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 What am I?

.     The personal and spiritual ego, the intelligent entity which we designate as “I”, the existent thing of which each human being is conscious as being “Myself”, existing independently from all other similar personages, endowed with inherent power to will, act, reason, and speak to the extent of the individually possessed ability, whom we designate as “me”; what is IT?  Scientific research seems to have demonstrated that the material, inorganic universe in its multitudinous forms, has been developed from primal elements which have always existed; they were not created.  Those primal elements rank with Time, which has had no beginning and can have no end; the same fact applies to Space, it is limitless.  Research has not been able to determine the origin of Life that is manifest in human beings, animals, and plants.  Life is the known existent property of all living things, and we name it Spirit, for lack of a more expressive term.  Spirit however, although unseen by the mortal eye, is a tangible but ethereal substance which, like the primal, inorganic elements, has eternally existed in specific forms.
.     David, the Israelite king, said (1 Samuel 18:18), “Who am I, and what is my life?”  Paul gives what we might call a terse answer to that query, in his epistle to the Romans (8:10), “The spirit is life”, or we may say, life is manifest through the spirit.  As stated in 2 Corinthians 3:6, “The spirit giveth life”.  In John 6:63 we find, “It is the spirit that quickeneth.”  James 2:26 states, “The body without the spirit is dead.”  The life, which we know is possessed by the spirit of man, as also his intelligence, his power of perception, reason, and other mental attributes, we very properly acknowledge, come from God, our Heavenly Father as stated in Genesis 2:7, “The Lord God formed man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”  Elihu said, in Job 32:8, “There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

Christ, Man’s Spirit Prototype

.     The life-spirit of each individual man and woman must need have a medium by which to manifest the life and develop the intelligence imparted by the Almighty.  That medium is the spiritual body, begotten by Heavenly Parents, even as Jesus Christ was.  From the scriptures (Colossians 1:15) we learn that Jesus was the “…firstborn of every creature” in the spirit, and in John 3:18 the “only begotten Son of God in the flesh.”  As stated in John 1:2, he, Jesus, “was in the beginning with God”, that is, he was first of all the spirit children of our Heavenly Father.  The supremacy of Jesus Christ is also shown in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians (1:15-18), “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, for by him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things and he is the head of the body, the Church, that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
.     Numerous sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ, which are found in the New Testament, clearly show that all human beings bear the same spiritual relationship to God that Jesus always emphatically claimed for himself – namely, that God is the Father of our spirits, in which is the intelligence that we each possess.  “Our Father which art in heaven,” are the first words of the prayer he taught his disciples, and “Father” is the hallowed name he most frequently used in all his allusions to the Almighty God, not only in designation of his own relationship to the Supreme Being, but also as applied to all mankind, whom he claimed as his brethren and sisters.  Neither can that most filial work, Father, as so often lovingly uttered by our Elder Brother, be regarded as a merely figurative expression; it was always clearly evident that he meant it for an actual, not figurative declaration.  He was in very deed a Son of the Most High, in his spirit, just as he also was a Son when his spirit body was combined with his earthly tabernacle, when born of his divinely selected mother in the flesh.
.     Like unto Jesus the Christ, all mankind, who have ever lived on this earth, have had a spiritual birth and an earthly birth.  There is however, a vast difference in the birth, on earth, of the Messiah and all others; he was begotten on earth by the Father of his spirit, our Heavenly Father, and his mother on earth, was the virgin Mary; but the mortal bodies of all the rest of us have had an  earthly father, a supreme distinction.

