A great unfolding of power and flawlessness and light belongs to every human being. The author reminds us that everyone who is born into this world is enlightened by the Holy Spirit. But, it must be brought forth. It lies within us as a dormant seed needing to be nourished and developed.
Annalee is an expert at opening our eyes to the beauty of God's creation. But His beauty is not all we see as we visualize the tiny flower being formed within it's seed - the "perfume distilled, the satin texture spun" before it ever breaks free from the dark soil. We also begin to see that these amazing little miracles are symbols of the seed of God within us. Yes, our heavenly Father has planted His seed within us.
In this chapter we also learn from the symbolism of the marriage ceremony; the adornments of the bride; the oil for the lamps of the wedding party. What extinguishes the lamps that should be shining - filling our entire beings with light? The first pages of this chapter teach us what to avoid in order to keep our lights burning. This is so simple and pure that even a child could understand - if it is read with an open mind and heart.
The road of light is the road of joy, of divine glory, of ecstasy and gladness. To travel the highway of light until one at last becomes immersed with light, or "Anointed with light," one must of himself leave the darkness behind. Never for a moment must sadness or despair be permitted to lay hold of one. The door to heaven is love, but the key to the door is ecstasy or joy in all its Spiritual outflowing glory of singing power. That song of joy must never be permitted to die, not for one instant. It is the contact with the Spirit of God. It is Spirit. Love, ecstasy and that glorious spirit of anticipation is the very essence and Spirit of the power of God. It is faith's singing glory as it swings into action. It is power triumphant that will bring fulfillment -- "for it promises all things, and will fulfill all things."
"And if your eyes be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the day will come that you shall see Him, for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will. Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts far from you."1 (D. & C. 88:67-69). Eyes single to the glory of God is having power to see only the joy of His glory, to behold His light, and to cast out darkness.
"The perfect love casteth out all fear." This is the "overcoming" of all mortality, for fear, sadness, despair is of the earth and IS darkness. This darkness can only be eliminated by keeping one's eyes or mind continually on the light -- or by keeping his ear attuned to the joy of that voice within. This is the ecstasy of the Spirit that will melt the doors of brass and the bars of iron or any other obstruction that is holding one back. This great joy or ecstasy does not mean empty, hilarious nonsense, but a deep, steadfast song of power singing in one's soul of promise and fulfillment. It is this joy, or faith or action that casts out all darkness, or "overcomes" it. No one can do that for us. We have to cast it out ourselves. We have to do our own "overcoming." We have to take hold of the great light and draw it to us by love and constant awareness of it.
1."Put all sadness far from thee; for it is the sister of doubting and of anger. How sir, said I (to the angel), is it the sister of these? For sadness, and anger, and doubting, seem to be very different from one another."
2.And he answered: Art thou without intelligence that thou dost not understand it? For sadness is the most mischievous of all spirits, and the worst to the servants of God: It destroys the spirits of all men, and torments the Holy Spirit; . . .
3.". . . Hear, said he, and understand. They who never sought out the truth, nor inquired concerning the majesty of God, but only believed, are involved in the affairs of the world.
13."But they that have the fear of the Lord, and search out the truth concerning God, having all their thoughts towards the Lord; apprehend whatsoever is said to them, and forthwith understand it, because they have the love of the Lord in them.
14."For where the spirit of the Lord dwells, there is also much understanding added. Wherefore join thyself to the Lord, and thou shalt understand all things.
15."Learn now, O unwise man! How sadness troubleth the Holy Spirit. When a man that is doubtful is engaged in any affair, and does not accomplish it by reason of his doubting, this sadness enters into him, and grieves the Holy Spirit.
18."Remove therefore sadness from thyself, and afflict not the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in thee, lest he entreat God, and depart from thee. For the Spirit of the Lord which is given to dwell in the flesh, endureth no such sadness.
19."Wherefore clothe thyself with cheerfulness, which has always favor with the Lord, and thou shalt rejoice in it. For every cheerful man does well; and relishes those things that are good, and despises sadness.
20."But the sad man does always wickedly. First, he doth wickedly because he grieveth the Holy Spirit, which is given to man, being of a cheerful nature. And again he does ill, because he prays with sadness unto the Lord, and maketh not a first thankful acknowledgement unto him for former mercies, and obtains not of God what he asks.
