of flesh. Should the period between | become celestial worlds or heavens. each birth, be one hundred times Thus there would be the "Heaven shorter than what is required in this of Heavens" inhabited by the Grand world, (which is very improbable,) Patriarch and those of the same order it would still require over one thou- with him; secondly, there would be sand million of years to raise up such the two redeemed worlds or heavens a numerous progeny. But as hea- inhabited by his children; and, thirdvenly things are, in many respects, ly, there would be the one million of typical of earthly, it is altogether heavens inhabited by his grandchil probable that the period required for dren. We have only estimated, as the formation of the infant spirit, is yet, the second generation of worlds. of the same length as that required If the estimate be carried still further in this world for the organization of in the same ratio, it will be found the infant tabernacle. that the number in the third genera32. If the Father of these spirits, tion amounts to one billion three milprior to his redemption, had secured lion and three worlds. The fourth to himself, through the everlasting generation would people over a trilcovenant of marriage, many wives, lion, and the fifth over a quadrillion as the prophet David did in our world, of worlds; while the one-hundredth the period required to people a world generation would people more worlds would be shorter, within certain lim- than could be expressed by raising its, in proportion to the number of one million to the ninety-ninth power. wives. For instance, if it required Any mathematician who is able to one hundred thousand million of years enumerate a series of 595 figures, to people a world like this, as above will be able to give a very close apstated, it is evident that, with a hun- proximation to the number of worlds dred wives, this period would be re- peopled by the descendants of one duced to only one thousand million of Father in one hundred thousand mil. years. Therefore, a Father, with lion of years, according to the aver these facilities, could increase his age ratio given above. Now this is kingdoms with his own children, in a the period in which only one world hundred fold ratio above that of could be peopled with one wife. another who had only secured to him. While the Patriarch with his hundred self one wife. As yet, we have only wives, would multiply worlds spoken of the hundred fold ratio as worlds, systems on systems, more applied to his own children; but now numerous than the dust of all the let us endeavor to form some faint visible bodies of the universe, and idea of the multiplied increase of people them with his descendants to worlds peopled by his grandchildren, the hundredth generation of worlds; over which he, of course, would hold the other, who had only secured to authority and dominion as the Grand himself one wife, would in the same Patriarch of the endless generations period, just barely have peopled one. of his posterity. If, out of the whole world. population of the first redeemed world, 33. Each father gives laws to his only one million of sons were re- family, adapted to the degree of deemed to the fulness of all the privi- knowledge which they possess. The leges and glory of their Father, they, laws given to impart the ideas of in their turn, would now be prepared right and wrong to infant spirits, are to multiply and people worlds the of a more simple nature than those same as their Father, being made ordained for the government of spirits like him and one with him. While after they have acquired this knowl their Father, therefore, was peopling edge. Each law has its appropriate the second world, these million of re- penalty affixed, according to the na deemned sons would people one mil- ture of the law and the amount of lion of worlds. Each of these worlds knowledge possessed by the beings would be redeemed and glorified, and whom it is intended to govern. The

on

ven and who were of the same order as their Father, they must have had facilities for acquiring information far beyond anything enjoyed in this probation. In that high and heavenly school they had the opportunities of inquiring of their Father all about the elements of which the worlds were constructed, and how these elements acted upon one another, and concern

penalties or chastisements upon infant or youthful spirits, while learning to distinguish between virtue and vice, are not as severe as those in. flicted upon disobedient spirits who have already acquired these ideas. After having learned the nature of right and wrong in some things, laws will be given teaching them their duties towards their parents and to wards each other as brother and sis-ing all the infinity of laws which had ter spirits, and towards the angels been given to govern them in their who are servants to their parents, and action, their combinations, their towards other Gods and their children unious, and their organizations; and and servants who reside in the same in fine, they must have been in. heaven. Also, some spirits will be structed in all the art and science of many thousand years older than oth. world making. ers; and, therefore, if they have been diligent in observing the laws given to them, they will be far more intelligent than their younger brethren. For instance, Jesus, being "the First Born of every creature," would have many millions of years experience in advance of his younger brethren, providing that they were all begotten by the same Father. Now those that were born soon after Him would have nearly the same amount of expe. rience. And it is reasonable to sup. pose that these spirits would be divided into classes, according to their age and the knowledge they had gained through obedience to the laws of their father, and that lessons of instruction would be imparted to each class, and still higher laws be unfolded, to gov. ern them, and that as their knowledge increased so would their responsibil. ities also increase.

