THE LONE AND DREARY WORLD

 

NARRATOR We will now go with Adam and Eve to the lone and dreary world. Brethren and Sisters, this represents the Telestial Kingdom, or the world in which we now live. Adam, upon finding himself in the lone and dreary world, built an altar and offered prayer, and these are the words he uttered:

ADAM (hands raised up and looking toward heaven) Oh God, hear the words of my mouth! Oh God, hear the words of my mouth! Oh God, hear the words of my mouth!

LUCIFER (arrogant voice from off scene I hear you.) (Camera pans left to show towering, arrogant, colorful Lucifer poised near Adam, Lucifer walks over to Adam.) What is it you want?

ADAM (surprised) Who are you?

LUCIFER (arrogantly) I am the God of this world.

ADAM (unsure, questioning) You, the God of this world?

LUCIFER Yes, what do you want?

ADAM I am looking for messengers.

LUCIFER (expresses a smug, wise grin) Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want religion do you. I will have preachers here presently. (Lucifer turns and looks left. Camera pans to approaching figure dressed in dark blue ministerial robe and priest’s collar until he walks up to Lucifer.) Good Morning Sir.

PREACHER (wisely) Good morning! (looking into the audience A fine congregation.)

LUCIFER Yes, they are very good people. They are concerned about religion. Are you a preacher?

PREACHER (proudly with emphasis) I am.

LUCIFER (searchingly) Have you been to college and received training for the ministry?

PREACHER (proudly with emphasis) Certainly! A man cannot preach unless he has been trained for the ministry!

LUCIFER Do you preach the orthodox religion?

PREACHER (proudly with emphasis) Yes, that is what I preach.

LUCIFER If you will preach your orthodox religion to these people and convert them, I will pay you well.

PREACHER I will do my best.

LUCIFER (looks and gestures toward Adam and Eve) Here is a man who desires religion. He is very much exercised, and seems to be sincere (Lucifer steps back as Preacher approaches Adam and Eve.)

PREACHER (authoritatively I understand you are inquiring after religion.

ADAM (sincerely) I was calling upon Father.

PREACHER (dramatically, with gestures) I am glad to know that you were calling upon Father. Do you believe in a God who is without body, parts and passions, who sits on the top of a topless throne, whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere; who fills the universe, and yet is so small that he can dwell in your heart. Who is surrounded by myriads of beings who have been saved by Grace, not by any act of theirs, but by His good pleasure. Do you believe in this great Being?

ADAM (emphatically) I do not. I cannot comprehend such a Being.

PREACHER (wistfully) That is the beauty of it. (reproachful ly Perhaps you do not believe in the devil and in that great hell, the bottomless pit, where there is a lake of fire and brimstone, into which the wicked are cast, and where they are continually burning but are never consumed?

ADAM (emphatically) I do not believe in any such place.

PREACHER (reproachfully) My dear friend, I am sorry for you.

LUCIFER (disgustedly) I am sorry! very, very sorry! (searchingly) What is it you want?

ADAM (sincerely) I am looking for messengers from my Father.

ELOHIM (Scene fades to ethereal view of magnificent, huge throne set - with semi circle of towering Grecian columns, broad steps, Celestial splendor. Elohim majestically towering above Jehovah, both appearing as in Garden scene. Jehovah, send down Peter, James and John to visit the man Adam in the Telestial World, without disclosing their identity.) Have them observe conditions generally, see if Satan is there, and learn whether Adam has been true to the token and sign given to him in the Garden of Eden. Have them then return and bring me word.

JEHOVAH (reverently and submissively) It shall be done, Elohim. (Jehovah turns and walk from the presence of Elohim to the edge of the great columned set, there Peter, James and John reverently enter amid rolling clouds stage smoke in an ethereal view. Peter, James and John are wearing long, full, shepherd type robes with colorful sashes.)

JEHOVAH Peter, James and John, go down and visit the man Adam in the Telestial World, without disclosing your identity. Observe conditions generally. See if Satan is there, and learn whether Adam has been true to the token and sign given to him in the Garden of Eden. Then return and bring us word.

PETER (reverently and submissively) It shall be done, Jehovah. Come James and John, let us go down.

