichliesoutsideofthe
circumscribedworld,sweptbyourimmediatesenses.Intermsoftheunseenforceswilltheearthat
lastbeclearedofallitsmystery.Inyesterdayandtomorrowshalltodaybeglorified.Theeternal
concernofmanwillbe,asithasbeen,tosecureanunderstandingknowledgeofalltheforcesof
space.They,therefore,whocannotonthisearthpossessadirectassuranceoftheexistenceand
assistanceofthegreatunseenworld,areindeedspirituallyblind,andmuchtobepitied.
**Prayer.**Asalreadystated,allcommunicationbetweenmanandahigherintelligentBeingmustbe
initiatedbyarequestfromtheman.Thus,theplaceofprayerinthelifeofmanisatonceestablished.
Prayerisarequestforfurtherlight,protection,orwhateverelseisdesired.Prayeristhefirstand
greatestmeansofreadingGod'smessages,forbyintenseprayermangraduallyplaceshimselfintune
withtheinfinitesofarashisrequestisconcerned.Thosewhodonotask,naturallydonotestablishan
understandingrelationshipwiththeunseenworld,andnomessageappears.TheBeingofhigher
intelligence,towhomtherequestisdirected,mayormaynotgranttheprayer,butsomeanswerwill
begiven.Prayerhasbeensaidtobe"thesoul'ssinceredesire."Onlywhenitissuchwillthehighest
answerbeobtained,anditisdoubtfulifsuchaprayeriseverrefused.Noprayerisunheard.Theplace
andtimeofprayerareoflessimportance.Morning,noonandnight,prayerisalwaysfitting.However,
itiswelltobeorderly,andtobegethabitsofprayer,andcertainhoursofthedayshouldthereforebe
setasideforprayer,bothinprivateandinthefamily.Frequentandregularprayerhelpstoremind
manofhisdependenceonaBeingofhigherintelligenceinaccomplishingthegreatworkofhisheart.
Amanshouldprayalwayshisheartshouldbefullofprayerheshouldwalkinprayer.Answerswill
thenbeheardasGodpleases.Seldomisamangreaterthanhisprivateprayers.
**ActivePrayer.**TobecomeproperlytunedwiththeguidingintelligentBeing,onemustnotpray
inastereotypedway.Amanmustgivehimselftothematterdevotedlydesired,intheformofprayer,
andthensupportitwithallhisworks.Prayerisactiveandnotpassive.Ifathingiswantedamanmust
trytosecureit.Then,asamandevotesallofhimselftothematteroftheprayer,hisattitudebecomes
suchastomakehimsusceptibletotheanswerwhenitshallbesent.Prayermaybesaidtobethe
soul'swholedesire.
**TheGiftofUnderstanding.**Everynowandthenamanisfoundwhoseemstopossessa
knowledgeabovethatofhisfellowmen.Knowledgeisgainedbytremendousselfeffort,andthemen
whoknowmostareusuallythosewhohaveexertedthemselvesmosttolearn.However,itiswell
knownthatthosewhohavegiventhemselveswithalltheirmighttoacertainstudy,oftenhavegreat
flashesofinsight,wherebytheyleapasitwerefromknowledgetoknowledge,untiltheirprogress
becomestremendouslyrapid,comparedwiththatofordinarymen.
Thismeansofacquiringknowledgemaybecomparedcrudelywiththeswitchofanelectriclighting
system.Whentheswitchisout,thoughthegreatdynamointhecanyonmouthhammerandgenerate
itselectricity,thereisnoflowofcurrentthroughthecitysystemandallisdarkness.Yetaman,witha
slighteffort,canraisetheswitchandconnectthewires,therebyfloodingthecitywithlight.Theresult
appearstobeinfinitelygreaterthanthecause.Thus,thosewhobygreateffortbuildupsystemsof
truthoftenreachaplacewherebyrelativelylittleeffortafloodofnewlightmaybethrownuponthe
subjecttowhichthemindhasgivenitself.Thatisoneofthecompensationstothosewhostrivewith
alltheirmightforthemasteryofanysubject.Thispowerbecomesthegiftofunderstanding,which
maycometoallwhostudydeeply.
Thegiftofunderstandingistheresultoftheoperationoftheholyspirit.Theholyspiritwhichisin
communicationwiththewholeuniverse,isinameasuresubjecttothosewhogivethemselves
devotedlyandwithalltheirhearttoanyrighteousmatter.Itisoneofthemostpreciousofgifts,and
onethatshouldbesoughtafterbyallmen,becausebyitsaid,thechancefordevelopmentisgreatly
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increased.
**ManWalkswithGod.**Literally,then,throughtheassistanceofthemightyandallpervading
holyspirit,manis,indeed,alwaysinthepresenceofGodandhisagencies.Fromthispointofview
manisimmersedinthelightandpowerofGodliness.He,whobyearnestprayer,closeattention,and
nobledesiresseekstheintelligenceaboveandabouthimisnotalone.Hewalkshandinhandwith
intelligentbeingsanddrawsfromthemthepowerthathedoesnotofhimselfpossess.Intimesofneed
suchamanmayreachintotheblackunknownandbringouthope,bornofhighknowledge.
MANANDTHEDEVIL.
CHAPTER15.
THEKINGDOMOFTHEEVILONE.
Ifthereisprogression,theremayalsoberetrogressionifthereisgood,theremaybeevil.Everything
hasitsopposite.
**DescendingBeings.**Inauniversecontainingeternal,intelligent,personalitiespossessingfree
agency,theremaybebeingswhoareinoppositiontothegenerallawofprogress.Infact,such
opposingintelligentspiritsormenhavealwaysandeverywherebeenfound.Naturally,thosewho
devotethemselvestotheoppositionoflawarewagingahopelessbattle,andlosetheirstrengthas
timegoeson.Nevertheless,sincemanyofthemhaveacquiredgreatknowledgebeforetheyturn
againstthetruth,theymaylongcontinueactiveintheiroppositiontorighteousness.Thefinalendof
suchbeingsisnotknown.Astheyareeternal,itisdoubtfuliftheycaneverfullydestroythemselves.
Nevertheless,astheyopposelaw,theywillatlastshrivelupandbecomeasiftheywerenot.Beings
whowouldstandinthewayofprogress,alsousetheforcesoftheuniverse,asbesttheycan,andmust
beconsidered,intheorderingoflife,whetherinoroutoftheearth.
**TheDevil.**Thenumberofdescendingspiritsintheuniverseisnotknown.Infact,littleisknown
aboutthewholematter,whichprobablyisforthegoodofman.Thescantknowledgethatwehave,
comeslargelyfromtheaccountoftheGreatCouncil.Oneofthegreatspiritstherepresent,proposed
tosavemenwithouttheuseoftheirfreeagency.Whenheandhisnumerousfollowersfailedtosecure
theadoptionofthisplantheylefttheCouncil,andsetthemselvesthenceforthagainsttheplanadopted
bythemajority.TheleaderinthisrebellionwasLucifer,saidtobeaprinceofthemorning,who,
undoubtedly,throughmuchdiligence,hadacquiredahighpositionamongthespirits.Eventhoseof
highdegreemayfall.Nomanissureofhimself,unlessfromdaytodayhecankeepthegermof
oppositionfromsettlingwithinhisbreast.
Luciferandhisfollowers,whofellfromtheGreatCouncil,arethedevilandhisangels,possessing
definitewillsandfreeagencies,whoarestillcontinuingthebattlethatoriginatedintheheavens.The
fundamentalconceptionsofeternalism,includingeternalbeings,makereasonabletheexistenceofa
personaldevil,withpersonalagents,whoseindestructiblewillsareusedtoopposetheGreatPlan
throughadherencetowhichmanentereduponhisearthcareer.
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**ManandtheDevil.**Inameasure,Godandallotherintelligentbeingsareaffectedbytheactive
willofman.IfmanwillsnottobehelpedbyGod,itisdifficultforGodtosendhimdivinehelp.Even
so,inthefaceofthewillofman,thedevilhaslittleornopower.Itisonlywhenmansowillsthathe
hearsfullythevoiceofGodanditisonlywhenmansowillsthathehearsthemessageofthedevil.
Thedoctrinethatarequestmustinitiatethegiftisastrueintherelationshipthatmaybeestablished
betweenmanandthedevilasbetweenmanandGod.Godsendshismessagesthroughoutthe
universesodoesthedevilasfarashisknowledgepermitshim.However,themessagesoftheevil
oneneednotbeheardunlessmansodesires.Inreality,therefore,mandoesnotneedtofeartheevil
one.Heisnotaforcethatcanworkharm,unlessmanplaceshimselfunderthesubjectionofevilbut,
ifthedevilbeallowedahearing,hemaybecomethemasteroftheman,andleadhimdownwardon
theroadofretrogression.
**TheDevilSubjecttoGod.**Thoughthefreeagencyofmanissupremewithrespecttohimself,
underthedirectionofaperfectedintelligence,itmustnotinterferewiththefreeagenciesofothers.
Thislawholdsforallascendingordescendingintelligentbeings.Forthatreasonthedevilissubjectto
God,andisallowedtooperateonlyifhekeepswithinwelldefinedlimits.Hecansuggestwaysof
iniquity,buthecannotforcementoobeyhisevildesigns.Amanwhosincerelydesirestowalkin
righteousnessneedhavenofearofthedevil.
Bytheknowledgeofopposites,manmaydrawconclusionsoffarreachingimportanceinhiscourse
ofprogression.Theoperationsofthedevilandhispowersmay,therefore,servesomegoodingiving
contrastsforman'sguidance.Thisdoesnotmeanthatitisnecessaryformantoacceptthesuggestions
oftheevilone,ortocommiteviltoknowtruth.Onthecontrary,everyrationalimpulseresentsthe
thoughtthatamanmustknowsinsothathemayknowrighteousnessbetter.Unfortunately,theworks
oftheevilonemaybeplentifullyobservedintheworld,amongthosewhohaveforsakentheGreat
Planandthepathofprogression.
MANANDTHECHURCH.
CHAPTER16.
WHYACHURCH?
ThosewhobelieveintheGreatPlanformthecommunityknownastheChurch.Manymen,whohave
giventhesubjectonlysuperficialstudy,finditdifficulttounderstandwhyachurchshouldbe
necessary.
**ManHelpedbyGodonEarth.**Itwasnotintended,intheplanofsalvation,thatman,thoughin
forgetfulness,shouldwanderaloneandhelplessthroughtheearth.Ratherwasitintendedandmade
necessarythatmenshouldgainexperiencebyactualcontactandcontestwiththeearthandearthly
forces,underthewatchfulcareofbeingsofsuperiorintelligence,whowouldhelpasdemandedby
man'sfreeagency.Inanintelligentworlditcouldnotwellbeotherwise.Infact,withoutthehelpof
superiorintelligence,theearthwouldbechaoticinsteadoforderly.TheGreatPlanisfoundedon
intelligence,guidedbyaGodofintelligence,andhasforitspurposegreaterintelligence.
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AvenuesofcommunionwithGodhavebeenpointedout,butmanymenareimpervioustodivine
messagesandneedearthlyhelptounderstandthewillofGod.TheChurch,thecommunityofpersons
withthesameintelligentfaithanddesire,istheorganizedagencythroughwhichGoddealswithhis
children,andthroughwhichsuchhelpmaybegivenman.ThroughtheChurch,God'smindmaybe
readbyall,atleastwithrespecttotheChurchcommunity.Moreover,theauthoritytoactforGod
mustbevestedsomewhereonearth.TheChurchholdsthisauthorityfortheuseofman.Besides,itis
thecommonlawoftheuniversethatwhenintelligentbeingsareorganized,asofonebody,they
progressfaster,individuallyandcollectively.TheChurchasanorganizationrepresentsGodonearth
andistheofficialmeansofcommunicationbetweenmenandGod.
**ThePlanofSalvationforAll.**IntheGreatCounciltheearthcareerwasplannedforallthespirits
thereassembledwhoacceptedthePlan.Theearthandwhateverpertainstoit,areforallandnotfor
theoneorthefew.Thismeansthatmanmustnotgothroughhisearthlifeindependently,doingashe
pleases,livingapartfromhisfellowmenandacceptingtheGreatPlaninhisownway.Byhisownfree
agencyhebecameamemberofthehostsoftheearth,andbyhisownpromise,givenintheGreat
Council,hemustliveinaccordancewithdefiniterulestobeenforcedbyGod.TheChurchisthe
communityofthosewho,havingacceptedthePlan,desireunitedlytoworkouttheirmutualsalvation
underthesettledauthorityofGod.
ThepurposeoftheGreatPlancannotbewhollyfulfilleduntilallhaveheardtheGospel.TheChurch
asabodyundertakestocarryoutthispurpose.OnlywhentheChurchisnotorganizedonearth,may
individualswhoknowtheGreatPlan,standalonebuteveninsuchcaseitistheboundendutyof
thosehavingtheknowledge,togivethemselvestotheconvertingofothers,sothattheChurchmaybe
organized.
**Orderliness.**Ifeachintelligentbeingplacedonthisearth,weretoleadanindependentlifeand
dealindependentlywithhisGod,relativetoallmattersconcerninghim,manyofwhichwouldof
necessityinvolveothers,therewouldsoonbedisorderamonghumanity.Ithasbeenfounddesirablein
allearthlyaffairstoorganizesothatordermayprevail.Bytheorganizationknownasachurchall
thingsmaybedoneinorder.Chaosisabhorrenttotheintelligentmind.
**TestofAttitude.**Thereisyetanotherreasonfortheorganizationofachurch.Theplanof
salvationisonefoundedinintelligence.Manmustacceptandliveitslawsandordinances
intelligently.TheChurch,byhisadherencetotheselawsandordinances,givesamanameansof
testinghimselfastohisattitudetowardsthewholePlan.Whateverisdoneinlifesomehowconnects
itselfwiththeChurch.AChurchwhichseparatesitselffromtheactual,dailylifeofthemandoesnot
acknowledgetheessentialunityoftheuniverseandisnotfoundedonman'sintelligentconceptionsof
theconstitutionoftheuniverse.TheChurch,therefore,mustpossessasystemoflawsthecompliance
withwhichwillenableamanorhisfellowstotesthisprogressandspiritualcondition,which,inturn,
willbeaguideforhisfuturework.Itwouldbedifficultforamantoapplysuchteststohimselfifhe
standsalone,awayfromhisfellowmenandmakinglawsforhimselftofithisapparentneeds.
**Authority.**Thereismuchtobedoneformanandbymanduringtheearthcareer.Everyday
bringsitsproblemslawsaretobeenforcedordinancestobeperformed,andGodmustcommunicate
withhisearthlychildren.Muchofthisworkinvolvesauthority,whichmustbesettledsomewhereif
orderistoprevail.TheauthoritytoactforGodiscommittedtotheChurch,astheorganized
communityofbelievers,and,indeed,authorityisadistinguishingcharacteristicoftheChurch.Every
manhasormayreceiveauthoritytoactinhisownbehalfinmanymatters,buttoexerciseauthorityin
behalfofothers,requiresthekindofauthoritywhichGodhasdelegatedtotheChurch.Someformof
authorityfromGodisnecessaryinallourwork,andtheearthlysourceofGod'sauthorityisthe
Church,organizedbythesupreme,intelligentGod.
**TheGreatPurposeoftheChurch.**Finally,theplanofeternalprogressinvolveseverylivingsoul
whocomesuponearth.TotheChurchiscommittedthegreattaskofkeepingalivethisPlanandof
carryingittoallthenations.Thosewhohaveacceptedthetruthmustbekeptactivethosewhohave
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notaccepteditmustbetaughtallmusthearitevenforthedeadmusttheessentialordinancesbe
performed.TheChurch,then,isagreatmissionaryorganization.This,ofitself,justifies,theexistence
oftheChurch,foritisimprobablethatanyindividualwouldorcouldundertaketheconversionofall
thepeopletoeternaltruth.
CHAPTER17.
CONDITIONSOFMEMBERSHIP.
MembersoftheChurchmustnecessarilyaccepttheconceptionsforwhichitstands.Theseare,
essentially,theplanofsalvation,theprogressivedevelopmentofallspiritsconcernedinthePlan,and
theauthorityofasupremeintelligentBeing,todealwiththemenandwomenplacedonearth.The
conditionsofmembershiparenotmany,nordifficulttounderstand.Theyare,rather,ofakind
naturallyappearingbeforeanintelligentbeingconcernedinanyorganization.
**Faith.**AllwhoentertheChurch,oraccepttheGreatPlanmust,asafirstcondition,possessthe
faithwhichhasbeendefinedas"thesubstanceofthingshopedfortheevidenceofthingsnotseen."
Inotherwords,theymustfirstacknowledgetheexistenceintheuniverseofthingsandpowersthat
maynotbesenseddirectly,butwhichmaybeusedtoaccomplishthepurposesofman.Suchan
attitudeisrequiredtoadmittheexistenceofaGodoraplanofsalvation.Suchafaithyieldstomana
comprehensivepossessionoftheuniverse,andmayestablishaphilosophyoflifethatconformsto
everylawofnature.Themanwhohasnosuchfaithstandsbeforetheplanofsalvationasbeforea
sealedbook.Hecannotopenit,noropened,canhereadit.Afaiththatadmitstheuniverse,seenand
unseen,enablesmantoaccomplishgreatthingsinfact,allwhohavedonethegreatlaborofthe
world,havehadsuchafaith.Thelawoffaithisagenerallaw.
Faithisnotnecessarilyremovedfromtheordinaryexperiencesoflife.Onthecontraryitisthe
beginningofallknowledge.Manobservesthephenomenaofnature,classifiesandgroupsthemuntil
hereachesgreatgenerallawsrepresentingmanyindividualphenomena.Bytheuseofsuchlaws,
reasoningfromtheknowntotheunknown,lawsmaybeinferred,theexistenceofwhichcannotbe
senseddirectly.Bythismethodofusinghumanknowledge,manrapidlybecomesawareofthe
certaintyofthegreatuniversethatliesaroundhimbutbeyondhisimmediateken.Moreover,and
possiblyofchiefimportance,suchinferredbutcertainknowledgemakesmanconfidentthathecan
continueforeverintheacquisitionofknowledgeandpower,anditthusbecomesahelpineveryduty
oflife.
**Repentance.**AnotherfundamentalrequirementofthosewhoentertheChurchisrepentance.This
isalsoselfevident,forifmanisconvincedofthecorrectnessofacertainprocedure,thatis,ifhehas
faithinit,hecertainlywillusethatfaith,ifitistobecomeofanyvaluetohim.Anactivefaithis
repentance.Itiscommonlyfeltthatrepentanceisonlytheturningawayfromevilpractices.Itis
probablyjustasimportantformantoactoutthegoodhelearnsastorefrainfromdoingevil.
