First Worship, First Evening

Chapter 3

When all resurrectees, their relatives and receivers, were settled in the Temple of New Life, an astonishingly beautiful angel—a "Conductor of Worship," whispered their receiver—entered the central stage and lifted her hands high, arresting and focusing attention. The audience then fell silent. The Conductor remained still with hands held high. As if from everywhere, there came a most wondrous sound. Then another, even more appealing. Music! They were hearing morontia music. How rich, how moving! All sat in rapt attention as the sounds intermingled and harmonized. It was truly celestial in tone and composure. This music made every pilgrim better realize the range and acuity of their hearing.

Spontaneously, everyone genuflected. Some took to their knees on cushioned kneelers in front of each seat; some remained seated and bowed their heads. It was so natural and appropriate at a time like this. Kala and Saro, indeed all the resurrectees, were feeling immensely thankful for continuing life in this heavenly place. The pair's relatives were enjoying this as much as they were, now fondly recalling their first experience of giving thanks for survival and worshiping as morontia beings in this same temple.

Kala praised God, silently, in her thoughts. Saro too. The music was rousing everyone to greater heights of emotional focus and thanksgiving. Tears began flowing from thousands of eyes. How can God create such things, and in such abundance? This prayerful interlude was deeply humbling and sublimely divine, perfect for this day of life-refreshing and resurrection on one of God's "many mansions."

Evidently, no words were going to be said. Music was the language that transcended all idiomatic barriers during this experience. Then it stopped. A collective moan of pleasure and joy swept over the gathering. The music began again, but this was much different. These sounds soothed and quieted their minds. Saro and Kala felt a strong urge to deeper worship, to internally embrace their divine indwellers who had so patiently and persistently worked within that they could be here, in heaven, living, breathing, and adoring a great God, the source of their indwellers. It was dawning on all that they were in fact and in truth God's newborn children who will never again have to die.

It was difficult to judge how long this worship session went on. Saro and Kala were so caught up that time seemed to be suspended, and God never felt nearer. The pair also expressed, in their own minds in their own ways, heartfelt gratitude and loving affection for Michael and the Divine Minister, the local representatives of the Eternal Son and the Infinite Spirit, who, along with the Universal Father, comprise the Paradise Trinity. It felt as if they were in their deepest embrace ever, with these three divine lovers.

The music gradually shaded off into silence as all remained perfectly still and content in worshipful unity and loving appreciation. At that moment, one of Kala's favorite lines in The Urantia Book about worship came to mind, one she had memorized and often repeated in times of stress, "...the act of worship becomes increasingly all-encompassing until it eventually attains the glory of the highest experiential delight and the most exquisite pleasure known to created beings." * And this was only their first taste of worship as resurrected beings. One they will forever remember.

The Conductor returned to center stage, not uttering a word, again raising, then lowering her hands and bowing. That was their exit signal. Saro and Kala's receiver leaned toward them saying: "Let us proceed to your lodging."

The many resurrection groups began filing out of this wonder-evoking temple, moving through the seven-segmented resurrection area and toward the exit arches, each group being led by a Pilgrim receiver. As they were exiting, Saro and Will's cousins regretfully excused themselves, leaving for a prior commitment and promising to reconnect when schedules permit. They embraced and once more congratulated the pair, then departed.

As the receiver, Kala, her parents, grandparents, Saro, and Will, strolled toward the Melchizedek sector the receiver said to the pair, "After you have been properly welcomed and oriented over the next two days, you will be free to explore this sphere for an additional ten days. First, you may wish to view the registry of those already resurrected, your deceased relatives and friends. You will be free to go anywhere you like, to travel near and far, to visit the many sights, to tour this sphere any way you please. For now, reflect on your new status as resurrectees, explore the Melchizedek sector, and begin thinking of mansonia as your home. And remember, one or both of your personal angelic guardians is always near."

Both Saro and Kala then recalled that a day in mansonia is almost three times as long as a day on Urantia. That meant they had about a month to sightsee, learn, observe, discover, connect, and revel in this new life, this amazing mansion world.

The pairs' guardian angels reappeared at that moment. They were fascinated by the appearance of these seraphim, fairly glowing with an appealing luminescence. Like other beings, they have heads, arms, and legs, but unique to angels, they also have friction shields compactly set in their backs. These shields, when deployed, protect them from the hazards of flying through open space between worlds.

Rea then spoke, saying "We wish to convey to you both our congratulations on your resurrection. For decades on Urantia, we worked with and for you, always unseen and unheard. We are now visible to your new eyes, and you can hear these words we so long wished to say: We love you and want to express our appreciation for your willing cooperation and wise choosing as humans on Urantia. Not all guardians are so fortunate as to have such cooperative wards." Her words were so tender, kind, and sincere, the pair was moved to embrace them.