JAMES (reverently and submissively) We will go down.

JOHN (reverently and submissively) We will go down.

(All turn and exit scene in single file, Peter leading. Scene fades back to Lone and Dreary World. Peter, James and John file into scene, Peter leading, approaches Lucifer, who turns toward him.)

PETER Good morning.

LUCIFER Good morning.

PETER (intently) What are you doing here?

LUCIFER Teaching religion.

PETER (searchingly) What religion do you teach?

LUCIFER (proudly with emphasis) We teach a religion made of the philosophies of men, mingled with Scripture.

PETER How is your religion received by this community?

LUCIFER Very well -- excepting this man. He does not seem to believe anything we preach. (Peter, James & John turn from Lucifer and walk over to Adam and Eve.)

PETER (intently) Good morning. What do you think of the preaching of these gentlemen?

ADAM (intently) I cannot comprehend it.

PETER (searchingly) Can you give us some idea concerning it?

ADAM (expresses wonderment) They preach of a God who is without body, parts or passions, who is so large he fills the universe and yet so small that he can dwell in my heart, and of a hell without a bottom where the wicked are continually burning but are never consumed. To me it is a mass of confusion.

PETER (sympathetically) We do not wonder that you cannot comprehend such doctrine. Have you any tokens or signs? (Lucifer enters the scene and interrupts the conversation.

LUCIFER (dramatically, with gestures) Do you have any money?

PETER We have sufficient for our needs.

LUCIFER (dramatically, with gestures) You can buy anything in this world for money.

PETER (turns back to Adam, searchingly) Do you sell your tokens or signs for money? You have them, I presume.

ADAM (sincerely) I have them, but I do not sell them for money. I hold them sacred. I am looking for the further light and knowledge Father promised to send me.

PETER That is right. We commend you for your integrity. Good day. (Peter, James and John turn and exit, single file, Peter leading, stop at the edge of the set. We shall probably visit you again. (Peter, James and John exit set. Camera pans to Lucifer who approaches camera ominously and threateningly. Looks intently into the audience.)

LUCIFER (vehemently) Now is the great day of my power. I reign from the rivers to the ends of the earth. There is none who dares to molest or make afraid.

PREACHER (curiously) Shall we ever have any apostles or prophets?

LUCIFER (proudly) No. However there may be some who will profess revelation or apostleship. If so, just test them by asking them to perform a great miracle, such as cutting off an arm or some other member of the body, and restoring it, so that the people may know that they come with power. (scene fades to Elohim’s columned throne set. Peter, James and John enter single file, Peter leading [amid stage smoke] and approach Jehovah who has been awaiting their return.)

PETER Jehovah, we have been to the man Adam in the Telestial World as thou didst command. We found Satan there, with his ministers, preaching all manner of false doctrine, and striving to lead the posterity of Adam astray. But Adam has been true and faithful to the token and sign given to him in the Garden of Eden, and is waiting for the further light and knowledge you promised to send him. This is our report.

JEHOVAH It is well, Peter, James and John. (Jehovah turns and ascends the set width stairs to approach Elohim, standing majestically at the top.) Elohim, Peter, James and John have been down to the man Adam in the Telestial World. They found Satan there with his ministers preaching all manner of false doctrine, and striving to lead the posterity of Adam astray. But Adam has been true and faithful to the token and sign given him in the Garden of Eden, and he is waiting for the further light and knowledge you promised to send him. This is their report.

ELOHIM It is well. Jehovah, instruct Peter, James and John to go down in their true character as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the man Adam and his posterity in the Telestial World, and to cast Satan out of their midst. Instruct them to give unto Adam and his posterity the Law of the Gospel as contained in the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Also a charge to avoid all light mindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of the God in vain, and every other unholy and impure practice, and cause these to be received by covenant.

Instruct Peter, James and John further to clothe Adam and his posterity in the robes of the Holy Priesthood, with the robe on the left shoulder, and to give unto them the second token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign and penalty. Then have them return and bring me word.

