Part 5

No power but that of Deity can bring them again together, and as God proceeds by law, and the law fixed for these relations have not been complied with, the separation continues while endless ages roll. "In the resurrection _they_ neither marry, nor are given in marriage," but, if in a saved condition, are as the angels, and they are ministering spirits or servants unto those who obtain the crown of eternal lives, "a far more and exceeding and eternal weight of glory," than that which rests upon any of the angels. Men and women may be _saved_ in a separate and single state, but they cannot be _exalted_ into the fullness of celestial glory without union in celestial marriage, because that is a state of perfection and comprehends the gift of perpetual increase, in which there are endless dominion and the exercise of all the powers of immortal manhood and womanhood united as one in the everlasting covenant.

In the divine economy, as in nature, the man "is the head of the woman," and it is written that "he is the savior of the body." But "the man is not without the woman" any more than the woman is without the man, in the Lord. Adam was first formed, then Eve. In the resurrection they stand side by side and hold dominion together. Every man who overcomes all things and is thereby entitled to inherit all things, receives power to bring up his wife to join him in the possession and enjoyment thereof.

In the case of a man marrying a wife in the everlasting covenant who dies while he continues in the flesh and marries another by the same divine law, each wife will come forth in her order and enter with him into his glory. Is there any reason why this should not be so? Is not each of these wives entitled to her position in eternity, by virtue of the sealing power which made her part of the man? Why should one enter into the exaltation of the celestial world, and the other be relegated to singleness and servitude? They all become one in the patriarchal order of family government. And if this be the case in heaven, why should not similar conditions so far as possible exist on earth? Is earth holier than heaven? If a man receives from the Lord more wives than one under the sealing ordinances of celestial marriage, where is the moral wrong? They belong to no other man, but are his by mutual consent of all the interested parties, and they live together in the marriage state, one as much as the other.

In this position there are occasions for the exercise of patience, forbearance, charity, self-sacrifice and the exercise of all the virtues to a far greater degree than in any other. In this plural family relation, an experience can be gained that no other condition in life affords, and the parties who so live and keep the law will be, in the very nature of things, prepared for a wider sphere of dominion, and power, and dignity, and might in the eternal world, than those who have only experienced the monogamic condition. They will, therefore, if they endure unto the end, go forward into the highest degree of exaltation, while their posterity will multiply in an ever-increasing ratio, until worlds will be filled by their generations and they will ascend to the majesty and splendor of the Gods on high.

Herein is our Eternal Father glorified and His dominions extended. By the continuation of the seeds of the righteous forever, the multiplication of His sons and daughters creates the needs for worlds and systems, to be brought forth according to eternal laws, to occupy their position in the universe as dwelling places for spirits, and embodied mortals, and perfected souls, in the various grades on the path of progress towards the perfection of the celestial order; as orbs of light and splendor, or globes of trial, punishment or correction, each in its allotted sphere in the galaxy of suns and stars and planets, and in the vast and wondrous plans of the Mighty Architect, the Eternal Parent of organized intelligencies.

In obedience to His laws, there is present peace and future joy. They who are in harmony with Him are in affinity with the source of all pleasure and power. His commandments are found in the laws of continuing life, which regulate as permanent things; and they who reject Him and His counsels shut the gate against their own happiness and advancement. But, for them who receive His gospel and conform to all its ordinances and teachings, the door is open to the highest courts in the heavenly mansions, and while they are helped through the ordeals of mortal life, they gain the keys to all the glories of that existence in which the family relation is perfected and perpetuated, and every power of the whole being, refined, intensified and developed, finds exercise, in its true sphere, to the complete and unalloyed bliss of each one in the endless family circle, and the glory of Him who is the Patriarch and Ruler of all.

TWELFTH LEAF.