34. The period of time required to educate spirits seems to have been of far greater duration than the period allotted to us in our second estate. Some of the older spirits must have existed millions of years in their first estate, before they were privileged to enter this world. Now during this vast period they must have had ample opportunity of becoming deeply learned in all the laws of spiritual ex istence. Dwelling in the presence of their Father, and having access to all His servants, the angels, and the privileges of associating with all the Gods who resided in the same Hea

35. There were some things, how. ever, which these spirits could not learn while they remained in their first estate: they could not learn the feelings and sensations of spirits em bodied in tabernacles of flesh and bones. An idea of these feelings and sensations could not be imparted to them by teaching, nor by any other means whatsoever. No power of language or signs could give them the most distant idea of them. An idea of those feelings and sensations can only be obtained by actual experience. They might be described to them for millions of ages, and yet without being placed in a condition to experience them for themselves, they never could form any ideas concerning them. This may be illustra ted by supposing an infant to be born in a dungeon where not the least ray of light was ever permitted to enter. This infant might grow up to manhood with the organs of vision perfect, but he would have no idea whatever of the sensation of seeing-he could form no conception of light or of the beauty of the various colors of light, though this sensation might be described to him for one hundred years, yet no power of language could convey to him the faintest idea of red or green, or blue, or yellow, or of anything else connected with the sensations produced by light. These feelings could only be learned by ac. tual experience; then, and not till then, would he know anything about

it. So, likewise, there are many flesh and bones that can only be feelings and sensations arising from learned by experience. the intimate connexion of spirits with

(To be continued.)

CELESTIAL MARRIAGE.

(Continued.)

In the Revelation on Marriage, It is the duty of a man who takes we are informed that there is never another wife to look after her wel. but one man on the earth at the same fare and happiness, and to provide time who holds the keys to minister for her the comforts of life the same the ceremony of marriage for time as for the first; for the Scripture, in and for all eternity, and to seal the speaking of such a man, says, "If same on earth with authority, so that he take him another wife; her food, it may be acknowledged and sealed her raimant, and her duty of marin Heaven. The keys of authority riage, shall he not diminish.” (Exoare conferred by revelation, and by dus 21: 10,) the holy annointing, upon the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the church, who is the President over all the saints throughout the world. In cases where it is inconvenient for him to attend, he has the authority to appoint others to officiate in his stead. But in all cases of this nature, he must be consulted by the parties, and his sanction be obtained.

There is no particular rule, as regards the residence of the different branches of a family. It is very frequently the case that they all reside in the same dwelling, and take hold unitedly and with the greatest cheerfulness, of the different branches of household or domestic business, eating at the same table, and kindly looking after each others welfare, while the greatest peace and har mony prevail year after year. Their children play and associate together with the greatest affection as brothers and sisters; while each mother apparently manifests as much kindness and tender regard for the children of

morning and evening, when the hus band calls together his family to worship the Lord and call upon his name, they all bow the knee, and, with the greatest union of feeling, offer their devotions to the Most High.

When a man who has a wife, teaches her the law of God, as revealed to the ancient patriarchs, and as manifested by new revelation, and she refuses to give her consent for him to marry another according to that law, then, it becomes necessary, for her to state before the President the others, as for her own. And the reasons why she withholds her consent; if her reasons are sufficient and justifiable and the husband is found in the fault, or in transgression, then, he is not permitted to take any step in regard to obtaining another. But if the wife can show no good reason why she refuses to comply with the law which was given unto Sarah of old, then it is lawful for her husband, if permitted by reve. lation through the prophet, to be married to others without her con. sent, and he will be justified, and she will be condemned, because she did not give them unto him, as Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham, and as Rachel and Leah gave Bilhah and Zilpah to their husband, Jacob.

It is sometimes the case that the husband provides for his wives separate habitations, as Jacob did for his four wives, each of whom had a separate tent. (See Genesis, 31: 33.) Where all the wives are equally faithful, the husband gene. rally endeavors to treat them all without partiality.

Jealousy is an evil with which the saints in Utah are but seldom troubled it is an evil that is not countenanced by either male or

female; and should any indulge such If the Gentile nations consider a passion, they would bring a dis- Patriarchal Matrimony "a mole grace and reproach upon themselves which has got into the Saints' eyes, which they could not easily wipe let them, before they undertake to away. And indeed, it is very rare, pluck it out, extricate the great that there are any causes for jealousy; beams from their own eyes, and then for the citizens of that Territory they will learn that what they sup. think more of their virtue than they posed to be "a mote" is in reality a do of their lives. They know, that divine institution, which was pracif they have any connections out of ticed by the most holy men that ever the marriage covenant, they not only lived in ancient times under the sanc forfeit their lives by the law of God, tion and approbation of the Almighty. but they forfeit their salvation also. Tradition causes individuals and With such views resting upon the nations to "strain at a gnat and swalminds of both old and young, the peo- low a camel." They cry out, as though ple have the greatest of confidence in they were frightened out of their each others integrity: they can entrust senses, because a territory practices their wives and daughters, without legal and lawful matrimony after the any distrust, to the protection and pattern set before them in the Scripcare of their neighbors. Under the tures; but they can swallow down strict and rigid laws of virtue which comparatively easy, without scarcely prevail and are carried into general uttering a groan, the polluted wretchpractice, wives are not in constant ed, most filthy sinks of iniquity, that fear of the inconstancy of their hus- prevail to an alarming extent in all bands; parents are not fearful of the large towns, cities, and sea-ports their children being seduced and among the Gentile nations. One their characters being destroyed; such den of polution, in ancient times, neither are they fearful that their would have brought down the heaviest children will form contracts of mar- judgments of the Almighty upon the riage without their consent; for such whole nation of Israel, until they a thing is not allowed in the whole irradicated the evil, root and branch, territory. Such a state of things from their midst. Yes, even for one actually existing, not in theory alone, case of adultery, almost the whole but in general practice, removes tribe of Benjamin were destroyed, every cause for jealousy, distrust, and and that, too, by the command of God. want of confidence, and lays a broad (See 19, 20, and 21, chapters of and permanent foundation for peace Judges.) But now tens of thousands and union. If a man ill-treats any one of his wives, he is looked upon as having violated the law of God, and it is difficult for him to recover from the disgrace.