21."For the prayer of a sad man has not always efficacy to come up to the altar of God. And I said unto him, Sir, why has not the prayer of a sad man virtue to come up to the altar of God? Because, said he, that sadness remaineth in his heart.
22."When therefore a man's prayer shall be accompanied with sadness, it will not suffer his requests to ascend pure to the altar of God. For as wine it is mingled with vinegar, has not the sweetness it had before; so sadness being mixed with the Holy Spirit, suffers not a man's prayer to be the same as it would be otherwise.
23."Wherefore cleanse thyself from sadness, which is evil, and thou shalt live unto God. And all others shall live unto God, as many as shall lay aside sadness and put on cheerfulness." (II. Hermas 10).
"Verily, I say unto you, my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks."2 (D. & C. 98:1).
The first and greatest mission of the Comforter is to give comfort -- to speak peace, to give courage, to reveal light -- and he who refuses to be comforted is rejecting the light and power of the Comforter. There is no sorrow so great, no condition so dark, no life so hopeless that the voice of the Comforter will not bring peace if that individual will not reject it, clinging rather to the darkness. Darkness is only a lack of light. Unhappiness is a condition where joy is not -- and a lack of joy and hope, or faith comes because of iniquity. It comes truly because we have refused to be comforted -- and have failed to heed that voice from deep within our own souls.
The very greatest tragedy that could possibly happen in any life would be transgression -- poverty, want, despair, death of a loved one, loss of any kind could not possibly compare to the great tragedy of transgression. Yet the promise is always there: "He who seeks me diligently shall find me." "Turn unto me and I will turn unto you." "Though their sins be as scarlet yet shall they be white as snow to him that overcometh." "There is more joy in heaven over one soul that returns to Me than over ninety and nine just persons."
And the first and greatest outburst of joy is that glorious joy in the heaven of a man's own soul as he returns to the light.
"And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity."3 (Moroni 10:22). Despair is a condition of the mind that eliminates the power of faith, hence shuts out that contact with the Divine, and causes one to lose contact with his own pattern of divine fulfillment.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law." Those who fulfill these higher laws and receive the glory of the divine gifts have fulfilled all laws for these are the gifts of eternal light -- gifts that leave no room for darkness, discord, confusion or despair. They are light and glory and carry with them all power.
Love is truly the door to the realms of the great kingdom of heaven, and the key to the door is that inner ecstasy of joy that is always in contact with the Spirit of Almighty God, opening wide the soul to the great gift of eternal light.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will feast with him, and he with me. 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." (Rev. 3:20-21). "If any man hear my voice" -- this voice of Christ is the voice of faith and love and gladness and joy -- it is that voice of approval within -- the voice that will lead into all truth and all power. Learn to hear this voice of light, and open the door, for it is the door to heaven or the fulfillment of all your own great possibilities -- and thus all things will be added to you.
This is truly the "Feast of the Passover." Originally it was thought only to pertain to the passing over of the destroying angel -- but it was the feast also in which the children of Israel passed out of bondage into free living, under the direction of the love and power of God. To Christ it was the last supper, but it was also the feast of the Passover -- or symbolized His passing over from death into life. When we hear His voice and open the doors of our hearts, souls and minds wide to His Holy Spirit we too partake of the feast of the Passover, for we pass over from mortal thinking into the realm of divine thinking -- and thus He feasts with us -- and we with Him.
Man himself is the doorway. He must open the door. No outside power can do it for him. It would be as detrimental to him to have some outside force open this door and release him as it would be for anyone to tear the cocoon from the moth. It has to free itself, and in the struggle to obtain that freedom it gains the strength to fly. So it is with man.
It is like that humble, glorious Saint, who wrote those inspired Odes of Solomon said,
"And He who knew and brought me up is the Most High in all His perfection. And He glorified me by His kindness, and raised my thoughts to the height of His truth.
"And from thence He gave me the way of His precepts and I opened the doors that were closed.
"And brake in pieces the bars of iron; but my iron melted and dissolved before me;
"NOTHING APPEARED CLOSED TO ME: BECAUSE I WAS THE DOOR OF EVERYTHING." (Odes of Solomon 17:7-10).