Christ's Work Continued After His Death--The Perfect Science of Human Redemption--What was Lost in the Fall--What is to be Regained in the Restoration--Justice Tempered with Mercy--Loss Sustained by the Disobedient--Doom of the Sons of Perdition--The Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial Glories--Redemption and Glorification of the Earth--Salvation of the Whole Race--The Finished Work of Christ--Universal Dominion of the Father.

The mission of Christ was to save that which was lost. It was not completed when He hung upon the cross. His dying exclamation, "It is finished!" referred to His sufferings for sin, the ordeals of mortality, His labors in the flesh. As we have seen, He continued His work of salvation when out of the body, by preaching to the dead. After His resurrection He met, on several occasions, with His disciples, and instructed them in the plan of redemption and sent them to all nations, that the work He had commenced on earth might be continued. He ministered to other nations, uttered His voice to other sheep which were not of the fold in Palestine, that the lost tribes of Israel and all who could not be reached by His Jewish Apostles might hear the glad tidings of salvation. This, however, not fully revealed in the Bible, is made clear in the Book of Mormon. After His ascension, to fulfill His own promise, He went to prepare a place for His faithful disciples, that when they left the earth they might be able to abide with Him.

But all this was only a small part of the perfect scheme of redemption. That which was lost in Adam is to be regained in Christ. Through the commission of crime, death came into the world. Satan gained dominion. The earth trembled under the curse. Eden bloomed no more upon its face. The tree of life was removed. Thorns and briers and noxious weeds came up in the place of the flowers and fruits of paradise. Deity was hidden from the sight of man. Sorrow and pain and toil and travail became the heritage of mortals. Enmity arose between man and beast. Venom entered the serpent's fangs, and rage the hearts of brute and fowl and aqueous creature. Strife dwelt in the very elements and death brooded over the face of the smitten globe.

What, then, was lost? The immortality of man; the blessed tree of life; communion with Jehovah; the companionship of angels; the purity of paradise; man's dominion over inferior creatures; freedom from satanic influence; exemption from toil and pain; earth's affinity with perfected realms on high.

Until all this has been restored, Christ's work must continue. The earth must be cleansed from its corruptions. The elements must melt with fervent heat, and be purified from evil. Satan and his hosts must be banished and bound. Eden must blossom again as at first. The lion and the lamb must lie down together. The fig tree and the myrtle must flourish where the rank weeds grow. The whole race of Adam must be raised from the dead. The vail between earth and heaven must be removed. The knowledge and glory of God must cover the earth as the waters cover the deep, and the spirit of life and peace and light and joy must be poured out upon all flesh, until the whole creation vibrates with pleasure and responds with praise.

The ushering in of the great millennial day, a glimpse of which has been seen by all the holy prophets since the world began, with the sweet rest of earth and its inhabitants, is not, however, the completion of Christ's glorious work. His kingdom must not only be established from pole to pole and from shore to shore, but His saving power must penetrate to every lost soul of our race in, the regions of the damned.

A just judgment will be meted out to all. They who reject the gospel must suffer the penalty. Those who are found worthy of many stripes must receive their portion. The wicked will be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God. Each condemned person will pay the uttermost farthing for his sins. Justice, tempered, not warped or thwarted, by mercy, will mete out to all their right deserts, "every man according to His works." The punishment is always existent, therefore it is eternal punishment. But each one who suffers, receives only his just portion thereof. Shall the murderer and the Sabbath-breaker, the adulterer and the thief, the drunkard and the profane, all merit the same doom? Would human courts proclaim such judgment? Shall man have more equity than God? When stern justice has claimed its own and filled its purpose, shall there be no place for sweet mercy?

While there is one soul of this race, willing and able to accept and obey the laws of redemption, no matter where or in what condition it may be found, Christ's work will be incomplete until that being is brought up from death and hell, and placed in a position of progress, upward and onward, in such glory as is possible for its enjoyment and the service of the great God.