There are more quarrellings, and jealousies, and disunions, and evil speakings, in one week, among two thousand families, taken at random any where in the United States or England, than would be seen through. out all Utah Territory in five years. And there is more unvirtuous conduct practiced in one day in New York city, or Albany, or Buffalo, or Cincin nati, or St. Louis, than would be practiced in Utah in a thousand genera tions, unless they greatly degenerated from their present standard of morals.

of public prostitutes may be found in one city such as New York, and ninety thousand in. another like London, and yet the United States and England call themselves christian nations, and pretend to worship God with all these abominations under their notice. Are the nations justi fied who suffer such great wicked. ness in their midst? Verily no.

Can any one suppose that God has changed so that he does not look upon adulterous and unvirtuous practices now with the same degree of abhorence as he did anciently? If for one sin of this description, twenty-five thousand Benjaminites, together with their wives and little children were destroyed by the command of God,

what must be the fierce wrath and resurrection? No; they do not he terrible judgments laid up against lieve that any will enjoy that privi modern christendom who have suf- lege excepting those who have been fered these abominations to prevail among them, not in a few isolated cases existing for a moment, but in hundreds of thousands of cases, where public prostitutes swarming forth from their deathly hellish dens, like so many venomous serpents, have corrupted nations and generations for centuries and for ages!

married by the word of the Lord, and by his authority for eternity. When a man and woman enter into matri. monial contracts and covenant to be each others companion until death, they have claim upon each other for this life only; when death comes, their marriage contracts and cove. nants expire; and in the resurrection, Let this nation put these evils from however much they may desire to their midst; let them enact strict enjoy themselves in all the endearing laws to protect the virtue of the relationships of husband and wife, country; let the heaviest penalties be they will find that their contracts and inflicted upon all public prostitutes, covenants which were made for time and upon all those who encourage only, give them no title to each other the same, either by precept or exam- in eternity. Therefore, they will not ple; let the priests and the people, be permitted under any conditions the rulers and the ruled, clothe them. whatever to live together as husband selves in sackcloth and weep before and wife. But can they not renew the Lord for the sins of the nation, their contracts and be married again which have reached unto the heavens and cry aloud for vengeance; let them cleanse the land and wipe out of existence these soul-destroying abominations then let them teach Utah virtue, and their precepts will be heard and their admonitions received; then will the valiant-hearted sons and daughters of the Mountain Territory believe that there is virtue still left in the land; and then shall the nation find favor in the sight of heaven, and rise up in strength, in power, in glo. rious majesty, and extend their do. minions east, west, north, and south, and shall rule in triumph and ever. lasting honor unto the ends of the earth. But until then let them hide their faces in shame and blush in deep silence at the floodgates of iniquity which pour forth their torrents of corruption and death in all parts of the land.

Why do the Saints marry for all eternity as well as for time? Be cause both male and female expect to have a resurrection from the dead, and wish to enjoy each others society in the capacity of husbands and wives in the eternal worlds. Do the saints believe that all those who have been husbands and wives in this life will enjoy that relationship after the

in that life? No; for Jesus says, "In the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." (Matthew 22: 30.) Those who have not secured their marriage for eter. nity in this life, can never have it attended to hereafter; therefore, if they should through faithfulness even be saved, yet they would be no higher than the angels, and would be compelled to live separately and singly, and consequently without posterity, and would become servants to all eternity, for those who are counted worthy to become kings and priests, and who will receive thrones and kingdoms, and an endless increase of posterity, and inherit a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Such will need myriads of servants as their kingdoms and dominions increase; and the numbers requisite will be found among those who kept not the higher law, but still rendered themselves worthy of an inferior reward.

The first marriage we have on record, is that of our first parents. After the Lord had formed Eve, He "brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh she