John
teaches to the Prophet Joseph Smith that Jesus Christ made the earth on which
we live, organized the elements, made that which we now possess and enjoy. And
we do not need to sing “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” we know that the
resurrected, celestial beings shall dwell upon this earth, and this earth is
according to celestial law, and it is going to be redeemed. There won’t be
one-third celestial, nor a part telestial—it will all be celestial. We do not
know where they will go, but it will not be on this celestial world, and all
who dwell here will of necessity have celestial bodies. And so it is not a
question of how or where or when; He is going to redeem it. He will touch it to
purify it, fit it for a habitation. And now, hasn’t He the right to specify the
terms on which we shall inherit it? We should apply the case of our own law of inheritance
whereby anybody who holds property has the right to ascribe the terms. No
matter how we may dislike the terms, we cannot change it. He has established
that he who holds property has a right to determine the means by which it can
be inherited, and and he can specify it in a wall, and he cannot get it without
complying with the terms of the will or conforming to the terms of that will
before a legally appointed officer who has vested in him a right to give title
to those who comply with the terms. That is exactly our present condition. If
we inherit anything in these bodies, as I have indicated, He will have to
provide it. Then He has the right o specify the terms on which we will inherit
and live in it. That is perfectly legal and absolutely consistent, and although
His terms may seem a little but obnoxious or objectionable to us, He has a
right to specify, and we cannot inherit unless we conform to the terms, and we
have to do that, too before we know who is legally appointed to administer the
terms of the will. The terms must be complied with, and that also before one
legally appointed to administer the terms of the will. (Melvin J. Ballard,
"The Atonement," June 24, 1921, BYU Seminary Lectures, Lecture 11, pp.
7-8, John Mills Whitaker papers, 1847-1963 box 20, folder 5, University of Utah
Libraries, Special Collections)