The punishment inflicted will be adequate to the wrongs performed. In one sense the sinner will always suffer its effects. When the debt is paid and justice is satisfied; when obedience is learned through the lessons of sad experience; when the grateful and subdued soul comes forth from the everlasting punishment, thoroughly willing to comply with the laws once rejected; there will be an abiding sense of loss. The fullness of celestial glory in the presence and society of God and the Lamb are beyond the reach of that saved but not perfected soul, forever. The power of increase, wherein is dominion and exaltation, and crowns of immeasurable glory, is not for the class of beings who have been thrust down to hell and endured the wrath of God for the period allotted by eternal judgment.

But Jesus, the anointed, with His army of saviors bearing the Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec, will seek and save that which is lost until everything salvable is redeemed. Only those beings who have learned the law, received of the light of truth, tasted the sweets of the divine spirit, basked in the sunbeams of the heavenly glory, made covenant to serve the King of kings and received power to advance to the pinnacle, of exaltation, and then have turned away from the right, chosen evil rather than good, driven away the power and promptings of the Spirit of light and truth, sought to become a law unto themselves, imbrued their hands in the blood of innocence or, drinking in of the influence of that evil one, consented to and endorsed the slaying of the world's Redeemer, thus sinning against the Holy Ghost and becoming servants of Satan and sons of perdition, will be in their nature and status unredeemable, and therefore will remain "filthy still" and thus be unfit for a kingdom of any degree of glory. Those will go away with the devil and his angels into the outer darkness, beyond the spheres where flows the river of salvation and where blooms the tree of life. For them alone of Adam's race there is no repentance, for them alone is the second death, for them alone is the blackness of darkness forever.

When the work of Christ and His associate kings and priests unto God is finished, the saints of all the ages will be crowned with glory and receive their reward. They will be made rulers over many things. In the order of eternity, they will stand in the heavenly family organization, and all things will be theirs. Of their increase there will be no end. They will hold the key to all heights and depths. They will have power over all the elements, spiritual and corporeal. The incorruptible and fadeless riches will be theirs. They will mingle with the highest. They will gaze upon the face of the Eternal God and dwell in the presence of the sinless Son. Pain and sorrow, and trial and death will henceforth be only known in memory, to form the contrast needful to make their joy complete. Eternity with its boundless opportunities and unutterable bliss and intelligence and majesty will be before them without a barrier in the way, secure for them as to the Almighty Father himself. This is the celestial glory.

Those who were not numbered with the Saints of God in the flesh, but who received the gospel in the spirit; the good and honorable who were led astray by the designing; the class not fitted for the crowning glory of the celestial world nor worthy of the doom of the wicked, will also receive their portion. They will not attain to the gifts of increase and dominion and the fullness of the highest, but will enter into their rest, which shall be glorious. And though they reach not to the Father's fullness, they will receive the visits of the Son and of His associates in the celestial world, and enjoy rich blessings unspeakable in their greatness and perpetuity. They inherit the terrestrial glory.

Those who were cast down to the depths for their sins, who rejected the gospel of Jesus, who persecuted the saints, who reveled in iniquity, who committed all manner of transgressions except the unpardonable crime, will also come forth in the Lord's time, through the blood of the Lamb and the ministry of His disciples and their own repentance and willing acceptance of divine law, and enter into the various degrees of glory and power and progress and light, according to their different capacities and adaptabilities. They cannot go up into the society of the Father nor receive of the presence of the Son, but will have ministrations of messengers from the terrestrial world, and have joy beyond all expectation and the conception of uninspired mortal minds. They will all bow the knee to Christ and serve God the Father, and have an eternity of usefulness and happiness in harmony with the higher powers. They receive the telestial glory.

