I shall endeavor to occupy a few moments of time, and perhaps I may
continue my remarks until it is time to close the meeting. I wish I
enjoyed better health; I should then feel more like speaking. But as
it is, I feel willing to exert myself as far as possible, and also to
bring my mind to bear upon the great subject of salvation, and the
principles that pertain to eternal life and happiness in the world to
come. It is difficult, sometimes, for a person who does not feel well
in body, to concentrate his mind upon those subjects which will be
edifying and instructive to the people.
It gives me great joy and pleasure, at all times, when I have the
opportunity to express myself in regard to the great and important
work, which our Father in heaven has seen proper to commence in our
day. We have been made partakers, in a measure, of the spirit of the
living God, pertaining to this last dispensation. This spirit, when
received, and when we give it our attention, and bring our minds to
bear upon the object of its operations, is calculated to instruct and
impart much information and knowledge to both male and female who are
in the possession of it. The Spirit of God is a spirit of revelation.
It always was a spirit that revealed something to the human family,
when mankind were in possession of it. There have been, however, many
ages since the commencement of the world, when the children of men
have so far wandered from the Almighty, so far departed from his
ordinances and precepts, that the spirit of revelation has not had
place within them. The world may be considered in a woeful state of
darkness and unbelief, whenever this great and glorious gift is
withdrawn from the children of men; for without this gift, without this spirit, without revelation from the Most High, it is
utterly impossible for the human family to be saved in the celestial
kingdom of our Father and God. Perhaps some may think that this is a
very broad statement. They will refer back to the last sixteen or
seventeen centuries, and will say, that our fathers have not enjoyed
the spirit of revelation, during that time, and if your statement, Mr.
Pratt, be true, our fathers are not saved in the celestial kingdom of
God. I do not say that our fathers will all be sent to an endless
hell. I have made no such assertion. I do not say that they will
receive no happiness, no glory, no reward in the world to come; I have
made no such assertion; but understand my assertion, that if the world
have not been in the possession of divine revelation directly to
themselves, during this long period of time, then there have none of
them been saved in the celestial kingdom of our Father and God. Now I
hope that you have understood me. There is quite a difference between
being saved in some kingdom, where there is some glory, some
happiness, and being saved in the kingdom where our Father resides.
There is only one way to obtain this kingdom—the kingdom that is
represented, in its glory, by one of the most brilliant luminaries
that shines in yonder heavens, namely, the sun. We are told by our
Savior that those who obey his commandments shall shine forth as the
sun in the kingdom of our Father. The Apostle Paul informs us that
there are in the eternal worlds many different kinds of glory. In the
15th chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians, he says that,
"there is one glory of the sun; and another glory of the moon, and
another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star
in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead." They do not all
rise to the same glory, nor to the same happiness, nor to the same
fulness, nor to the same kingdom; but they arise from their graves,
and come forth—those who are counted worthy of any kind of glory—to
receive that which they are worthy of, all that they have lived for,
and nothing more.
Our Father who dwells in yonder heavens, and his Son Jesus Christ,
inhabit the highest degree of glory in eternity. They are possessed of
all the fullness of glory. They have a fullness of happiness, a
fullness of power, a fullness of intelligence, light and truth, and
they bear rule over all other kingdoms of inferior glory, of inferior
happiness, and of inferior power. Their glory is like that of the sun,
or at least, the sun being the most conspicuous body with which we are
immediately acquainted, in regard to its glory, it is referred to as
being typical of the highest degree of glory in the heavens. The
Gospel is intended to exalt the children of men to that same degree of
glory, where our Father and where his Son reside. Hence it is said by
our Savior, just as he was taking leave of his apostles in ancient
times, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." There is a mansion
where he dwells. Where this mansion is located in the midst of the
vast surrounding space, has not been revealed to us. It may have been
revealed in former ages of the world; but to us, as Latter-day Saints, we have no revelation concerning its location. But there is a
location, where these two glorious personages dwell. It has a
location, just as much as our earth has a location in the solar
system. But when I speak of our Father and our God being located in a
glorious mansion, or celestial world, I do not wish to be understood
that he is confined to that location. Do not misapprehend the subject.
He is not confined to that particular locality, in the midst of
universal space. He has power which we are not in possession of. He
has power to waft himself from that particular locality to other
dominions, other worlds, other creations; and to do this with an
immense velocity. Of course, to accomplish this must occupy time.