Attributes developed in the spirit life

.     The attributes or qualities which our spirits now possess are, doubtless, what were mostly developed in the pre-existent state.  For instance, if we naturally have musical or artistic ability, inventive genius, poetic nature, literary qualifications, government power, etc., such attributes have been transmitted with our spirits, from the celestial world in which our spirits were born.
.     It is natural to imagine that in the heavenly world we gradually developed our faculties, attained maturity, increased in knowledge, and became able to perform such duties and tasks as may have been assigned unto us.  It is inconceivable that we were not actively employed in some useful pursuits.  In that condition we must have experienced need for bodily and mental activity, much as we see evidence in our life here on earth, for growth and development.  It would be but natural that our Heavenly Parents should desire that their offspring might become like unto themselves, therefore, they would provide opportunity and means whereby their children might attain the knowledge and power that would qualify them ultimately to reach that great and glorious destiny, circumscribing eternal life, endless increase in wisdom, power, and dominion.
.     Doubtless there were as many degrees of difference in the character and capabilities of God’s children, while in their spiritual state, as are manifested by them in this earthly probation.  Those who are, or have been, distinguished on earth as leaders in government, philosophers, prophets, inventors, poets, artists, musicians, etc, must have developed those attributes and qualities in the long-continued, pre-existent, progressive state.  God said to his servant Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5), “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”  God’s knowledge of the formed character of Jeremiah, before his birth on earth, is ample evidence that he assuredly knew and knows the developed character of each and all who constituted the host of his children in the heavens.
.     We must also assume that the whole material universe, with which we are associated, has also had first a period of spiritual organization.  The first chapter of Genesis is an account of such a spiritual creation of this earth and all that is therein, including mankind; the second chapter recounts the grosser material evolution.  As stated in 1 Corinthians 15:44, “There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”  Colossians 1:16 reads, “By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible.”  I understand that the words “visible and invisible” mean material or temporal, and spiritual.  Paul wrote, as recorded in Hebrews 11:3, “Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
.     That it was possible for some evil propensities to develop in many of God’s posterity, although in a condition of comparative innocence, in the presence of Holy Beings, is evident in the scriptural references to Lucifer and his adherents.  We read in Isaiah 14:12-14, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning.  Thou has said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will be like the Most High.”  And also we read in Revelation 12:7-9, “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world’ he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Self-expression, Free agency

.     Those quotations concerning the rebellion of Lucifer, one of the most prominent of our elder brethren, “a son of the morning”, furnishes us with a key to that frightful occurrence, and the wondrous fact that each individual possesses the power of self-will, that is, the ability to determine what action to take in connection with anything that he may contemplate, whether it be good or evil.  The greatest manifestation of this inherent right and power of self-will, that has ever been shown in the history of God’s spirit children, with an evil purpose, was that which caused the expulsion of Lucifer, and a third part of heaven’s host from the abiding place and presence of the Eternal Father.
.     Every living soul is conscious of possessioning a marvelous power of self-expression , the inherent power to make choice between any two or more different things that may be presented for consideration or action thereupon.  That attribute, which is constantly manifest in all human beings upon this earth, is a continuance of what was developed in our pre-existent state.  Failure to control self according to righteous principles, yielding to selfish desire, caused Lucifer and his adherents to exercise their right and power of choice, and to knowingly commit the unpardonable sin of rebellion against God, and his eternal, wise, universal government.
.     Alas!  The fearful punishment inflicted upon Lucifer and his coadjutors – endless banishment from the present of God the Father and from the abode of celestial beings – has not yet proven a sufficient lesson to all mankind; there continues to be many who fail to control their self-will in some of the things presented for their choice, and they succumb to the temptation of desire or selfish motive and, unthinkingly sometimes, choose to say or do the evil thing.  Of course, the degree of evil entailed determines the degree of punishment in all things, temporal and spiritual.  It should be remembered that the extent to which self-control is exercised, law obeyed, and good chosen and done, merits and receives the approval and reward of our Heavenly Father.

Mankind, the veritable children of God

.     I will not further pursue the task of offering satisfactory answers to the question, “What am I?”  The pursuit could, of course, be greatly extended.  I am aware that I have presented the matter in a rather rambling form, but what I have thus far written represents, as clearly as I can, my acquired knowledge and views on the subject.  I hope, however, that you will agree with me that the statements submitted are profoundly impressive, conveying as they do the positive assurance of the marvelous fact that we, all mankind, are the spirit children of the Creator of this vast universe, which includes the earth on which we now dwell in a condition of mortality.  Therefore, in view of the facts and reasons which i have endeavored to set forth convincingly, I feel that we should regard the question, “What am I?” as having been answered soul-satisfyingly, according to the sublime truths revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
.     You will find the texts of the following noted quotations of scripture are in line with others stated in the forgoing paragraphs:  Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:5-7, Job 38:4-79, Psalms 82:6, Proverbs 8:21-30, Zechariah 12:1, Matthew 6:9, John 1:3, John 5:17, John 9:2, John 16:28, Romans 8:16-17, Romans 11:2, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1;9, Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 12:9, Jude 1:6.

