Gods.  This is plainly taught in Joseph Smith’s statement that God was once a man like us, perhaps on an earth like this, working out His glorious destiny.  He, then, has gone on before into higher worlds, gaining wisdom, power, and glory.  Now, there is another law of the universe that no advancing man can live to himself alone.  No man can grow by taking selfish thought to the process.  He grows by the exercise of his faculties and powers for the benefit of others.  Dorian, hand me the ’Pearl of Great price’.”

Dorian found the book and handed it to the old man, who, finding the passage he wanted, continued:  “Listen to this remarkable statement by the Lord:  ’For behold, this is my work and my glory—­to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.’  Just think what that means.”

“What does it mean?”

“It means, my boy, that the way of progress is the way of unselfish labor.  ‘This is my work,’ says the Lord, to labor for those who are yet on the lower rungs of the ladder, to institute laws whereby those below may climb up higher; (note I used the word climb, not float); to use His greater experience, knowledge, and power for others; to pass down to those in lower or primary stages that which they cannot get by self-effort alone.  Let me say this in all reverence, they who attain to All Things do not greedily and selfishly cling to it, but pass it on to others.  ’As one lamp lights another nor grows less, So kindliness enkindleth kindliness.’  Yes; through great stress and sacrifice, they may do this, as witnessed in what our Father has done by endowing His Beloved Son with eternal life, and then giving Him to us.  That Son was the ‘Prince of Life.’  He was the Resurrection and the Life.’  He brought Life from the higher kingdom to a lower, its natural course through the ages.  That is the only way through which it can come.  And herein, to my humble way of thinking is the great error into which the modern evolutionist has fallen.  He reasons that higher forms evolve from the initial and unaided movements of the lower.  That is as impossible as that a man can lift himself to the skies by his boot-straps.”

Dorian smiled at the illustration.

“Now, my boy, I want to make an application of these divine truths to us here and now.  I’m not going to live here much longer.”

“Uncle Zed!”

“Now, wait; it’s a good thing that you nor anybody else can prevent me from passing on.  I’ve wanted to live long enough to get rid of the fear of death.  I have reached that point now, and so I am ready at any time, thank the Lord.”

Uncle Zed was beautiful to look upon in the clear whiteness of his person and the peaceful condition of his spirit.  The young listener was deeply impressed by what he was hearing. (He never forgot that particular Sunday afternoon).