Our Beloved

By Richard B. Scoville

Gilles, struggling to comprehend his brother's death, prays for solace in a church and overhears a plot to kidnap Latter-day Saint missionaries. His plea for help leads to mortal danger.

Elders Lewis and Collins, missionary companions in Paris, unaware of their perilous circumstance, are led by the Spirit to the door of one whom the Lord has prepared.

A journey into the Spirit World and a stunning resurrection promote faith that our own lives and our beloved relationships will continue beyond the grave.

Stories of deep family love will touch your heart and draw you closer to your own beloved ones.

Our Beloved encompasses many fascinating subjects, including pre-mortality, death and the Spirit World, reunions with loved ones after death, resurrection, deep parental love, heart-breaking loss, revelation, the fulfillment of prophecies, Latter-day Saint missionary life, a contrast of good and evil, and even some wonderful glimpses of Paris, France!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781667882796

Book preview

BK90074181.jpg

Our Beloved

Copyright © 2023 Richard B. Scoville. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-66788-278-9 (Print)

ISBN 978-1-66788-279-6 (eBook)

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted

in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other

electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of

the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews

and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places,

events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination

or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons,

living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Published by Richard B. Scoville 2023

[e-mail]

To my beloved wife, Barbara, with gratitude for her sharp eyes,

her candid voice, and especially her patience and love.

~

To our beloved seven children, who have given so much

support and encouragement throughout the writing of this book.

Contents

List of Characters

Preface: An Important Note to the Reader

Prologue: Opposition

Prologue: Loss of Light

Chapter 1: Sick at Heart

Chapter 2: Ups and Downs

Chapter 3: Plea for Help

Chapter 4: Through Closed Doors

Chapter 5: Homesick for Heaven

Chapter 6: Aftermath of a Murder

Chapter 7: Gilles’ Death

Chapter 8: The Angel Joseph

Chapter 9: Transitions

Chapter 10: Support

Chapter 11: Funeral

Chapter 12: October 2029 General Conference

Chapter 13: The Outcasts

Chapter 14: Au Bon Couscous

Chapter 15: Family Matters

Chapter 16: Decisions

Chapter 17: The Ransom

Chapter 18: Miracles

Chapter 19: Truth

Chapter 20: Conclusion

Appendix

Natalie

Mark

Jacques

List of Characters

For thought-provoking essays and insightful background information on Our Beloved, visit richardbscoville.com

Preface:

An Important Note

to the Reader

This book is about feelings of the heart.

Deep reflection on the rapid passage of time can give rise to poignant emotions and significant perspectives. On Christmas and New Year’s Eves, after all are in bed, I like to explore those meaningful emotions and perspectives in the comfort of my family room chair. The births of each of our seven children were also times of profound thoughts and free-flowing emotions. Arriving home at night, alone, to a house strangely silent and empty, amazed at the day’s joys and miracles, full of love for my sweetheart and our new little one, I always experienced panoramic views of time’s depth and breadth.

So many milestones remind us that our lives are speeding by: weddings, funerals, birthdays, holidays, first days and last days. And there are simple times when such perspectives occur, like a starry summer evening on the patio or a beautiful drive in the mountains. When Jacob, a great Book of Mormon prophet, began to be old, he wrote, "… the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream …"¹ A passage of time moment certainly inspired Jacob’s eloquent expression.

We will follow several people through the years of their lives, exploring their emotions and perspectives, and perhaps discovering that their feelings of the heart shed light on our own journeys through time.

Human beings live a precarious existence. We feel deep love and profound passion. We strive to achieve, to create, and to excel. We have hopes and dreams, and we pursue them with energy, sacrifice, and all our hearts. People, places, and things are precious to us; especially people. Despite normal frustrations and misunderstandings, our families and friends are beloved. Together we share our joys and our sorrows, our triumphs and our failures, our fears and our courage.

And yet, we are mortal. We don’t like to obsess over it, and rightly so! Who wants to live in a dark cloud? But in times of deepest contemplation we remember that our lives, and the lives of all those we cherish, will end. We hope for longevity and tell ourselves that such endings are far in the future; but people seem to catch up with their futures. We also know that accidents, diseases, and acts of violence can snuff out life in a moment’s time.

To face these truths with positivity and faith, many of us seek an eternal perspective. Is there a chance that life transcends mortality? Is there a God in heaven who can make sense of all this? And what about the tragedies and injustices of this world? Will broken hearts finally be mended? Is there a purpose to all our efforts and sorrows? Can we hold on to our joys? Will treasured relationships continue after death?