There are some, however, so foolish in their ideas that they suppose
that it does not require time for the Almighty to go from world to
world, or for any celestial messenger to do so. But this is a grand
mistake. Time is included in all motion. Time is included between the
event of a heavenly being leaving the celestial abode, where he
dwells, and going to some other abode at a distance. How great this
time may be is not revealed; but I have an idea that it is much
swifter than any velocity with which we are familiar; I mean the
velocity with which our Father and God can convey himself from the
celestial abode where he dwells to some other kingdom. I believe it be
much swifter than that of the common light which shines from the
heavenly bodies of our system, or from the distant bodies of the
stellar system. Now, light travels with immense velocity—185,000 miles
in one beat of the pulse, or in about one second of time. We might
suppose that that is about as swift as any being would want to be
wafted.
But suppose that our Father, in the heavenly world where he dwells,
should feel disposed to visit one of the vast dominions of his great
creation as far distant as the nearest fixed star. If he could go no
faster than light is transmitted through space, it would take him
three and a half years to perform the journey. And to go to one that
was situated some ten or fifteen times further off, it would take, of
course, ten or fifteen times longer. And to go to some which are as
far off from him as the distant creations that are just visible
through our most powerful telescopes, it would take him six hundred
thousand years to perform the journey, provided his velocity was only
equal to that of light. I draw the conclusion, therefore, that God is
not confined to the velocity of light, or to any other velocity with
which we are acquainted—that he can go with immense velocity, perhaps
thousands and hundreds of thousands of times swifter than that of
light, if he feels disposed so to do. It is out of the question for us
to suppose that God does not travel in going from creation to
creation. That he could be momentarily and instantaneously in two
creations at the same time is something that I never could comprehend,
although it is believed in by some of the religious professors of the
present day. They believe that God, in his person, can be in infinite
space all at the same moment. That is not our doctrine. It is not my
doctrine, at least. He may be, by his power, by his intelligence, by
his spirit, in infinite space, working throughout all the vast
dominions of space, according to laws he has ordained and instituted.
Having said so much, in regard to the locality of our Heavenly Father,
and of the celestial beings who dwell in the same abode, or in
the same mansions where he resides, let me now say a few words more in
regard to his presence being everywhere. I cannot, for a moment
suppose, and I do not believe that any intelligent being who exercises
his intelligence, independently of the traditions of the children of
men, can suppose, that a person can be everywhere present at the same
instant. "But," inquires one, "when a good man dies, passes out of
this body of flesh and bones, it is said that he is in the presence of
God. Does this mean that he has actually gone from his tabernacle,
perhaps millions and millions and unnumbered millions of miles, to the
abode or mansion where Jesus is, because he is in the presence of
God?" No; I do not look at it in this way, I look at it in this light:
if this world in which we dwell had the veil withdrawn from off its
face, and the veil taken away from our faces, I consider that we would
see the Lord, however far distant he might be; hence we would be in
his presence; and on the other hand, those who dwell in his abode,
however distant, can see us; for there is no veil over his face, no
veil over the celestial abode of our Father and God, and there being
no veil over him, nor over the beings that dwell in his abode, they
can behold the most distant creations, which they have made. Now, this
is my view. I do not say this is the view of the Latter-day Saints,
but my own individual views, in regard to these matters. If then we
pass out of these bodies of ours, and the veil is taken away, we are
in his presence, just as much as we would be if we were wafted to the
mansion where he dwells: I have no doubt, but what we will be wafted
(if we are worthy) to that mansion, in due time; but I say, that we
are in the presence of God, while our spirits are yet here upon the
earth; because the veil is removed and our eyes can pierce eternity,
and eternal things.
