In the Millennial Star vol.
9, no 2 (15 January 1847), p. 23, we find the following diagram of the Kingdom of God from the editor:
The
following is the description attached thereto:
The above diagram shows the order and unity
of the kingdom of God. The eternal Father sits at the head, crowned King of
kings and Lord of lords. Wherever the other lines meet, there sits a king and a
priest unto God, bearing rule, authority, and dominion under the father. He is
one with the Father, because his kingdom is joined to his Father's and becomes
part of it.
The most eminent and distinguished prophets
who have laid down their lives for their testimony (Jesus among the rest), will
be crowned at the head of the largest kingdoms under the Father, and will be
one with Christ as Christ is one with his Father; for their kingdoms are all
joined together, and such as do the will of the Father, the same are his
mothers, sisters, and brothers. He that has been faithful over a few things,
will be made ruler over many things; he that has been faithful over ten talents
shall have dominion over ten cities, and he that has been faithful over five
talents, shall have dominion over five cities, and to every man will be given a
kingdom and a dominion, according to his merit, powers, and abilities to govern
and control. It will be seen by the above diagram that there are kingdoms of
all sizes, an infinite variety to suit all grades of merit and ability. The chosen vessels unto God are the kings
and priests that are placed at the head of these kingdoms [RB: in light of the diagram, the author
means sub-kingdoms]. These have
received their washings and anointings in the temple of God on this earth; they
have been chosen, ordained and anointed kings and priests, to reign as such in
the resurrection of the just. Such as have not received the fulness of the
priesthood, (for the fulness of the priesthood includes the authority of both
king and priest) and have not been anointed and ordained in the temple of the
Most High, may obtain salvation in the celestial kingdom, but not a celestial
crown. Many are called to enjoy a
celestial glory, yet few are chosen to wear a celestial crown, or rather, to be
rulers in the celestial kingdom.
While this portion of eternity that we now
live in, called time, continues, and while the other portions of eternity that
we may hereafter dwell in, continue, those lines in the foregoing diagram,
representing kingdoms, will continue to extend and be lengthened out; and thus,
the increase of our kingdoms will increase the kingdom of our God, even as
Daniel hath said: "Of the increase of his kingdom and government there
shall be no end." All these kingdoms are one kingdom, and there is a King
over kings and a Lord over lords. There are Lords many, and Gods many, for they
are called Gods to whom the word of God comes, and the word of God comes to all
these kings and priests. But to our branch and f the kingdom there is but one
God, to whom we all owe the most perfect submission and loyalty; yet our God is
just as subject to still higher intelligences, as we should be to him.
The great fault of all nations has been, that
they would worship more Gods than one. They well knew that there are more
sovereigns than one over the kingdoms of this world, but would it not be folly
in the extreme for an Englishman to attempt to serve other kings and rulers,
while a subject of her Majesty, and living within her dominions? Most certainly
it would: his Queen would be jealous of him, but if there was no other power to
serve, she never would be jealous; there would be no room for fear or
suspicion. If there was only one man on earth, that one man would never be
jealous of his wife. Our God says that he is a jealous God; but how could he be
jealous if he were the only God? These kingdoms, which are one kingdom, are
designed to extend till they not only embrace this world, but every other
planet that rolls in the blue vault of heaven. Thus will all things be gathered
in one during the dispensation of the fulness of times, and the Saints will not
only possess the earth, but all things else, for, says Paul, "All things
are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or
death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, and ye are
Christ's, and Christ is God's." (Ibid., 23-24, emphasis added, comment in
square bracket added for clarification)
Here we see
an early (1847) affirmation of there being sub-kingdoms in the Celestial
Kingdom, per the common modern interpretation of D&C 131.