With so much at stake, it seems that a rational person would at least experiment with prayer and spiritual inquiry, as they are the only apparent sources of enlightenment in these critical matters. But even when we devote ourselves to a study of spiritual truths, and despite our best efforts at faithful living, we are only able to see through a glass darkly.² I have personally looked into that dark glass and have seen, notwithstanding my many faults, glimpses of heavenly light! Profound feelings and divine inspiration can be experienced while praying, while reading sacred writings, while pondering, and while serving others. They give us hope and comfort, strengthening our courage to move forward despite our precarious existence.

Some discount spiritual manifestations, declaring that they are conjured up by our own minds. But many times, when I have least expected a spiritual experience, I have had one. Other times, when I have most expected and wanted a spiritual experience, I have not had one. Thus, though I see through a glass darkly, I am convinced that spiritual enlightenment flows from somewhere outside of me. There are abundant and marvelous spiritual realities to be discovered, yet skeptics are apparently unwilling to take a leap of faith and put forth the necessary effort to uncover them.

In this book I present ultimate good and ultimate evil, side by side, and explore the challenges of choosing between the two. Children are born into this world with a portion of Christ’s light, which grows into a simple awareness of right and wrong. The conscience becomes more sophisticated over time as one matures, reasons, and experiences life. Most of us become genuinely empathetic as sorrows, pains, and struggles soften our hearts. Accordingly, murder, physical or emotional abuse, harming children in any way, lying, stealing, etc. are almost universally thought of as wrong. But the ethics of many other choices and behaviors aren’t so clear. One quandary we all face is whether a particular moral value is cultural, simply someone’s opinion, or truly from God. The dilemma intensifies when a spiritual tenet, professed by scripture or an esteemed religious leader, does not align with our own deep feelings on the matter.

So much violence, manipulation, bigotry, and hypocrisy have been perpetrated in the name of religion, that many have lost all confidence in divine direction. They throw up their arms and conclude there is no absolute right or wrong. Moral relativism has become very popular and can be easily reconciled with a belief that God is nature or some other non-personal force. But how can someone who truly believes in a personal, benevolent, omniscient God determine that there are no absolute moral values? As alluded to above, such a notion may be adopted out of sincere frustration and perplexity; or perhaps it is the only way a person, not understanding Christ’s infinite love and atonement, can soothe a sore conscience.

All that being said, I believe in a personal, benevolent, omniscient God. As we muddle along, choosing right and wrong, He is merciful and forgiving. He is our loving Father, and Jesus is our loving Savior. By virtue of their grace, patience, and forgiveness, each of us will certainly be given every opportunity to figure things out and make our ultimate decisions.

When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, there was a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ³ In 1820, Joseph Smith received a vision in which our Father in Heaven pointed to Jesus and said, "This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him"! ⁴ We cringe when we read the account of Abraham and Isaac, as the Lord said, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and … offer him there for a burnt offering ….⁵

These are especially moving accounts of deep parental love. But parents don’t need scriptures to understand the profound affection they have for their sons and daughters. The word beloved has powerful meaning to mothers and fathers as they cradle their newborn infants. A new kind of love, overwhelming and unconditional, begins even while a baby is in the womb, and grows each day as the child is nurtured and cared for. Parents labor and sacrifice for their sons and daughters. They yearn for their happiness, success, and well-being. They rejoice in their children’s successes and mourn through their pains and sorrows.

When Lucifer rebelled, "the heavens wept over him – he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!" ⁶ When Absalom, an extremely rebellious son of King David, was killed, his father wept saying, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! ⁷ The unconditional love we feel for our beloved sons and daughters is like that. Even when they are hurtful or make serious mistakes, we continue to love them deeply. We weep for them, and we hope for positive change and enlightenment. Certainly these feelings are dim reflections of Father in Heaven’s bright and infinite love for us.

All mortal parents make mistakes; we have weaknesses and failings. We know we have been less than we could have been. We regret some things we have done, we regret other things we haven’t done, and when our children grow up to be imperfect, we often blame ourselves. What is at the heart of all this? Parents have worries and regrets because we love so intensely.

Because we love, we experience our greatest sorrows. So why do we love? We love because God loves, and we are part of Him. Because we love we learn and grow, we become more disciplined and refined, we become less selfish, and we feel more empathy and compassion. Despite life’s sorrows, our deepest joys, our happiest experiences, our greatest satisfactions, and our dearest hopes all revolve around our beloved ones.

