,
Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, spoke:

"Behold I, send me. I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind,
that not one soul shall be lost; and surely I will do it; wherefore,
give me thine honor."

Then spoke one as with authority:

"Lucifer, thy plan would destroy the agency of man--his most priceless
gift. It would take away his means of eternal advancement. Your offer
cannot be accepted."

The Father looked out over the vast throng; then clearly the words rang
out:

"I will send the first!"

But the haughty spirit yielded not. His countenance became fiercer in
its anger, and as he strode from the assembly, many followed after him.

Then went the news abroad throughout heaven of the council and the
Father's proposed plan; of Christ's offer, and Lucifer's rebellious
actions. The whole celestial realm was agitated, and contention and
strife began to wage among the children of God.

Returning from the council chamber of the celestial glance through the
paths of the surrounding gardens, came two sons of God. Apparently, the
late events had affected them greatly. The assembly had dispersed, and,
save now and then a fleeting figure, they were alone. They were engaged
in earnest conversation.

"But, Brother Sardus," said one, "how can you look at it in that light?
Lucifer was surely in the wrong. And then, how haughty and overbearing
he was."

"I cannot agree with you, Homan. We have a right to think and to act as
we please, and I consider Lucifer in the right. Think of this
magnificent offer, to bring back in glory to Father's presence, every
one of His children, and that, too, without condition on their part."

"There! He, and you with him, talk about your rights to think and act as
you please. Have you not that right? Have you not used it freely in
refusing to listen to Father's counsel? Do not I exercise it in that I
listen and agree with Him? But let me tell you, brother, what your
reasoning will lead to."

"I know it--but go on."

"No, you do not; you do not seem to understand."

"Perhaps you will explain," said the other haughtily.

"Brother, be not angry. It is because of my love for you that I speak
thus. It is evident that we, in that future world of experience and
trial, will retain our agencies to choose between the opposites that
will be presented to us. Without that privilege, we should cease to be
intelligences, and become as inanimate things. How could we be proved
without this pow