Why am I here?

.     In our pre-existent life, associated with our Heavenly parents, and our brethren and sisters, we existed an infinitely long period before our advent on this earth, which was created to be our mortal abiding place.  In that celestial home we were influenced by the presence, power, and example of that most holy and exalted Parentage.  We there were somewhat restrained from evil desires and kept in a comparative condition of innocence and happiness, our will and personal agency subdued by the loving ministration of heavenly beings.  We were numbered among “the sons of God who shouted for joy when the foundation of this earth was laid” (Job 38:4-7)  We saw the rebellious Lucifer and his followers cast out of heaven.  Naturally, we desired to continue in the fostering care of those glorious, loving parents, and gave willing heed to their counsel, laws, and commandments, imparted for our eternal welfare and progress.
.     But, the divinely wise purposes for which this earth was organized could not be accomplished if we forever continued in the presence, under the sustaining influence of our Heavenly Father and other holy beings, with whom we intimately associated.  In that condition we would not fully exercise our individual will and agency, nor freely demonstrate the natural characteristics of our individual identity.  The Apostle Paul said, “God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.”  (Acts 17:26)  Thus does God control the coming to earth of the spirits born and reared in heaven.  He knows the character of those spirits, individually, as they developed in their spiritual state and, in his infinite wisdom, he selects the most suitable locations for their birthplace on earth, the time when they should receive earthly bodies, the special branch of the human race to which each individual spirit should be respectively assigned, their distinctive color, etc. That distribution of the spirits born in heaven is not an accidental process; it is based upon our Heavenly Father’s knowledge of the developed characteristics of each one of them, during immense periods of time, as we reckon time.

Life on earth is a progressive condition

.     In our finite perception of the infinite love that God has for his spirit children, we can comprehend he desires that they should attain such a glorious destiny as would make it possible for them to be eternally associated with him in his Celestial kingdom.  The marvelous degree of that glory is partly revealed to us in the words of Paul to the Philippians (2:5-11), “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”  This is a startling thought: What? Our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, to be ‘equal with God’ the Father?  Yes, that was his glorious destiny; he is one with God the Father, and “we are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ”  (Romans 8:17), if we follow in his footsteps.

.     This earth life is given to each of us to prove us, to show if we will properly exercise our individual liberty and agency, and evidence, in the conduct of our lives on earth, that we duly appreciate our relationship to God and his Beloved Son, by complete observance of his laws and  commandments; emulating the devoted example of our Elder Brother, making our will, in all things, subservient to the will of God.  Speaking to the children of Israel, the Lord, through his prophet Moses, said, “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do.  And thou shalt remember all the ways which the Lord thy God led thee, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no.”  (Deuteronomy 8:1-2)  We might say that this clearly answers the important question, “Why am I here?” – the theme of this article – but it will be profitable to us to further consider various phases of our earthly existence.

.     The earthly bodies of Adam and Eve were, no doubt, intended by the Heavenly Father to be immortal tabernacles for their spirits, but it was necessary for them to pass through mortality and be redeemed through the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ that the fulness of life might come.  Therefore they disobeyed God’s command – “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”  (Genesis 2:16-17)  The announced penalty of death followed their disobedience; they live on earth less than a thousand years, which is but a day of celestial time (see 2 Peter 3:8) and temporal death has since been the inescapable fate of all their posterity.  Nevertheless, the design of God has not been overcome.  The atonement made by the Messiah, for the sin of our first parents, overcame the power of death, and the dead bodies of mankind will, individually, renew the immortal condition in the resurrection that has been, and will be, brought to pass by our Lord’s sinless sacrifice and atonement.  Satan’s hellish purpose, in causing death to be visited upon Adam and Eve and their positerty, through their yielding to his temptation and lies, has been frustrated; the love of God and of his beloved Son, our Redeemer, has triumphed gloriously.