It is my wish that this book, as it explores feelings of the heart, will touch upon matters important to your heart. Perhaps it will stimulate some thought, some hope, or some faith. In my mind, everything depends upon our beloved Savior, Jesus the Christ. I trust Him and I believe in Him. He will heal our broken hearts and erase our emotional scars. He will help us gain wisdom and understanding from all our earthly experiences. He will truly wipe away our tears.⁸ He carries all my hopes and yearnings to live in happiness with my beloved ones forever.

Caution dictates that I state the obvious: This is a work of fiction. I have taken true prophecy and doctrine, frequently documented in footnotes, and added imaginary details. These stories are meant only to stimulate thought and are not to be considered in any way factual.

A portion of this tale takes place in the Spirit World. In a General Conference address,⁹ President Dallin H. Oaks cautioned that our canon of scripture contains very little about the Spirit World. He reminded us that personal inspiration or spiritual experiences are not to be understood or taught as official doctrine of the Church. President Oaks also warned that, although we may wonder privately about circumstances in the Spirit World, teaching our private speculations as truth may even discourage individuals from seeking their own comfort or edification through the personal revelation the Lord’s plan provides for each of us.

Details in this book about death and the Spirit World are imaginations drawn from my own wondering and the non-doctrinal experiences of others. They are meant to entertain and, as stated above, to stimulate thought, but not to inform or to discourage anyone from seeking genuine comfort and truth through the sacred gift of personal revelation.

The Lord will eventually replace all our imaginations with truth, either personally or through His servants the prophets. It will be a wonderful day when whatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given unto him.¹⁰ In the meantime, I would be delighted if these fictional chronicles encouraged us all, as time goes by, to have greater faith in our beloved Savior.

Richard B. Scoville

---

¹ Jacob 7:26

² 1 Corinthians 13:12

³ Matthew 3:17

⁴ Joseph Smith History 1:17

⁵ Genesis 22:2

⁶ Doctrine and Covenants 76:26-27

⁷ 2 Samuel 18:33

⁸ Revelation 21:4

⁹ October 2019 General Conference, President Dallin H. Oaks, Trust in the Lord; Gospel Topics, Spirit World

¹⁰ Doctrine and Covenants 101:27

Prologue:

Opposition

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad ….

– 2 Nephi 2:11

Even in our sleep,

pain which cannot forget

falls drop by drop upon the heart,

until, in our own despair,

against our will,

comes wisdom

through the awful grace of God.

– Aeschylus

As quoted by Robert F. Kennedy

announcing the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King

This is a work of fiction.

Father was seated at his magnificent desk, deep in thought, when Mother¹¹ entered the resplendent Throne Room. His face exuded the same intense emotion that permeated Her own being. He looked up and they locked eyes; their gaze was a conduit of communication. Standing, breathing deeply, He met Her in the Grand Court of Reception where they embraced. Mother sighed. I have just spoken with Lucifer. He is ranting bitterly … malevolently … presuming thou wilt reject his plan.¹² For a prolonged moment She was silent, attempting to regain her composure. Our son is obsessed with hatred … with jealousy, tears streamed down Her face, and I am filled with grief. Despite his promises, he will not return to us.

Father said nothing. She looked into His face and saw sorrow. Their embrace tightened, and they wept quietly.

So many times I have encompassed him with light, with joyful memories, with all my love … and he has responded, She whispered. Her voice became firm. "This time he drew near me with his mouth, and with his lips he did honor me, but he has removed his heart far from me.¹³ His only intent was to silence me, to be done with my pleadings."

His wisdom has perished, and his understanding has been hid, Father said softly.¹⁴

"Why has he lost faith in us?"

He has not. He knows that all our promises will be fulfilled. But he wants more.

"Then he has lost faith in our Plan! He thinks he knows a better way."

As thou knowest, said Father, as gently as He could, his ‘better way’ is supreme selfishness.

How did evil spring from our celestial home? What is the source of this ugliness, this vulgarity, this … betrayal?

The source? Father withdrew from their embrace and looked into Mother’s desperate eyes. As He softly stroked Her hair, She felt His compassion, His unwavering devotion. She wanted to return His love, to ease His burden, to soothe His feelings; but for that moment She simply basked in the comfort and warmth of His light.

