Time passes as an ever-flowing stream.
The many mansions teem with offspring fair,--
The spirit children of this heavenly world.
Varied are they, as human beings are
In form, in likes, in capabilities.
Here love, combined with justice, rules;
Here truth is taught, the right and wrong are shown;
Yet agency is given all, and they
May choose the way selected by desire.
Thus some more faithful are than others, and
Advance more rapidly along the great
Highway that leads among the shining stars.
Time passes,--and the time has fully come
When spirits must be clothed upon with flesh,
Must follow in the footsteps of their Sire,
Must go to mortal earth and there work out
Their soul's salvation in the self-same way
That all perfected beings once have done.
Far out in space where there is ample room
And where primeval element abounds,
This Father has been working, and still works,
Fashioning a world on which to place
His children. Without proper form, and void,
In the beginning, this new world has passed
From one stage to another, until now
It rolls in space, an orb in beauty clad,
A world on which a human race may dwell.
This Father to his children thus doth speak:
"The time has come for you to leave this home--
This first estate, and take another step
Along progression's path. A new-formed world
Is ready to receive you, and to clothe
You in another body. You will then
Learn many things you cannot here receive.
A veil will then be drawn before your eyes
That you will be unable to look back
To us. Alone you'll have to stand; be tried
To see if faithful you will still remain.
There's darkness in that world; and sin will come
And pain and suffering such as now you know
Not of. But these will only clearly show
How good is righteousness, and how much more
To be desired the light than darkness is.
Yet, you shall not be wholly left alone;
My ministering angels shall keep watch,
And near you all the time my power shall be,
To help you in your direst hours of need.
My sons and daughters, as you now do live
Within your Father's ever-watchful care,
Know this that always shall his loving arm
Extended be to you; the Father-heart
And Mother-heart eternally do yearn
And feel for you in sorrow or in pain.
Where'er you are, you're still within my reach.
If you'll but turn to me, I'll hear your cries
And answer you in my good time and place.
Go forth as you are called, the lessons learn
Of earthly school; fear only sin; abide
By law, nor seek to be a law unto
Yourselves, for by eternal law the worlds
Are formed, redeemed, and brought to perfectness,
Together with all flesh which on them live.
Go forth. Be worthy to come back again
And be partakers of all heights and depths,
Things present, things to come, yea, life or death,
And it shall be my pleasure to bestow
Upon you _all there is eternally_."
Joy fills this Father's children, and with one
United voice of gladness do they sing:
"Thanks, Father, kind and good for what you've done;
Thanks for the added blessings which you bring.
O glorious, wond'rous truth that we have found:
The course of Gods' is one eternal round!"