A wise Creator must have had some great object in view in the creation
of the earth, and placing upon it His children, to pass through what
they are called upon to, while in this probation. A knowledge of this
object is almost positively necessary to enable the human family to act
well their part. Let us then examine what He had in view.
The primary object of man's existence upon the earth, is to obtain a
body of flesh and bone; for without this it is impossible to advance in
the grand scale of being in which he is to move, in the eternal worlds.
It is necessary also for him to learn, by actual experience, the
difference between good and evil. As was said of our first parents,
"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to
know good and evil." (_Gen. iii_. 22.) It is necessary that man should
taste the bitter to enable him to appreciate the sweet. No proper
appreciation of the value of {311} eternal life could be arrived at,
without having experienced its opposition.
A man must first feel the effects of sickness to enable him to fully
appreciate the great boon of health. He must feel the effects of pain
before he can enjoy immunity therefrom. He must feel the influence
and power of death, before he can appreciate eternal life. He must
comprehend the effects of sin, before he can enjoy "the rest promised
to the faithful." There are many experiences that he can gain in the
flesh that cannot be obtained elsewhere. There are ordinances to be
performed and eternal unions to be perfected, that in the wise economy
of the great Creator, must be effected here on the earth. Baptism
for the remission of sins and marriages for eternity, are prominent
features of duty that devolve upon man in his second estate, or
during his existence upon the earth. It is not all of man's duty to
care for himself alone, to selfishly neglect his fellow man, and seek
aggrandizement himself at their expense. "Do unto others as ye would
that they should do unto you," is called the Golden Rule, by which men
should be governed in this life. In brief, man has a work to do to
prepare himself for a future exaltation in the eternities to come. He
is called upon to "work out his salvation with fear and trembling," for
the work done in this life will have its influence in that to come. By
obedience to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he prepares
himself for the grand and glorious exaltation held in reserve for
those who worship God in "spirit and in truth." As Jesus said to His
apostles, "I go to prepare a place for you," for "in my Father's house
are many mansions."
Having learned why we are here, let us next examine what is the nature
of the duties devolving upon us.