A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsWidtsoe, John Andreas
Religion
A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Widtsoe, John Andreas
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines; Theology
**Possible Repetition.** The vastness of meaning in the temple
worship makes it difficult at once for man to remember and understand
it, and only once are the endowments taken for himself by any one
person. To refresh his memory, and to place him in close touch with
the spirit of the work, a man may enter the temple as frequently as he
desires and take endowments for the dead, and in that way both he and
the dead are benefited. The temples, then, are means whereby every
member of the Church may receive precious endowments, and may be kept
in refreshed memory of the Great Plan, which he, with the rest of the
human family, is working out. Temple work is the safety of the living
and the hope of the dead. At present, temples are in operation in Salt
Lake City, St. George, Logan and Manti, all in Utah, and a temple is
nearing completion in Cardston, Alberta, Canada.
MAN AND MAN.
CHAPTER 24.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
There are many men and women upon the earth. No one faces, alone, the
great forces of nature. About him move other men, with whom he must
associate. In the Great Plan it is so ordained that men shall dwell
together, and this leads to many of the finest applications of the
Gospel to the daily life of man.
**Common Origin.** By the power of God, the spirits of men were born
into the spiritual world; thus all became the children of God. In
turn, all have been born from the same spiritual estate into the earth
estate, from the one earthly ancestor, Adam. All men are therefore of
identical origin. Absolute uniformity prevails among the children of
men, so far as their origin is concerned.
**Common Purposes.** The spirits are placed on earth for a common
purpose. From the beginning, man has risen to his high estate through
the acquisition of power over the natural forces surrounding him. "Man
is that he may have joy," is the fundamental purpose of man's
activity, whether on or out of the earth. In the Great Council all the
spirits which have reached or will reach the earth, were present; and
all declared themselves in favor of the Plan. In conformity with this
agreement, man is on earth. All desire a closer acquaintance with
gross matter, as a means of future power and consequent joy; and all
desire that the earth-experience may be accompanied with as much joy
as is possible. Consequently, all who are or have been, or will be
assembled on earth, have a common purpose. Absolute uniformity
prevails among men so far as their fundamental purpose is concerned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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