"Thank you for watching over us all those years," Saro said. "Your faithfulness and protection must surely be part of the reason we are here now."

Kala said to Lea and Rea, "I'm very happy to finally see and speak with you face to face. I remember thinking of you so many times, trying to imagine your appearance." She then asked, "Would you mind unfolding your shields? Can you? Is that permitted?" Without hesitation the four fanned out and slowly did so. The group stopped to watch Kala and Saro's reaction on seeing, for the first time, angels with "wings" spread.

The pair's jaws went slack, and they ceased breathing as they witnessed each guardian's double set of shields unfurl, extending from their heads to their angelic toes. Angels are indeed charming and lovely creatures to behold.

"Your shields look as much like energy as living flesh," said Saro to his guardians.

It was a genuine thrill for the pair to be able to see and interact with these luminous beings, these mind ministers, these amazing creatures who can literally fly from world to world all the way to Paradise.

Their guardians were inwardly rejoicing, thrilled that their beloved wards were successful, which meant they too were victorious and now open to the real possibility of journeying along with the pair, eventually to meet God at his personal residence on Paradise.

The love among the four angels and their two subjects, which took origin on Urantia, was now in the open, they could all feel and enjoy it, freely and fully without the barrier of invisibility.

After an affectionate embrace Jatia said to the pair, "We will leave you now, in the capable hands of the receiver and report to the Archangel supervisor of all guardians on this sphere."

Rea assured them both, "We are only a thought away should you need us for any reason." They were delighted by the affectionate manner and gentle demeanor of all four guardians.

As the group approached the ascending pilgrims' residential area, the pair's eyes widened. They could not help being dazed by the charming architecture and artistic design of each structure. Nothing was left to chance in the flora either, there were no weeds or untended patches. Nor was there litter, foul odors, or any unembellished surface.

The receiver then steered them toward their residence, an elegantly appointed cottage surrounded by, and adorned with, plants of many varieties, dazzling flowers of diverse color that they had to stop and examine, smell, and marvel over. They then set foot on a short, curving path to the cottage's entrance.

"This is so beautiful!" the pair exclaimed simultaneously, then laughed. It was overwhelming and impossible to fully appreciate everything they were seeing during these first impressionable hours as newly resurrected beings. Their relatives closely watched the pair as they approached and entered their new residence, vicariously enjoying Kala and Saro's first day's experiences as morontia progressors.

"I'm remembering more that I read about the mansions, but I couldn't ever have imagined this beauty and variety of morontia materials," Kala commented as she looked over their surroundings.

Saro was also recalling something that always intrigued him, written by one who was granted a vision of mansonia. The apostle Paul once declared: "They have in heaven a better and more enduring substance." * Then he remembered that morontia materials have one hundred more elements than the one hundred evolving planets have. "And how well the mansion artists have used them!" thought Saro.

The walls of their lodging were high enough for privacy, having beautifully framed transparent spaces—mansion world windows. In one corner of this magnificently constructed little building was a large bedroom without windows. It was no less glorious in appearance than the other enclosures and edifices they had seen. The receiver touched a panel and instantly the bedroom's walls became windows. "Have privacy if you like," she said. Touching the panel again, the artistically adorned walls reappeared. The bed was laced and layered in a most appealing fashion. The pair anticipated their first night's rest there, on this beautiful, peaceful world.

They then moved into the largest room. It had seating all around, with three tables and chairs in the center, obviously intended for guests and socializing. What looked to be an open kitchen occupied a section of the far wall. Appealing artwork embellished every surface and article. The cottage's décor was no less stunning, diverse, and aesthetically pleasing than everything else they had seen.

Saro and Kala were simply over-awed. Will sensed this and asked his brother, "Hey Saro, how do you get to Paradise?"

"I don't know, Will. How?" he replied, recalling his brother's quirky humorous side.

"PerFECT, perFECT, perFECT!" replied Will with a broad smile and a wink.

The pair laughed relieving the tension of encountering so much that was new, and in such a short span of time. The relatives were recalling that was one of the first memes that ex-Urantian anglophones heard on mansonia. Saro and Kala were both classical musicians and realized Will's quip was a morontia twist on a trick question to aspiring musicians aiming for North America's highest recital arena--How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice!

The receiver then spoke a few words to the pair before parting. "Enjoy the rest of the day. Visit with your relatives, and perhaps they will show you how to use the residence's features and options." The group nodded assurance. "Roam the sector if you like, I will come for you tomorrow at dawn. I have a request to ask of you two. But for now, relax and familiarize yourself with this environment."

