The Lovely One and I have worked assiduously (I can't say tirelessly) in adding 12,000 names to our family tree over the past ten months. This has required a self-abnegation that would be hard to justify to others. It has also involved an enormous commitment of time for research and for the employment of my companion's otherworldly data-entry skills. This afternoon, we will return to the Snowflake Temple to participate in the Lord's great redemptive work for the first thousand of these individuals, who passed beyond the veil long ago and are now waiting for the completion of those ordinances which will enable their further progress toward eternal life. The Savior taught, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5.
Because this is a monumental and historic day for my ancestors, it is fitting that I begin my exegesis of the Odes of Peace by quoting in this post my very favorite one, the last of the Odes, the 42nd, which has much to say about the Savior's entry into the World of Spirits after His crucifixion to inaugurate their emancipation. I will comment upon the verses in a subsequent posting. Read this slowly, aloud, and see if the Spirit of God will confirm the truth of it to you, as it has to me.
1. I stretched out my hands and approached my Lord.
2. For the stretching of my hands is His sign.
3. My extension is the outspread tree, which was set up on the way of the Righteous One.
4. And I became of no account to those who did not take hold of me, but I shall be with those who love me.
5. All my persecutors are dead. And they sought after me who hoped in me, because I am living.
6. And I rose up and am with them; and I will speak by their mouths.
7. For they have rejected those who persecute them.
8. And I lifted up over them the yoke of my love.
9. Like the arm of the bridegroom over the bride,
10. so was my yoke over those that know me.
11. And as the bridal chamber is spread in the house of the bridegroom and bride,
12. so is my love over those that believe in me.
13. And I was not rejected, though I was reckoned to be so.
14. I did not perish, though they devised it against me.
15. Sheol saw me and was made miserable.
16. Death cast me up and many along with me.
17. I had gall and bitterness, and I went down with him to the utmost depth.
18. And the feet and the head he let go, for he was not able to endure my face.
19. And I made a congregation of living men among his dead men, and I spake with them by living lips,
20. Because my word shall not be void.
21. And those who had died ran towards me. And they cried and said, Son of God, have pity on us, and do with us according to thy kindness.
22. And bring us out from the bonds of darkness. And open to us the door by which we shall come out to thee.
23. For we see that our death has not touched thee.
24. Let us also be redeemed with thee, for thou art our Redeemer.
25. And I heard their voice and placed their faith in my heart. And my name I sealed upon their heads.
26. For they are free, and they are mine. Hallelujah.
