Elect of Elohim

By Orson F. Whitney

In solemn council sat the Gods,
   From Kolob's height supreme,
Celestial light blazed forth afar
  O'er countless kokaubeam.
And faintest tinge, the firey fringe
  Of that resplendent day,
'Lumined the dark abysmal realm
   Where Earth in chaos lay.
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"Father!" the voice like music fell,
   Clear as the murmuring flow
Of mountain streamlet tricking down
   From heights of virgin snow
"Father," it said, "since One must die,
   Thy children to redeem
From worlds all formless now and void,
    Where myriad life shall teem;

"And mighty Michael formost fall
   That mortal man maybe;
And chosen Savior yet must send,
   Lo, here am I- send me!
I ask, I seek no recompense,
   Save that which then were mine;
Mine be the willing sacrifice,
   The endless glory Thine!"

Still rang that voice, when sudden rose
   Aloft a towering form,
Proudly erect as lowering peak
   'Lumed by the gathering storm;
A presence bright and beautiful,
    With eye of flashing fire,
A lip whose haughty curl bespoke
    A sense of inward ire.

"Send me!" -coiled 'neath his courtly smile
    A scarce-concealed disdain
"And none shall hence, from Heaven to Earth,
    That shall not rise again.
My saving plan exception scorns.
    Man's will?- nay, mine alone.
As recompense, I claim the right
    To sit on yonder throne!"

Ceased Lucifer. The breathless hush
    Resumed and denser grew.
All eyes were turned, the general gaze
    One common magnet drew.
A moment there was solemn pause-
    Listened Eternity,
While rolling from lips omnipotent
    The Father's firm decree;

"Jehovah, thou my messenger!
    Son Ahman, thee I send!
And one shall go thy face before,
    While twelve thy steps attend.
And many more on that far shore
    The pathways shall prepare,
That I, the First, the last may come,
    And Earth my glory share.
------------------------------------
"Go forth, thou chosen of the Gods,
    Whose strength shall in thee dwell;
Go down betime and rescue Earth,
    Dethroning Death and Hell.
On thee alone man's fate depends,
    The fate of beings all,
Thou shalt not fail, though thou art free-
    Free, but too great to fall.

"By Arm divine, both mine and thine,
    The lost shalt thou restore,
And man, redeemed, with God shall be,
    As God forevermore.
Return, to the parent fold
   This wandering planet bring,
And Earth shall hail thee Conqueror,
   And Heaven proclaim thee King."

'Twas done, from the congregation vast,
   Tumultuous murmurs rose;
Waves of conflicting sound, as when
   Two meeting seas oppose.
'Twas finished. But the heavens wept;
    And still their annals fell
How One was choice of Elohim,
    O'er One who fighting fell.


Words for pondering:
Solemn: Sacred, formal, serious or grave
Kolob: the star nearest the throne of God Abraham 3: 2-18
Kokaubeam: Stars
Resplendent: Shining brightly, dazzling
Chaos: Extreme confusion or disorder
Virgin: Untouched, unused, pure
Redeem: To pay off, restore, or to deliver
Myriad: Countless; Innumerable
Michael: "Who is like God" Archangel, now known to be Adam the Ancient of Days.
Recompense: Reward, or compensation
Haughty: Showing great pride in oneself and contempt for others; arrogant
Ire: anger or wrath
Disdain: Contempt
Eternity: Meaning Heavenly Father
Omnipotent: Having unlimited power or authority; all powerful
Jehovah: The name of Jesus Christ before his life on Earth
Son of Ahman: Another title of Jesus Christ
Betime: Promptly
Conqueror: One who overcomes or defeats
Proclaim: To announce officially
Congregation: Gathering or assemblage, it's members
Tumultuous: full of tumult, uproar, disturbance; confusion
Annal: A written account of events year by year, historical record.