Purpose of earthly life exemplified by Christ

.     The question, “Why am I here?” might be briefly answered, it is that we may prove that we will, or will not, endeavor to follow the examples of the sinless One, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”  (John 6:38)  Also, “Not my will, bu thine, be done.”  (Luke 22:42)  The most implicit obedience to the will of his Father, in all things, was the leading feature in the character of the first born Son of God, as also was the attribute of divine love which he, Jesus, showed in his answer to the question, “Which is the great commandment in the law?”  He said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all they mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it.  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  (Matthew 22:37-39)  Complete obedience to his Father’s will and commandments and extreme love of God and all mankind were leading features of his life on earth, and must have been his natural character before this world was made, attributes which gave him God-like pre-eminence in both spheres.  God’s infinite love for his children reaches out and makes it possible for them to receive, eventually, eternal and limitless glory, similar to that inherited by his well-beloved Son.  For that wondrous purpose, he has established eternal laws and given commandments, strict obedient to which will insure, to those who humbly comply therewith, the promised most glorious reward of entrance to and eternal existence in God’s celestial kingdom and presence.

.     Christ’s sermon on the mount is a wonderful epitome of the laws and commandments which God established for the advancement, salvation, and exaltation of his obedient children.  The humble obedience of Jesus to his Father’s will and law was most admirably shown in his baptism by John.  Although the Savior was the only sinless being who has ever lived upon this earth, he meekly applied for baptism at the hands of John, the Baptist.  “But John forbade him saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.  Then he suffered him.”  (Matthew 3:14-15)  In that example of obedience, Jesus gave evidence that all mankind must receive the ordinance of baptism at the hands of one of God’s authorized servants, in compliance with that law of adoption into the kingdom of heaven.  As Christ stated to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born  of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  (John 3:5)

.     Baptism and the other accompanying ordinances are symbols which God has instituted for each of his children to submit themselves unto, as outward evidences that they willingly agree to obey all his laws.  The imperative need for each and every human being, who has reached the age of accountability, to obey the divine law of baptism is further manifest in the solemn fact that those who do so, in sincerity, are entitled to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Apostle Peter said to the multitude of people who were converted, and who asked, “What shall we do?”  “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  (Acts 2:38)  If the properly baptized believer faithfully endeavors to obey and live in accordance with divine laws, that heavenly gift, and ever-present monitor, will illuminate his mind, imparting unto him an assurance of the existence of the unseen God and Jesus Christ, and always guide the contrite in the paths of truth and righteousness.  Every human being, who is not mentally deranged, is conscious of and experiences a feeling of understanding what is right or worn, good or evil, when a mental effort is made to ascertain to which class the thing that is contemplated belongs.  It is a sorrowful fact that such effort is often neglected, nevertheless the light “which lighteth every man” (John 1:9) will impart the desired understanding of good or evil.  “There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”  (Job 32:8)

Man’s inherent right of choice

.     Each individual in mortality is liable to be approached, in spirit, by the powers and influences of evil, which cunningly seek to lead mankind astray, by presenting evil things in a most desirable light, depicting the personal pleasure that would result from accomplishing the thing presented; too often succeeding in making it appear that the evil is good.  Temptation to do evil things comes to us often in the form of allurements to excess in carnal pleasure, the physical satisfaction that may be derived from gratifying depraved desires and appetites, neglecting to observe God’s laws in relation to such things.  Those forms of temptations seem to be the most potent of the satanic devices.

.     Most disastrous of all are the insidious endeavors of Satan and his fallen angels to prevent man’s fulfillment of the divine law that was given to our earthly progenitors, Adam and Eve.  They were instructed to begin the sacred duty of providing earthly bodies for God’s heaven-born children and, as the outcast rebellious spirits were not included among those who could receive such bodies, the demonic host, under the leadership of Lucifer, have ever since strenuously endeavored to prevent mankind from accomplishing that most important design of the heavenly Father of our spirits.  Satan’s greatest success in that direction has been, and is through instigating in man a desire for promiscuous illicit intercourse with women, regardless of the divine decree, which limits cohabitation to those who are united as husband and wife in the sacred bond of wedlock.  The destructive evil of promiscuity, encouraged by the incessant wiles of Satanic agencies, has permeated and influenced mankind to an alarming degree, and has been the greatest source of alienating mankind from observing heaven’s law of marriage, and has largely contributed, also, to creating a disregard of other commandments of God.  Paul said, “Neither is the man without the woman neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 11:11) — that is, according to the law of the Lord, as established by Him in Eden.