Father carefully considered Mother’s questions, peering deep into her gentle, compassionate soul. She was not requesting information; His omniscient companion knew that evil, throughout the Universe, had always existed. She and He had been subject to it during their own premortal and mortal lives.¹⁵ Having risen infinitely above and beyond the grasp of that evil, they had been able to shelter their home from its influence. But they would not safeguard their children forever; progression could not continue without opposition. A fullness of joy would never be realized without the experience of sorrow.¹⁶ They had known that evil would one day seep into their family, to test and teach and strengthen their children … and it had always been understood that wickedness would bring to pass heart-breaking casualties. There was no other way.

To recognize this in theory was hard enough, but now it was actually happening! Beloved children, born to them in the spirit, raised to spiritual maturity in their home, cherished and nurtured, were squandering their divine potential. And the evil was not seeping in, it was gushing in, flooding their family with bitterness and rebellion. Mother certainly remembered the sweet faces of those children, not that long ago, as She cradled them in Her arms and sang Her heavenly lullabies. Now their faces were twisted and angry. Why had they chosen to hate and rebel? They were being swallowed up by the very jaws of hell, and for the sake of their agency She could not stop it.¹⁷

At length Father spoke the stinging truth, but in subdued tones. Lucifer lusts for ultimate power and wealth … he has been blinded by ambition. By immersing himself in wickedness, he truly believes he will find the power to overthrow our Kingdom … and enslave his own brothers and sisters.¹⁸ He paused and studied Mother’s face. The evil of which thou speakest has been embraced by the heart and mind of our own son; and now he cultivates and spreads his nefarious passions.

Is our infinite love not strong enough to draw him back? Can he not feel it? He was our sweet boy …. Mother closed Her eyes for an instant while a thousand happy memories passed through Her mind. "Now he fights to take that which we yearned to give him!"¹⁹ She paused, lost in thought, then said quietly, Tender moments with young Lucifer shall always abide with me. We nurtured our son and delighted in his smiles. What cheer he brought to our home! When he journeyed with thee, how he loved to gaze upon the splendor of thy creations.

But now he wishes to crush us! And with his all-consuming rancor, with envy, and a thirst for power, Lucifer shatters himself instead.²⁰

My heart is broken, said Mother. In him there is no light, now and forever to come. I had not realized that such sorrow could exist within a fullness of joy.²¹

The pattern of eternity was thundering through their family, as they knew it would; but a perfect understanding did not stop the profound grief of losing a son.

There have always been those who fall, said He, "who love darkness and shun light; who fear the truth which light reveals.²² It has always been so, and now it happens again with us. He is fallen, is fallen, our Lucifer, Son of the Morning. Oh Lucifer, my son, my son!"²³ As Father spoke, tears of anguish formed in His piercing, eternal eyes.

She who is also Most Righteous and Holy wept as She declared, "He persuades so many to follow after him. With acidic lies he lures our children away from us; he deceives and blinds them, and leads them captive at his will.²⁴ I understand that it must be, but the loss and betrayal leave me in such excruciating pain."

The silence that followed was lingering and poignant; at last Mother said, The appointed hour has come. Let us depart and stand in the midst of our children.

At once they were surrounded by those who were spirits, cherished sons and daughters, and Father remarked, Among all these are many of the noble and great ones. He and Mother saw these souls that they were good, and Father said, These I will make my rulers.²⁵

Father turned to the multitude and raised His arms, signaling His intent to speak. The silence was immediate and profound; every eye was upon Him. He spoke in a voice that was not harsh, neither was it loud; nevertheless, it entered every mind, pierced them to the very center, and did cause their hearts to burn.²⁶

"Beloved sons and daughters,²⁷ all ye who have assembled yourselves together, Mother and I welcome you to the final session of our extraordinary Grand Council. This has been a momentous gathering. Throughout the eternities people will speak of it, prophets will write of it, and all will yearn to remember it clearly.²⁸

"It has been wonderful to behold your faces and glorious to be in your presence! Your expressions of love and support, both in person and through prayer, have been heartfelt and deeply comforting to us.