Thus the inhabitants of earth, with the few exceptions that are beyond the power of redemption, will eventually be saved. And the globe on which they passed their probation, having kept the law of its being, will come into remembrance before its Maker. It will die like its products. But it will be quickened again and resurrected in the celestial glory. It has been born of the water, it will also be born of the Spirit. Purified by fire from all the corruptions that once defiled it, developed into its perfections as one of the family of worlds fitted for the Creator's presence, all its latent light awakened into scintillating action, it will move up into its place among the orbs governed by celestial time, and shining "like a sea of glass mingled with fire," every tint and color of the heavenly bow radiating from its surface, the ransomed of the Lord will dwell upon it; the highest beings of the ancient orbs will visit it; the garden of God will again adorn it; the heavenly government will prevail in every part; Jesus will reign as its King; the river of life will flow out from the regal throne; the tree of life, whose leaves were for the healing of the nations, will flourish upon the banks of the heavenly stream, and its golden fruit will be free for the white-robed throng, that they may eat and live forever. This perfected earth and its saved inhabitants will then be presented to the Eternal Father as the finished work of Christ, and all things will be subject unto the Great Patriarch, Architect, Creator, Ruler, the Almighty, to whom be obedience and reverence and praise in all the countless worlds that shine as jewels in His universal crown!

THE LATTER-DAY KINGDOM.

How shall I sing thy beauty, pow'r and light, O glorious kingdom of the latter days! I see thy loveliness, I feel thy might, But find no utterance to speak thy praise!

I search in vain the records of the past, Which paint dead kingdoms in their short-lived pride, They cannot picture thee, whose pow'r shall last While heav'n and truth and Deity abide.

And shall the little "powers that be" to-day, Be likened for a moment to thy majesty? As well declare pale vesta's twinkling ray Unfolds the splendor of eternity.

In hist'ry only Egypt's greatness lives-- Lost are its treasures, all its wisdom hid, Except the scraps the crumbling mummy gives, The sculptured sphynx and tow'ring pyramid.

Assyria! Thy sceptre lies in dust. Thy bow is broken and thy pomp has fled. Perished thy fruits of conquest, blood and lust, With all the warriors that Tiglath led!

Where are the palaces of Babylon, The "hanging gardens" and the golden tow'rs? With the Chaldeans' starlight wisdom gone, Walls, gates and glory, images and flow'rs!

And couldst not thou, Greece, avert thy fate, With oracles and wealth and victory? Couldst not thy world-wide reign perpetuate, With all thy gods and deep philosophy?

The soul that moved thee in thy conquering march, That spoke in poesy and art and grace, Is disembodied; and the mouldering arch And chiseled fragment mark thy burial place.

And thou, O Rome! proud mistress of the world! Thine armored legions spread no terror now. They bring no blood-bought spoils of gems impearled, To deck thy bosom and thy haughty brow.

Thy Coliseum's vast and vacant walls, Rot as an emblem of thy great decay, And on the ear its mournful echo falls, A dismal knell of thy departed sway!

O! all ye living governments and states! Gaze on the relics of far mightier powers! The hand that shattered them, uplifted waits The bell that ends your few remaining hours!

In the high chambers of the West, I see An infant kingdom struggling to the birth. And the prophetic spirit says to me, "In manhood this shall govern all the earth."

O Zion! built by Saints of latter days. Bring forth the promised kingdom to the world! Upon the mountain tops "the ensign" raise, And spread its shining folds to all the world!

Gathered from ev'ry clime and tongue and race, Under the banner, righteous men shall stand, And the all-conquering Christ shall show His face, And give dominion to that faithful band.

Armored in truth and God's authority, Dauntless and terrible, yet full of love, The King shall lead them unto victory, And bring a van-guard from the ranks above.

No weapon formed against them shall prevail, No cunning plan shall prove their overthrow; The prince of all earth's kingdoms they assail, And drive his forces to the shades below.

The spirit that gives wisdom to the wise, Prom Council, Congress, Parliament, shall flee-- Shall rest on those whom all mankind despise, And leave the world to human policy.

Left, in a day of storms, each bark of state, Rotten and rudderless, whirled madly on Against each other on the sea of fate, With awful crash to depths of death go down.

But see the ship no storm can overwhelm, Saving the remnants of the wrecks below! "The Priesthood" 's written on her shining helm, "God's Kingdom" is inscribed upon her bow.