JEHOVAH It shall be done, Elohim. (Jehovah turns, descends stairs, approaches Peter, James and John Peter, James and John,) go down in your true character as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ to the man Adam and his posterity in the Telestial World. Cast Satan out of their midst. Give unto them the Law of the Gospel as contained in the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Also a charge to avoid all light mindedness, loud laughter, evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, the taking of the name of God in vain, and even other unholy and impure practice. Cause them to receive these by covenant. Clothe them in the robes of the Holy Priesthood, with the robe on the left shoulder, and give unto them the second token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign and penalty. Then return and bring us word.

PETER It shall be done, Jehovah. Come James and John, let us go down.

JAMES We will go down.

JOHN We will go down.

(Peter, James and John turn and exit scene as before. Scene fades to Lone and Dreary World set. Everyone is idle as Peter, James and John file into set, and approaches Lucifer as before.)

PETER I am Peter.

JAMES I am James.

JOHN I am John.

LUCIFER (reproachfully) Yes, I thought I knew you. (turns to preacher, who is listening, dramatically) Do you know who these men are? They claim to be apostles. Try them!

(Lucifer backs away and Preacher steps up to Peter.)

PREACHER (searchingly) Do you profess to be apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ?

PETER (confidently) We do.

PREACHER (with sophistication) This man told me that we should never have any revelation or apostles, but if any should come professing to be apostles, I was to ask them to cut off an arm or some other member of the body and then restore it, so that the people might know that they came with power.

PETER (reproachfully) We do not satisfy man’s curiosity in that manner. It is a wicked and an adulterous generation that seeks for a sign. Do you know who that man is? He is Satan!

PREACHER (surprised) What! The Devil?

PETER That is one of his names.

PREACHER (sincerely) He is quite a different person from what he told me the Devil is. He said the Devil has claws like a bear’s on his hands, horns on his head, and a cloven hoof, and that when he speaks he has the roar of a lion!

PETER (confidently) He has said this to deceive you, and I would advise you to get out of his employ.

PREACHER (doubtfully) Your advice is good. But, if I leave his employ, what will become of me?

PETER (wisely) We will preach the gospel unto you with the rest of Adam’s posterity.

PREACHER (with satisfaction) That is good. (turns to Lucifer who is watching nearby, deliberately) I would like to have a settlement. I want you to pay me for preaching.

LUCIFER (Proudly with emphasis) I am ready to keep my word and fulfill my part of the agreement. (reproachfully) I promised to pay you, if you would convert these people, and they have nearly converted you. You can get out of my kingdom. I want no such men in it. (Preacher backs out of scene as Lucifer approaches Peter - arrogantly) Now, what are you going to do?

PETER (reproachfully) We will dismiss you without further argument.

LUCIFER (dramatically, with gestures) Aah! you have looked over my kingdom, and my greatness and glory. Now you want to take possession of the whole of it. (Lucifer turns, approaches the camera, eyes on, ominously, speaks sinisterly - with vehemence [high drama]) I have a word to say concerning these people. If they do not walk up to every covenant they make at these altars in this temple this day, they will be in my power.*

PETER (voice from off camera, commandingly. Camera pans and zooms back to include Peter, James and John Satan,) we command you to depart!

LUCIFER (turns toward Peter, James and John - arrogantly) By what authority?)

PETER (Right arm to the square - judgmentally) In the name of Jesus Christ, our Master. (Satan very emotionally turns and departs scene, Peter turns and approaches Adam and Eve Adam, we are true messengers from the father, and have come down to give unto you the further light and knowledge he promised to send you.

ADAM (searchingly) How shall I know that you are true messengers?

PETER (confidently) By our giving unto you the token and sign you received in the Garden of Eden.

ADAM (taking Peter by the right hand, but out of view) What is that?

PETER The first token of the Aaronic Priesthood.

ADAM Has it a name?

PETER It has.

ADAM Will you give it to me?

PETER I cannot, for it is the New Name, but this is the sign (right arm elevated to the square. And this represents the execution of the penalty (Thumb of right hand across throat.)

LUCIFER (still giving forth doctrine)

ADAM Now I know that you are true messengers sent down from Father. (turns to audience) These are true messengers. I exhort you to give strict heed to their counsel and teachings, and they will lead you in the way of life and salvation.

NARRATOR The Officiator will represent Peter at the altar.

At this point the motion picture presentation is concluded. The remainder of the presentation is from tape recording.

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