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. 3:22.)
It is necessary that man taste the bitter to enable him to appreciate
the sweet. No proper appreciation of the value of eternal life could be
arrived at, without having experienced its opposite.
A man must 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 marriage for eternity, are prominent features of
duty that devolve upon man in his second state, 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 examine what is the nature of
the duties devolving upon us.