.     As before stated, mankind inherently possesses the right and power of self agency, which they are at liberty to exercise in the choice of things good or evil.  The desire and power to resist and overcome evil is increased by the continuous exercise of self-control, but the same is decreased in proportion as the man yields to the devil’s machinations or his own carnal desire.  To safeguard oneself from being overcome by evil desires or influences, it is highly essential that we should always use the God-given power of self-control in all things, as Paul said, “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate all things.”  (1 Corinthians 9:25)  This indicates that ‘in all things’ discretion should be duly manifested, nothing of any consequence should be done impulsively, it should receive due consideration.  The self-power of agency is thus wisely used, otherwise we are liable to err.  Woe unto us if we knowingly choose to do the evil thing, no matter how alluringly it may be presented.  In the continual and proper exercise of self-control, or in failure to do so, we demonstrate our true character, and thus we may be prove, in line with what Moses declared unto the Israelites that God had observed their earthly career ‘to prove thee, to know what is in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments or no.”  The example of our Elder Brother and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, should constantly be in our mind.  He continually exercised his inherent power of self-control.  He fought what Paul calls the ‘good fight of faith’ (1 Timothy 6:12) and overcame the evil powers; as he said, ‘I have overcome the world.’  (John 16:33)  The conflict with evil powers in which we participated in heaven, has to be continued by us on earth, if we desire to overcome them here.  It is not an imaginary warfare, although our natural eyes do not see our combatants; it is a real battle, involving our eternal welfare, in which we always need the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to successfully withstand and gain victory, as Jesus did.

Glorious results of self-control

.     The glorious result of victory over evil, by those who exercise their power of self-control, and valiantly resist devilish influences, is vividly portrayed in these words of the Savior, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”  (Revelation 3:21)  It is possible for each one of us to follow our Elder Brother’s example of unswerving devotion to doing the will of our Heavenly Father in all things, to the extent of our God-given power of self-control, vigorously resisting the evil things that would cause our soul’s destruction if we yielded to Satan’s insidious temptations, without repentance, but our loving Heavenly Father, knowing that his children on earth are continuously subject to temptations to do evil, and that they reliable to sink if they do not sufficiently resist, has mercifully decreed that they may escape severe punishment if they sincerely repent, and cease the evil doing.

.     Most important of all things requisite in our sojourn on this earth, to make the success of it that our Heavenly Father desires, for all mankind who obey his laws, is that we should keep in communion with him, in the way he has graciously appointed — that is, by humble, heartfelt, fervent, daily prayer.  In this also our Elder Brother was the supreme example for all of us to follow.  It was the most marked of all the sublime personal characteristics of Jesus Christ, one in which every individual may most nearly equal him, having unshaken confidence that God hears and will answer our humble petitions, according to our faith and righteous desire.  Jesus, our Lord, who, under direction of his Father, organized the worlds and heavens of this universe, and all things therein, always bowed in humble reverence before the Eternal One and besought his favor, sustaining power and blessing, in every time and event of his life on earth.  How much more is our daly need to seek unto the Everlasting Father for all hid all-powerful help to guide us in life’s pilgrimage, that we may fill up the measure thereof in such manner as will redevi his divine approval, and that we may overcome as his beloved Son did.

.     To summarize the ideal qualities that each and every human being needs to cultivate, while sojourning upon earth, we could not do better than to constantly remember and act upon the two greatest commandments which Jesus promulgated, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,a dn with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”  I could submit many other reasons and scriptural statements which, I think, satisfactorily answer the question, “Why am I here?” but I realize that my presentation of these matters is imperfect and that I may have overburdened you with what I have already presented.  The following scripture texts, however, might be added:  Genesis 1:28, John 14:15, Revelation 20:12-13, Philippians 4:8, James 1:12, 2:8, 4:7-17.

After death, What?

.     As in the two preceding articles, I base the following statements on what is revealed in scripture, that may be regarded as most satisfactorily explaining what we should consider to be the divine design concerning man’s existence, and his destiny after death.  From the words of Jesus to the thief on the cross, just as he and the thief were in the throes of death, we learn what becomes of man’s spirit as soon as death separates the spirit from its earthly tabernacle.  Answering the appeal of the dying thief, “Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”  (Luke 23:43)  On the morning of the third day after the crucifixion, Mary saw the resurrected Christ near the tomb in which his dead body had been placed, and “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.”  (John 20:17)

In the Spirit World, before resurrection

.       We thus ascertain, from these statements of our Lord, that the spirit of man, when it leaves the body is ushered into the sphere assigned to receive a man’s spirit, a place which Jesus called paradise.  We also learn therefore that this place is not heaven.  A clearer understanding of what the abode of the spirits of men is like is derived from the statement made by the Apostle Peter, concerning what Jesus did, in the spirit, while his body lay in the tomb.  In  1 Peter 3:18-20 we read, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just of the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”  These words of Peter serve to inform us that in the spirit world there are varied places and conditions.  Some part of that spirit world is called ‘prison’, in which are incarcerated the spirits of men who, in mortality, had wickedly transgressed the laws of God.