"And he who is thankful in all things shall be made glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto him an hundred fold, yea more."4 (D. & C. 78:19). Gratitude is the song of the soul. It is the joy released into vibrations that will as surely lift one into the higher realms of light as the stream will follow its course to the sea. The sea is the eternal abode of the waters -- the realm of divine light is the resting place of man.
That great inner joy of the soul is the power that contacts the Holy Spirit of God and opens wide the portals to the kingdom of heaven. It is this joy of love that unites the heart, mind and soul into a power that completely fulfills all other laws. The very power of the heart, soul and mind united in this overwhelming love of devotion and joy turns the key and fulfills all the laws, opening wide the doors to all light, all power and perfection.
This kingdom of heaven is within us, but we have to seek for it, and for its righteousness, leaving the darkness behind as we step into it, thus fulfilling all righteousness, and gathering its light to us and living by that light.
We have to open the door. We have to tune in on our own radio sets -- we have to learn to listen -- to "Be Still and know that I Am, God." We must learn to commune with God -- this is the Holy Communion that is symbolized in the Sacrament of the Last Supper. And unless one learns to find this holy communion his partaking of the sacrament is a vain and useless thing. This is the "hidden manna." This is partaking of the "Waters of life freely" for which the sacrament is only the outer symbol. This is the Holy Communion, partaking of the body and life of Christ -- "for my words are Spirit, and they are truth, the flesh profits nothing." (John 6:63).
We of ourselves have to open our understandings by humbling ourselves, and turning over our conscious minds, burdened with the experiences and knowledge of mortality, to the power of the Spirit mind, that is in tune with all Truth, knows no error, contains no discord, but is in itself the kingdom of light. We must desire the light, and seek to bring it forth as we reach for it with clean hands and pure hearts. As we take hold of this light with complete understanding we will realize that darkness is banished and thus we become completely filled with light. One cannot possibly step into the great kingdom of light while his mind is holding to his sorrows, his woes and his fears -- and the love of this light, and the love of God will eliminate all fears. This is what Christ promised when He said, "Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you (which yoke is love), for my yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT."
With this understanding it is possible to step through the door of ourselves, as the writer of the Odes of Solomon did, into the kingdom of heaven, and all things will be added unto us, and we will comprehend all things.
". . . For the Lord himself being asked by a certain person, When his kingdom should come? Answered, When two shall be one, and that which is without as that which is within . . ." (II. Clement 5:1, New Testament Apocrypha).
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon Him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon Him my new Name." (Rev. 3:12). It is only this overcoming that will let the light in us shine forth that "others seeing our good works can glorify our Father in heaven." "For it is the Father who doeth the works." As long as man is trying to do the works, and is taking credit for his strained efforts there can be no glorifying of God -- for if one can bring forth this light, others can also be taught how to bring forth that same light, and thus too they will be able to glorify God -- for what one can do -- all can do --"For my kingdom is not in word, but in power." This is the only possible way to glorify God -- to humble the "self" before Him so that His Holy Spirit can take over -- and thus permit Him to do His works through us. And this is not for one, but for all. Words and speeches are meaningless, only the power of Almighty God in action has the right to speak -- the power that has left all darkness, sadness, despair, anger and fear behind -- the power that is light -- light eternal, shining forth from within the souls of men. This is the anointing of light.
This cannot take place in an instant without some preparation or the very light of the Spirit would consume us. We must purify our minds, our bodies and our souls by divine thinking before we can be prepared to be the pure temples of God, radiant with light, having received of His fullness.
Thus we are told, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you." Seeking that righteousness is gradually bringing that righteousness into our outer lives and incorporating it into every fibre of our beings, even as Christ did. This is the growing from grace to grace, permitting a little light to enter our minds, or consciousness, then living by that light -- then comes more light -- and thus line upon line, precept upon precept we learn to listen to the voice of "All Truth" as it directs us into the realms of eternal light -- and thus we reach our own complete fulfillment of perfection. Thus it is possible for us to receive of the fullness of the Father, which means having every attribute, and glory and power and trait of the Father fulfilled in us -- until we are filled with that fullness of perfection. (D. & C. 93:17, 20, 26-28).