The pair walked her to the cottage's front gate where the receiver gave them each a small, flat, round device, and said to make any request by simply asking the device. "It can translate, communicate, and perform a host of other services you may need." Finally, she said, "I will be available all night, and of course your guardians are always 'only a thought away.'"

"Thank you," Kala replied fondly.

"Forgive us for not asking your name," Saro said.

"Pilgrims from Urantia call me Calybrid," she replied. "Good night, Kala and Saro, and welcome to mansonia."

When they returned to the relatives inside their lovely lodging, now comfortably conversing with each other, Saro interrupted, holding up his device and asking, "Is this a 'harp of God?'"

Will stood and proclaimed loudly, "It's official Saro, you two are now morontia creatures!" Everyone applauded and Will proceeded to show them a few of the rudimentary functions of this amazing and deceptively simple appearing device.

"Show Jerusem's main temple," said Will to his harp. Instantly a three-dimensional image appeared before them. They froze and marveled at it as Will caused the image to rotate. All the sights and sounds of it were crystal sharp. "Show the main floor of the Jerusem communication center." The hologram changed to an astonishing array of visual displays, chart boards, and moving images.

"Is that a recording?" Saro asked.

"No. It's that easy to watch a live view of events and beings on another world," Will told them.

The pair was shown other astonishing sights until they could watch no more. It was too overwhelming, so many beings of diverse morontia forms to fill their minds, plus endless architecture of breath-taking, artistic excellence. Will showed them one more place, the central temple on mansion two. They watched as temple goers moved about the remarkably intricate, be-gemmed structure. It fairly glowed with light they were certain no human eye could discern.

"Have you been there, in person?" asked Kala.

"We have, and often," said her grandmother, "before we advanced to mansion three."

Her grandfather added, "Kala, what you will see between here and Jerusem will push back every imaginable limit you have of the possibilities of creative expression. Enjoy every minute. And don't worry, you'll quickly adapt and easily fit in here. It's so good to see you two, and to speak English again! It's been a while."

"We almost didn't make it in time for your resurrection, so sudden was your graduation off Urantia," her grandmother said.

"Sudden as a bolt of lightning," joked Will. "I peeked at your death report."

"Where do you all live?" Kala asked.

"Mansion two," her parents answered together.

"I'm so happy to have you here, and glad you resurrected in three days, and together!" said her mother.

"It's still a little unbelievable, but you two look great. Everyone here does!" Kala declared. "Where do you stay, Joy?"

"Also mansion two. You're going to love life here; it was made for ones like you."

"What's not to love! If this is the first heaven, I don't know if I can handle the other six," exclaimed Saro laughing.

"M2 is my cloud also," said Will. "And you ain't seen nothin' yet, my brother."

"You and Pop are living on mansion three, Gram?" Kala asked.

"For now," her grandmother replied.

As the evening passed, they didn't tire of chatting, reminiscing, and laughing, especially when piecing together family stories of lessons learned from easy and hard times on Urantia. More and more memories of their former life were coalescing in the pair's morontia minds as the conversations shifted back and forth, from that life to this one. Of course, Saro and Kala asked many questions about mansonia life, but not nearly enough. There was so very much to learn, do, and see. On the group communed until it became dusky, and the first stars of an unfamiliar night sky were seen through the pair's new eyes.

Before leaving, Kala's father walked over to the kitchen's service counter, tapped a small control panel, and out came a tray of beautiful golden goblets filled with liquid. "Time to toast our new arrivals," he declared, then passed the tray around.

Holding up his goblet, her father said affectionately, "Kala and Saro, welcome to life on mansonia."

"Welcome!" they all said in excellent harmony.

"What is it?" Kala asked her father.

"Time for your first taste of mansion world water, daughter."

She remarked, "Funny, I hadn't thought of drink or food until now." She and Saro looked each other in the eye then clinked their goblets together. Everyone held them high, then took a sip.

"That is tasty," Saro declared, "it must be very pure."

"No purer than clean water on Urantia," Will said. "Only your tongue has improved."

Kala took another drink, a big one. Saro followed suit. Then they both drank it all to the cheers of the group. It was very satisfying. The pair asked for another, then a third cup.

"If water is this good, how good will mansion world food taste?!" Saro wondered. But they were feeling no hunger at this point, none at all.

The pilgrim receiver had arranged for their relatives to stay at an adjacent cottage, in order that Saro and Kala could be alone that night. When it was time to leave, each one congratulated the pair face to face. They exchanged words of familial love, expressing feelings of genuine joy about this heavenly reunion.

Kala and Saro fondly embraced each one as they departed. The oneness of their spirits with these charming people imprinted deeply on the pair. For a moment Kala contemplated the stupendous possibilities and limitless potentials for personal contact with a whole universe of friendly beings across eternity.