God is omnipotent, but not personally omnipresent. He is everywhere present by his Holy Spirit. His personality is generally expressed by the phrase, "He has body, parts, and passions." He resides in the centre of the universe, near the planet Kolob. This planet revolves on its axis once in a thousand of our years, and one revolution of Kolob is a day to the Almighty.
Jesus Christ was the Son of God, literally begotten by the Father, and had the Spirit of God in the body of a man. After his resurrection, he had a body of flesh and bones only, typical of man's resurrected body. He differs in nothing from the Father, except in age and authority,—the Father having the seniority, and consequently the right to preside.
The Holy Spirit is a subtle fluid, like electricity. It is
the subtlest form of matter, and pervades all space. By its agency all miracles, so called, are performed. Miracles are simply the effects of the operation of natural laws. But they are laws of a higher character than those with which we are acquainted. This Holy Spirit is communicated by the laying-on of hands by one of the properly authorized priesthood, and the recipient is then enabled to perform wonderful things, according to his gift,—some having the gift of prophecy, some of healing, some of speaking in unknown tongues, etc.
There are three heavens,—the telestial, the terrestrial, and the celestial.
The telestial and terrestrial heavens are to be occupied by the various classes of persons who have neither obeyed nor rejected the gospel. The telestial is typified by the stars,—the terrestrial, by the moon.
The celestial, or highest heaven, has for its type the sun, and is reserved for those who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on His name, and were baptized by one having authority from Him, and who afterwards lived a holy life.
The earth, as purified and refined, after the second coming of Christ, is to be the final habitation of those entitled to the glories of the celestial kingdom. Jerusalem is to be rebuilt, and Zion, or the New Jerusalem, is to be built in Jackson County, Missouri, whence the saints were expelled in 1833.
There is a fourth class of persons, not entitled to either of these heavens. They are those who sin against the Holy Ghost; that is, those who apostatize after receiving the Holy Spirit. These go into everlasting punishment, to remain with the devil and his angels.
The gospel, which people are called upon to obey, in order to gain a place in the celestial kingdom, is,—First, They must believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and in His authorized priesthood. Secondly, They must repent of their sins; Thirdly, They must be baptized by immersion