The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fourth Year: The AtonementRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fourth Year: The Atonement
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
this state of existence occurred the spirit's "primevil childhood;"
here spirits were "nurtured" near the side of the heavenly Father,
in his "high and glorious place;" thence spirits were sent to earth
to unite spirit-elements with earth-elements--in some way essential
to a fullness of glory and happiness. "Man is Spirit. The elements
are eternal, and Spirit and Element inseparably connected receive a
fullness of joy; and when separated man cannot receive a fullness of
joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; Yea, man is the tabernacle
of God even temples."[A] Hence spirits are sent to earth, to take on
its elements, and to learn the lessons earth-life has to teach. The
half awakened recollections of the human mind may be chiefly engaged
with scenes, incidents and impressions of that former spirit life; but
that does not argue the non-existence of the uncreated intelligences
who preceded the begotten spiritual personages as so plainly set forth
in the revelations of God.
[Footnote A: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 93:32-35.]
The difference, then, between "spirits" and "intelligences," as here
used, is this: Spirits are uncreated intelligences inhabiting spiritual
bodies; while "intelligences," pure and simple, are intelligent
entities, but unembodied in either spirit bodies or bodies of flesh
and bone. They are uncreated, self-existent entities; but let it be
observed, in passing, that nothing is here said in relation to the
form of these intelligent entities, nor anything as to their mode of
existence. Indeed, so far as I know, nothing has been revealed in
relation to their form or mode of existence; nothing beyond the fact
of existence, their eternity and the qualities necessary to them as
Intelligences.
_2. Jesus and Men of the same Order of Intelligences:_ The
scriptures teach that Jesus Christ and men are of the same order of
beings; that men are of the same race with Jesus, of the same nature
and essence; that he is indeed our elder brother. "For it became
him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through suffering. _For both he that sanctifieth and they who are
sanctified are all of one:_ [i. e., essence or nature; or, regarding
men's spirits, of one Father] for which cause he is not ashamed to
call them brethren."[A] Hence, though the Christ is more perfect in
righteousness, and more highly developed in intellectual and spiritual
powers than men, yet these differences are of degree, not of kind; so
that what is revealed concerning Jesus, the Christ, may be of infinite
helpfulness in throwing light upon the nature of man and the several
estates he has occupied and will occupy hereafter. The coeternity of
Jesus Christ with God, the Father, and the extension of the principle
of co-eternity of the Intelligences in men with Jesus Christ and God
has been already pointed out.[B]
[Footnote A: Heb. ii:10, 11.]
[Footnote B: Lesson II, this treatise.]
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