Repentance,then,isnotmerelynegativeitisalsopositive.Thisalsoisagenerallaw.Greatworkcan
bedonebythoseonlywhohavefaithandwhoputthatfaithintoaction.
**Baptism.**ThethirdrequirementofthosewhodesireentranceintotheChurchisbaptism.The
candidateforbaptism,presentinghimselftoonewhohasauthorityfromJesusChrist,isburiedinthe
waterandtakenoutagain,asasymbolofthedeathandresurrection,theatoningsacrifice,andthe
conquestoverdeath,oftheSavior.Theordinanceofbaptism,asfarasmanisconcerned,is
essentiallyanacknowledgmentoftheatoningsacrificeofJesus,apromiseofobediencetothe
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requirementsoftheGreatPlan,andtheacceptanceofdivineauthority.Baptismisalsoaprincipleof
generalapplication,forinwhateverpursuitamanmaybeengaged,whetherinoroutoftheChurch,
hemustfirsthavefaithintheworkhehastodo,thenrepent,inthesenseofputtinghisfaithinto
actionand,finally,hemustgiveobediencetothelawsinvolvedinthework.
**TheGiftoftheHolyGhost.**ThefourthconditionofChurchmembership,whichisinthenature
ofaresultofthethreefirstrequirements,isthatthecandidatereceivethegiftoftheHolyGhost.This
isaccomplishedwhenonehavingauthorityplaceshishandsontheheadofthecandidate,confirms
himamemberoftheChurch,andsays,"ReceivetheHolyGhost."Thisestablishesanauthoritative
connectionbetweenmanandGod,theHolyGhost,bywhichitispossibletosecure,throughthe
activesupportoftheHolyGhost,morelightandpowerandconfidencethanmanmaysecureunaided.
Everymanbornintotheworldhaslifebytheholyspiritandmay,throughitsoperations,andhisown
selfeffort,beincommunicationwithallotherintelligentbeingsintheuniversebut,onlythosewho
conformtothefirstordinancesoftheGospelareconnectedofficiallywiththepowersoftheHoly
Ghostinsuchawayastosecureaddedhelp.Adistinctandrealpowerconiestotheindividualwho
hasreceivedtheHolyGhost.Itisasifhehadbeengivenakeytoagreatandwonderfulbuilding
whichheentersathispleasure.However,thekeymaybekeptunusedthenthegifthasbeenofno
value.ManmustdrawupontheHolyGhost,ifthegiftshallbereal.ThegiftoftheHolyGhostalso
representsagenerallaw,foritisevidentthatallwhohavefaithmadeactivebyrepentance,andhave
shownobediencebybaptism,willbeinsuchharmonywithintelligentforcesastoreceivegreatlight
fromthemifdesiredorneeded.
**ContinuedConformity.**ItisnotsufficientthatamansecureentranceintotheChurchby
compliancewiththefirstfourprinciplesoftheGospel.Afterhehasattainedmembershiphemust
becomeactiveinthepracticeofthelawswhichconstitutethebodyofChurchdoctrine,andwhichare
quiteasimportantasthefundamentalonesprecedingentrance.Passivitywillnotsufficeactivityonly
constitutesanunqualifiedmembershipintheChurch.Themanwillbe"intune"withtheworkonly
whenhelivesoutdailytheprinciplesoftheGreatPlan.Thisisselfevident,moreover,becausethe
ChurchhasthemissionofbringingtheGospeltotheunderstandingofallmenonearth,andunlessthe
membersoftheChurchareactiveinmissionarywork,theywillnotacquirethefullspiritofthe
Church.UnselfishnessshouldcharacterizethemembersoftheChurch.
**AcceptanceofAuthority.**Theconditionsofmembershipherementionedareallvital.
Nevertheless,inadditiontothem,candidatesforadmissiontotheChurchmustacknowledgethefull
authorityoftheChurchasadivineinstitution,towhichhasbeencommitted,byGod,theauthorityto
actforhiminallmatterspertainingtotheplanofsalvation.Withoutthisauthority,theChurchisno
morethananymanmadeinstitution.Theacceptanceofauthoritymeansthatallthelawsofthe
Gospelmustbeobeyed,byeverymember.Thelawcannotbevariedforindividuals,topleasetheir
fanciesorsupposedneeds.ThisisclearlybroughtoutbythehistoricalfactthatAdam,afterhehad
beentaughtandhadacceptedtheGospel,wasbaptized,confirmed,andreceivedalltheordinancesof
theChurch.Similarly,Jesus,theSonofGod,beganhisofficiallaborsbybeingbaptizedbyone
havingauthority.Thepatternhasbeensetforallandithasbeenfollowedinalldispensations.Ifmen
beonthefullroadofprogresstheywillcomplywiththelawsofmembership,andbecomeactivein
thesupportoftheChurchanditswork.
CHAPTER18.
THEPRIESTHOODOFTHECHURCH.
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ThePriesthoodoftheChurchdiffersvitallyfromthatofchurchescomposedonlyoffragmentsofthe
completetruth.
**PriesthoodDefined.**TheChurchiscomposedofeternal,intelligentbeings,movingonwardin
eternalprogression,whohaveacceptedGod'splanofsalvation.ItisGod'sChurch.Goddirectsthe
workofhischildrenonearth,andhenaturallygivesattentiontotheChurch.Nevertheless,although
Godisthedirectingintelligence,heisnothereinperson,norareothersuperiorbeingssenttotake
chargeofthework,forthatwouldbecontrarytothelawthatthroughhisfreeagencyandbyself
effort,manonearthmustmoveonwardandupward.Therefore,thattheearthworkmaybedone
authoritatively,Godhasdelegatedthenecessaryauthoritytoman.ThePriesthoodissimplythename
giventhisauthority.ThebodyofthePriesthoodconsistsofthepersonswhohavereceivedthis
authorityandwhomayactforGod,onearth,inmatterspertainingtotheChurchortothemselves.
WithoutauthorityfromGod,therecanbenoPriesthood.
**DivisionsofthePriesthood.**MuchworkistobedoneintheChurch,andtheworkdiffersgreatly,
forman'slifeiscomplex.Consequently,manyandvariedarethelaborsthatmustbedirectedand
supportedbythePriesthood.Toaccomplishtheworkwell,theremustbeadivisionoflaborthe
fundamentalcharacteristicofallorderlywork.
TherearetwogreatdivisionsofthePriesthood,theAaronicandtheMelchizedek,eachofwhich
possessesspecialauthority.Eachofthesedivisionsisagainsubdivided.Thesedivisionsand
subdivisionsareallnecessaryforthecompleteexerciseofthePriesthoodintheChurch.
OnegreatdivisionofthePriesthoodofGod,theAaronicPriesthood,isnamedafterAaron,thebrother
ofMoses,afamousleaderinthispriesthood.ItistheLesserPriesthood,reallyonlyanappendageof
theHigherorMelchizedekPriesthood.TotheAaronicPriesthoodisassigned,particularly,the
temporalworkoftheChurch,butitalsohasauthoritytopreach,teachandbaptize.TheMelchizedek
Priesthood,namedafterthegreathighpriestMelchizedek,isthehigherdivisionofthePriesthood,
andincludestheAaronicPriesthood.Itholdsthekeysofspiritualauthorityandhastherightto
officiateunderproperdirectioninalltheaffairsoftheChurch.ThesubdivisionsofthesePriesthoods
makeitpossibletogroup,simplyandproperly,thedutiesofthemembersoftheChurch.
**TheAaronicPriesthood.**ThosewhoholdtheAaronicPriesthoodbelongtooneofthree
ascendinggroups:thedeacon,theteacher,andthepriest.Thebishoppresidesoverthepriest'squorum
andisthepresidingauthorityoftheAaronicPriesthood.Eachgroup,inadditiontoitsownspecial
authority,may,whencalleduponbyproperauthority,exercisealsotheauthorityofthegroupbelow
it.ThemembersoftheAaronicPriesthoodareorganizedinquorumsoftwelvedeacons,twentyfour
teachersandfortyeightpriests.Eachquorumispresidedoverbyapresidentandtwocounselors,
whichinthepriests'quorumarethebishopandhistwocounselors.
**TheMelchizedekPriesthood.**TheHigherPriesthoodischaracterizedbyspiritualauthority,the
rightofpresidencyandthepowerofofficiatinginalltheworkoftheChurch.Therearealsoseveral
divisionsofthisPriesthoodbutthefundamentalauthorityisthesameinall,andeachdivision
representsmerelyacallingintheHigherPriesthood.TherearefivechiefgroupsinthisPriesthood
theelder,theseventy,thehighpriest,theapostle,andthepatriarch.Theeldermayofficiatewhen
properlycalledandsetapartinanyofthesegroupsofthePriesthood,withouthavingconferredupon
himanyfurtherPriesthood.ThemembersoftheHigherPriesthoodareorganizedintoquorums,of96
elderswithapresidentandtwocounselorsandof70seventieswithsevenpresidents.Thequorumsof
highpriestsareindefiniteinnumber,exceptadministrativequorums,suchastheTwelveApostlesand
theFirstPresidency.
**AllHoldthePriesthood.**TheChurchexiststoadvancetheGreatPlanbywhich,intheend,every
manmaylivehappilyonearthandatlastenterintogreatprogression.Initthereshouldbenoactive
andnonactivemembers,forallmustbeactivetoworkouttheirownproperdestinies,andtoassistin
theadvancementofthewholePlan.All,therefore,needtheauthorityofthePriesthoodtoofficiateas
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maybeneededintheworkoftheChurch,orintheirownbehalf.IftheworkoftheChurchwere
delegatedtoafewmembers,itwouldprobablybereasonableforafewmentoholdthePriesthood.
When,however,everymembermustorshouldtakeuponhimselfapartoftheactiveworkofthe
Church,itisnecessarythateverymanholdtheauthorityofthePriesthoodsothathemay
authoritativelyperformthenecessaryactsinthepropagandaoftruth.
Infact,intheChurch,allmenwhohaveattainedsufficientexperienceholdorshouldholdthe
Priesthood.Theyoungmenareordaineddeacons,teachersandpriests,andatlastelders,whenthey
possessalltheauthorityofthePriesthood.Theymaythenreceiveanordinationandcallinginthe
MelchizedekPriesthood,suchasseventy,apostle,highpriestorpatriarch.
WomenenjoyalltheendowmentsandblessingsofthePriesthoodinconnectionwiththeirhusbands.
Thefamilyisthebasisofsocietyonearth,andastheremustbeorganizationamongintelligentbeings,
someonemustbespokesmanforthefamily.Inthefamily,themanisthespokesmanandpresiding
authority,and,therefore,thePriesthoodisbestoweduponhim.
ItisclearthatthereisnoPriesthoodclassintheChurchofJesusChrist.ThePriesthoodbelongstoall.
ThisisanotherdistinguishingmarkofthetrueChurch,whichrestsitsdoctrinesuponeternal
principlesasalreadyoutlined.ThegeneralpossessionofthePriesthoodbyallthemalemembersof
theChurchisonlyinconformitywiththetheoryoftheGospel,whichmakesthePlanoneof
intelligent,unitedeffortunderthedirectionofbeingsofhigherintelligence,andwhichdeclaresthat
thehighestindividualsatisfactioncanbeobtainedonlywhenallotherindividualsaresimultaneously
advancing.
**ThePowerofthePriesthood.**ThePriesthoodconferredonmancarrieswithitrealpowertodo
effectiveworkinbehalfoftheplanofsalvation.UnderthenormalorganizationoftheChurch,when
thingsaremovingonintheordainedway,thereisnoinsistentevidenceofthegreatpowerpossessed
bythosewhohavethePriesthood,andwho,therefore,canactforGodinmatterspertainingtothe
Church.Undersuchaconditionthereisaquiet,steadyuseofpowerinbehalfofthedailyworkofthe
Churcheachmanperformingtheworkthathasbeenassignedtohim,inadditiontowhicheachman
inhisownbehalfmayusehisauthorityasseemstohimfitting.Yet,thepoweriswiththePriesthood,
andwhenneedarises,itbecomesthevoiceofGod,whichallmusthear.Asanillustrationofthegreat
power,authorityanddutycarriedbythePriesthooditmayberecalledthat,ifbyanychanceevery
manholdingthePriesthoodintheChurchshouldbedestroyed,saveoneelder,itwouldbetheduty
andrightofthatoneelder,underdivinerevelation,toreorganizethewholeChurchwithallthegrades
ofthePriesthoodandofitsofficers.Thisfarreachingauthorityisheldbyallwhoreceivethe
Priesthoodanauthoritytobeguardedcarefullyandtobeusedcautiouslyasdirected.
CHAPTER19.
THEORGANIZATIONOFTHECHURCH.
TocarryonthediversifiedworkoftheChurchrequiresacloseorganization.Anorganization,inturn,
requiresofficers.AlltheofficersoftheChurchholdthePriesthood,butthePriesthoodisheldalsoby
manywhodonotholdofficialpositions.Therefore,whiletheauthoritytoactinalltheofficesofthe
ChurchisheldbypracticallyeverymanintheChurch,thatauthority,intheadministrationofthe
affairsoftheChurch,becomeseffectiveonlywhenthemaniscalledtoexercisetheauthority.The
chiefofficersoftheChurchareherewithbrieflyenumerated.
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**TheGeneralAuthorities.**TheFirstPresidencyconsistsofthreepresidinghighpriests,aPresident
andtwocounselors,whosedutyitistosupervisetheworkofthewholeChurch,inallmattersof
policy,organizationandexecution.NopartoftheworkoftheChurchisbeyondtheirauthority.With
thedeathofthePresident,theFirstPresidencybecomesdisorganized.
AssociatedwiththeFirstPresidencyisthequorumofTwelveApostles.TheTwelvearespecial
witnessesforChrist,anditistheirdutytocarrytheGospeltoalltheworld.Inaddition,theygive
directassistancetotheFirstPresidency.WhenthequorumoftheFirstPresidencyisdisorganized,the
quorumofapostlesbecomesthepresidingquorumuntiltheFirstPresidencyisreorganized.The
quorumoftheTwelvehasonepresident,whoisalwaystheseniorapostle.
ThePatriarchsoftheChurchpossessthesealingandblessingpowersandreceiveinstructionsfrom
thePresidingPatriarch.
ThequorumsofSeventy,themissionaryquorumsoftheChurch,arepresidedoverbytheSeven
Presidentsofthefirstquorum.ThisCouncillaborsunderthedirectionoftheapostles.IftheFirst
PresidencyandthequorumoftheTwelveweredisorganized,simultaneously,thefirstquorumof
Seventywouldbecomethepresidingquorumuntilfullreorganizationwereeffected.
ThetemporalaffairsoftheChurcharelargelycaredforbythePresidingBishopric,consistingofthe
presidingbishopandtwocounselors.ThePresidingBishopricalsohasgeneralsupervisionofthe
bishopsofthewards,oftheChurch.
TheGeneralAuthoritiesaretheFirstPresidency,theTwelveApostles,thePresidingPatriarch,the
PresidentsofthefirstquorumofSeventy,andthePresidingBishopricmakinginalltwentysixmen.
Thesegeneralpresidingauthorities,representingallthegreatdivisionsofthePriesthood,dealwithall
thegeneralaffairsoftheChurch.
**TheStakesofZion.**Forconvenienceofadministration,theChurchisdividedintostakes
containingusuallyfromonethousandtotenthousandmembers.Thestakesarepresidedoverbya
StakePresidency,threehighpriestsdenominatedpresidentandtwocounselors,whichhavethesame
relationtothestakethattheFirstPresidencyhastothewholeChurch.TheStakePresidencyare
assistedbythehighcouncil,consistingoftwelveregularandsixalternatecounselorswhoarehigh
priests.Tothisbodyisassignedmuchoftheworkforthewelfareofthemembersofthestake.Such
otherofficersasmaybeneededaremoreoversecuredineachstake.
**TheWardsoftheStakes.**Thestakesare,inturn,dividedintowardscontainingusuallyfromone
hundredtotwothousandmembers.TheyarepresidedoverbyaBishopandtwocounselors,whoare
assistedinvariouscapacitiesbythelocalwardPriesthood.
**ThePriesthoodinStakesandWards.**Ineveryward,iftherebeenoughmembers,areorganized
quorumsofdeacons,teachers,priests,eldersandseventies.Iftherearenotenoughinonewardto
formaquorum,thenaquorumisorganizedfromtwoormorewards.Thehighpriestsinastakeare
usuallyassembledintoonequorumforthestake.AllofthePriesthoodmeetsregularlyinthewardto
whichtheybelong,forthediscussionoftheirdutiesandforstudyingtheoutlinesandbooksprovided
bythegeneralChurchauthorities.
**AuxiliaryOrganizations.**InadditiontotheregularPriesthood,therearehelpsingovernment
knownasauxiliaryorganizations.ThesearetheReliefSociety,forwomen,theDeseretSunday
SchoolUnion,theYoungMen'sMutualImprovementAssociation,theYoungLadies'Mutual
ImprovementAssociation,thePrimaryAssociation,theReligionClass,theBoardsofEducation,and
othersthatmaybeorganizedfromtimetotime.Eachoftheseisrepresentedbyageneralboard,under
thedirectionoftheFirstPresidency.Ineachstaketherearealsostakeboardsoftheseauxiliary
organizations,underthedirectionofthestakepresidency.Moreover,ineachwardoftheChurch,if
largeenough,isanorganizationofeachoftheauxiliaryactivitiesoftheChurch.
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**AllMustWork.**Socompleteanorganization,ramifyingthroughouttheChurch,showsthatall
membersoftheChurchshouldormaybeatwork.Thereisnoplacefortheidler.Everymanor
woman,whoisnotaversetoworkinginbehalfoftheChurch,willfindsomedutythatwillfillhis
life.
**TheTenureofOffice.**TheofficersofthePriesthoodhavenodefinitetenureofoffice.Sinceall
holdthePriesthood,thereisalwaysasupplyofreadymaterialtofillanyvacanciesthatmayoccur.
ThegeneralauthoritiesintheChurchhavegenerallyheldlifepositions,butanumberofthese,for
variousreasons,chieflyinsubordinationorerrorofdoctrine,havebeenreleasedbeforedeath.
