Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-21
ORIGIN AND DESTINY OF WOMAN.

The following article appeared in the
Mormon, publication issued in New
York City in the 'flftles, under the edi-
torial management of the late Presi-
dent John Taylor. The date of the issue
containing it was August 30, 1851 1t
has heretofore been reproduced in the
columns of the News" but at the
earnest request of a number of sub
scrlbers it is again given space:
The Latter-day Saints have often
been rldiculed on account of their be-
llef In the pre-existence of spirits, and
in marrying for time and for all eter-
nifty, both being Bible doctrines. We
nave often been requested to give our
Views in relation to these principles,
but considered the things of the king
dom belonged to the children OF the
Kingdom, therefore not meet to give
them to those without. But being very
politely requested by lady few days
since, Ga member of the church,, to
answer the following questions, we
could not consistently refuse-vlz.:
Where did l come from? What is my
origin? What am doing here?
WHITTIER am l going? and what is my
destiny, after having obeyed the truth,
II faithful to the end?"
Fer her benefit and all others con-
cerned, we VIII endeavor to answer the
questions In brief, as we understand
them. The reason win he apparent for
our belief in the pre-existence OF spirits,
and in marrying for time and for ali
eternity.
Lady-whence CONTEST thou? Thine
origin? What art thou doing here?
Whittier ART thou going, and what is
thy destiny? Declare unto me IL thou
hast understanding? Knowest thou
n..t 81 n
struck from the fire of His eternal
blaze. and brought forth In the midst
OF eternal burnlngs?
knowest thou not that eternities ago,
thy spirit, pure and holy, dwelt in thy
Heavenly Fathers bosom, and in His
presence, and with thy mother, one of
the queens of heaven, surrounded by
thy brother and sister spirits, in the
spirit world. among the Gods? That as
thy spirit beheld the scenes transpir-
ing there, and thou growing in intelli-
gence, thou sawest worlds upon worlds
organized and peopled with thy kindred
spirits, took upon them tabernacles
died, Were resurrected, and received
their eNaltation on the redeemed worlds
they once dwelt upon. Thou being Will
Ing and anxious to initiate them,
waiting and DESTROYS to obtain a body
a resurrection and exaltatlon also, and
having obtained permission, thou made
a covenant with one OF thy kindred
spirits TO be thy guardian angel while
in mortality, also with two others,
male and female spirits that thou
wouldst come and take tabernacle
through their lineage, and become one
OF their offspring. You also choose a
Kindred spirit whom you loved In the
spirit world, (and had permission to
come to this planet and take a taber-
nacle), to be your head, stay. husband.
and protection on the earth. and to eX-
alt you in the eternal worlds Al these
were arranged. likewise the spirits that
should tabernacle through your line
age. Thou longed. thou sighed, and thou
prayed to thy Father in heaven for tho
time to arrive when thou couldst come
to this earth. which had fled and fell
from where IT was first organized. near
the planet kolob, Leave thy father and
mothers bosums and all thy kindred
spirits, come to earth, take taberna-
Gle and initiate the deeds of those you
had seen exalted before you
AT length the time arrived, and thou
heard the voice of thy Father, saying.
20 daughter to yonder lower world. ana
take upon thee tabernacle, and work
out thy probation with fear and trem-
bling and rise to eNaltation. But dnugh-
ter. remember you ga on this condition,
that IL, you are to forget all things You
ever saw, or know TO be transacted IN
the spirit world; you are not TO know
or remember anything concerning the
same that you have beheld transpire
here; but you must go and become ono
of the most helpless of all beings thlt /
have created, while in your infancy.
subject To sickness pain. tears. mourn
ing, sorrow and death. But when truth