.     The glorious principle of possible salvation for those who have died in a condition of sinfulness, is also revealed in another statement of the presiding apostle, Peter, in which he says that Christ preached to them that are dead, “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh.”  (1 Peter 4:6)  Thus is displayed the merciful, loving kindness and justice of our Heavenly Father, in which he gives to all mankind an opportunity even in ‘prison,’ after death, to hear the Gospel message, which calls on all men to repent of their sins, and to obey the principles that lead to forgiveness, opens the way to release from the bondage of death, and places them on the road to salvation and eternal life.  We justly infer, also, that some other part of the world of spirits is occupied, temporarily, by the spirits of those who have lived righteously while possessed of their earthly bodies.  We can rightly assume that ‘the spirits in prison’ suffer mental torture, remembering the sinful character of their lives on earth while the spirits of those who were righteous, in their earthly estate, are in a condition of happiness.

Progressive possibilities in the spirit world

.     In Matthew 27:52-53 we read, “And many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and appeared unto many.”  We are not informed about how long a period elapsed, after the Savior’s resurrection, before that marvelous event, the resurrection of may saints, occurred, but we may readily understand that those were righteous individuals, whos spirits had continued to inhabit the spirit world from the time of their death on earth until the Messiah broke the bands of death and made it possible for them as well as himself to be resurrected.  Certain it is that all mankind, when they die, individually inhabit the sphere assigned to them in the world of spirits, until they are prepared to receive a resurrection.  Doubtless there is need for the spirits of men, in general, to remain some time in the world of spirits, acquiring knowledge and experience that will fit them to attain a resurrection to immortality and eternal progress.  paul, writing to the Romans (8:11) said, “But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies.”  The essential material elements of the mortal body that is laid in the grave will, after dissolution, be reassembled in the perforect form of the individual, by an almighty, divine process, and then be resurrected to the immortal condition that the Eternal Father planned.  In his epistle to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  (1 Corinthians 2:9)  This glorious destiny of the righteous cannot be attained until after they are resurrected, but we may be sure that such as have manifested love for God and kept his commandments while in the flesh, shall be favored and blessed by him during the interval of their existence in the spirit world.

.     Jesus Christ, who conquered death and became ‘the first fruits of the resurrection’, himself said, “…the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.”  (John 8:28-29)  Paul testified that “there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.”  (Acts 24:15)  The distinction between a spirit and a resurrected being is illustrated in the words of Jesus, as recorded in Luke 24:36-42, “Jesus himself stood in the midst of them,…and he said unto them, … Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bone as ye see me have,… and did eat before them.”  Notwithstanding the evident fact that the resurrected Redeemer’s body was flesh and bones, the same as he possessed before his crucifixion, there was some unseen difference in it’s material form.  In 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 we read, “…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God….The dead shall be raised incorruptible,… and this mortal must put on immortality.”  From these quotations we learn that the resurrected body of Jesus was freed from the mortal element of blood, and was no “longer subject to death, having acquired an immortal characteristic that is to us incomprehensible.  We are justified in assuming that the immortal bodies of other resurrected beings will possess similar qualities and power to those manifested by our resurrected Redeemer, for, in 1 John 3:2 we read, “Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him.”