Accordingtodoctrine,noofficeinthePriesthood,isabsolutelycertainoflifetenure.Failureto
performproperlytheworkoftheofficeconstitutesfullcauseforremoval.
**AnUnpaidMinistry.**Therewardsoflifeshouldbeandareonlyinpartmaterial.Toassist,
officially,incarryingouttheGreatPlan,bringsitsowndistinctreward.ThePriesthoodoftheChurch,
therefore,islargelyunpaid.Aman'sdutyinthePriesthoodseldomtakesallofhistime,thusleaving
himpartlyfreetoearnalivelihoodbytheuseofhisprofession.Whenaman'swholetimeistakenby
theChurch,hegetshissupportfromtheChurch.ThereisnoPriesthoodclass,especiallytrainedfor
thework,andstrivingforpositionscarryingwiththemhighmaterialremuneration.Allshouldknow
theGospelandbepreparedtocarryonthework.
**AppointmentsinthePriesthood.**Thepowertonominatementofilltheofficialpositionsinthe
PriesthoodbelongstothePriesthoodoftheChurch.Menarechosenfromanywalkinlife,without
previouswarning,andtheacceptanceoftheofficeoftenmeansthesacrificeofbusiness,profession,
oreaseoflife.UnderthissystemtherecanbenotalkofmenseekingofficesintheChurch.
PreparationtodotheworkoftheChurchcanbetheonlyformofselfseeking,andthatmayormay
notleadtoanyparticularpositionintheChurch.Meanwhile,thevastorganizationoftheChurchis
suchastofindworkforeverymanandinfact,everyworthyworkershouldbekeptbusilyengagedin
theworkoftheGreatPlan.
**CommonConsent.**EveryofficerofthePriesthood,thoughproperlynominated,holdshis
positionintheChurchonlywiththeconsentofthepeople.Officersmaybenominatedbythe
presidencyoftheChurch,butunlessthepeopleacceptthemastheirofficials,theycannotexercise
theauthorityoftheofficestowhichtheyhavebeencalled.AllthingsintheChurchmustbedoneby
commonconsent.Thismakesthepeople,menandwomen,underGod,therulersoftheChurch.Even
thePresidentoftheChurch,beforehecanfullyenteruponhisduties,mustbesustainedbythepeople.
ItisthecommoncustomintheChurchtovoteontheofficersinthegeneral,stakeandward
conferences.Thisgiveseverymemberanopportunitytovotefororagainsttheofficers.Meanwhile,
thejudiciarysystemoftheChurchissuchthatthereisampleprovisionwherebyanyofficerofthe
Church,iffoundinerror,maybebroughttojusticeandiffoundguiltyberemovedfromhisposition.
ThedoctrineofcommonconsentisfundamentalintheChurchandiscoincidentwiththefactthatthe
Churchbelongstoallthepeople.SincetheauthorityofthePriesthoodisvestedinallthepeople,it
followsthattheofficialsofthePriesthoodmustberesponsibletothepeople.Theresponsibilityand
workoftheChurcharenotonlyforbutbythepeopleasawhole.
**BestowalofthePriesthood.**OntheearththePriesthoodwasfirstconferredonAdamandwas
handeddowndirectlyfromAdamthroughhisdescendantstoNoah.Everylinkinthisprogressionof
thePriesthoodhasbeenpreserved.Similarly,afterNoah,itwascontinuedformanygenerations.
Moreover,JesusconferredthePriesthooddirectlyuponhisdisciples.Atvarioustimesinthehistory
oftheworld,thePriesthoodhasbeengivenbyGodtomanandcontinuedforvariouslengthsoftime.
IntheselatterdaysoftherestoredChurch,JohntheBaptistappearedinpersonandconferredthe
AaronicPriesthooduponJosephSmithandOliverCowdery.Later,Peter,JamesandJohn,whohad
receivedthePriesthoodfromJesusChrist,andwhorepresentedthePresidencyofthePriesthoodin
thosedays,appearedtoJosephSmithandOliverCowderyandconferreduponthemtheHoly
PriesthoodandtheapostleshipwhichcarriedwithitauthorityinthelowerdivisionsofthePriesthood.
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IntheChurchofChristtheauthorityofthePriesthoodmayalwaysbetracedbackdirectlytoGod,
fromwhomitradiatesandwhomitrepresents.
CHAPTER20.
THEAUTHORITYOFTHEPRIESTHOOD.
TheauthorityofthePriesthoodisoftenmisunderstood,anditisfrequentlytherockuponwhichmany
menandwomensufferspiritualshipwreck.
**TheFoundationofAuthority.**Thepowerorrighttocommandortoact,isauthority.Inthe
beginning,man,consciousandinpossessionofwill,reachedoutfortruth,andgainednew
knowledge.Graduallyashisintelligencegrew,helearnedtocontrolnaturalforces,ashemetthemon
hisway.Knowledge,properlyused,becamepowerandintelligentknowledgeistheonlytrue
foundationofauthority.Themoreintelligenceamanpossessesthemoreauthorityhemayexercise.
Hence,"thegloryofGodisintelligence."Thisshouldbeclearinthemindsofallwhoexercise
authority.
**AbsoluteAuthority.**Suchhighauthority,basedonincreasingintelligentknowledge,maybe
calledabsoluteauthority.Allotherformsofauthority,andmanyformsexist,mustbederivedfrom
absoluteauthority,foritistheessenceofallauthority.Nothingintheuniverseisabsolutely
understood,andabsoluteauthoritydoesnotmeanthatfullknowledgeorfullpowerhasbeengained
overanythingintheuniverse.Foreverwilltheuniverserevealitssecrets.Byabsoluteauthorityis
meantthekindofauthoritythatresultsdirectlyfromanintelligentunderstandingofthethingsover
whichauthorityisexercised.Authoritycantherefore,beabsoluteonlysofarasknowledgegoes,and
willbecomemoreabsoluteasmoreknowledgeisobtained.ThelawsofGodareneverarbitrarythey
arealwaysfoundedontruth.
**DerivedAuthority.**Anyonepossessingtheabsoluteauthorityrestingonhighintelligence,will
oftenfinditnecessaryorconvenienttoaskotherstoexercisethatauthorityforhim.Thismaybe
calledderivedauthority.Itdoesnotnecessarilyfollowthatthosewhoaresoaskedunderstandthefull
meaningoftheauthoritythattheyexercise.Theworkmaninafactorycarriesouttheoperationsas
directedbythechieftechnician,andobtainsthesameresults,thoughhedoesnottothesameextent
understandtheprinciplesinvolved.
Everypersonwhohasrisentotheearthestatepossessesacertaindegreeofabsoluteauthority,forhe
hasknowledgeofnaturewhichgiveshimcontrolovermanysurroundingforces.Everyperson
possessesorshouldpossesscertainderivedauthority,whichisexercisedunderthedirectionofa
superiorintelligence,thoughitisnotalwayswhollyunderstood.
**TheAuthorityofOffice.**InanorganizedbodyliketheChurch,eachactivitymustbegoverned
byestablishedlaws.Thosewhohavebeenchosenofficerstoenforcetheselawsandtocarryonthe
regularworkoftheChurch,exercisetheirpowerbecauseoftheiroffice.Authorityofofficeisonlya
formofderivedauthorityderivedfromthepeoplewhohaveagreedtosubmittheirwillstocertain
officers,whoaretoenforcelawsacceptedbythepeople.Evensuchauthority,belongingtoofficial
positions,mustbefoundedonintelligentknowledge,andtheorganizationoftheChurchitselfmustbe
intelligentlyauthoritative.Therefore,authorityofofficeisbestexercisedwhenthoseholdingithave
qualifiedthemselvesintelligentlyforthework.Themistakesmadebyofficersarecommonlydueto
thewantoftheneededintelligenceintheexerciseoftheirduties.Fortunately,however,theChurchis
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soorganizedthattheactionsofitsofficialsmaybetriedfortheirrighteousnesswhenevertheyappear
tobewrongtothepeople.Mistakesaremostlikelytobemadebyofficialswhowillnotqualify
themselvesfortheirwork.
**AuthorityandFreeAgency.**Whileintelligentknowledgedoesestablishthehighestdegreeof
authority,absoluteauthority,yetitdoesnot,alone,justifytheexercisingofauthoritythatmayconflict
withthewillsofothers.Thelawoffreeagencymustnotbetranscendednorisitpermissibletodo
anythingthatwillhinder,intheleast,theprogressofmanundertheGreatlaw.Authoritymust
thereforebeexercisedonlyinsuchamannerastobenefitotherindividuals.Naturally,whena
communityacceptsabodyoflawsfortheirgovernment,andofficersareappointedbythepeopleto
enforcethelaws,thepunishmentofthedisobedientisnotaninterferencewithfreeagency,forall
haveacceptedthelaw.Onlywhenapersonwithdrawsfromthecommunity,doesthecommunitylaw
becomeinoperativewithrespecttohim.Sincethebattleforfreeagencymustnotbewagedagain,
lawsmustbeenforcedastheyareacceptedbythepeoplethusitcomesaboutthatalltheofficersin
theChurch,whomerelyrepresentthepeople,mustbesustainedbythepeople.Thepeoplegovernthe
Churchthroughtheirsustainedauthorities.Whenapersonopposesrighteousness,theworstthatcan
bedoneistoseverthatindividualfromtheorganization.ThePriesthoodhasnoauthoritytoexercise
furtherpunishment.Thepunishmentwhichcomestothosewhodowrongisautomatic,andwill,of
itself,findoutthesinner.
**AuthorityoverSelf.**ThePriesthoodconferredonmanestablishesanauthoritywhicheachman
mayatalltimesexercisewithrespecttohimselfandGod.BytheauthorityofthePriesthoodhehasa
righttocommunewithGodinprayerorinotherways,andhas,asitwere,therighttoreceive
communicationsinreturnfromtheintelligentbeingsabouthim,sothathiswaysmaybewaysof
strengthandpleasantness.Man'sownworkshouldbeinseparablyconnectedwiththepowerofthe
Priesthoodtowhichhehasattained.
**TheExerciseofAuthority.**TheauthoritycommittedtomanbyGodisinearthlyhands.Theflesh
isweakandmenwhopossessauthoritymayoftenmakemistakesinitsexercise.Thepropermanner
ofexercisingtheauthorityofthePriesthoodhasbeenmadeexceedinglyclear."Therightsofthe
Priesthoodareinseparablyconnectedwiththepowersofheaven,andthepowersofheavencannotbe
controlledorhandledonlyupontheprinciplesofrighteousness.Thattheymaybeconferreduponus,
itistruebutwhenweundertaketocoveroursins,ortogratifyourpride,ourvainambition,orto
exercisecontrol,ordominion,orcompulsion,uponthesoulsofthechildrenofmen,inanydegreeof
unrighteousness,behold,theheavenswithdrawthemselvestheSpiritoftheLordisgrievedand
whenitiswithdrawn,AmentothePriesthood,ortheauthorityofthatman.Behold!ereheisaware,
heisleftuntohimself,tokickagainsttheprickstopersecutetheSaints,andtofightagainstGod.No
powerorinfluencecanoroughttobemaintainedbyvirtueofthePriesthood,onlybypersuasion,by
longsuffering,bygentleness,andmeekness,andbyloveunfeignedbykindness,andpure
knowledge,whichshallgreatlyenlargethesoulwithouthypocrisy,andwithoutguile,reproving
betimeswithsharpness,whenmoveduponbytheHolyGhost,andthenshowingforthafterwardsan
increaseoflovetowardhimwhomthouhastreproved,lestheesteemtheetobehisenemythathe
mayknowthatthyfaithfulnessisstrongerthanthecordsofdeathletthybowelsalsobefullof
charitytowardsallmen,andtothehouseholdoffaith,andletvirtuegarnishthythoughtsunceasingly,
thenshallthyconfidencewaxstronginthepresenceofGod,andthedoctrineofthePriesthoodshall
distiluponthysoulasthedewsfromheaven.TheHolyGhostshallbethyconstantcompanion,and
thysceptreanunchangingsceptreofrighteousnessandtruth,andthydominionshallbeaneverlasting
dominion,andwithoutcompulsorymeansitshallflowuntotheeforeverandever."
AnyauthorityofthePriesthoodotherwiseexercisedthanasabovestatedisnotinharmonywiththe
law.Thereisthereforenoneedtofearauthority,forthosewhomisuseitwillultimatelyberemoved
fromtheirofficesandwillbepunishednotonlybythelawsoftheChurch,butbyGod,theGiverof
law.Meanwhile,thethoughtstandsoutprominently,thatthosewhoaregiventhePriesthood,and
especiallythosewhoaretoexerciseauthorityintheofficesofthePriesthood,shouldcarefullyfit
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themselvesfortheworkthattheyhavetodo.Thisistheonlysafekeytoauthority.
**TheUnrighteousExerciseofAuthority.**Authoritymaybeunrighteouslyexercisedfromthelack
ofintelligenceorbecauseofwickedness.ShouldamemberoftheChurchnotethis,theprocedureof
correctionistonotifythewardteachers,whotrytosettlethedifficulty.Ifthewardteachersdonot
succeedinthis,thebishop'scourttakesupthematter,which,ifneedsbe,itpassestotheStake
Presidencyandhighcouncil,andmaybeappealedtotheFirstPresidency.Justiceismetedouttoall
intheChurch.Ifthepeoplearedissatisfiedwithanyofficertheymayrefusetosustainhimatthe
timesofthevoting,whichpreventshimfromexercisingthefunctionsofhisoffice.However,inall
thingsthemajorityrulesandinmanyofthejudgmentsoftheChurchtheremustbeunanimity.
**TheChurchAuthoritative.**TheChurchofChristpossessesrealauthority,derivedfromGod,and
initsworkrepresentsGod.SuchaChurch,alone,canappealtothehumanunderstanding.AChurch
withoutauthorityislimpandhelpless.AuthorityisthefinaltestofatrueChurch.Doesitattemptto
officiateforGod?DoesitsPriesthoodpossessauthority?Fromthebeginning,theChurchofGodhas
beengivendirect,divineauthoritysothatitsworkmightnotbequestioned.Theangelwalkedwith
Adam,GodspoketoAbraham,Jesusinpersoncameonearth,theFatherandtheSoncametoJoseph
Smith,inallages,whentheChurchhasbeenfullyestablished,thePriesthoodhasbeenconferredby
authoritativebeings.TheauthorityoftheChurchisrealandgenuineandpossessespower.Byits
poweritshallbeknown.
CHAPTER21.
OBEDIENCE.
IntheconsiderationofPriesthoodanditsauthority,muchuselessdiscussionisoftenindulgedinasto
whetherapersonshouldyieldobediencetoauthority.Somebelievethattoyieldobedienceistolay
downfreeagency.
**TheRestraintofNature.**Countlessforces,surroundingman,areinteractingintheuniverse.By
nomeanscanhewithdrawhimselffromthem.Byexperiencehehaslearnedthatcontrolofnatural
forcesisobtainedonlywhentheirlawsareunderstood.Whenacertainthingisdoneinacertain
manner,thereisadefinite,invariableresult.Nodoubtithasoftenoccurredtoanintelligentbeingthat
hemightwishitotherwisebutthatisimpossible.Theonlyremedyistocomplywithexisting
conditions,acknowledgetherestraintofnature,andgainingfurtherknowledge,putlawagainstlaw,
untilthepurposeofmanhasbeenaccomplished.Thisistheprocessbywhichintelligentbeingshave
acquireddominionovernature.Suchanacknowledgementoftheexistenceofthelawofcauseand
effectdoesnotweakenmanstrengthliesinanintelligentsubjectiontorightfulrestraint,forithas
beentheconditionofprogressfromthebeginning.Therecognitionoflawandtheobediencetolaw
aresuresignsthatintelligentbeingsareprogressing.
**AnActiveCondition.**Obedienceisanactiveconditionoritcouldnotbeaprincipleof
consequence.Itiscloselyakintorepentance.Obediencesimplymeansthatwheneveratruthis
revealed,itisobeyed,whichbyourpreviousdefinitionisaphaseofrepentance.Themanwhois
activeincarryingoutwhatheknowsistruth,isanobedientman.Hisactiveobediencetoauthorityis
basedonintelligenceandthemoreknowledgeamanhasconcerningthenatureofthelawin
question,themorethoroughlyobedientishe.Obedienceisnotacharacteristicofignorance.
**TheRestraintofMan.**Obediencetotheinvariablelawsofnatureis,usually,consideredtobea
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selfevidentnecessity.Thequestionofobedienceiscommonlyraisedwhenmanexercisesauthority.
Shallamanobeyaman?Thefirstconsiderationintheanswertothisquestioniswhetherthesystem
whichthemaninauthorityrepresentsisbasedontruth.Ifso,thenintelligentmanwillbeboundto
renderobediencetothesystem,evenifitisexercisedthroughimperfectman.Thesecond
considerationiswhetherthemanisactingwithinhisauthorityintheorganization.Thiscanalwaysbe
determined,simply,bylayingthematterbeforethebodiesconstitutedtosettlesuchmatters.Withthe
exceptionoftheFirstPresidency,everyofficerintheChurchhasalimitedjurisdiction.Thethird
considerationiswhetherthemattertowhichauthorityhasbeenappliedisatallunderthedisciplineof
theorganization.NoofficerintheChurchhasauthoritybeyondmattersthatpertaintotheChurch.
Anyauthorityexercisedbeyondthatfieldisacceptedonlyatthediscretionoftheindividualmembers
oftheChurch,andshouldcomeonlyintheformofcounsel.Ifyesistheanswertothesethree
considerations,obediencemustberenderedbyaprogressingman.Ifnoistheanswer,obedience
shouldnotbeyielded,butthemattershouldbetriedbeforethepropercourts.
Therestraintofmanintheexerciseofauthorityderivedfrometernallaws,isascompellingasthe
restraintofnature,becausetheyarepartsofthesamewhole.
**TheLifeofLaw.**Obedienceisnothingmorethanacompliancewithtruth.Truthisofno
consequencetoamanifitisnotused.Themomenttruthisused,obediencebegins.Man,andthe
Churchtowhichhebelongs,areactiveorganisms,interestedinprogress.Whentruthisgiventhem,
promisestousethattruthshouldberequired,elseallisinvain.Livesconformingtolaw,alone,are
movingonward.Forthatreason,foreverygifttomanapromiseisrequired,andusuallyastatement
ofthepunishmentthatwillfollowthenonuseormisuseofit.Obediencetotruthmeansprogress
refusaltousetruthmeansretrogression.