Perhaps it could be explained in this way. Before the gorgeous flower is revealed every perfect petal must be completed in every detail. The color must have been gathered, the perfume distilled, the satin texture spun -- the full glory held in all its perfection within the enclosed green bud. Men are like rosebushes that have never bloomed -- or if the green buds have appeared they have been blighted by an incomplete vision. Our true heritage is divinity and only as we unfold that divinity from within us, bringing forth the embryo qualities of our Divine, Heavenly Father, which were planted in us from the beginning, can our lives be a complete fulfillment of our title, "Sons of God."
As we reach ever toward the light, holding before our minds always the perfect pattern of our divine unfoldment and destiny can we "overcome" and receive our "Anointing of Light" "and become powerful." This is the Oil for the Lamps of the world -- it is the only oil that will illuminate the soul until it can be prepared when the Bridegroom comes -- those who have not brought forth this light will be cast out into darkness and there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
"He that is ordained of God (or anointed with Light) and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all.
"Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light, the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son.
"But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.
"And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done." (D. & C. 50:26-29).
The Keys? "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!" (I Cor. 3:16 and D. and C. 98:1).
This work contains the complete pattern of the fulfillment of Godhood in every child of God. You who desire to hold the keys of light and glory in your hands must fulfill these laws -- and only as you pray, as you seek, as you search, and as you take hold of these divine laws with your whole souls can you know of their great, eternal power and truth. This is not a book to be read -- this is the pattern of life -- the Life abundant that must be lived in order to be understood. If you are tired of the crumbs of life, if a common, mediocre existence has become a burden of dreary dismay, then take this flaming banner of eternal light into your hands and open the doors of your soul to the full glory of the light of God. For so shall it be unto you, according to your faith and your desire.
Too long has the world been boasting of its light while carrying empty lamps. Too many people have held forth their individual darkness and proclaimed it light -- and the blind have led the blind and all have fallen into the ditch and know it not. "Fill your lamps with oil, oh Israel! And let your light shine forth to greet the new day, for behold the Bridegroom cometh -- Go ye! Go ye out to meet Him!"
This unfolding or bringing forth of light is a slow development from within and at first is almost unnoticeable. It is first just a feeling -- the feeling a seed feels in the warm earth as it begins to unfold and manifest its powers. Then one's physical surroundings begin to be more harmonized -- and thus it unfolds steadily, surely, perfectly -- and the light shines brighter, with greater clearness and more joy until the full flower unfolds in all its glory.
The last unfolding can take place in an instant -- "The Anointing of Light", but the full preparation of it will have to be complete in perfect, most minute detail first. It is the constant awareness of anticipation that brings it forth. One must live for it, every moment, every breath, every thought. This will shortly turn from belief to faith, and from faith to knowing.
This unfolding of light is glory unspeakable. It is life everlasting. It is power and light and love and perfection. It is the fullness of the Father, the glory and power of God, the Light of the world.
This great unfolding of power and perfection and light belongs to every man. No man has a monopoly on the light of God, for every man that cometh into the world is enlightened by this Holy Spirit and it can be unfolded in his breast. However it can only be brought forth as he desires it, as he begins to believe in it, and live for it. This power belongs to every man just as surely as the power of blossoming and bringing forth a full and ripened crop of fruit belongs to every fruit tree. It is as one learns to trust completely and implicitly the Spirit of Light, or Christ, within, which is the true vine, that he can bring forth the perfect, divine pattern of his own fulfillment of glory and perfect achievement. Man is the branch or the door through which the very power of life is manifest. It is only as he acknowledges this power of light within, as Christ did, that he can do the works of the Father. Thus as he brings forth the Christ -- or "the anointing of light" from within himself he places the crown of divinity upon his own head -- thus he evolves from the man kingdom to the God kingdom -- and the branch develops into a vine, giving life and light forever.
"The fullness of the Father" is when the full power of God comes forth and is made manifest in the works of the individual -- this is when the full power of the Father fills the individual. It is the ordination of God, the Birth of the Spirit, the Anointing with Light. The outside man is only the temple -- it is the Father within that is the One who occupies the temple.
