Tuesday 16. Went to see Pres. J. who ordered me to prepare for Carthage I returned home & got ready & started about 11 oclock in the New Carriage with prest. J. George Miller, Eliza Partridge, Lydia Partridge & J.M. Smith Loran Walker drove. We called at Carthage & saw Styles, Backenstos & others. Tarried about 15 minutes & started again for Ramus where we arrived about 3 S oclock. We stayed at W. G. Perkins. Prest. J. & I went to B.F. Johnsons to sleep. Before we retired the Prest. gave bro Johnson & wife some instructions on the priesthood. He put his hand on my knee and says ``your life is hid with Christ in God, and so is many others.'' Addressing Benjamin says he ``nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent him (me) from inheriting eternal glory for he is sealed up by the power of the priesthood unto eternal life having taken the step which is necessary for that purpose.''

¶ He said that except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity while in this probation by the power and authority of the Holy priesthood they will cease to increase when they die (ie. they will not have any children in the resurrection), but those who are married by the power & authority of the priesthood in this life & continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost will continue to increase & have children in the celestial glory.

¶ The unpardonable sin is to shed innocent blood or be accessory thereto. All other sins will be visited with judgement in the flesh and the spirit being delivered to the buffetings of satan untill the day of the Lord Jesus.'' I feel desirous to be united in an everlasting covenant to my wife and pray that it may soon be. Prest. J. said that the way he knew in whom to confide, God told him in whom he might place confidence. He also said that in the celestial glory was three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood and if he dont he cant obtain it. He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom he cannot have increase.¹

1. Bold type indicates the source of D&C 131:1. It has been speculated that D&C 131:1 may refer to the Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial divsions of "heaven," rather than refering to an actual division of the Celestial glory itself. However the source seems to be clear: the Celestial glory itself has three divisions.