"Although our family is now vast, we are still a family! We long for an end to jarrings, and contentions, envyings, and strifes!²⁹ See that ye love one another, as we have loved you!³⁰ Treat each other with more kindness, more patience, more courtesy, and more forgiveness.³¹

"What joy you bring to us!³² From the days of your spiritual infancy to these days of your growth and maturity, we have held you in our arms, been by your sides, and shared in your hopes and dreams. We have taught you, rejoicing in your successes … comforting you in your struggles. We often recall our adventures and journeys together, our feasts and celebrations, the heartfelt talks we have had with each of you … and all these things have given you experience, and have been for your good.³³ They have prepared you for this crucial point in eternity, this pivotal season of your First Estate.³⁴

"Now behold, as the Father of your spirits,³⁵ my devotion to you is endless and eternal, for Endless and Eternal is my name.³⁶ Hearken unto me. Open your ears, that you may hear; your hearts, that you may understand; and your minds, that the mysteries of eternity may be unfolded to your view.³⁷

Precious children, many of you have been deceived and have lost your way.³⁸ Father looked over the entire multitude; his eyes were heavy with concern. With a mighty yet earnest voice he declared, "And we yearn for you, that you might return to us! But you harden your hearts and your ears are dull of hearing; you seek not for truth and righteousness, but walk in your own ways, setting aside our counsel, supposing you know of yourselves,³⁹ thinking you can circumvent the way⁴⁰ and find your own paths to happiness. Verily I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness!⁴¹ You thirst for power, for glory, for riches … and travel down false, perverse, and dead-ended roads, attempting to satisfy your lusts. Some of you even believe … to achieve that which you seek … you must overthrow our Kingdom."⁴²

With this came gasps of horror and tears of sorrow. Shouts were heard, No, Father no! How can this be? Others cried, Who are these traitors? We shall stop them! But there were many whose countenances darkened and whose eyes glared defiantly.

Oh, my dear sons and daughters, can’t you see? Father beckoned Mother to come and stand by His side, drawing Her close with His left arm. She extended her right arm and held Him tightly. As One, feeling each other’s love and support, they faced their family, smiling. Looking over the multitude, their hearts were filled with immeasurable love and affection for each of their children, all those who were loyal, all those who were rebelling, and all those who felt lost or confused.

Father continued, "To you who have transgressed or been offended, we say, ‘come back!’ The path of repentance, though hard at times, lifts one ever upward and leads to a perfect forgiveness. To you who are hurt or are struggling and afraid, we say, let us stand with you and dry your tears.⁴³ If you feel estranged from us in any way, for any reason, we plead with you to return and stand with us! Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!⁴⁴ We shall commune, one with another, and mend that which is broken. Come back to the arms of your loving parents, lest one day you cry, ‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!’⁴⁵

"Our deepest yearning is that each of you might be filled with a fullness of joy!⁴⁶ Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into your hearts, the things we have prepared for those who love us; for if you love us, you will keep our commandments. And behold, the commandments will lead you to our greatest gift, even Life Eternal!⁴⁷ You cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for we will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours! ⁴⁸

You have all been taught concerning these things … that in due time, if you keep your sacred covenants and rebel not, becoming pure and innocent through the atoning blood which shall be shed for you, Your spirits will be clothed in physical tabernacles of flesh and bone, as those you see we have.⁴⁹

Mother then said, "Verily, dear children, that day draweth near! You know that you must leave us for a short season … to experience life in a fallen, temporal world. Despite its relative brevity, your mortal journey will be a crucial point in your eternity. It will be designed specifically and very personally for you, a catalyst of sorts that will propel you toward exaltation.

"Father will bless you beforehand;⁵⁰ yea, each of you shall receive your Father’s blessing. In it He will foreshadow your mortality and reveal unto you many of the trials, opportunities, and blessings that await you. Each one of you will be foreordained or foredesignated⁵¹ to accomplish specific purposes, render significant acts of service, and do much good in your lives; but you must choose light over darkness and love over selfishness.

"From your vantage point in this premortal world, your mortal pathway will seem clear; but you will leave us cloaked in a veil of forgetfulness.⁵² On earth you must take the Holy Spirit for your guide.⁵³ By this means your faith will develop and your agency will be made perfect."

Father then said, "A fullness of joy cannot be gained without first experiencing sorrow, bereavement, loss, disappointment, rejection, pain, and finally death.⁵⁴ You have all been carefully tutored in these matters; yet hereafter, from your temporal perspective, they will seem harsher and more difficult to comprehend."

Father paused and looked over the vast congregation. His familiar, warm smile appeared, adding to the supernal glow of His countenance. "Nevertheless, my beloved children, be of good cheer! As you face these ordeals, I will be by your side. Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.⁵⁵ For behold, I will give unto you line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom and find happiness, even in mortality;⁵⁶ for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, ‘We have enough,’ will be taken away even that which they have.⁵⁷

"Your very nature will become more divine as you face the significant challenges and rich experiences of earth life. Verily I say unto you, you shall find great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures of understanding.⁵⁸ Compassion, humility, sacrifice … faith, hope and charity … strength and great joy await you, my dear sons and daughters!"

