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Portrait of Governor Vaughn: Announcement; Answers to Questions; Degrees of Glory

Improvement Era, vol. 5, no. 5, March 1902, pp. 390 to 392

John Nicholson

PORTRAIT OF GOVERNOR VAUGHN. The Era presents, in this number, the portrait of Vernon H Vaughn of Alabama, who succeeded Governor J. Wilson Shaffer, and became the eighth governor of the territory of Utah on November 1, 1870, though it was nearly a month thereafter before he took charge of the office. He continued in office only until the coming of Governor George L. Woods, his successor, who was appointed on February 2, 1871. Governor Vaughn died in Sacra- mento, California, on Sunday, December 1, 1878. ANNOUNCEMENT. Several inquiries and communications have come to the edi- tors, concerning "Answers to Questions" in No. 4, on the priest- hood of Sidney Rigdon. An article in reply is in preparation, and will be printed in an early issue of the Era. "Some Features of Japanese Life," an interesting, worthy, and perfectly accurate account of conditions encountered in a home in Japan, written by Elder Alma 0. Taylor, missionary, will be a feature of the April number, and there will be a variety of other entertaining and instructive reading. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Relating to Degrees of Glory: This question is from the Third ward Y. M. M. I. Association of Brigham City, through its president, Norman Lee, and is ans-

EDITOR'S TABLE. 391 wered by Elder John Nicholson. Similar questions have come from a number of other associations. Question: — Will those who inherit thetelestial glory ever attain to the celestial? That is: is it possible, in the hereafter, for any resur- rected being to so live that he will be entitled to and receive the glory higher than that to which he shall be assigned immediately after his res- urrection? Answer: — We will first consider the status of the intelligences who will inherit the three eternal spheres after the resurrection. The information is principally obtainable from the 76th section of the book of Doctrine and Covenants: The celestial: — 55. They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things — 56. They are they who are Priests and Kings, who have received of his fullness, and of his glory, 57. And are Priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchis- edek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son; 58. Wherefore, it is written, they are Gods, even sons of God:

  1. These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ for ever. Section 131: 1. In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees:
  2. And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood; (meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage;)
  3. And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
  4. He may enter into the other, but that is the "end of his king- dom. Terrestrial: — 76. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fullness.
  5. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fullness of the Father; These are they who receive not of his fullness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit (verse 87.) Through the administration of the celestial. Telestial: — 86. These are they who receive not of his fullness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the administration of the terrestrial.

392 IMPROVEMENT ERA. 112. And they shall be servants of the Most High, but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. Now, put a portion of the statements of the status of the two higher classes together. The Celestial: — They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fullness and of his glory. * * * These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever. The Terrestrial: These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fullness. They receive of the presence of the Son but not of the fullness of the Father. * * * These are they who receive not of his fullness in the eternal world. Deductions: — Terrestrial — It appears that those who are as- signed to the Terrestrial sphere, after the resurrection do not at- tain in eternity to the conditions existing in the Celestial degree. Telestial — The following fixes the eternal permanency of the assignment of this class: "Where God and Christ dwell they cannot come : worlds without ends." They, therefore, cannot go to the sphere next above it, as it has the "presence of the Son." I am unable to find any direct statement in the revelations indicating that the inhabitants of either of the two lower spheres will graduate to the one above it. There are, however, some de- cided expressions in the other direction. These lead to the con- clusion that the negative of the question is correct. Doubtless the eternal spheres to which the children of God will be assigned after the resurrection will be their final habita- tions, and that in them they will have all the scope for progress their capacity will enable them to economize. Having presented the statements of divine revelation I now express what appears to be its logic: If there be graduation from one degree of glory to another, the highest would be within the possibilities of the lowest, who would be traveling toward the Godhead. This elevation is barred to the telestial population — "Worlds without end." Logically this would likewise be the position of the inhabit- ants of the, terrestrial, otherwise the situation would beunsymetri- cal, not to say unjust, the theory of graduation being built upon the eternally progressive nature of man.