**Disobedience.**Disobediencemaybeactiveorpassive.Passivedisobedienceisnotdoingwhat
shouldbedoneactivedisobedienceisdoingwhatshouldnotbedone.Bothmaybeequallyharmful.
Themaineffectofdisobedienceistoweaken,andfinallywreckthemanwhodisobeyslaw.
Disobedienceandsinaresynonymous.
**TheChurchWorthHaving.**TheonlyChurchworthhavingisonehavingauthority,restingon
intelligenceandtruth.SuchaChurchwillcommandobedience.InsuchaChurch,little
misunderstandingsareeasilyrectified.WithinthelawsoftheChurch,manhasabsolute,personal
freedom.Itissowithnature,outsideoftheChurch.Withinthelawsofnature,manhasfullfreedom.
Thegreatestfreedomknowntomancomesfromobediencetolaw.Thegreatestpunishment
conceivabletomancomesfromoppositiontolaw.ThisistruewithrespecttotheChurchasa
communityofthesaints,andwithrespecttoindividualmaninthegreatuniverse.
CHAPTER22.
AMISSIONARYCHURCH.
Theremustbe,ineveryorganization,andespeciallyinaChurchdedicatedtothegreatphilosophyof
man'splaceintheuniverse,agreatcementingpurpose.IntheChurchofChristthisisthedesireto
bringaboutthehighestjoyforallmankind.
**AChurchwithaPurpose.**Accordingtothefundamentaldoctrineselaboratedinprevious
chapters,thepurposeoftheearthcareeristoassistinman'sdevelopment,sothathemayacquire
morepowerandthereforemorejoy.Inthenatureofthings,asalreadyexplained,itisimpossiblefor
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anintelligentbeingtorisetothehighestdegreeofjoyunlessotherlikebeingsmovealongwithhim.
TheGreatPlanwillbesuccessfulonlyifalloratleastamajorityofthosewhoaccepteditaresaved.
TheChurch,afeatureoftheGreatPlan,musthavethesamemainpurpose.Allmustbesaved!Infact,
theworkoftheChurchcannotbecompleteduntilallhaveatleastheardthetruth.Therecanbeno
talkofafewsavedsoulsatthethroneofGod,withthemanyinhell.ThegreatmissionoftheChurch
mustbetobringallmenintothetruth.ThisisthecementingpurposeoftheChurch.
**TheHopeofToday.**However,menarenotsavedmerelybybeingtaughtthetruth.Theymust
liveitintheirdailylives.Life,indeed,isanendlesssuccessionofdays,eachofwhichmustbealittle
largerindevelopmentthantheprecedingone.Eachdaymustbewellspent.TheChurchmusthelp,
everyday,inalltheaffairsoftheday,fromthefoodmaneatstohishighestspiritualthought.Each
daymustbeasteponwardtotheeternalexaltationwhichhedesires.Thisisthehopeoftoday.To
helpinthisdailyworkisoneofthemainpartsofthemissionarylaborsoftheChurch.Allthedaysof
allthemembersmustbemadehappyones.
**TemporalSalvation.**Inachurchbasedontheprinciplesalreadyoutlinedtherecanbeno
separationbetweenthespiritualandthetemporal.Thereisoneuniverse,ofmanyaspects,towhich
webelong.ThereisoneGreatPlanforus.Intheheavens,spiritualthingsareprobablyofgreatest
importance,butonearth,temporalthingsareofimportance.Theimpossibilityofseparatingthings
temporalfromthingsspiritualjustifiestheattemptoftheChurchtoassistinthetemporalaffairsofits
members.Infact,alargepartofthemissionarylaborsoftheChurchmustbetobetterthetemporal
conditionsofitsmembers.Onlywhenthetemporalaswellasthespirituallifeislookedafter,canthe
Churchrisetoitsfullopportunity.Onlyinsoundbodiescanthespiritexperiencethehighestjoy.
OnlyundersoundtemporalconditionscantheChurchmoveoninfullgladness.
**TheForeignMissionSystem.**Inconformitywiththecementingmissionaryspiritofachurch,
everymemberofwhichholdsormayholdthePriesthood,itfollowsthateverymemberofthe
Church,whethermanorwoman,maybecalledtogoonaspiritualortemporalmissionforthe
upbuildingofhisfellowmen.Inharmonywiththelawoffreeagency,itisvoluntarywiththe
individual,whetherheacceptorrefusethecall.ThecustomintheChurchoftodayhasbeenthata
mangoonatleastonemission,whichvariesinlength,twoormoreyears.Themissionariesnotonly
assistthemembersalreadygatheredintotheChurch,buttheytravelallovertheworld,preachtoall
theeverlastingGospel,andbringthosewhoacceptthetruthintotheChurch.Themainpurposeofthe
ChurchmissionarysystemistopreachtheGospeltoallthemembersofthehumanrace,sothat,asfar
aspossible,nonemaybeleftwiththeexcusethathehasnotheardtheGospel.
**TheHomeMissionService.**ThewholeChurch,athome,isdevotedtothehomemissionservice.
TheorganizationsofthePriesthoodandtheauxiliaryorganizations,formanetworkofactiveservice
intowhicheverymemberoftheChurchmaybebrought.Thehomemissionaryserviceconcernsitself
withthespiritualandthetemporalsideofman'snatureandlife.Theamusementsoftheyoungpeople
thehomelifeoftheolderpeople,andthedailydutiesofall,aremadepartandparceloftheorganized
missionarysystemoftheChurch.
**FortheCommonGood.**ThegeniusoftheChurchofChriststandsforthecommongoodhence
theceaselessmissionaryactivitywhichisthegreatcementingprincipleoftheChurch.Notforthe
one,notevenforthemany,butforall,doestheChurchstand.
CHAPTER23.
TEMPLEORDINANCES.
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TheChurchofGodhasalwaysbeencharacterizedbythepossessionoftemplesinwhichtheholiest
workoftheGospelhasbeendone.TheactivitiesoftheChurchhave,sotospeak,centeredaboutthe
temples.
**Educational.**Thedoctrinesoftheorigin,presentconditionanddestinyofmanshouldalwaysbe
wellinthemindofall,forwithoutthisknowledge,itisdifficulttocomplyfullyandintelligentlywith
thelawsandordinancesoftheGospel.Ithasbeenprovided,therefore,thatthestoryofman,fromthe
beginning,atthepresent,andtothelastgreatday,shallbegivenasfrequentlyasmaybedesiredto
themembersoftheChurch.Inthetemplesthisinformationisgiven,inanorganizedandcorrectform,
sothatitmaynotdepartfromamongmenandwomen.Thatis,thetemplesareconservatorsofthe
greattruthsoftheGospel.Tothetemples,mangoestoberefreshedinhismemoryastothedoctrines
relativetomanandhisplaceinnature.TheendowmentsgiventomembersoftheChurchinthe
templesare,essentially,coursesofinstructionrelativetoman'sexistencebeforehecameonthisearth,
thehistoryofthecreationoftheearth,thestoryofourfirstearthlyparents,thehistoryofthevarious
dispensationsoftheGospel,themeaningofthesacrificeofJesusChrist,thestoryoftherestorationof
theGospel,andthemeansandmethodswherebyjoyonthisearthandexaltationinheavenmaybe
obtained.Tomakethislargestoryclearandimpressivetoallwhopartakeofit,everyeducational
device,sofarknowntoman,isemployedanditispossiblethatnowhere,outsideofthetemple,isa
morecorrectpedagogyemployed.Everysenseofmanisappealedto,inordertomakethemeaningof
theGospelclear,frombeginningtoend.
**Symbolism.**Naturally,theveryessenceofthesefundamentaltruthsisnotknowntoman,nor
indeedcanbe.Weknowthingsonlysofarasoursensespermit.Whateverisknown,isknown
throughsymbols.Thelettersonthewrittenpagearebutsymbolsofmightythoughtsthatareeasily
transferredfrommindtomindbythesesymbols.Manlivesunderagreatsystemofsymbolism.
Clearly,themighty,eternaltruthsencompassingallthatmanisormaybe,cannotbeexpressed
literally,noristhereinthetempleanyattempttodothis.Onthecontrary,thegreatandwonderful
templeserviceisoneofmightysymbolism.Bytheuseofsymbolsofspeech,ofaction,ofcolor,of
form,thegreattruthsconnectedwiththestoryofmanaremadeevidenttothemind.
**Covenants.**Thetempleservicealsogivesthosewhotaketheirendowments,specialinformation
relativetotheirconductuponearth.Forinstance,menandwomenaretaughttokeepthemselvesfree
fromsin.Theymustbechaste,virtuous,truthful,unselfish,andsoon.Moreover,theyaretaughtthat
theymustdevotethemselvesandallthattheyhaveormayhavetothegreatcauseoftruth,toteaching
theeverlastingGospeltotheirfellowmen,sothattheGreatPlanmaybeworkedoutaccordingtothe*
mindandwillofGod.Inreturnforthis,thosewhotaketheirendowmentsmakecovenantswitheach
otherandtheirGod,thattheywillobservetheinstructionsgiven,andwillcarrythemoutintheirdaily
lives.Thustheworkbecomesactiveandvital.Itisalsoexplainedthatthefailuretocarryoutthese
promises,whenonceknowledgehasbeengiven,willbepunished.Thisisinaccordancewiththelaw
thatprovidesapenaltyfordisobedience,asalreadyexplained.Onlybytheuseofknowledgewill
moreknowledgebeobtained.Thewholesystemoftempleworshipisverylogical.
**Blessings.**Inthecourseofinstructioninthetemple,itisemphasizedthatblessingswillfollow
thosewhoacceptthetruth,practiceitandliveGodlikelives.Theessenceoftheendowmentserviceis
ablessing.Punishmentisnotmadesoprominent,asisthepossibilityofinvitinggreatblessingsby
properobediencetothetruthsthatmaybeobtainedfromtimetotime.
**TempleAuthority.**Perhapsthemostgloriousordinancesofthetemplearethosethatseal
husbandandwifeandchildrentoeachotherfortimeandalleternity.AccordingtotheGospel,the
marriagerelationdoesnotnecessarilyceasewithdeath.Onthecontrary,sincesexiseternal,thesex
relationmaycontinuetotheendoftime.Suchaunionorsealingmaybeperformedonlybyspecial
authority,whichispossessedonlybythePresidentoftheChurch.ThePresidentmay,however,
delegatetheauthorityforlongerorshortertimes,sothatcertaintempleworkersmayperformsuch
marriagesinthetemplesofGod.Similarly,childrenwhohavebeenborntoparentswhowerenot
marriedfortimeandeternity,maybesealedlatertotheirparents,sothattherelationshipmaybe
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sustainedthroughoutalltheagesofeternity.
Moreover,everyordinancebelongingtotheChurchmaybeperformedinthetemple.Inthetempleis
abaptismalfont,sothattheintroductoryordinancemaybeperformedlikewise,everyother
ordinanceforthebenefitoftheSaintsmaybeperformedintheholytemple.Theworkforthedead,as
willbeexplainedinchapter28,isdoneinthetemples,bytheliving.Thevicariousworkforthedead,
whodidnotaccepttheGospelonearth,formsthebulkofthetemplework,since,afterthefirsttime,
whenendowmentsaretakenforhimself,apersonmustdoworkforthedeadwhenhegoesthrough
thetemple.
**PossibleRepetition.**Thevastnessofmeaninginthetempleworshipmakesitdifficultatoncefor
mantorememberandunderstandit,andonlyoncearetheendowmentstakenforhimselfbyanyone
person.Torefreshhismemory,andtoplacehiminclosetouchwiththespiritofthework,amanmay
enterthetempleasfrequentlyashedesiresandtakeendowmentsforthedead,andinthatwaybothhe
andthedeadarebenefited.Thetemples,then,aremeanswherebyeverymemberoftheChurchmay
receivepreciousendowments,andmaybekeptinrefreshedmemoryoftheGreatPlan,whichhe,with
therestofthehumanfamily,isworkingout.Templeworkisthesafetyofthelivingandthehopeof
thedead.Atpresent,templesareinoperationinSaltLakeCity,St.George,LoganandManti,allin
Utah,andatempleisnearingcompletioninCardston,Alberta,Canada.
MANANDMAN.
CHAPTER24.
THEBROTHERHOODOFMAN.
Therearemanymenandwomenupontheearth.Noonefaces,alone,thegreatforcesofnature.About
himmoveothermen,withwhomhemustassociate.IntheGreatPlanitissoordainedthatmenshall
dwelltogether,andthisleadstomanyofthefinestapplicationsoftheGospeltothedailylifeofman.
**CommonOrigin.**BythepowerofGod,thespiritsofmenwerebornintothespiritualworldthus
allbecamethechildrenofGod.Inturn,allhavebeenbornfromthesamespiritualestateintotheearth
estate,fromtheoneearthlyancestor,Adam.Allmenarethereforeofidenticalorigin.Absolute
uniformityprevailsamongthechildrenofmen,sofarastheiroriginisconcerned.
**CommonPurposes.**Thespiritsareplacedonearthforacommonpurpose.Fromthebeginning,
manhasrisentohishighestatethroughtheacquisitionofpoweroverthenaturalforcessurrounding
him."Manisthathemayhavejoy,"isthefundamentalpurposeofman'sactivity,whetheronoroutof
theearth.IntheGreatCouncilallthespiritswhichhavereachedorwillreachtheearth,werepresent
andalldeclaredthemselvesinfavorofthePlan.Inconformitywiththisagreement,manisonearth.
Alldesireacloseracquaintancewithgrossmatter,asameansoffuturepowerandconsequentjoy
andalldesirethattheearthexperiencemaybeaccompaniedwithasmuchjoyasispossible.
Consequently,allwhoareorhavebeen,orwillbeassembledonearth,haveacommonpurpose.
Absoluteuniformityprevailsamongmensofarastheirfundamentalpurposeisconcerned.
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**CommonDestiny.**Likewise,thedestinyofallthespiritssenttoearth,isthesame.Manhasever
movedtowardseternallife.Allnewinformation,everyadditionofknowledge,hasmovedhim
onward,towardperfectionandavisionofgreaterhappiness.True,sinceallmenhavefreeagencies,
individualwillsexpressthemselvesindifferentways,andnotwospiritsarethereforeatpreciselythe
samepointontheupwardroad.Somearefarahead,somelagbehind,eachandallaccordingto
individualeffort.However,throughoutthevasteternities,allwhoareconscientiouslymovingupward,
thoughitbeeversoslowly,willintimereachapointwhichisabsoluteperfectiontoourmortal
conceptions.Then,allwillseemasifpreciselyalike.Whetherornotwereachagivenpointatthe
sametime,allmenhaveacommondestiny.Asfarasthedestinyofmanisconcerned,allarealike.
**Interdependence.**Ofevengreaterimportanceindailyworkisthefactthateveryintelligent
beingaffectseveryotherintelligentbeing.Everypersonaffectseveryotherperson.Throughthe
operationoftheHolySpiritallthingsareheldtogether.Goodorevilmaybetransmittedfrom
personalitytopersonalityitisimpossibletohidefromGod,anditisequallyimpossibleforustohide
ourselvescompletelyfromourfellowmen.Noindividualactionmayrestrainorretardanother
individualbutallouractions,thoughtsandwordsmustbesoguardedthatallareadvanced.Thisisas
truefortheearthlifeasitmaybeforthespirituallife.
Menaffecteachothereverymanis,inameasure,hisbrother'skeeper.Therecanbenothoughtofa
mangoingoninlifeirrespectiveoftheneedsorconditionsofhisfellowmen.Themainconcernof
manmustbetofindsuchorderlyactsoflifeaswillenableothermentoliveouttheirindividualwills
withoutinterference.Allmustbebenefited,allmustbehelped.Thisisthebasisofthegreatsystemof
cooperation.Meanwhile,theinterdependenceofthespiritsdwellingonearth,bringsmenmore
closelytogether,andstrengthensthefriendshipsfromtheformerspiritestate.
**Brothers.**Thehumanraceisaraceofbrothers,ofthesameorigin,withthesamepurposesand
withthesamedestiny,soelaboratelyinterdependentthatnonemaymovewithoutaffectingthe
others.Anyrationaltheologymustrecognizethiscondition,and,asfarasitmaybeable,mustmake
provisionfortheproperrecognitionofthebrotherhoodofman.
CHAPTER25.
THEEQUALITYOFMAN.
Thoughthebrotherhoodofmanissupreme,itdoesnotfollowthatallmenareequalinallparticulars.
Thisneedscarefulexamination.
**ThePreexistentEffort.**Menofcommonorigin,andofcommondestiny,laboronearthundera
mutuallyacceptedPlan.Yet,itisnotconceivable,thatallthespiritswhoreachtheearthhaveattained
thesamedegreeofprogress.Thepreexistentprogressdependeduponselfeffortthosewhoexerted
theirwillsmost,madethegreatestprogressmoreover,thosewhohadledthemostrighteouslives,
andhadbeenmostcarefuloftheirgifts,hadacquiredgreateststrengthconsequently,atthetimeof
theGreatCouncil,thoughthespiritswere,ingeneral,ofoneclass,theydifferedgreatlyinthedetails
oftheirattainments,intherighteousnessoftheirlives,inthestabilityoftheirpurpose,andintheir
consistentdevotiontothegreattruthoftheirlives.Inoneparticulartheywereallalike:bytheir
faithfulefforts,theyhadearnedtherighttotakeanothersteponwardandtoshareintheearth
experience.
Mostprobably,thepoweracquiredinthelifebeforethisistransmittedtosomedegreetotheearthlife.
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Wemaywellbelieve,therefore,thatthedifferencesinthequalityandcharacteristicsofmen,maybe
traced,inpartatleast,tothepreexistentlives.Itisnotunthinkablethat,inaplangovernedbya
supremeintelligentBeing,sincetherearedifferencesofadvancement,thespiritswhocomeonearth
areplacedfrequentlyinpositionsforwhichtheyarebestfitted.Anintelligentrulerwouldprobably
useabilitywhereitismostneeded.Tosomeextent,therefore,menmayhavebeenchosenforthisor
thatworkonearth,and,underthelawofprogression,thissmallmeasureofpredestinationmaybe
accepted.Yet,itmustberememberedthatpredestinationcannotbecompelling.Man'sfreeagency,
thegreatindestructiblegift,alwaysremainsuntrammeled.Therefore,whatevermaybeGod'splanfor
man,howevereasymaybethepathtothepredestinedearthposition,themanmayatanytime,bythe
exerciseofhisfreeagency,departfromtheappointedpathandenterotherfields.Anyopposite
doctrineistheoneproposedbyLuciferintheGreatCouncil.
