CANTO SEVEN
1—Title: **The Arcana of the Infinite.** "Arcana," the Latin plural of "Arcanum," signifies hidden, secret. This title is intended to be an equivalent for "The Mysteries of the Kingdom"—the esoteric features or advanced principles of the Gospel. Herein are summarized those sublime doctrines that came directly to the modern Revelator during and subsequent to the translating of the ancient plates. A vision of the dispensations is involved—the reading of the Book of Time and the Volume of Eternity.
2—1986. **One Vast Mind.** Joseph Smith, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator.
3—2009. **The Solemn Dispensations.** In theology the term "dispensation"—from "dispense," to deal out or distribute—signifies the method or scheme by which God has at different times developed his purposes and revealed himself to man. It also denotes a period marked by some particular development of the Lord's work, such as the Mosaic Dispensation, lasting from Moses to Christ; or the Meridian Dispensation, ending in the apostacy that made necessary another restoration of the Gospel and the Priesthood. While revelation is silent upon the subject, it is probable that there are seven Gospel dispensations—seven distinct periods during which the Plan of Progression, revealed from Heaven to Earth, has been among the children of men. The belief as to seven is partly based upon the scriptural or symbolical character of that number, and upon the Prophet Joseph's teachings relative to the seven periods, each of a thousand years, answering to the seven seals of the mystical Book seen by John in his vision on Patmos (Rev. 5, 6; D. and C. 77).
4—2022. **The Trumpets Seven.** The Angels of the Dispensations. (D. and C. 88:92-116).
5—2032. **The Holy Order.** The Eternal Priesthood—divine authority—and those who wield it, in Heaven and on Earth. (History of the Church, Vol. III, p. 385; Vol. IV, p. 207; D. and C. 20, 68, 84, 107, 112, 121, 124; Alma 13:1-10.)
6—2057. **Ere Earth Knew Abraham.** The pre-existence of the House of Israel is intimated by Moses (Deut. 32:7, 8). The 144,000 mentioned by John (Rev. 14:1) and by Joseph (D. and C. 77:11) were "of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
7—2059. **Ark of God * * * Sword of Flame.** Emblems, respectively, of the Priesthood and the Gospel.
8—2063. **Shine and Shadow.** Dispensations of heavenly light, alternating with periods of spiritual darkness.
9—2068. **Succeeded By The Less.** Moses, with the Melchisedek Priesthood and the fulness of the Gospel, was taken back to Heaven, leaving Israel to be governed by the Aaronic Priesthood and the Law. (D. and C. 84:19-28.)
10—2071. **Ministers Upon Each Hemisphere.** Jewish and Nephite apostles.
11—2074. **The Perfect Church.** The Church of Christ on Earth, perfected after the pattern of the Church in Heaven. (D. and C. 76:67; 107:93. See also "Gospel Themes," p. 81.)
12—2089. **The Ancient One.** "Daniel, in his seventh chapter, speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our father Adam, Michael; he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man."—Joseph Smith (History of the Church, Vol. 3, p. 386; D. and C. 116).
13—2099. **Keys of Light.** "Three grand keys by which good or bad angels or spirits may be known." (D. and C. 129).
14—2136. **Most Intelligent.** "God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself."—Joseph Smith ("Times and Seasons," August 15. 1844).
15—2140. **Intelligence Eternal.** "Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be" (D. and C. 93:29, 36). "The first principles of man are self existent with God." ("Times and Seasons," August 15, 1844).
16—2150. **Birth and Death Are Baptism.** See "Gospel Themes," pp. 66, 67.
17—2161. **Earthly Sorrow.** The trials of mortal life, foreseen from spirit heights by the children of God, who nevertheless rejoiced at the prospect of glory beyond.
18—2167. **Second Estate.** Man's first estate is the spirit life; his second estate, the mortal life. In the former he walks by sight, in the latter by faith.
19—2188. **Sun or Moon or Varying Star.** The heavenly bodies typify celestial, terrestrial, and telestial glories. (D. and C. 76:96-98.)
20—2197. **Vicarious Ordinance.** Temple work, done by the living in behalf of the dead. (D. and C. 127 and 128.)
21—2288. **Felon's Debt.** "This earth was organized or formed out of other planets which were broken up and remodeled and made into the one on which we live."—Joseph Smith (Compendium, p. 287).
22—2293. **Law Hath Magnified.** "The earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom." (D. and C. 88:25).
23—2298. **Celestial Seer Stone.** Earth in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state will be like a sea of glass and fire (Rev. 4:6), a great Urim and Thummim to its glorified inhabitants (D. and C. 130:6-11).
24—2325. **Would Have Lived The Law.** Men's desires as well as deeds will form a basis for eternal judgment (History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 380).
25—2333. **Judah's One and Joseph's Three.** John the Revelator and the Three Nephites.
26—2336. **Unclothed Spirit.** The Spirit seen by the Brother of Jared, and afterwards embodied as Jesus of Nazareth.
27—2337. **The Triple Seer.** The Apostle Paul, "caught up to the third heaven" (II Cor. 12:2).
—-