Mankind’s great destiny — Eternal progress

.     There are numerous passages in the Bible that give us an insight to the destiny both of the righteous and the ungodly, but I will not dwell upon the fate of the latter; it is inspiring to read and reflect upon the glory and joy that is the destined lot of all who overcome evil by self-control, resisting temptation.  Paul, in Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Jesus said to his disciples, “In my Father’s house are many mansions….I go to prepare a place for you…that where I am ye may be also.”  (John 14:2,3)  To the Apostle John he said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and set down with my Father in his throne.”  (Revelation 3:21)  In Christ’s prayer to the Father, in reference to his faithful followers, he said, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them,…that they may be made perfect in one.  I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.” (John 17:22-24).  From Revelation 20 we learn that there will be a resurrection of the righteous dead, when Christ comes to reign on earth 1000 years, and they shall reign with him.  Afterward there is to be a general resurrection, when, in  addition to those who had not before been resurrected, this last resurrection will include every man, woman, and child has has ever lived upon this earth: “And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”  (Revelation 20:12)  The love, mercy, and justice of God, our Heavenly Father, will be most vividly manifest in that last judgment, when every man will be judged “according to his works”.  Each and all will be awarded that which they have merited of good or evil, and each will be placed in that sphere and condition to which they properly belong.  Paul states, “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, but he glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is only glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another in glory.  So also is the resurrection of the dead.”  (1 Corinthians 15:40-42)  From this it may be clearly seen why every human being as an individuality and agency under which they severally elect to do right or wrong, good ro evil.  In the exercise of that self-governing power each can and does work out his own destiny, and justly receives that to which his works entitle him.

Habitations of the Resurrected classified

.     As already quoted, Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.”  That declaration of our Lord may be taken to refer to the degrees of glory, which Paul likens to the sun, moon, and stars.  As they differ in degrees of effulgence, so may be the varied conditions to which resurrected beings shall be assigned.  As there are countless star in the heaven, there may be multiplicity of worlds that differ in degrees of excellence, to which the immortal souls aer respectively consigned.  The only ones (they will be comparatively few) upon whom the ‘second death’ will be visited with full power, are they who, like Lucifer, have known God and willfully transgressed the divine laws.  The glorious destiny that will, eventually, be inherited by those who, obeying God’s laws, successfully pass through the various experiences of pre-existence, life on earth, death of the mortal body, life in the spirit world, resurrection to immortality, and continued increase in knowledge and power, unto the measure of the Messiah, is incomprehensible to our finite minds; it cannot be imagine or described. (See Revelation 21:1-8)  Self-restraint, under the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit, leads to eternal progress and unspeakable joy, self-indulgence and disobedience to God’s laws, lead to degradation and misery.

Concluding remarks

.     What we have learned, from that which is revealed in the scriptures, should suffice to make us humbly conform to all that is required of us in what has been so clearly made known as the will, laws, and commandments of our Father and God; which means, not merely overcoming evil, but also actively seeking and doing good, following the perfect example of our Elder Brother and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  It may appear that these articles set forth rather serious views about human life, what it is and its purpose, and that I have have failed to take into consideration the most prominent characteristics of every normal individual, which is to always seek for something to contribute to personal happiness.  Let me assure you, however, that in all I have presented for your consideration, the sure road to eternal happiness, everlasting joy, has been the chief object in view.  Let me explain as I conclude.

.     The word ‘happiness’ is too often used to mean bodily pleasure, derived from recreation, play, diversion, amusement, indulgence in gratifying appetite, etc.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not prohibit indulgence in things that give pleasure, except that the indulgence must not be excessive, and be limited to that which is not injurious to the body or mind, nor evil in character or tendency.  It must ever be borne in mind that, to insure the supreme conditions of unalloyed joy, eternally, we must not only refrain from evil-doing but be continuously engaged in doing good.  Read the Savior’s parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), which shows that it is the divine will that all should diligently use their God-imparted attributes to benefit their fellow men.  In so doing they will rightly magnify those ‘talents’ and will be numbered among the dutiful ones to whom the Lord will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,…enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”

.     And now, let me say in conclusion: The scriptural facts here presented are based upon the records of the inspired words of apostles and prophets.  More comprehensive statements on the same vital subjects are revealed in declarations of the martyred Prophet of the Nineteenth Century, Joseph Smith.  I simply add this: every doctrine and principle revealed in those heaven-inspired scriptures is unqualifiedly accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including all that was proclaimed by our Lord Jesus Christ, as his everlasting Gospel, the eternal plan of life and salvation for all who accept and live in accordance therewith.  Not boastfully, but humbly, with heartfelt desire that all mankind might profit thereby, I solemnly declare that the said Church is the Christ-appointed earthly medium to expound that Gospel in this age, and its ministers are divinely authorized to perform the ordinances essential to membership in the restored Church of Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.” (John 7:16-17)  He also said, “Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”  (Matthew 7:7)