God's Kingdom! seen in vision by the seers! God's Kingdom! Clothed in justice truth and light! Theme of the prophet and the bard appears, To save the nations from chaotic night.

A perfect government for all the earth. Not a republic nor a monarchy, And yet from both all principles of worth Are blended in this great Theocracy.

Wielding almighty power in ev'ry land, The willing people bend to its supreme decrees, And mutual int'rest, like a golden band, Binds in one social compact men of all degrees.

Appointed by the great Jehovah's voice, By intellect and virtue qualified, And a free people's universal choice, The leading spirits govern and preside.

No longer bound beneath the cruel weight Of idle vampires, draining their life's blood, The joyful nations yield the pow'r of state, To legislators for their country's good.

Earth's treasures, hiding 'neath the deep sea waves, Bound in the rock, or shining on the strand, Or glittering in subterraneous caves, Come sparkling forth at industry's command.

New sciences and arts diffuse new light, Knowledge of future and of past events, Wisdom to comprehend the secret might, And subtle forces of the elements.

In wondrous implements, mechanic skill Gives unto labor swift and easy wings, Making each sterile spot with life to thrill, While water from the thirsty desert springs.

Thought, freed from human trammels, brings to light Its glorious conceptions without fear, And mouldy Precedent, struck dead with fright, Reposes on an unregretted bier.

The laws which life and health perpetuate, By inspiration's sacred voice are taught, And every passion made subordinate, To principles with lasting pleasure fraught.

Jesus, the Sinless, fills the regal throne, To Him all other rulers bend the knee; He reigns not by His right and might alone, But loving homage swells His majesty.

Earth linked into the chain of worlds on high, Among the ransomed planets takes its place, And finds itself in blest affinity With orbs that govern time through boundless space.

Such is the kingdom now on earth begun, A branch of the great Governmental Tree, Whose roots are grounded in the central sun, Whose boughs bear fruit through all eternity.

Happy are they who labor in its cause, Happy are they who suffer for its sake; For all who are obedient to its laws, Of all its joys and honors shall partake.

APPENDIX

Scripture references in proof of the doctrines set forth in the body of this work.

FIRST LEAF.

But one God to worship--I. Cor. viii, 6. Man's ways not accepted of God--Matt. xv, 9. Only one correct way--John x, 1. Faith the first principle--Heb. xi, 6. Faith a principle of power--Heb. x. How faith comes--Rom. x, 14, 17. Human learning inadequate--I. Cor. ii, 5-14. God the Father of spirits--Heb. xii, 9; Eccles. xii, 7; John xx, 17. Man in God's image--Gen. i, 26; I. Cor. xi, 7.

SECOND LEAF.

Death by Adam, life by Christ--Rom. x, 12-21 All, good and bad, to be raised from the dead--I. Cor. xv, 22; John v, 28, 29; Daniel xii, 2. Christ died for original sin--John i, 29; Rom. v, 18, 19; I. Cor. xv. 21, 22. Christ died for our actual sins--Rom. iv, 25: v, 8; viii, 32; I. Cor. xv. 3; Galatians i, 4; Ephesians, i, 7: Collossians, i, 14; Heb. ii, 9; ix, 28; I. Peter ii, 24; iii, 18; I. John ii, 2. Faith repentance and baptism fundamental principles--Heb. vi, 1, 2; Matthew xxviii, 19, 20; True repentance--II. Cor. viii, 10, 11. Baptism is immersion--Rom. vi, 4; Acts viii, 38, 39; Mark i, 4. But one baptism--Ephesians iv, 5. But one door into the fold--John x. 1, 2.

THIRD LEAF.

Gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands--Acts viii, 14-19; xix, 6; II. Timothy i, 6: Deut. xxxiv. 9. Office of the Holy Ghost--John xiv, 26; xvi, 13. Fruits of the Spirit-Gal. v, 22, 23. Birth of the Spirit essential--John iii, 3-5.

FOURTH LEAF.