Itismostlikelythatthosewho,onearth,acceptthehighesttruthoflife,findtheGospelattractive,
andaremostfaithfulintherecognitionoflaw,arethosewho,inthepreexistentstate,weremost
intelligentandobedient.Inthatsense,theChurchconsistsofGod'schosenpeoplechosenbecause
oftheirwillingnesstoobey.
**TheEarthEffort.**Nevertheless,thethoughtthatpowerisdrawnfromourpreexistentstateneed
notbeanoverwhelmingfeelingtooppressandcrushus.Ourpreviouslifecannotbean
insurmountablehindrance.Theinvariablelawofcauseandeffectwillenablethosewhoexert
themselvesonearthtodrawgreatpoweruntothemselves,evensothatitmaybepossiblebyearth
effortstoovercomepossiblehandicapsfrompreexistentlethargy.Thus,onearth,manmaygainmore
thanhehaslostbefore.Oureartheffortsareofgreatestconsequence.Neitherforwardnorbackward
mustwelook,excepttoplaceourselvesproperlyinourday,butmustuseinfulldegreethe
possibilitiesofeachdayasitcomes.Man'sinequalitycomeschieflyfromtheinequalityofearth
effort.
**TheVarietyofGifts.**Meanwhile,itisalwaystoberememberedthatthespiritwithinmustspeak
throughamortalbody,subjecttodiseaseanddeath.Theeternalspiritcannotrisehereabovethe
conditionsofthebody,whichisoftheearth,andisaresultofallthephysicalgoodandeviltowhich
manhasgivenhimselfsincethedaysofAdam.Duringthelonghistoryoftherace,bothstrengthand
weaknesshavenodoubtbeenaddedtothebody.Itpossessesinborn,inherentqualities,whichman
findsitdifficulttoignore.Underthebestconditions,thebodyisweakerthanthespiritwithin.Itis
likelythatthespiritwithinthefinestearthlybodyisinfinitelygreaterthanmaybeexpressedthrough
thebody.Weliveonlyasourbodiesallowand,sinceourbodiesdiffergreatly,thereisinthem
anothersourceofman'sinequality.Infact,theinequalityofmancomeslargelyfrominequalityof
body,throughwhichtheeternalspirittriesinvaintospeak.
**TheEqualityofOpportunity.**Clearly,anabsoluteequalityamongmenisnotconceivable,forthe
differencesamongthepowersofmenareinfiniteinnumber.Wearebrothers,butweareoccupyinga
varietyofstagesofprogress.Probably,itiswellthattherearesuchdifferences,sothatbycontrast
witheachotherwemaybeimpelledonward.Theequalityofmanonearthmustbetheequal
opportunitytoprogress.Fromthepointintheeternaljourneythateachmannowoccupies,hemustbe
allowedtomoveonward,unhinderedbyotherpersons,andmustbeallowedtoexerthisinborn
powerstothefull,forhishelponthejourney.Nonemuststandinanother'sway.Onthecontrary,the
spiritoftheGospelmakesclearthattheGreatPlancannotbefulfilled,theearth'sdestinycannotbe
completed,andourhighestprogressiverewardscannotbeobtaineduntilallthespiritsofmanhave
beenbroughtundertheGospelrule.Whetheronthisearth,orinthefuture,theworkwillnotbe
completeduntilallhaveacceptedthefreedomoftheGospel.Insteadofhinderingeachother,men
mustgiveeachotherallpossibleneededhelp,thenweofferourfellowsanequalopportunityto
advance,andallarehelped.Withequalityofopportunity,allmayadvancesofarthat,intime,the
differencesbetweenmenwillnotbeapparent.
Theequalityofopportunitywhichcharacterizestheplanofsalvationisshowninthefactthatallthe
ordinancesoftheChurch,fromthehighesttothelowest,areavailabletoeverypersonwhoentersthe
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Church.Faith,repentance,baptismandthegiftoftheHolyGhostare,forall,thefourcardinal
principlesforactiveparticipationintheworkoftheChurch,irrespectiveofthepowersofmen.The
endowmentsofthetemple,andalltheblessingsthatmaytherebereceived,areavailabletoevery
memberoftheChurchwhohasshownhimselfactiveinthefaith.Infundamentalprinciples,ingifts
andblessings,inspiritualopportunities,asrequiredorofferedbytheChurch,menarestrippedofall
differences,andstandasiftheywereequalbeforeGod.Thisisequalityofopportunity.
**UnequalEquality.**Thoughequalityofopportunitybegrantedall,thewillsofmen,asexpressed
throughtheirfreeagencies,differgreatly.Consequently,somewillusewelltheiropportunitiesothers
willusethempoorly.Underthiscondition,evenifallstartedoutabsolutelyalike,differenceswould
soonappear.Withoutviolatingthefundamentallawsofnature,thisseemstobeabsolutely
unpreventable.Menmaysoonbegroupedasrepresentingdifferentdegreesofstrength.
However,thattheequalityofopportunity,belongingtotheGreatPlan,maybepreserved,itbecomes
necessaryforall,whetherweakorstrong,tosupporteachother.Differingattainmentsmustbe
forgotteninthedesiretopermitalltodeveloptheirpowerstotheutmost,andthustoachievejoyboth
hereandhereafter.Thegreatproblemofeveryageishowtokeeptogether,asonebody,themany
who,becauseoftheirdifferingwills,havebecomedifferentintheirpowersandattainments.
**TheTestofEquality.**Atestmaybeappliedwherebymenmaybeplacedinoneclass,
irrespectiveoftheirvariousattainments.Ifamanusehispowers,withallhismight,forhisownand
others'good,inthecauseofuniversalprogress,heistheequalofeveryothermanoflikeeffort.No
morecanbeaskedofaman.Itiswellthathumanity,dwellingtogether,shouldkeepthisprinciplein
mind.Menmustnotbejudged,wholly,bytheirattainments,orbytheirgifts,butlargelybythe
degreetowhichtheygivethemselvestothegreatcauserepresentedbytheplanofthemajor
intelligentBeing,fortheminorintelligentbeingsoftheuniverse.
CHAPTER26.
MUTUALSUPPORT.
Thedoctrinessetforthindicatethateachmanmustexerthimselftotheutmost.Eventhisisnot
sufficientforthefullprogressofindividuals.Everymanmustalsobesupportedbyeveryotherman.
Unlessthisisdone,theindividualandthecommunitywillberetarded.
**TheDutyoftheStrong.**Themanwhoisinpossessionofstrength,acquiredbyanymeans
whatsoever,isunderspecialobligationstothecommunity.Thestrongmust,somehow,attachto
themselvesthosewhoareweakandasthestrongmoveonward,theymustpullwiththemthosewho
areweak.Ifapersonpossessknowledge,hemustgiveknowledgetoothers,sothatallmayattain
greatknowledgeifhehavegreatfaith,hemustusefaithuntilallmayknowitsvirtueifhehave
acquiredgreatwealth,hemustuseitsothatmanymayshareinitsphysicalbenefits.Thosewhohave
mustgivetothosewhohavenot.Thosewhounderstandthedeeper,innerlifemustnotforgetthose
whoarenotgiftedwithanunderstandingofthecontentsofthevastuniverse.
Theweakhavesimilarresponsibilitiesdevolvinguponthem.Underearthlyconditionstheweaktend
tofosterjealousyofthestrong.Thisisoutofharmonywiththelawofprogress.Theweakmustseek
strengthforthemselves,andshouldinvitetheassistanceofthestrong.Theweakmayhelpthe
progressoftheracebyaccepting,asagift,theassistanceofthestrong.Thereisnoshameinaccepting
gifts,inlearningfromthosewhohavemorethanwehave,providingourownpowersareusedtothe
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full.Ifthestrongwillnotgivetotheweak,intherightspiritofhelpfulnessoriftheweakwillnot
acceptthehelpprofferedfortheiradvancement,thewholeonwardmovementwillbesloweddown.
Moreover,itisacommonlawofnaturethatthosewhoarestrong,andgiveoftheirstrengthtoothers,
addtherebytotheirownstrength.
**Cooperation.**Cooperationofall,weakorstrong,ischaracteristicofmutualhelpfulness.When
manymenunitetoaccomplishgreatworks,mightyresultsfollow.Eachmanthenobtainshisfull
reward.Evenifthecooperationprovidesthatitsresultsaredividedequallyamongtheparticipants,
thestrongreceiveshisfullreward,for,becauseofhisgreaterstrength,hehasdonegreaterlabor,and
hasconsequentlyaddedgreatlytohisstrength.Theweak,bytheirassociationwiththestrong,having
sharedequallywiththem,havegainedgreaterhope,andmorecouragetocarryontheirindividual
workofprogress.Theprincipleofcooperationisinfullconformitywiththewholeplanofsalvation.
**Education.**Educationloomslargeinthematterofmutualsupport,foritisonlybythe
developmentofindividualpowerthatmanmayhelphisfellowmanandthusrecognizethefull
brotherhoodofman.Greatpowerscanbeexercisedonlybyfacultiesthataretrainedtotheutmost.
Schoolsareprovided,wheretheyoungmindmaybeguidedrapidlyandwellintoabettercontrolof
itself.Arationaltheologymustbeestablisheduponthebasisofdevelopedintelligence,whichjustifies
theexistenceofschoolsandotherdevicesfortheproperunfoldingofthemind.IntheChurchthere
musteverbeavigorouspropagandafortheeducationofthemasses.TheChurchmustbeagenerally
educatedChurch,inwhichthe"educatedclass"includesall.
CHAPTER27.
THEUNITEDORDER.
Thetruerelationamongmen,thedoctrineofthebrotherhoodofman,isnowherebetterexemplified
thanintheprincipleoftheunitedorder.Thissystemoflivingrepresents,nodoubt,theacmeof
brotherlyloveandhumanefficiency.
**Purpose.**Theunitedorderrecognizesthatmenhavedifferenttalentsandthereforedifferent
aspirationswhichshouldbeallowedfullandfreeunfolding.Thatis,theindividualshouldbeallowed
toexercisehisinborngifts.Theunitedorderfurtherprovidesthatthemembersofacommunityshare
equallyinthematerialreturnsoftheactivitiesofthewholecommunity.Sincethewantsofa
communityaresatisfiedonlybyavarietyofnecessarylabor,someyieldinglarge,otherssmall,
materialgains,theunitedorderprovidesthat,ifamanworktothefullofhisability,alltheworking
daysofhislife,heshouldhaveanequalshareinthematerialgainsofthecommunity,whateverhis
labormaybe.Underthissystemtherecouldbenopovertyallwouldbeamplysuppliedwiththe
materialnecessitiesoflife.Thosewho,becauseoftheirgreatertalentsortraining,dothegreater
work,willreceivewhateverisneededforthemaintenanceoflifeandtheywillattain,moreover,a
greatergrowthandsatisfactionbecauseofthegreaterworkthattheyhaveperformed.Sincethe
materialwantsofallwillbeamplysupplied,therecanbenorealreasonwhyallshouldnotsharein
thetotalresultsofthelaborofthecommunity.Theunitedorderimpliesacloselyorganizedbodyof
menandwomenworkingtogetherforindividualandformutualadvancement.Intheory,atleast,it
appearstobethebestanswertomanyofthegreatquestionsthattroublemankind.
**Historical.**Theunitedorderisnotanewconception.Ithasbeenknownfromthebeginningof
time.InthedaysofEnoch,theseventhpatriarch,theunitedorderwaspracticedsuccessfully.When
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theChurchwasorganizedbyChrist,theunitedorderwaspracticedveryfullyforsometime,bymany
ofthepeople.Itisquitepossiblethattheorderhasbeenestablishedandpracticedsuccessfullyatother
times,butnorecordhascomedowntothisage.Finally,inthisdispensation,theunitedorderwas
revealedtotheProphetJosephSmith.Thepeople,onseveraloccasions,triedtopracticeit,and
whereverpracticedcorrectly,itappearedtoresultingoodbutindividualselfishnessusuallyresulted
intheabandonmentofthepractice.Itisasystemofliferequiringthefullestunderstandingofthe
Gospeltruth,andthegreatestconceptionofman'splaceintheuniverse.Initspractice,menmust
overcometheirselfishness,andacceptattheirtruevalues,thevariousrewardsoflife.Enochandhis
peopleacquiredsuchhighcontroloverthemselvesthattheywereabletopracticetheunitedorder
unselfishly,andatlastweretranslatedfromtheearthwithouttastingdeath.Itseemsthattheunited
orderisabovethereachofthekindofmenandwomenwenoware.Nevertheless,itisthesystemwe
approach,asweapproachperfection.
**Cooperation.**TheunitedorderhasbeensuspendedasarequiredformoflifeintheChurch,but
itsspiritstillremains.ThosewhoareindeedworthymembersoftheChurchmustacceptthespiritof
theunitedorder.Itfindspresentexpressioninthesystemofcooperation,underwhichmanyunitein
oneenterprise,insuchawaythatnoonepersondominatesit,butthatallconcernedhaveavoiceinit,
andsothattheprofitsresultingfromtheenterprisearedividedmoreorlessuniformlyamongthose
connectedwithit.Cooperativeenterpriseshavebeenfosteredconstantlyandconsistentlybythe
Churchinthelatterdays,andinthemajorityofinstanceshavebeenextremelysuccessful.Infact,
whentheChurchsettledinUtah,itwouldhavebeenimpossibletoaccomplishthegreatworkbefore
thepioneers,hadtheynotpracticedcooperation.Togiveeverymanafullandproperchanceisthe
spiritofthetrueChurch.
**Tithing.**EveryorganizedChurchmusthavesomemeansofmaterialsupport.Housesofworship
mustbeconstructedtemplesmustbebuilteducationmustbefosteredthepoormustbeprovided
forandmanyothermaterialneedsformapartofthegreatspiritualmissionoftheChurch.Forthe
generalsupport,therefore,oftheChurchandofthepoorwhoareunabletoprovideforthemselves,a
fundhasbeenprovidedbythetithingofthepeople.Thisisapreparationfortheunitedorder,and
somedaywillbereplacedbythemorecompletesystem.Thisfundismaintainedbythepayment,by
eachmemberoftheChurch,ofonetenthofhisearnings,astheyaredeliveredtohim.Themoney
thusobtainedisplacedinthehandsofthebishops,andisdisbursedunderthedirectionoftheFirst
Presidencyassociatedwiththepresidingbishopricandotherofficialsnamedintherevelations.
Tithingisanancientsystem,frequentlymentionedinthehistoryofthepast.Itisfairtoallthepeople,
foritisnecessarilyasystemwherebyeachmanpaysinproportiontohisearnings.Greatblessings
followobedienceeithertothelawofunitedorderorthelawoftithing.
**VoluntaryOfferings.**Inadditiontotithing,voluntaryofferingsmaybemadetotheChurchfor
specificorgeneralpurposes,asforthesupportofthepoorordistressedlivingnearus,orforthe
buildingofchurches.
**TheCommonGood.**Allthesedevicesforgatheringmaterialfundsforthesustenanceofthe
Church,simplyshowtheunderlyingandoverwhelmingdesireofthosewhounderstandtheGospel,to
assistformutualbenefit.Notthegoodofone,butthecommongood,isuppermostinthemindsof
thosewhounderstandandlovetheGospel.
CHAPTER28.
WORKFORTHEDEAD.
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Thedoctrineofthebrotherhoodofmanandtheprinciplesofunitedorderandcooperationshowthe
necessityofgivingourselvesforthecommongood.ThisintensedesireoftheChurchforserviceto
all,forhumanbrotherhood,areprobablynowherebettershownthanintheworkforthedead.
**AllMustBeSaved.**TempleworkrestsontheprincipleoftheGreatPlanthatallmustbesaved,
oratleastgiventheopportunityofsalvation.PersonswhohavebeenunabletoaccepttheGospel
ordinancesonearth,arenotnecessarilydeniedtheprivilegesofmembershipintheChurchorrefused
theblessingswhichcometothosewhoacceptthetruth.Forsuchdeadpersonsvicariousworkmustbe
doneinalltheessentialordinancesoftheChurch.Vicariousworkisnotnew,forithasbeenpracticed
invariousformsfromthefirstday.Incommondailylife,amanisgivenauthoritytodoofficialwork
foranother,whena"powerofattorney"isconferred.TheworkofJesusChristwasessentially
vicarious,forheatonedfortheactofAdam.
**EarthlyOrdinances.**Great,eternaltruthsmakeuptheGospelplan.Allregulationsforman's
earthlyguidancehavetheireternalspiritualcounterparts.TheearthlyordinancesoftheGospelare
themselvesthereflectionsofheavenlyordinances.Forinstance,baptism,thegiftoftheHolyGhost
andtempleworkarereallyearthlysymbolsofrealitiesthatprevailthroughouttheuniversebut,they
aresymbolsoftruthsthatmustberecognizediftheGreatPlanistobefulfilled.Theacceptanceof
theseearthlysymbolsispartandparcelofcorrectearthlife,andbeingearthlysymbolstheyare
distinctlyoftheearth,andcannotbeperformedelsewherethanonearth.Inorderthatabsolute
fairnessmayprevailandeternaljusticemaybesatisfied,allmentoattainthefulnessoftheirjoymust
accepttheseearthlyordinances.Thereisnowaterbaptisminthenextestate,noranyconferringofthe
giftoftheHolyGhostbythelayingonofearthlyhands.Theequivalentsoftheseordinancesprevail
nodoubtineveryestate,butonlyastheyaregivenonthisearthcantheybemadetoaid,intheir
onwardprogress,thosewhohavedweltonearth.Forthatreasonthosewhohavedepartedthislife
withouthavingacceptedtheearthlyordinances,whichconstituteinparttheconditionsofentranceto
theChurch,musthavethatworkdoneforthemonearth.Byproxytheymustbebaptizedbywater,
receivethelayingonofhandsandacceptofthetempleordinances.Bythismethodthepathtoeternal
lifeisinvariableinfairnessandwithoutdiscrimination,allmusttreadit.Werethereanydeparture
fromthisorder,itwouldbeashorttimeonlyuntilmenmighttakeuponthemselvestheauthorityof
devisingvariousmethodswherebyeternaljoymightbeobtained.Thiswouldbeunnatural,because
definiteorderprevailsthroughoutnature.
