Psalm viii. 1 O Lord our God, how excellent is thy name in all the earth: who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained. 1 Kings viii. 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? Doctrine and Covenants. Sec. vii 4 Therefore it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; for after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; that bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it for ever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified. 5 And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom. For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom, cannot abide a celestial glory; and he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom, cannot abide a terrestrial glory: he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom, cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not mete for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. 6 And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law. Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness; and they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness; and also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness; and they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received, [See the whole of Sec. xcii.; also Doc. and Cov. and Book of Mormon under the head of "General Judgment and Eternal Rewards and Punishments," in this work.] Journal of Biscourses. Vol. i. page 92 We are already the best people on earth, but we can still improve, we are made for that purpose, our capacities are organized to expand until we can receive into our comprehension celestial knowledge and wisdom, and to continue worlds without end.-Brigham Young. Page 93 The Lord God Almighty has decreed this principle to be the great governing law of existence, and for that purpose are we formed. Furthermore, if men can understand and receive it, mankind are organized to receive intelligence until they become perfect in the sphere they are appointed to fill, which is far ahead of us at present. When we use the term perfection, it applies to man in his present condition, as well as to heavenly beings. We are now, or may be, as perfect in our sphere, as God and angels are in theirs, but the greatest intelligence in existence can continually ascend to greater heights of perfection.-Ibid.[See context.] Page 349 All things that have come within the bounds of man's limited knowledge-the things he naturally understands, teach him, that there is no period, in all the eternities wherein organized existence will become stationary, that it cannot advance in knowledge, wisdom, power, and glory. If a man could ever arrive at the point that would put an end to the accumulation of life-the point at which he could increase no more, and advance no further, we should naturally say he commenced to decrease at the same point. If the endless stream of knowledge from the eternal fountain could all be drunk in by organized intelligences, so sure immortallity would come to an end, and all eternity be thrown upon the retrogade path.-Ibid.-[See context.] Vol. iii. p. 93 The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming Gods like Himself; when we have been proved in our present capacity, and been faithful with all things He puts into our possession. We are created, we are born for the express purpose of growing up from the low estate of manhood, to become Gods like unto our Father in heaven. That is the truth about it, just as it is. The Lord has organized mankind for the express purpose of increasing in that intelligence and truth, which is with God, until he is capable of creating worlds on worlds, and becoming Gods, even the sons of God.―[See context.] Page 203 We shall never cease to learn, unless we aposta tize from the religion of Jesus Christ. Then we shall cease to increase, and will continue to decrease and decompose, until we return to our native element.-Brigham Young. [See also" General Judgment and Eternal Rewards and Punishments" on this subject.] History of Joseph Smith. July 12, 1843.-Which angels are ministering servants to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory; for these angels did not abide my law, therefore they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity, and from henceforth are not Gods, but are angels of God for ever and ever. And they [those who have fulfilled the law] shall pass by the angels, and the Gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seed, for ever and ever.-[See the whole of this revelation.] SPIRITS IN PRISON Bible. 1 Pet. iii. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometimes were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. iv. 5 Who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Luke xxiii. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. John xi. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live : Psalm cxliii. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. Isa. xlii. 7 To open the blind eyes and bring out the prisoners.-xlix. 9 Say to the prisoners go forth.-lxi. 1 Jesus would come to give liberty to the captives.—Matt. xii. 32 Some kinds of sin can be forgiven in the world to come. -xxii. 32 God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. -Luke xii. 47, 48 Some shall be beaten with few, and some т with many stripes.-Acts ii. 34 For David is not yet ascended into heaven.-Psalm xvi. 10 Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.-2 Pet. ii. 4 The angels that sinned are reserved in chains, unto judgment. Book of Mormon. Alma xix. 5 Behold, it has been made known unto me, by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body; yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass the spirits of those who are righteous, are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise; a state of rest; a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care and sorrow, &c. 6 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house; and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. Doctrine and Covenants. Sec. vii. 28 And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the Gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh. 29 And again, another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then cometh the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation; and these are the rest of the dead, and they live not again, until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth. Sec. xii. 1 But behold, the residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of darkness, until the judgment of the |