A council was convened, and the leading spirits were summoned. All
waited for the outcome in silent awe.

Then came the decision, spoken with heavenly authority:

"Ye valiant and loyal sons and daughters of God, blessed are ye for your
righteousness and your faithfulness to God and His cause. Your reward is
that ye shall be permitted to dwell on the new earth, and in tabernacles
of flesh continue in the eternal course of progress, as has been marked
out and explained to you."

Then, to the still defiant forms of Lucifer and his adherents this was
said:

"Lucifer, son of the morning, thou hast withdrawn from the Father many
of the children of heaven. They have their agency, and have chosen to
believe thy lies. They have fallen with thee from before the face of
God. Thus hast thou used the power given thee. Thou hast said in thy
heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.... I will be like
the Most High! Thou hast sought to usurp power, to take a kingdom that
does not belong to thee. God holds you all as in the hollow of His hand;
yet He has not restrained thine agency. He has been patient and
longsuffering with you. Rebellious children of heaven, the Father's
bosom heaves with sorrow for you; but justice claims its own--your
punishment is that you be cast out of heaven. Bodies of flesh and bones
ye shall not have; but ye shall wander without tabernacles over the face
of the earth. Ye shall be 'reserved in everlasting chains under darkness
unto the judgment of the great day.'"

Thus went forth the decree of the Almighty, and with it the force of His