**AWorkofLove.**Todoworkforthedeadinvolvesmuchsacrificeonthepartoftheliving.
Genealogiesmustbecollected,exactinformationconcerningdatesofbirthsanddeathsandother
fundamentaldatamustbeobtained,andthebetterpartofadayisrequiredtotaketheendowmentsfor
eachdeadpersonandallthis,usually,forapersonlongdead,ofwhomtheworkermayhaveno
definiteknowledgebeyondnameandtimeofhislife.Itfollowsthatonlybyloveforone'sfellowmen
cantheworkbedone.Youngandoldmaydoworkforthedeadinthetemplesandyoungandold
are,indeed,engagedinit.Especiallyintheeveningoflife,whentimeismoreplentifulforsuchwork,
domanypersonsgivethemselvesfullytothislaboroflove.Asaresultoftempleworkforthedead,
towhichthousandsofpeoplegivetheirtimeandmeans,agreatfloodofloveforhumanityispoured
outuponthepeople.
**TheNeedofRecords.**Beforetheearthpassesawayintoitsnextstageofexistence,workmustbe
doneinthetemplesforallthelivingandallthedead.Onlywhenthisisdone,willthecurtainbe
rolledup,andthevisionofcompleteexistencegiventoman.Todoworkforthedead,whoinlifedid
notaccepttheGospel,willrequirecompletegenealogiesofthehumanrace.Tosecuretheseisa
gigantictask.Thediverseconditionsofhumanlife,andthevicissitudesoftheracehavebeensuch
thatfrequentlygenealogieshavenotbeenwrittenandoftenhavebeenlost.Themostcarefulsearchof
manwillnotrevealthemall.However,ashasbeenexplained,inanintelligentuniverse,nothingis
whollylost.Therecordofeverymanexistsandbysomemeanswillbefoundbeforetheworkon
earthiscompleted.Meanwhile,noexternalpowerwillcometoman'said,untilhehasusedhisown
efforts,andthereforeitbecomesnecessaryformentosearchoutexistinggenealogiesofthehuman
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race.Whenthathasbeendone,intheyearstocome,manmayrestsecurethatthegodswhodirectour
earth,willcometotherescueofthisimportantpartoftheworkofsalvation.
ConsequentlythereisintenseinterestintheChurchinallgenealogicalmatters.Everypersonisonthe
lookoutforhisowngenealogywhenthatiscompleted,hesearchesforthoseofothers.Suchwork
intensifiesfamilyloyaltyanddevotion,fromwhichvirtuesproceed.Itfollows,also,thattheChurch
recordsandpreserveswithutmostcarethegenealogicalhistoriesofitsmembers.Sacredhistory
showsthatatalltimes,whentheChurchhasbeenonearth,genealogieshavebeencarefullykeptand
recorded.
**TheResult.**Workforthedeadhasfarreachingresults.Firstofall,itestablishesaclose
communionamongthosewhohavelivedandwhoarelivingonearth.Theheartsofthechildrenare
turnedtothefathers,andtheheartsofthefathersareturnedtothechildren.This,indeed,isthevital
principleoftheGreatPlanthatallmayworktogethertotheultimategoodofeach.
Theprincipleofinfinite,lovingbrotherhoodamongmen,asexemplifiedintheworkforthedead,
maybeappliedinthedailylivesoftheliving.Ifsomuchworkisdone,somuchtimeandenergy
expendedandsomuchcarebestoweduponthesalvationofthedead,howmuchmoreshouldwehelp
andsupportandlovetheliving.Thelivingmustalwaysbeman'sfirstconcern.Thisprinciple,carried
intoourdailylives,meansthatwemustcontinuallyandatourownsacrificehelpeachother.Then
onlywillthesacrificeforthedeadnotbeinvain.
Workforthedeadisnodoubtsymbolicofthegreatuniversallawthatthingsoftheuniversemove
onwardtogether,notsingly.Sogreatisthisprincipleinitsapplicationtodailylife,amongtheliving,
thatitrisestobeoneofthemightiestprinciplesthatcontributetohumanbrotherhoodandbrotherly
love.
CHAPTER29.
MARRIAGE.
Wearenotthelastspiritstoenterupontheearthcareer.Thereareyetcountlessnumbersofunborn
spiritswaitingfortheprivilegeofreceivingearthlybodiesandoftastingthesorrowsandthejoysof
earth.Theliving,whounderstandtheGreatPlan,mustnotthenconfinetheirattentiontothemselves
andtothosewhohavegonebefore.Thewaitingspiritsmustbeaconcernofourlives.
**EternityofSex.**Ithasalreadybeensaidthatsexisaneternalprinciple.Theequivalentofsexhas
alwaysexistedandwillcontinueforever.Asthesexrelation,then,representsaneternalcondition,the
begettingofchildreniscoincidentlyaneternalnecessity.Wewerebegottenintothespiritworldby
GodtheFather,andhavebeenbornintotheworldwhichwenowpossess.
**TheWaitingSpirits.**AccordingtotheGreatPlan,allwho,intheGreatCouncil,acceptedthe
Christ,willintimeappearonearth,clothedwithmortalbodies.Allthesespiritsmustbebornas
childrenintotheworld.Ahighpurpose,ifnotthemainone,oftheearthworkmustbe,therefore,to
continuetheracebybegettingchildrenandproperlycaringforthemuntiltheyreachmaturity.
Undoubtedly,thewaitingspiritsarehopingpatientlyfortheirturntoreachtheearthagloriousstep
intheprogressiveadvancementofman,whichthespiritshaveearnedbytheirrighteouslives.
**TheMeaningoftheFirstCommand.**Thisdoctrinemakesclearthemeaningofthefirstgreat
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command,tomultiplyandreplenishtheearth.Itisnotonlyforthejoyandsatisfactionofhumanity
thatthesexrelation,withthepossibilityofbegettingoffspring,prevailsonearth,butasmuchforthe
fulfilmentoftheeternalGreatPlan.Itbecomesanecessaryduty,forallweddedpersonswhodwellon
earth,tobringchildrenintotheworld.Thisisthegreatestandholiestandmostnecessarymissionof
man,withrespecttothewaitingspirits.Fatherhoodandmotherhoodbecomeglorifiedinthelightof
theeternalplanofsalvation.
Thedoctrinethatweddedmanandwomanshouldnotbegetchildrenorshouldlimitthenumberof
childrenborntothem,iscontrarytothespiritoftheGreatPlan,andisamosterroneousone.Letthe
waitingspiritscome!Letchildrenbebornintotheearth!Letfatherhoodandmotherhoodbethemost
honoredofalltheprofessionsonearth!Marriageresultinginparenthoodisagreatevidenceofthe
realityofthebrotherhoodofman,oftheunselfishnessofman.However,onlyinthemarriagerelation
shouldchildrenbebegotten.Loosenessoflife,betweenmanandwoman,isthemostterribleof
humaniniquities,foritleads,assuredly,tothephysicaldecayoftherace.Withthesanctionofthe
Priesthood,menandwomenshouldcontracttolivetogetherashusbandandwife.
**TheFamily.**Theunitofsocietyisthefamily.Thefamilycircleisintimate,andinitthekeenest
humanlovesprevail.Asthefamilydevelopssowillsociety,asawhole,develop.Bychildrencomes
completefamilylife.Withoutchildren,familylifeisincomplete.Childrenare,then,arealnecessityin
thefulfillingofthepossibilitiesoftheChurch.ThetrueChurchalwaysencouragesthebegettingof
childrentheintensifyingoffamilylife,andthedignifyingofallthedutiespertainingtoprocreation.
**CelestialMarriage.**Ifsexiseternal,itfollowsofnecessity,thatthemarriagecovenantmayalso
beeternal.Itisnotafarsteptothedoctrinethataftertheearthworkhasbeencompleted,and
exaltationinthenextestatehasbeenattained,oneofthechiefdutiesofmenandwomenwillbeto
begetspiritualchildren.Thesespirits,inturn,intheprocessoftime,willcomedownuponanearth,
theretoobtainanacquaintancewithgrossmatter,andthroughthepossessionofearthlybodiesto
controlmorefully,andforever,themanifoldforcessurroundingthem.Itisoneoftherewardsof
intelligentdevelopment,thatwemaybetootherspiritualbeings,whatourGodhasbeentous.
AmongthosewhounderstandtheGospel,marriagemaybe,andindeedshouldbe,fortimeand
eternity.Marriagethatlastsonlyduringtheearthlifeisasadone,fortheloveestablishedbetween
manandwoman,astheylivetogetherandreartheirfamily,doesnotwishtodie,buttolivetogrow
richerwiththeeternalyears.Marriagefortimeandeternityestablishesauniquerelationbetween
husbandandwife.Theirchildrenbelongtothemfortimeandeternitythefamilyiscontinuedfrom
thisearthintothenextlife,andbecomesaunitintheeternallife,and,inallfamilyrelations,the
visioniscastforward,inanticipationofanundyingrelationship.
**TheSealingPowers.**Naturally,thepowertosealmenandwomentoeachother,fortimeand
eternity,andtosealchildrentotheirparentsforeternalages,isasupremepower,committedtoman's
keeping.ThePresidentoftheChurchistheonlypersonontheearthwhoholdsthekeysofthese
sealingordinances.True,hemaydelegatehispowertoworkersinthetemples,sothatcelestial
marriagesandsealingsmaygoon,butsuchdelegatedauthoritymaybewithdrawnatanymoment.In
thatrespect,itdifferswhollyfromthepowerofthePriesthood,whichcanbewithdrawnfromaman
onlywhoisfoundinsin.Itisproperthatonlyonemanshouldholdthispower,foritisofinfinite
effect,andshouldbeguardedwiththemostjealouscare,andkeptfromthefrailprejudicesand
jealousiesofmen.
Thepowertobindfortimeandeternityisthepower,also,toloosethatwhichhasbeenbound,should
itbefoundnecessary.Undoubtedly,underhumanconditions,mistakesmaybemade,butifsuch
mistakesaremadeandarenotrectifiedonearth,theywill,nodoubt,underasupervisingintelligent
Being,berectifiedinthehereafter.Itis,however,onlythroughthesealingpowerthattheeternal
relationshipofthesexes,theeternalincreaseoflife,andtheconsequenteternaljoy,maybeobtained.
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CHAPTER30.
THECOMMUNITY.
Therelationsofthefewandthemanyleadtogreatproblemswhichareofthegravestimportto
humanity.
**CommunityDefined.**Acommunityisabodyofpeoplehavingcommoninterestsand,usually,
livinginthesameplace,underthesamelawsandregulations.Fromthebeginningoftime,individuals
haveassociatedandgroupedthemselvesintocommunities.EveryChurchisacommunityof
believers.TheChurchwhichconformstothewholelawistheonecharacterizedbyauthorityand
operatingunderauthoritativelaws.
**TheIndividualintheCommunity.**Acommunityisagreatorganism,withindividualitywhich
mustexpressitselfinadaptationoroppositiontolaw.
Sincethecommunityiscomposedofindividuals,eachwithindependentwillsandagencies,nothing
mustbedone,asacommunity,topreventthefullunfoldingoftheindividual,forthemore
progressivetheindividuals,themoreprogressiveisthecommunity.Whilethecommunityisunder
responsibilitytoeachindividual,theindividual,havingacceptedaplaceandlifeinthecommunity,
mustnotdoanythingthatwillrestrainotherindividualsofthecommunity.Whateverisgoodforthe
many,mustalwaystakepreference.Thisdoesnotinterfere,intheleast,withfullindividual
development,sincethegreatestindividualdevelopmentalwayscomesfromproperadaptationtolaw.
Wheneachindividualfaithfullyobeysthelaw,thecommunityissafe.
**TheRightsoftheCommunity.**Thecommunityhasrightswhichareasinalienableasthefree
agencyofindividuals.Anindividualwhowillnotobeythecommunitylawsshouldmoveoutofthe
community.Thosewhoremainmustyieldobediencetothelawsestablishedforthepublicgood.This
waswellbroughtoutintheGreatCouncil,whenLuciferfellbecausehewasnotonewiththe
community.Inthatgreatday,asinourday,themanyhadtherighttodemandthattheirgoodbe
consideredasofprimaryimportance.
**TrainingfortheCommunity.**Inviewofthesupremacyofthecommunityitbecomes
indispensablethatthepowersoftheindividualbesounfoldedastobeofservicetothecommunity.
Nomancanselfishlystandasideandsay"IamsufficientuntomyselfinthecommunityIhaveno
interestthoughIobeyitslaws,Idonotserveit."Itisnotsufficientthatamanobeythelawsofthe
communityhemustvigorouslyservethecommunity.Everyactofeveryman'slifemustrelateitself
tothegoodofothermen.ThisisfundamentalintheGospel,andshouldbefundamentalinthedaily
relationsofmen.
Thisjustifiesthemoderntrainingnowgivenmenforthenecessarypursuitsandcommontasksof
dailylife.Whateverisnecessary,mayandshouldbemadehonorableanddignified.Allpursuitsare
madeprofessional,sothatallwhoservethegoodofthemany,mayfindthesamejoyintheirwork
whateveritmaybe.Allmenshouldbetrainedforservicetothecommunity.
ItisaninterestingcommentaryonthepresentdayChurchthatPresidentBrighamYoungwasoneof
thefirstmeninAmericatoestablishschoolsinwhichthetrainingofmenfortheactualaffairsoflife
wasmadepreeminent.Todaywetrainforcitizenship,whetherintheChurchorintheState.Insuch
trainingliesthehopeofthecommunityforitsfuture.Bysuchtrainingwillafeelingofcommunity
responsibilitybeestablishedamongmen.
**TheSupremacyoftheCommunity.**Fromallthisandfromwhathasbeensaidinpreceding
chapters,itisclearthattheGreatPlanwassodevisedthatmenmayunitedlyworkouttheirsalvation.
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Manmaynotstandalone.BrotherhoodisthegreatprincipleonwhichtheChurchisbased.
MANANDNATURE.
CHAPTER31.
MANANDNATURE.
Thereisbutonenature.Allthings,visibleorinvisible,belongtotheoneuniverse.
**TheIntelligenceofNature.**Eachandallofthenumerousforcesintheuniversemaybesubjected
tothewillofman.Intheuniverseareuntoldnumbersofintelligentbeings,whosemainbusinessitis
todiscoverthewaysofnature,andbyanintelligentcontrolofnature,toacquiregreaterpowerof
advancingdevelopment.Theholyspiritfillsallthings,andbyitsmeansthethoughtsandmindsof
theseincreasingintelligentbeingsareeverywherefelt.Intelligencepermeatestheuniverse.
Thequestionisoftenasked,"Doesnature,asweknowit,therocksandtreesandbeasts,possess
intelligenceofanorderakintothatofman?"Whoknows?Thatintelligenceiseverywherepresentis
beyondquestion.BytheintelligentGod,natureisdirected.Theformingofacrystalortheconception
ofalivinganimalis,somehow,connectedwithanintelligentpurposeandwill.Thisfruitfulfieldof
conjectureshouldbetouchedwithcare,forsolittledefiniteknowledgeconcerningitisinman's
possession.
**ALivingEarth.**Itseemstobewellestablishedthattheearthasawhole,isalivingorganism.It
hadabeginningitwilldieorbechanged,andafterispurificationitwillbebroughtintogreaterglory
asaresurrectedorganism.Eventhesymbolismofbaptismwasperformedfortheearthwhenthe
watersdescendedinthegreatflood.Allthiscansimplymeanthattheearth,aswellasallonit,are
subjecttothefundamentalPlan,involvingtheatonementofJesusChrist.
Theearthasanorganismdoesitsworkperfectlywell.Itiswithoutsin."Theearthabidesthelawofa
celestialkingdom,foritfillsthemeasureofitscreation,andtransgressesnotthelaw.Whereforeit
shallbesanctifiedyea,notwithstandingitshalldie,itshallbequickenedagain,andshallabidethe
powerbywhichitisquickened,andtherighteousshallinheritit."Iftheearthisalivingorganism,it
seemsmorethanlikelythatallthingsonearthpossessameasureoflifeandintelligence.
**TheLowerAnimals.**TheloweranimalswerecreatedbythepowerofGod.Allthingscreatedby
him,havefirstbeencreatedspiritually,thentemporally,afterwhichtheypassagainintothespiritual
life.Animalswerecreatedspirituallybeforetheyweregivenmaterialexistence.Ifthemeaningofthis
doctrineisthatanimalslivedbeforethis,theycertainlymaylivehereafter.Thatwhichisessentialin
animalsisprobablyindestructible.Ourknowledgeofthissubjectisextremelylimited,andwhatever
issaidaboutit,isconjecturalandsubjecttorevision.
**AllfortheUseofMan.**Nevertheless,rocksandtreesandbeasts,arefortheuseofman,tobe
usedbyhiminmoderationandwithwisdom.Manisattheheadofthecreationsonearth.Itishis
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dutytomakeproperuseofthemall.Whoeverteachesthatanypartoftheuniverseisnotforthe
benefitofman,isinerror.
**Man'sConquestofNature.**Itisthesimplestofpresentdaydoctrinesthatthevastnessofnature
makesitimpossibleformantocomprehendmorethantheminutestpartofit.Yet,inthetrue
philosophyoflife,nothingismorecertainthanthatthegreatestmysteryofnaturemayatsometime
beunderstood.Thegreatpurposeofman'sexistenceisacompleteunderstandingofallthemysteries
ofnature.True,theunderstandingthatwillgivehimfullmasteryovernaturewillcomelittlebylittle.
Intheend,manshallknowallthathedesires.Eveninthathappydayheshallnotbeabletochange
onelawofnatureonlybyintelligentcontrolmayheapplynature'slawstodesiredends.Withthis
certaintymanmaygoonwardhopefully.Natureisinexhaustibleandmanshallnot,inalltheendless
ages,exploreitcompletelyheshallonlyintheeternaldaysbecomemoreconsciousofitsinfinite
majestytherebycomestheeverlastingjoyofman.Greathopeofconquestenablesmantomeethis
dailytasks,withliftedheadandfearlesscourage.Manknowsthatallhissearchshallbesuccessful,if
heonlysearchwithmightandmainandhavepatiencetowait.
**Miracles.**Manisoflimitedpowerwhateverhecannotunderstandorduplicatemaybecalled
miraculousandonlyinthatsensecanmiraclesbeallowed.ThemiraclesoftheSaviorweredoneonly
bysuperiorknowledge.Nothingisunnatural.Allthathasbeendone,manmaydoasheincreasesin
power.Theconceptionofintelligenceguidingthedestiniesofmen,makesitpossiblethat,inour
behalf,wonderfulthingsareoftendone,thattranscendourunderstanding,butwhichareyetinfull
andcompleteharmonywiththelawsofnature.Forourselveswemustdiscoverallofnaturethatwe
can.Intimeofneed,whenourownknowledgedoesnotsuffice,theMastermaygivehishelp.Thus,
aftermanhasusedhisfullknowledgeandfailed,thesickmaybehealed,thesorrowing,comforted,or
wealthorpovertymaycome,providedwedrawheavilyenoughupontheunseenforcesaboutus.Help
soobtainedisnotunnatural.Amiracleissimplythatwhichwecannotunderstand,andatwhichwe
marvel.
