I will offer a few remarks in relation to the difference between this
and the next state of existence. The next state of existence is a
spiritual one. The spirit which is now clothed with mortal flesh will
be set free from that encumbrance, and the spirits of Saints will be
free from the power of sin and Satan.
This state is a state of trial, wherein the spirit clothed upon with
flesh labors to sanctify, redeem and save the flesh, that in the
resurrection the spirit and the body may be made eternally one,
through the power of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The next state of existence is the paradisiacal state of the spirit, a
state of waiting until the body shall pass through the purification
and refinement given to it by passing through death and the grave;
then cometh the resurrection which bringeth to pass the reunion of the
body and the spirit. "O how great the plan of our God! For on the
other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirit of the
righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the
spirit and the body are restored to each other again, and all men
become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls," &c.
From the state of embryo to the time of birth, and from infancy to
ripe old age, unseen dangers lurk in our path to mar our bodies or to
render our senses inefficient; hence we see the lame, the maimed, the
blind, the deaf, dumb, weak, sickly, and so on.
I think it has been taught by some that as we lay our bodies down,
they will so rise again in the resurrection with all the impediments
and imperfections that they had here; and that if a wife does not love
her husband in this state she cannot love him in the next. This is not
so. Those who attain to the blessing of the first or celestial
resurrection will be pure and holy, and perfect in body. Every man and
woman that reaches to this unspeakable attainment will be as beautiful
as the angels that surround the throne of God. If you can, by
faithfulness in this life, obtain the right to come up in the morning
of the resurrection, you need entertain no fears that the wife will be
dissatisfied with her husband, or the husband with the wife; for those
of the first resurrection will be free from sin and from the
consequences and power of sin. This body "is sown in corruption; it is
raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory:
it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural
body; it is raised a spiritual body." "And as we have borne the image
of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
God has done his part towards putting us in possession of celestial
glory and happiness, by providing the means whereby we may attain to it; and if ever we possess it, we must do so by conforming
to the means provided. God has given the children of men dominion over
the earth and over all things that pertain to it, and has commanded
them to subdue it, and to sanctify themselves before him, and also to
sanctify and beautify the earth by their industry, and by their wisdom
and skill which cometh from God. Learn, for instance, how to yoke
together a pair of oxen, how to manage and drive them across the
plains, how to get timber from the canyons, how to make brick, and how
to hew stone and bring them into shape and position to please the eye
and create com fort and happiness for the Saints. These are some of the
mysteries of the kingdom. To receive the Gospel and believe and enjoy
it in the spirit, is the simplest part of the work the Latter-day
Saints have to learn and perform.
God has made man lord of all things here below, and it is the labor of
man to bring all things unto subjection to God, by first subjecting
himself to the will of God, and then subjecting all things over which
he has control, in their time and order. The will of God is eternal
life to his people and to all they control.
May God bless you. Amen.