This search for light or the search for a man's soul is also the search for God -- and the search for God is also the search for the gift of eternal life. "For this is life eternal to know Thee, the only True and Living God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." This is a search that will glorify man, for as his understanding expands and his heart and soul opens he begins to become the very thing he seeks to interpret. Thus the greatest work of God is not to rush forth to try to save the souls of men before one has found the seat of his own soul, the light of his own inner knowing -- the voice of the Spirit of the Lord, and has at least begun to unfold his own true pattern of life and glory. Any who does not have this direct contact with the Almighty is walking in blindness and therefore cannot possibly lead others into the supreme, divine light of God. "First, get the power."
As one enters the closet of his own soul to seek God or to be exact, contact God, he shall truly be rewarded openly. His life will gradually unfold in beauty and completeness and the great treasures of power hidden in his own soul shall be brought forth to glorify his life -- and to glorify God. Thus he learns to "walk with God," even as the great one of old walked.
He shall become purified by the most sacred of all quests, and when he has reached that center of light in his own soul, the Son will stand revealed -- and He will reveal the Father to him -- and he shall comprehend all things -- even God -- and receive of the fullness of the Father, and receive his "anointing of light -- and "Be ordained of God and sent forth with the powers of heaven in his hands -- "to do the works of God." And so it is that "His kingdom is not in word, but in power."
The very voice of the scriptures thunder forth a warning to the world that the wicked shall be cast out into outer darkness, and our minds shiver and pass on ignoring the warning -- while we have all been living in outer darkness -- in the very darkness of our physical minds and thoughts We have groped through our mortal consciousness of dark perception, wallowed in our earthly conditions, been ruled by the flesh -- tossed and churned by the mental storms of hurt, pride, fears, worries, vanities, bigotry, confusion, ego, anger, selfishness, greeds and jealousies. Outer darkness? Yes, the outer darkness of the flesh -- and this will continue to be our abiding place until we are willing to return to our Father's house, and partake of the warmth and the light that awaits us there.
"The kingdom of heaven is within you," Son of man -- how far you will have to journey from your particular place in outer darkness to that glorious realm of peace and light that you might fulfill your own ultimate glory will depend on you -- what you desire to accept and fulfill -- and the vision you hold in your heart -- for "Faith promises all things -- and fulfills all things." According to your faith be it unto you.
According to the prophecies of the Almighty the Saints are to adorn themselves as a bride as they prepare to receive the Bridegroom, the Son of the Living God.
"Can a maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire?" (Jer. 2:32).
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isa. 61:10).
". . . And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." (Isa. 62:5).
"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isa. 35:10).
"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain (the Spiritual mountain of understanding); O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; and say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God." (Isa. 40:9).
"Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come to thee the uncircumcised and unclean.
"Shake thyself from the dust; arise; and set down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
"For thus saith the Lord, ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money." (Isa. 52:1-3).
"And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression, in Jacob, saith the Lord." (Isa. 59:20).
The redeemed are those who have turned from transgression, those who have overcome by their faith in the promises of the Almighty through their love of the Lord their God.
The robe of the bride is the robe of righteousness and the adorning jewels are the gifts of the Spirit. The first is peace -- the peace Christ came to bring -- the great peace that can only be received by those who have learned to 'BE STILL." And to be still does not mean a dead, dull, sleepy stupid stillness. It is a condition of silence in which the conscious, warring, doubting mind learns to be quiet, and learns to listen. It is that stillness, or quiet, attentive listening of the soul in which one learns to hear the voice of the Spirit of Almighty God -- the stillness in which the ego, outer-self is forgotten -- the stillness in which one learns to KNOW that God is God, and is known of Him, and becomes one with Him.
The very first gift of this glorious, gracious contact is the precious jewel of divine peace -- "The peace that passeth understanding." This gift of peace is one of the great jewels of the Almighty. It is the gift that lifts one from a common mortal to sonhood, a prince of the Royal Household of the Father. It is one of the graces which comes from God. It must be accepted graciously and worn always in full knowing of it sacred value. It is the key that opens the storehouse to the other gifts and graces and powers. Gather the unspeakable gift of divine peace to you and wear it forever as a robe of glory -- the "Peace that passeth understanding." (Rev. 7:3; 9:4).