**HarmonyofManandNature.**Vast,unnumberedforceslieaboutus.Thepossiblepowerofman,
ashegrowsinknowledge,isquitebeyondourunderstanding.Allthatisrequiredofmanisthathe
placehimselfinharmonywiththeinteractingforces,operatinginalldirections.Iftheforcesarenot
fullyunderstood,hemustsearchthemout,andasbesthecan,mustplacehimselfsothattheyarewith
himratherthanagainsthim.Toenjoynatureisourprivilegeandduty.Nolifefindsjoyaboveits
harmoniousassociationswiththethingsthatlieaboutitinnature.Allthisismerelyinaccordwiththe
fundamentaldoctrinesalreadylaiddown.TheChurchpossessingthetruth,alwaysfosters,encourages
andrespectsallhonestinvestigationofnature.
MANANDHIMSELF.
CHAPTER32.
THESOUNDBODY.
Considerationhasbeengiven,intheprecedingchapters,tothepreexistentlife,thecourseofthe
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Gospelontheearth,andman'srelationshiptoGod,totheChurchandtohisfellowman.Manmust,
also,giverespectfulconsiderationtohimself,asanindividual.
**TheImportanceoftheBody.**Attentionhasalreadybeencalledtothefactthattheconditionof
thebodylimits,largely,theexpressionofthespirit.Thespiritshinesthroughthebodyonlyasthe
bodypermits.Thebodyisessentiallyoftheearthand,intheearthcareer,theearthlyenvelopeofthe
spiritwouldnaturallydeterminetheexpressionofman'spowers.Ifthebodyisinpoorconditionfrom
birth,manmuststrengthenitasthedaysincreaseifitisstrongfromthebeginning,hemustmakeit
stronger.
**Food.**Afirstconsiderationforthepropermaintenanceofbodilyhealth,istheproperfeedingof
thebody.Manshouldusefoodadaptedtothebodyandseasonableaccordingtonature.Inaccordance
withtheWordofWisdom,meatshouldbeusedsparingly,andnofoodshouldbeusedtoexcess.
**Exercise.**Theeliminationofunassimilatedfoodfromthehumanbodyisquiteasimportantasthe
takinginoffood.Forthatpurpose,physicalexercisemustbetakenregularly.Moreover,exercise
developsandstrengthensallpartsofthebody.Manuallabor,whichusuallyislookeduponasinferior
tomentallabor,isinrealityameansofimprovingthebody,permittinghardmentallaborandmaking
possibleafullerexpressionofman'sspirit.Man'slifeshouldnotbegivenwhollytophysicalwork,
butitshouldconstituteavitalpartofit.
**Rest.**Justasnecessaryasisfoodorexercise,isthechangecalledrest.Ifthesamemusclesbe
exercisedcontinuouslytheywillsurelytireandgoodworkcan,then,nolongerbedonewiththem.
Regularrestshouldbegiventhebody.Frequently,achangefromonekindofworktoanotherisa
sufficientrestbutinmanycases,cessationfromeffortisnecessarytorecuperateman'sstrength,
properly.Thenaturallawrequiringregularsleepshouldbeobeyed,thoughnoneshouldsleeptoo
long.Onedayoutofseven,theSabbath,shouldbedevoted,particularly,tomattersconcerningGod
andthespirituallife,whichtoooftenaresubmergedduringtheotherdays,inthematerialaffairsof
life.Anoccasionalfastingisverydesirable,since,forafewhours,itgivessomeorgansofthebodya
completerest.Atpresent,theChurchpracticeistofasttwentyfourconsecutivehoursonceeach
month.Thefoodthussaved,inconformitywiththefundamentalspiritofbrotherhood,isdistributed
amongthosewhohaveneedofit,bywardofficersspeciallyappointedforthatpurpose.
**Stimulants.**Innormalhealth,food,exercise,rest,loveofGodandfellowmananddailywork,
furnishanaturalandsufficientstimulationforallthedutiesoflife.Infact,noneothershouldbe
allowed,ifthebestphysicalhealthistoberetained.Therefore,alcoholinallitsforms,tobacco,tea,
coffeeandthevarietyofdrugsshouldnotbeused.Thereisdoubledangerintheuseofstimulants:
first,theytendtounderminethestrengthoftheman,and,second,theytakeawayfrommanhis
masteryofhimself.Undertheinfluenceofadrug,manisurgedonbythedrugitself,andnotbyhis
ownstrengthofwill.Thisismostdangerous.Amanwholosescontrolofhimself,neverknowsjust
whathemaydo.
**MoralPurity.**Thebodyismuchconcernedinthemoralpurityoftheman.Menandwomenmust
keepthemselvespureortherewillbealossoflifeandprocreativepower.Moreover,menmustkeep
themselvesaspureasdowomen.Noreasoning,basedonnaturallaw,justifiestwostandardsof
morality,oneforthemanandtheotherforthewoman.
**TheGospelandtheSoundBody.**ThesoundbodyisaGospelrequirement,foronlywithasound
bodycanmanworkouthismissionandhavefulljoy.Workingeffectivelyandtomakeothershappy,
canbedoneonlyinahealthybody.Everyeffortshouldbemadetokeepourbodiesassoundas
possible.Itisapartofarationaltheology.
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CHAPTER33.
EDUCATIONFORTHEINNERLIFE.
Afterall,thebodyisonlythetabernacleofthespirit.Thespiritwithin,theessentialpartofman,must
bedevelopedasmuchaspossibleduringtheearthcareer.
**TheSenses.**Knowledgeisthematerialonwhichthemindworks.Ineveryprogressivelifefresh
knowledgemustbegatheredasthedaysgoby.Thesensesofmanarethegatewaysthroughwhich
thatknowledgeenters.Thesensesofmanmustbedeveloped,therefore,ascompletelyasispossible.
Seeing,hearing,tasting,smellingandfeelingmustallbedevelopedfullyandjoyouslyforthepleasure
andbenefitofman.Withoutsharpsenses,manmaynothavethehighestearthlyjoy.
**TheReasoningPower.**Itisnotsufficientforthecontentmentofmanthathegatherknowledge,
andaddfacttofact.Allnewinformationmustbecomparedwithotherinformation,sothat
conclusionsmaybedrawn,andnewknowledgebroughtintoview.Bythisprocessofreasoning,on
thebasisofacquiredknowledge,manmayrisebysurestepstoahighdegreeofunderstanding.Man
musttrainhimself,withallhismight,tousethiswonderfulfacultyofreason,sothathemay
intelligentlyreadnewknowledgefromallhelearns.Afact,ofitself,islifelessonlywhenitis
comparedwithotherfacts,doesitleapintolife,andshowforthitshiddenmeaning.
**TheFeelings.**Thesenseoffeelingisbutapoorexpressionfortheonegreatsensebywhichman
maydirectlycommunicatewiththeregionoftheunseen.Throughthissense,manstandsonthe
borderlinebetweenearthandtheexternaluniverse.Thosewhohavecommunionwiththeforces
aboutthem,becauseoftheirgreaterrefinementoffeeling,havecomfortwhichisattainableinno
othermanner.
Moreover,ourfeelingswithrespecttoourfellowmenshouldbecultivated.Wemustlearnto
sympathizewiththemintheirdistresses,rejoicewiththemintheirjoys,andpitythemintheirsins.
Theeducationofthefeelingsisagreatdutyofman.
**TheSpiritualSense.**Thissenseiscloselyakintothefeelings.Thevirtuesofman,suchashope,
charity,andmercy,canreachhighdevelopmentonlyonthebasisoftheconvictionthattheunseen
worldmaybeknown.Whenthisconvictiongrowsuponaman,andhereachesoutforafuller
understandingofit,hisspiritualsensedevelops,newworldsareopenedtohimandheconformstothe
intelligentlovewhichmadetheGreatPlanpossible.
**Symbolism.**Moreover,asmandevelops,helearnstobecontenttoknoweternaltruthsonlyin
greatsymbols.Thatis,helearnstobesatisfiedtoknowthathedoesnotfullyknow.Thishasalready
beendweltuponandneednotbefurtheremphasized.TheSacrament,asanordinanceoftheChurchis
oneofthegreatsymbolsofthesufferinganddeathofJesusforthesakeofmankind,thattheGreat
Planmightbefulfilled.Breadiseatenandwaterisdrunkassymbolsofthebodyandbloodofthe
Savior,givenintheatoningsacrifice.Everyotherordinanceissimilarlysymbolic.Backofthe
symbolsliesthewholeGreatPlaninallofitsgradations.Goddemandsthatthesacramentbepartaken
offrequently,sothattheatoningsacrificeofJesusmaybeheldbeforethepeoplecontinuallysowith
theothergreatsymbolsoftheChurch.Bythemtherealitiesofeternallifeareheldbeforeus.
**Education.**Thewholeoflifeiseducation,ortrainingforfurtherwork.Nowonder,therefore,
that,inthecorrectphilosophyoflife,schoolsandotherdevicesforthetrainingofman'spowersare
foremost.Educationisandmustbecarriedonwardfullyandabundantly,intheChurchofChrist.The
supportofeducationis,indeed,atestofthetruthfulnessoftheChurch.
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CHAPTER34.
SATISFACTIONWITHDAILYWORK.
Allmustworkindefenseiffornootherreason.Withoutsomekindoflabor,bodyandmindwill
deteriorate.Clearly,however,allcannotdothesamework,unlesseachmandoespracticallyallthe
varietyofworknecessaryfortheproductionofthethingsnecessaryinhislife.Inacomplex
civilizationofmanyneeds,thatwouldbeimpossibleorwasteful.Thegreatsatisfactionofearthlifeis
tobecontentwithwhateverworkmaycome.
**VarietyofEarthlyTasks.**InobediencetoGod'scommand,manmustdevotehimselftothework
ofsubduingtheearth.Thisisnosimpletask,fortheearthisanorganismofmanyelements.
Moreover,theneedsofmanarevariedandmanifold,tothesatisfyingofwhich,thesubjectionofthe
earthisordained.Thereisanendlessvarietyoftasks,forbodyandmind,tobeaccomplishedbythe
menandwomenofearth.Thesetasksdiffergreatlysomeconcernthemselveschieflywiththebody
others,chieflywiththemindandyetotherswithbothbodyandmind.Somedealwiththis,andothers
withthat,essentialneedsomewiththis,andotherswiththat,necessarycondition.Thevocationsof
manarealmostnumberless.Muchunhappinesshascometomenbecausetheyhavebeenobligedin
lifetofollowonevocationwhentheywouldratherfollowanother.Ifamanthusbeunhappyinhis
dailyworkthewholeofhislifeisakintofailure,becausehedoesnottrulyrealizethepossiblejoysof
life.Occasionally,thediscontentisduetotheunwillingnessofthemantoearnhisbreadinthesweat
ofhisbrow.Thisisduetoignorance.Earnest,sincerelabor,requiringsteadyandfulleffort,isthe
sourceofmanyabidingjoys.
**AllWorkMaybeIntelligent.**Ifintelligencepervadesallthings,andifallthingsbelongtothe
GreatPlan,includingthelaborsinwhichmanlivesandmoves,thenalltasksmayandshouldbemade
intelligentandappealingtomindaswellastobody.Rationalasitis,itishoweverarelativelynew
thought,thattoeverytask,ifproperlyilluminedbyknowledge,manyforcesofthemindmaybe
applied.Asmanhasgainedaddedknowledge,thishasbecomemoreandmoreevident.Thefactthat
intelligencemaybemadetoilluminatethesocalledhumblertasks,liftsmuchofthesocalledcurse
fromthelaborofman.Thisisanotherreasonfortheeducationofmanintoanunderstandingofthe
fullmeaningofthenecessarytasksoflife.Itjustifiesthesupportofresearchintoalldivisionsof
nature,andstampswithapprovalhoneststudyandinvestigationofeverykind.Allkindsofworkmust
bedonefullpreparationforeverykindofworkisfullyjustified.
**NothingTemporal.**Godhasnevergivenatemporalcommandment.AllGod'screativeworksare
firstspiritual,thentemporal.Thatis,theywerefirstbegottenoftheintelligentmind,andmust
representsomenecessityintheGreatPlan.Whatever,therefore,isbroughtintooperationonearthfor
thegoodofman,mustrepresentgreat,eternal,spiritualrealities.Inconformitywiththisthought,
everytask,howeverapparentlyhumble,howeverapparentlyremotefromfundamentalprinciples,has
aspiritualcounterpart,andisnecessaryforthecompletionoftheplanunderwhichmanworks.It
matterslittle,therefore,whethermandevotehislifetothetillingofthesoil,themakingofshoesor
thewritingofbooks,sothattheworkbewelldone.Allsuchtasksareproper,dignifiedandnecessary
partsoftheGreatPlan,andwillleadmanalongthepathofeternalprogression.Thismeansthat,no
mattertowhatworkamanmaygivehimself,providingitishonorableandhedoitwithallhismight,
hemayrestsecurethatonthelastgreatday,theworkwillbetransmutedintospiritualvalues,andas
suchwillbewrittenintotheeternalrecord.Thequalityandnotthekindofworkisthefinaltestof
man'sachievements.
Manknowsrelativelylittle.Heacceptshispartwithoutknowingitsmeaninginthefulleconomyof
God'splanforhischildren.Wiseisthemanwhospendshisstrength,withafullheart,inthe
accomplishmentofthenearestwork.Hewillfindhisworktransmutedintothingsgloriousbeyondhis
dreams.Morethanthat:Manneednotwaitlongforthetransmutationofhishonestwork.Strength
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comestothemanofhonestandfullendeavor,irrespectiveofthekindofwork,andonthisearthhis
effortsaretransmutedintoagreatandnoblejoy.Allworkisholy,and,welldone,willbringitsown
reward,hereandinthehereafter.
Withoutquestion,menshouldseektheworktheythinktheylovebest,orforwhichtheyarebest
fitted.Yet,'themajorityofmencandomostworkinasatisfactorymanner.Theworkthatwefinally
mustdo,weshouldacceptinthelightofitseternalvalue.
**SubjectionofSelf.**Nevertheless,toacceptaplaceinsocietynotalwaystheplaceonedesires
todowelltheworkthatisnearathandnotalwaystheworkonewishestoloveandtocherishthe
work,andtoforgetoneselfintheneedsofothers,allthatisnotalwayseasy.Suchalifemeansa
subjectionofselfwhichcanbeaccomplishedonlyifthereisaclearunderstandingoftheplanof
salvation.
CHAPTER35.
THEHOPEOFTOMORROW.
Timeisunceasing.Therewasayesterday,thereisatoday,andtherewillbeatomorrow.TheGospel
planencompassesalltime.Tomorrowhasagreatplaceintheeternalplan.
**Today.**Thegreatestdayofalltimeistoday.Itistheproductofallthepastandisthepromiseof
allthefuture.Ifeachtodayismadegreat,thetomorrowswillbesurpassinglygreater.Theonewayto
drawoutoflifethekeenjoysoflife,istothinklittleoftomorrow,buttolivemightilytoday.
**Tomorrow.**Yet,surely,therewillbeatomorrow.Thesunsets,andwesleep,andweawakentoa
newday.Foreverthereshallcomenewdays.Todayisourgreatdaybuttherewillbeanothergreat,a
greaterday.Whattomorrowshallbe,dependsmeasureablyupontoday.Atleast,thebeginningof
tomorrowwillbeastheeveningoftoday.Aswespendtoday,sowillthehopeoftomorrowbe.The
agesdonotcomeinleaps,butstepbystepdotheyenterintothelargerlife.
Thelawoftodayisthatjoywilltransfigureeachcomingtomorrow,ifourworkbewelldonetoday.
Nomanknowswhetherhistomorrowwillbeonthisearthorinanotherexistence,withnewduties
andunderanewenvironment.Ofonethingwearesure,beyondallcavil,thatlifeonearthwill
continueintoanendlessfuture,andtheworkwillbetakenupwhereitwaslaiddownyesterday.
**TheResurrection.**Themanwhoselifeisorderedright,worrieslittleabouthistomorrow.Full
wellheknowsthat,thoughthebodybelaidinthegrave,itwillriseagain.Hehastheabsolute
assuranceoftheresurrection.Inthatresurrectionthebodywillarisepurified,possessingonlyits
essential,characteristicparts,whichcannotbetakenawayortransferredtoanotherbody.These
essential,characteristicpartsorganizedintoabodywillbethemortalbodymadeimmortal.
Theresurrectionofmortalbodies,onearth,beganwithJesus,whoonthethirddayrosefromthe
grave,andafterhissojournamongthechildrenofmen,tookhisbodywithhimintoheaven.Thiswas
thefirstfruitoftheresurrection,madepossiblebytheatonementoftheChrist.Sincethattime,the
resurrectionofmanmayhavecontinued,andnodoubtwillcontinue,inthefutureformanyspirits
havelaiddowntheirearthlybodies,andallmustberaisedfromthegrave.Intheresurrection,order
andlawwillprevail,andthejustdesertsofmenwillbekeptinmind.
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**OurPlaceintheHereafter.**Intoanew,greatworldshallweenterafterthejourneyonearthhas
ended.Inthisnewworldweshallcontinueourworkofprogression,foreverandforever,underthe
prevailinglaws.Ourprogress,there,andthelawsrevealedtous,willdependuponourownactions
anduponourownwillingnesstoabidebythelawsalreadyknowntous.
Ourplaceinthatlifewilldependonourfaithfulnesshere.Whateveramanhasgainedonearth,will
risewithhimintheresurrection.Allthathegainedinthespiritworld,beforehecameonearth,will
likewiserisewithhim.Allmenwillbesaved,butthedegreeofthatsalvationwillvaryevenasour
varyingworkonearth.Therewillbegloryuponglory,andtherewillbedifferentdegreesof
advancement,somelikeuntothesun,somelikeuntothemoon,whileotherglorieswilldifferevenas
theinfinitestarsoftheheavensdifferinthebrightness.