Now, we have some examples of this, Latter-day Saints: and I sometimes
wonder, when we have such plain examples as are to be had in this book
which I hold in my hand, (The Pearl of Great Price) I sometimes wonder
that people should be so limited in their ideas and in their views,
concerning the future state of man (I mean the glorified man), as to
suppose that he will be confined in his vision to some particular
locality, and that he will be something similar to what we are here in
this mortal life. Now, even mortal men, before they obtained
immortality, have enjoyed this spirit of seeing things that were
naturally supposed to be utterly impossible. Who that is acquainted
with this book (the Pearl of Great Price) has not read with great and
deep interest, the words of that great man, Moses, before he was sent
down to Egypt to redeem the Israelites? Who is there among the readers
of the Latter-day Saints who cannot comprehend, in some measure, how
the vision of that man was enlarged, while he was yet here in a state
of mortality? He went up into the Mount to pray to the Lord. The veil
was removed. The glory of God rested upon Moses, and great and
important things were made manifest to him. All things were not
revealed; for he was incapable of receiving all things while yet a
mortal being. But the Lord saw proper to reveal some things; and Moses
sought to know some other things, but the Lord would not grant it and
told him that no man could behold all his works, except he beheld all
his glory; and no man could behold all his glory and afterwards remain
in the flesh upon the earth; that is, in the state of
mortality. But, said he, "Moses, my son, I will show unto thee some of
the works of mine hands. I will reveal unto you concerning the heaven
that is over your head, and this earth upon which you dwell." And as
the Lord talked with Moses, the Spirit of God being upon him, his eyes
were opened, the veil was taken away, and he saw the whole earth, not
merely the surface of it, but the interior of it; every particle of it
was before the eyes of Moses. This, then, shows that there is within
each of these mortal tabernacles a spirit, and this spirit, when lit
up by the Holy Spirit from on high, has certain faculties and powers,
far beyond that which we are able to develop naturally here upon the
earth. We cannot, by our own natural powers, discern one foot
underneath the surface of the earth. We cannot discern through
anything that is opaque in its nature—anything that will not admit the
natural light to be transmitted through is substance. But still, we
have the faculties within us; we have the power; there is merely an
obstacle, or obstruction, in the way; and when this obstruction is
removed it shows the godlike powers that are planted within the
tabernacles of men, by which they can behold and pierce those portions
of creation that are not discernable by the natural man. This Moses
obtained during the few moments that he was thus enwrapt in vision. He
obtained more information in those few moments than could be imparted
in all the universities and colleges that ever existed, since the
creation of the world to the present day. We may study the ponderous
volumes that are published by the learned, and it takes a long time to
grasp the information that some very learned men have received. But
oh, how different is the method of receiving revelation, when it comes
from the Most High! In a moment, as it were, those faculties of ours
that have been lying dormant ever since we were born into this
world—those faculties which are enshrouded with the darkness of a
fallen creation—those faculties, when once illuminated, when once
touched by the finger of the Almighty, can pierce the creations of the
Almighty, so far as he permits us to behold.
These things encourage me. I am in hopes, when I get to the other side
of the veil, that it will not be so difficult for me to understand the
different laws of science, and the different laws and branches of
education that are taught in this little creation of ours. I am in
hopes that when my spirit shall launch forth out of this mortal
tabernacle, and go into the eternal world, that I shall not, at that
time, require Lord Ross's great six feet telescope; I am in hopes that
I shall not need any of the telescopes, or other instruments invented
in the nineteenth century; but I am in hopes there will be a telescope
prepared for me, by which I can see the vast creations of the
Almighty, and comprehend, in a short period of time, more than could be
unfolded to the children of mortality in a thousand years.
I mention this in order to bring before the Latter-day Saints a
principle which, I think, we should all, more or less, reflect upon.
How encouraging it is to think we are not always going to be bound
down to this slow process of gaining knowledge, and information, and
wisdom, pertaining to the works of the Almighty! How glorious it is
also, to reflect upon the celestial host, who dwell in the fulness of
celestial glory, where there is no veil, and where they have their
bodies; for some of them have been raised from the grave to
immortality, and are clothed upon with all the fulness of the
attributes of the Father. I say, how glorious it is to reflect upon
the heights and depths and lengths and breadths of knowledge that will
then be unfolded to the children of men! These things, as I said
before, inspire my heart with joy. I do not confine my hopes to the
volumes of works on science, with which I may come in contact here in
this world; I do not confine my hopes to the slow process of advancing
in knowledge and intelligence that the children of this world have;
but I look forward to that higher school—that great university which
will scope in boundless and eternal space, that will scope in the most
distant creations that we can imagine in the vast field of eternity,
in which we will be able to comprehend those laws by which the various
creations are governed; not understand them as we now comprehend some
few laws, but understand them in all their perfection and fulness,
being like unto our Father and God, made like unto him, fashioned like
unto his glorious body, and become indeed "sons of God." Shall I go
still further and say Gods? Are we not the children of our Father?
Will not the children ascend to the same height, to the same glory, to
the same celestial world, and to the same fullness of the attributes
of their Father? Are not our children, take them as a body, qualified
to come up to all the perfections and attributes of their fathers, who
came on the earth before them? It seems to be a general law that
children will grow up and possess all of the perfections of their
parents, provided that they take the necessary steps, and are favored
with long life, and have the natural intelligence that is common to
man. If, then, this seems to be a natural law in regard, not only to
man, but also to all animated creation—that the children come up and
possess the perfections of their fathers before them—may we not
reason, by analogy, that our Father who begat us—our Father who dwells
in yonder celestial world, intends to make us one with him, that we
shall receive the same fulness with him, that we shall partake of
light, and truth, and knowledge, and advance from grace to grace, as
the revelations in the Book of Covenants state, until we shall receive
a fulness of all truth? Then will not this make us, in one sense of
the word, sons of God? Will it not make us Gods also, according to the
word of God? "But," inquires one, "how can two persons possess the
same attributes without quarreling with each other?" That is not the
order of heaven. That is not the pure law that God has ordained, that
there should be quarrels with those that have the same degree of
intelligence; but the law is that they shall become one, as "I and my
Father are one, so that these my brethren may also become one in us as
we are one." That is the law; and if they are one there will be as
much unity between his children who are exalted to that high condition
in the celestial glory, as there is a unity and oneness between the
Father and his only begotten Son. Have they any quarrel? Have they any
difficulties? Have they any difference of views? Does one intend to
carry on one government, and another a different kind of government?