Mother said, "The crowning mission of your mortal lifetime will be to find an help meet, an eternal companion, and create your own family! It is not good for man or woman to be alone.⁵⁹ You have, no doubt, already felt a profound desire for closeness … for someone with whom to share your life. You and your beloved may become parents … and experience a new kind of love, a powerful and God-like love, even the love of a parent for a child."⁶⁰

Father extended His arm toward His Firstborn, smiled, and said, Jehovah, then looking warmly upon another, "and Michael⁶¹ will go down and organize an earth,⁶² whereon you may dwell. Others will be called to assist in this great work … and when all things are prepared, we shall form your physical bodies from the dust of that earth, and it shall come to pass that the blood of mortality will flow through your veins."

There stood One among them that was like unto God, and He said unto those who were with Him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their First Estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their First Estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their First Estate; and they who keep their Second Estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.⁶³

Father nodded. Jehovah, thou hast spoken in clarity and truth. He turned again to the congregation and said, "Though a veil will be in place, each of you, at the age of accountability, will have a knowledge of good and evil.⁶⁴ As you live according to the light and knowledge you have received, you will be blessed with even more light.⁶⁵ Father looked into the faces of his vast progeny. Yes, you are beginning to understand. Although you will be separated from us, we will not leave you comfortless.⁶⁶ As Mother said, the Holy Spirit must be your guide; The Holy Spirit is also the Comforter, and may be with you always,⁶⁷ according to your faithfulness. But beware. In the days of your mortality there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, showing great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, many will be deceived, even the very elect!"⁶⁸

There was silence in Heaven for the space of many hours, while the children of God pondered these words and searched the feelings of their hearts.

And it came to pass that many were struck with fear; yea, the silence was broken with sounds of weeping and piercing expressions of heartache. Countless spirits began disputing, one with another, and the peace they had enjoyed was shattered. Father and Mother went among the multitude, calming, admonishing, teaching of faith and repentance, and embracing their precious offspring. They listened intently and answered many questions. Millions of the noble and great ones also went forth, teaching and exhorting their spiritual siblings. They all spoke of hope and opportunity, love and reconciliation … testifying of the Plan with faith and absolute confidence.

At length, Father and Mother returned to their place in the midst of their children, signaling their intent to resume speaking. The commotion ceased, and all eyes were upon Father.

"O remember, remember, that whoso treasureth up my word, as it shall be proclaimed by my holy prophets, shall not be deceived!⁶⁹ Without agency there would be no growth and no Eternal Life! Wherefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye will be free to act for yourselves – to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of Eternal Life.⁷⁰

"Our Plan, this Great Plan of Happiness, would utterly fail, and all mankind would perish, were it not for a mighty and merciful Redeemer.⁷¹ There must be One who will deliver you from your fallen state. He will satisfy the demands of justice; yea, He will rescue you from death, and pay the penalty for your sins! And when your mortal probation is over, when you have breathed your last breath and finished your test, when you are battered and beaten with earthly cares, He will encircle you about in the arms of his love,⁷² wiping away your mortal scars, and healing your broken hearts.⁷³ And so, beloved sons and daughters, I ask, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?⁷⁴

Mother stepped forward and addressed the host of spirits. "We must send One who is holy;⁷⁵ One with infinite strength and goodness, capable of bearing the griefs and sorrows and sins of mankind;⁷⁶ One with perfect love and devotion, willing to drink the bitter cup and not shrink;⁷⁷ One who can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities, and in all points tempted, yet without sin;⁷⁸ One who will descend below all things, that He may comprehend all things;⁷⁹ One who will descend deep into despair, into profound agony, to cover, to forgive, to sanctify and purify, to rescue His brothers and sisters, and, as Father said, encircle them about eternally in the arms of His love;⁸⁰ He must perform an infinite atonement⁸¹ and be the Savior of the world."⁸²

And One answered like unto the Son of Man, Here am I, send me. Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

And another answered and said, Here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

And Father said, Lucifer, thou seekest to destroy the agency of man. He then looked across the vast gathering and declared resolutely: I will send the first.⁸³

With that pronouncement, the multitude of heavenly hosts could no longer hold back their delight! What profound love and respect they had for the Chosen One, their beloved older Brother! They knew of his strength and compassion! They took