IntheGreatPlanthereisnoprovisionfortheeternaldamnationofman.Atthebest,menwillbe
rangedaccordingtotheirstageofprogressionsomehigher,somelower.Inauniverseruledby
intelligentbeings,filledwithloveforeachother,therecanbenothoughtofanendlessdamnation
onlyasmen,byoppositiontolaw,destroythemselves.Endlesspunishmentandeternalpunishment,
termsoftenused,butoflittlemeaningtothehumanmind,meansimplyGod'spunishment,whichis
beyondourunderstanding.Thosewhorefusetoaccepttruthortoabidebylaw,willgraduallytake
lessandlesspartintheworkofprogression.Theywillbeleftbehind,whiletheirintelligentfellows,
moreobedient,willgoon.Innaturethereisnostandingstillthosewhodonotadvance,will
retrograde,becomeweakerandfinallywither,andbeforgottenintheirlowestate.
**TheDestinyofMan.**Theintelligencecalledmancannotbedestroyed.Eternallifeistherefore
thedestinyofman.But,eternallifeislifeopeneyed,readyminded,seeking,acceptingandusingall
knowledgethatwillassistinman'sprogress.Tocontinueforever,upward,thatiseternallifeandthe
destinyofman.
CHAPTER36.
THELAWOFTHEEARTH.
Inthehighheavensyethangthestars.Throughouttheinfiniteuniversestillplaythehostsofmighty
forces.Thefullconquestoftheearthbymanisyettobeaccomplished.Asthingswerewhenman
openedhiseyesafterbirth,sodotheyappeartobetoday.Yet,duringtheyearsthathavegone,the
manhaschangedfornowheknowshisoriginandhisdestiny,andthepurposeofhislifeonearth.He
knowsthatthroughouttheseemingsamenessthereisprogressivechangethat,ashehaschanged,so
hastheworldchanged,toothattheallpervadingIntelligentGodoftheuniverseisengagedina
progressivedevelopment.
Manhasfoundhisplaceamidstthethingsabouthim.Whence?Whither?Heknowsandwithsmiling
couragesetsouttosubduethetasksoftheday,knowingwellthattheday'slabor,whateveritmaybe,
inrighteousness,shallcountforhimintheendlessjourneywhichheismaking.
**TheUnknownMeaning.**Themanhaslearnedthatinaninfiniteuniverse,admittingofendless
development,thingsmaynotbefullyknown.Theveryessenceofthingsmustforeverbethegoal,
towardswhichintelligencestrives.Nevertheless,manalsoknowsthattoapproachbyslowdegrees,
butsteadily,thefullknowledgewhichgivesunmeasuredpowerovernaturalforces,isthewayof
progress.Soheiscontenttoleteachdayspeakonenewwordoftheunknownmeaningofthe
universe.
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Theuniverseisone.Allthingsinitarepartsofonewhole.Thedominatingspiritofthevastnessof
spaceandofitscontentsisthedominatingspiritoftheleastpartofthatwhichconstitutesthewhole.It
mattersnotthen,towhatamangivehimself.Ineverythingandanythingmaytheriddleofthe
universeberead,ifthesearchbecontinuedlongenough.Modestinhispossessions,yetcourageousin
hishopeofultimateconquest,hestandsbeforethethingsofhislife,smallorgreat,knowingofa
suretythatinthemliethetruthsthatoverwhelmtheuniverse.
"Flowerinthecranniedwall,
Ipluckyououtofthecrannies,
Iholdyouhere,rootandall,inmyhand,
LittleflowerbutifIcouldunderstand
Whatyouare,rootandall,andallinall,
IshouldknowwhatGodandmanis."
Knowingallthis,andtheoutlineofhisoriginanddestiny,manmustbeforeverengagedinextending
thephilosophy,inaccordancewithwhichheordersandguideshislife.
**TheEarthLaw.**Onearththemandwellstoday.Greataretheconceptionsrevealedtohim
concerningtheconstitution,progressanddestinyoftheuniverse.Marveloustohisunderstandingis
theknowledgeofhisfullandvitalplaceintheschemeofthings.Yet,encompassedbyearth
conditions,hestrivestoassembleallthisvast,divineandwondrousknowledge,andoutofittodraw
somesimpleformula,inthelanguageofman,thatmaybeappliedintheaffairsofearth,andwhich
shallbeasimpleguidetohiminallthathemaydo.
Suchaformulawassoughtandfoundbythefirstman,andhasbeenusedbytherighteousofallages.
Inthemeridianoftime,whenJesusofNazareth,theChrist,cameuponearthtofulfilthecentral
thoughtintheplanofsalvation,hestatedtheformulainwordsthatneverhavebeensurpassed.Thus
runstheformula,andthusiswordedthelawoftheearth:"ThoushaltlovetheLordthyGodwithall
thyheart,andwithallthysoulandwithallthymind.Thoushaltlovethyneighborasthyself.On
thesetwocommandmentshangeththelawandtheprophets."
This,inshort,isman'sdutywhilehedwellsintheflesh.HisGod,hisfellowmanandhimselfthe
threeconcernsofhislife.Wesayitistheearthlaw,butlikeallotherthingsoftheearth,itstandsfor
hugespiritualmeanings,andisthereforeaneternallawforalltimesandforallplaces.
**ToLoveGod.**Whatdoesitmean,toloveGodwithone'sheartandsoulandmind?Certainly,a
loveoftheheartandthesoulandthemindcannotbegiventoaBeingwhoisnotknownnor
understood.Suchloveismorethanablindobedience.Insuchalovetheremustbearational
understandingofGod'snatureandofhisplaceintheuniverseandofhisrelationtomen.Theremust
beinsuchafulnessofloveanacceptanceofGod'ssuperiorknowledge,ofhisintelligentPlanforman
andofhissupremeandfinalauthority.Suchalovecannotwellbeforgottenorsurvive,unlessGodis
partofauniverse,theorderlyoutlinesofwhichcanbefathomedbythehumanmind,Thatsuch
knowledgemaybepossessedbyman,andthatarealunfeignedloveforGodmaybedeveloped,has
beentaughtintheprecedingpages.NeithercanGodbefullylovedunlessheisobeyedandthefirst
commandissimple,"Multiplyandreplenishtheearthandsubdueit."
**ToLoveaNeighborasOneself.**Toloveoneselfthatiseasy.Instinctively,fromthefirstday,
wehavereachedoutforourowngreatergood.Everypersonalphilosophymakesthemanthecenter.
Toloveourneighborequallywell"that'stherub."Hiswillisnotourwillhisways,notourways.
Yet,onlybytheprogressofall,caneachgainthegreatestadvancement.Thefundamentalconceptions
ofauniversefilledwitheternalmatterandforces,andahostofindividualintelligentbeings,makeit
clearthatonlybycompleteharmonyofallintelligentbeingscantheinterestsofeachbeserved,inthe
workofsubjugating,byintelligentconquest,theforcesofuniversalnature.
Toloveone'sneighbor,then,amanmustfirstknowfullyhisownoriginanddestinyandpossible
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powersthenhemaysoonlearntheneedoflovinghisfellowman,ifhisloveforhimselfshallgrow
great.Thiscommandmentisnotinferiortothefirst.
**TheTriumphofMan.**Theeternal,conscious,willingbeing,havingbecomeanearthlyman,
standsbeforethelawoftheearth.Ifhestrives,allthedaysofhislife,tobringintoperfectaccord,the
Godwhorules,hisearthlybrotherandhimself,hewillatlengthwinthevictoryinthebattleofhis
life.Outofsuchalifewillcome,amongothergifts,controlledpersonaldesires,subjectiontolaw,a
recognitionofthegreatpowerofman,andtheharmoniousadjustmentofcontendingforcestothe
completionoftheGreatPlanwhichgovernsman'searthlife.Whetherlivingordead,suchaperson
hastriumphed,andthejourneyfromthedimbeginninghasnotbeeninvain.Tosuchsoulscomesthe
rewardoftheunspeakablejoyofaperfectunderstandingofthemeaningoflife,andthelivingpeace
thatpassethunderstandingthroughwhichappearsthevitalfuture,evervigorouslyprogressing
towardsanincreasing,virilegoal.
Haveyoutriedthevirtueofthelawoftheearth?Ifyouhavenot,tryitnow,foritisgood.
APPENDIX.
Thedoctrinesandviewssetforthintheprecedingpages,basedontheteachingsoftheeldersofthe
Church,especiallyoftheProphetJosephSmith,maybeconfirmedbyastudyofthedoctrinal
standardsoftheChurch,namely,theBible,theBookofMormon,theDoctrineandCovenantsandthe
PearlofGreatPrice.Thefollowingreferences,chosenalmostatrandom,fromthesestandards,
especiallyfromtheDoctrineandCovenants,arefortheimmediateuseofthosewhowishtopursue
thestudysomewhatmoreindetail.Foracriticalstudy,anexhaustiveexaminationmustnecessarilybe
madeofthedoctrinalstandardsandofthemassofbooksandprintedsermonsonthesystemofbelief
oftheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints.Suchstudentswillfindtheexistingindexesor
concordancestothestandardauthoritiesofmostvalue.[A]buttheywillalsoobtainmuchreadyhelp
fromtheseveralexistingexcellentcompilationsofreferences,classifiedunderdoctrinalheadings.[B]
AlistofChurchliteraturemaybeobtainedfromtheDeseretNewsandDeseretSundaySchoolUnion
Bookstores,SaltLakeCity,Utah.
[FootnoteA:Cruden'sConcordancetotheBible(orsomeothergood
concordance).ACompleteConcordancetotheBookofMormon(George
Reynolds).AConcordancetotheBookofDoctrineandCovenants(John
A.Widtsoe).NoindexhasasyetbeenmadeforthePearlofGreat
Price,butthebookissmallandmaybereadeasilyinitsentirety.]
[FootnoteB:TheCompendium(RichardsandLittle)isthetypeafterwhichmostofthelater
compilationshavebeenfashioned.]
REFERENCES.
CHAPTERS1AND2
**DoctrineandCovenants**1:2842:6146:1884:1988:7880,118,11989:1990:1593:11
14,2936,53101:25128:14130:18,19131:6.
CHAPTER3
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**DoctrineandCovenants**3:29:7928:1329:313549:1776:13,222482:486:988:13,
25,26,344593:2123,29105:5121:3032130:20,21131:7132:8.
**PearlofGreatPrice,**Abraham3:1821Moses1:33,353:5,9.
**BookofMormon,**INephi10:19IINephi11:5Alma13:6,7
34:942:16.
**Bible,**Job38:47Jer.1:5John9:217:5Heb.12:9Rom.
6:23.
CHAPTER4
**DoctrineandCovenants,**9:79
**BookofMormon,**Alma12:11,3129:4,530:9Moroni10:4,5
Mosiah18:28.
CHAPTER5
**DoctrineandCovenants,**LecturesonFaith7:8sections50:2493:1214,20132:20.
**BookofMormon,**Alma32:32Mosiah4:12.
CHAPTER6
**DoctrineandCovenants,**3:2,4,106:276:2488:13,4193:1,1215,2938107:54,55
110:14,130:13,22.
**PearlofGreatPrice,**Abraham4:131.
CHAPTER7
**DoctrineandCovenants,**45:7158:1877:288:1593:28,33,3498:8128:19133:33.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi2:25Enos1:3Ether3:620.
CHAPTER8
**DoctrineandCovenants,**9:3610:6618:111319:161929:3542,4658:2874:776:25,
26,3941,6993:293998:8101:78104:17121:32.
**PearlofGreatPrice,**Abraham3:18,25,26.
**BookofMormon,**INephi4:336:4IINephi2:3,6,279:5,252610:232531:21Alma
3:267:1212:3113:3Mosiah3:54:69Helaman14:30.
**Bible,**Gen.2:17Isa.63:9Matt.18:11John1:293:14,1512:23Rom.3:255:156:23I
Tim2:5Gal.3:13Jude1:6Rev.12:7.
CHAPTER9
**DoctrineandCovenants,**82:488:354093:38128sec.
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**BookofMormon,**INephi10:1821:6IINephi9:18,25Alma12:2530:1134:16.
**Bible,**Neh.9:17Acts15:18.
CHAPTER10
**DoctrineandCovenants,**27:1129:354138:13107:53,54116:1.
**PearlofGreatPrice,**Abrahamchaps.4and5.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi2:925Alma12:22,23,3118:29
Mosiah2:253:16:4:2Mormon9:12.
**Bible,**Gen.chap3Rom.5:12.
CHAPTER11
**PearlofGreatPrice,**BookofMoses,BookofAbrahamWritingsofJosephSmith.
**Bible,**GenesisTheGospels.
CHAPTER12
**DoctrineandCovenants**18:1819:2427:1129:3439:650:4376:565878:151884:37,
3893:117107:5356121:2832132:19,20,23,37.
**PearlofGreatPrice,**Abraham3:15.
**BookofMormon,**Alma12:31.
**Bible,**Gen.1:26Deut.10:17Exo.15:11Psalms86:8Dan.2:47ICor.8:5Rev.17:14.
CHAPTER13
**DoctrineandCovenants**5:227:1829:30,3159:1493:26
95:4.
**BookofMormon,**INephi1:12IINephi2:4Alma7:13Ether
2:15.
**Bible,**Gen.6:3Prov.1:23Dan.4:8John16:13.
CHAPTER14
**DoctrineandCovenants**4:79:841:342:16,6146:2850:29
59:1468:3389:18,19121:2633.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi21:2,331:3Alma11:4132:34
34:39Moroni10:10.
CHAPTER15
**DoctrineandCovenants**10:12,2333,6329:28,29,364035:9
67/76
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52:1476:2884:6788:114121:4124:98129:8.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi2:17IIINephi13:1218:15Mosiah
16:5Moroni7:12.
CHAPTER16
**DoctrineandCovenants**10:6711:242620:121:1322:326:229:42,4341:2,342:8
43:845:1450:4458:2376:54115:4.
CHAPTER17
**Faith**
**DoctrineandCovenants,**LecturesonFaith,sections18:1835:9
41:344:245:849:111452:2085:1,2136:42.
**BookofMormon,**INephi10:6,17IINephi25:26Enos1:8
Mosiah8:18Ether12:10.
**Bible,**Genesis15:6Exodus4:5Numbers20:12Psalms119:66
Prov.16:20John5:2420:29Acts8:3710:43IICor.5:7.
**Repentance**
**DoctrineandCovenants**1:32,3318:4220:2939:1890:34.
**BookofMormon,**INephi10:18IINephi30:4Alma12:2426:22
Mosiah27:24.
**Bible,**Matt.3:2Luke13:3IIPeter3:9Rev.3:19.
**Baptism**
**DoctrineandCovenants**18:4220:37,727455:268:8,252776:51128:12.
**BookofMormon,**Alma28:18Moroni8:422.
**Bible,**Matt.28:19Mark16:16Luke3:3John1:333:23I
Cor.12:13Eph.4:5.
**GiftoftheHolyGhost**
**DoctrineandCovenants**20:4133:1535:676:52,114118121:2632.
**BookofMormon,**Alma31:36.
**Bible,**Acts8:179:1719:26.
CHAPTER18
**DoctrineandCovenants,**LecturesonFaith.Sections18:2720:2,3,387127:11884:14
21,3539107:15,4052112:31,32128:20.
**BookofMormon,**Mosiah29:42Alma4:46:113:13,520
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Helaman8:18.
**Bible,**Gen.12:1313:1418Psalms110:4John15:16Acts14:23Heb.2:173:14:14
5:17:3,1528IPeter2:5Titus1:5IITim.1:6.
CHAPTER19
**DoctrineandCovenants**20:606726:228:1368:192178:1104:21107,wholesection
124:123145.
CHAPTER20
**DoctrineandCovenants**84:18,21,35107:3032113:8121:3646128:911132:28,45
49.
**BookofMormon,**Alma5:3INephi10:23.
CHAPTER21
**DoctrineandCovenants**3:46:919:3320:2029:3456:158:2163:5564:3482:10
88:223998:47101:4362103:3134105:5124:49130:19,20,21134,wholesection.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi2:23,279:25Alma30:3,1142:17
Mosiah5:82:3237Moroni8:25.
CHAPTER22
**DoctrineandCovenants**1:12,234:519:21,2236:4833:81238:1142:6345:20
49:111484:8790:11112:30.
CHAPTER23
**DoctrineandCovenants**13:2136:884:5105:33109:5110:8
124,wholesection128:15,24133:2.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi5:633:15IIINephi11:1Jacob1:17
Mosiah1:182:17Alma10:2Helaman3:910:7.
CHAPTER24
**DoctrineandCovenants**1:1038:2442:2759:681:488:81136:2027.
CHAPTER25
**BookofMormon,**Jacob5:66Mosiah27:329:38Alma1:26.
CHAPTER26
**BookofMormon,**IINephi26:3033:4Mosiah18:21Ether12:27.
CHAPTER27
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**DoctrineandCovenants**42:3039,5355,717351:12044:652:4078:1282:12483:1
685:15,91292:12104:186105:34119:17.
**BookofMormon,**IIINephi26:19IVNephi1:2,3,16.
**Bible,**Numbers18:2628Lev.27:30IIChron.31:5,6Neh.10:37,38Mal.3:18Matt.
19:1621Luke18:12Acts4:3132,35Heb.7:5.
CHAPTER28
**DoctrineandCovenants**sections2and12821:147:357:393:817110:1316124:33
127:58128:25.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi26:30Mosiah2:4.
CHAPTER29
**DoctrineandCovenants**18:4220:70,71section2529:46,4749:151755:468:2527
74:5,683:4,584:27,2893:4042131:2section132.
**Bible,**Gen.1:2715:52:18,2320:12Deut.7:3ICor.11:11.
CHAPTER30
**DoctrineandCovenants**38:2350:4055:469:788:77,79,118,119,127,13790:8,15
93:5395:17130:19.
CHAPTER31
**DoctrineandCovenants**20:1729:24,31,3245:5849:16,1959:18,2177:2,388:2045
89:15103:7130:9.
**BookofMormon,**IINephi8:6Ether6:413:9.
CHAPTER32
**DoctrineandCovenants**42:2449:192159:142063:1688:124section89132:41.
CHAPTER34
**DoctrineandCovenants**29:3235.
CHAPTER35
**DoctrineandCovenants**18:1229:262845:455463:20,21,49section7677:188:14
42101:25,78130:911.
**BookofMormon,**Mosiah16:9.
**Bible,**Daniel12:2Job19:25Luke24:34Rom.8:24Rev.1:1820:5,6.
CHAPTER36
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**BookofMormon,**Mosiah23:15.
**Bible,**Matt.22:3440.
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