"Peace on earth good will toward men!" So sang the herald angels at the birth of Christ -- so came the gift, to be received by all who would desire it and seek to hold it as their own, from that time henceforward and forever.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27; 16:33; Eph. 6:15: Phil. 4:7; Col. 3:5). This salutation of peace has been the salutation of Heavenly Messengers from time immemorial. And it is Christ's gift to the world -- to each individual who is willing to give up his discords to receive it. And it is true that He did not give this divine gift of peace as the world gives gifts. He gave it as a jewel, not from the outside to be seen of men -- but from within -- a gift that lies buried within each man's soul and must be brought forth as one turns to Christ and finds that divine contact through developing his love for Almighty God.
This great, glorious gift of peace, peace of soul, peace of mind, peace of life is the first jewel to be received and worn as each individual prepares to meet the Bridegroom. The other jewels will follow -- the jewels of the Spirit -- love, gentleness, tenderness, mercy, compassion, understanding, joy, wisdom and the power to forgive. These are the jewels of the Spirit. These are the jewels that each individual must wear or be adorned with before he can be prepared for the Bridegroom. These jewels only will glorify Zion, "The Pure in Heart." These jewels only will glorify any individual on this earth, be they farmer, prophet or king. These glorious gifts, as they are incorporated into the very lives and beings of each individual are the glorifying of the Bride. They are worn on the soul and the body receives their glory and is exalted by their purity and beauty of perfection. None can enter the feast of the righteous except the righteous -- those who love sincerely, deeply and perfectly, with a love unfeigned -- those who are crowned with the jewel of peace and bedecked with the brilliance of mercy, understanding, and those precious gifts of the Spirit that can never be worn by the self-righteous, the proud, the haughty, the slothful nor rebellious.
"And an highway shall be there, AND A WAY, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: The wayfaring men, though fools shall not err therein." (Isa. 35:8).
And this record is "THE WAY" and the unclean shall never pass over it, yet it is mapped plainly and true so that children and fools need not err therein. For this record is the record of God, and is written so that a child may understand and he who is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness -- and glory be to the Most High God forever and forever -- Amen.
("The reference to the sealed document sent by God is one of the great mysteries of the collection.") And now the mystery is revealed, for this record is the document -- and as you read the words of this ode, pray, and you will understand.
"Joy is of the saints! And who shall put it on, but they alone?
"Grace is of the elect! and who shall receive it except those who trust in it from the beginning?
"Love is of the elect! and who shall put it on except those who have possessed it from the beginning?
"Walk ye in the knowledge of the Most High without grudging: to His exultation and to the perfection of His knowledge.
"And His thought was like a letter; His will descended from on high, and it was sent like an arrow which is violently shot from the bow:
"And many hands rushed to the letter to seize it and to take and read it:
"And it escaped their fingers and they were affrighted at it and at the seal that was upon it.
"Because it was not permitted to them to loose its seal: for the power that was over the seal was greater than they.
"But those who saw it went after the letter that they might know where it would alight, and who should read it and who should hear it.
"But a wheel received it and came over it:
"And there was with it a sign of the Kingdom and of the Government:
"And everything which tried to move the wheel it mowed and cut down:
"And it gathered the multitude of adversaries, and bridged the rivers and crossed over and rooted up many forests and made a broad path.
"The head went down to the feet, for down to the feet ran the wheel, and that which was a sign upon it.
"The letter was one of command, for there were included in it all districts;
"And there was seen at its head, the head which was revealed even the Son of Truth from the Most High Father,
"And He inherited and took possession of everything. And the thought of many was brought to nought.
"And all the apostates hasted and fled away. And those who persecuted and were enraged became extinct.
"And the letter was a great volume, which was wholly written by the finger of God:
"And the name of the Father was on it, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, to rule for ever and ever. Hallelujah!"
1. RLDS D&C 85:18a-19a: And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you, and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him: for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will. Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you: cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you; return to paragraph →
2. RLDS D&C 95:1a: Verily I say unto you, my friends, Fear not, let your hearts be comforted, yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks, waiting patiently on the Lord; return to paragraph →
3. Moroni 10:16 RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon: Neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God, if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope; and if ye have no hope, ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity. return to paragraph →
4. RLDS D&C 77:4c: and he who receiveth all things, with thankfulness, shall be made glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundredfold, yea, more; return to paragraph →