No; whatever is the will of the Father, is the will of the Son;
whatever the Father is prepared to do, throughout all his vast
dominions, the Son is in accord with him; and whatever the Father
desires to perform and accomplish, his children who are made
like him and one with them, will take hold and perform the same work,
with all that unity and oneness which exist between the Father and the
Son. In the celestial glory they are made equal in oneness, in power,
in knowledge, and in all perfections; and the Lord their God is with
them, and they are one with him, to carry on all his purposes, and
will be one with him throughout all the future ages of eternity.
I thought perhaps the time was expired; but I will say a few more
words in regard to this great glory, this high destiny prepared for
the sons of God. I told you that our process of gaining information
would be very rapid—would be immense in its growth, and that we should
have the faculties within us developed to the highest degree. But now
let us for a few moments, look into this high state of perfection.
When our faculties are thus developed, and when we have all the wisdom
that I have been speaking of, that dwells in the bosom of celestial
beings, in the eternal worlds, what will we do with this wisdom? Will
we fold up our arms, and remain throughout all the future ages of
eternity, in perfect indifference and laziness, without anything to
accomplish or perform? No; we will have works assigned to us to
perform in the eternal worlds, that will be proportionate to all the
fulness of that glory and knowledge which we are endowed with. Did the
sons of God in ancient times, come forth and assist in the formation
of this little creation of ours? Did they all shout for joy when the
materials were brought together, and when the foundations of the earth
were laid? Did they all feel happy and sing a song of rejoicing, and
with great joy; did they look upon the works which they were
performing? Yes. Jesus was there—the Firstborn of this great family
of our Father in heaven. He had the superintendence of this creation.
He had the power, because the power dwelt within him, to build this
earth of ours, the same as you give to your superintendent power to
build your temples, about which Brother Rich has been speaking. It is
said that the worlds were made through our Lord Jesus Christ. But do
you suppose that he alone made them? No; he had the sons and daughters
of God with him. And there were prophets in those days, before our
earth was made. They shouted for joy when they saw the nucleus of this
creation formed. Why? Because they could look into the future, and by
the spirit of prophecy, behold the designs and purposes of the great
Jehovah in regard to the creation which they were then in the act of
forming. Did they not understand that they would have the privilege of
coming forth and peopling this earth? Yes. Did they not understand
that they were to pass through a probation on this earth, the same as
we are now passing through, in order to prepare them for a still
higher exaltation and glory, with immortal bodies of flesh and bones?
Yes; they understood these things, hence their joy, when they saw the
creation being formed for them. I mention this, in order to show to
the Latter-day Saints that the great work that will be entrusted to
those who are prepared, will be proportionate to the wisdom,
intelligence and understanding that will be imparted to those who
enter into the fulness of the glory of the celestial kingdom. They will
not remain in idleness to all eternity. They will have a work to
perform. They will form worlds under the direction, no doubt, of
those that may be ap pointed to superintend works of such vast
magnitude. Furthermore, when they have formed these worlds, they will
set them in motion in the midst of universal space, in some location,
where they can continue their mission, and where all necessary things
shall be fulfilled and accomplished during the days of the probation of
these various creations. There will be laws given to govern these new
creations, the same as there are laws given to govern the creations
with which we are surrounded. The inhabitants upon these creations
will be visited from time to time by those that have taken part in the
great work of their formation. The inhabitants thereof will be dealt
with according to law. They will be intelligent beings. They will have
their agency, and they will pass through their probation the same as
the people are now passing through their probations here in this
world. Everything will be accomplished according to laws that shall be
ordained when these creations are made. Will they visit these
creations? Yes; for they will have the same power of locomotion, the
same power to pass through space (almost in the twinkling of an eye)
that our Father has—that his Son Jesus Christ has—that all celestial
beings who are exalted in his presence have, and possessing the power,
they will visit from creation to creation; they will impart knowledge
and understanding to their children in these creations. They will
visit them with the light of their countenances, and the children of
these creations will be made glad in their hour, in their times, and
in their seasons, by the light and countenances of the celestial
beings who, from time to time, organized them. These are the high
destinies that await the Latter-day Saints, if they are faithful.
These are the high destinies into which many of the Former-day Saints
have already entered. These are the great, and choice, and exalted
blessings in store for all who will keep the commandments of our
Father and God. Amen.