The following mini-article, "A World Burnt", comes from William W. Phelps, Deseret Almanac, for the Year of Our Lord, 1852: Being Leap Year, and After the 6th of April, the 23rd Year of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; and the Second Year of the Last Half Century of This Dispensation (Great Salt Lake City, UT: Willard Richards, [1852]), 21:
About 280 years ago, commencing in Nov. 1572, a very bright star, not far from the north star, 5 degrees N. N. E. of Caph, in the constellation of Cassiopeia, was seen to change its light from whitish till it appeared like a world on fire, surpassing the brilliance and splendor of a planet. It was visible at noon-day, but finally began to diminish in brightness, until, in 1573, it disappeared, leaving a void, which to man remains a mystery.
Much speculation, at the time, occupied the learned, and the christian clergy: - the heathen said nothing, because they knew nothing. So the matter rests. One may imagine that it was a space-boat burnt up with its own gas; and another declare that it was a great meteor which had been collecting ever since lightning lived, and a few suppose it might be a world called to judgment. All ignorant.
O faithless generation! it was a world called to pass away! Thus all have to be changed and resurrected! Ours next, while the moon turns to blood! (as it were) The clouds of light taken from the sun, then he will be darkened, and finally all resurrected, and all re-lighted by a light as much above the sun, as the sun is above a candle!
And again, "Philosophy of the Heavens" on page 37 of the same document, wherein Phelps throws a fit over all this gravity 'nonsense':
In presenting the solar system table, we wish to consider three things as doubtful, and unworthy of the confidence of saints:
First. The influence of signs, stars, &c., according to the wisdom of the world.
Second. The conjectures of the Christian world upon the heavens above and the regions "beyond the bounds of time and space."
Third. The philosophy of attraction and repulsion; attraction and gravitation, or empty space.
For the grand reason, that the earth and every planet or system in the heavens, is governed by law, and controlled by the power of God, or Gods; from whom proceeds 'light to fill the immensity of space;' for there is no space without a kingdom.
That every world, or system, is a living animal, whose life giving, or life moving power, is in itself, as much as the same powers are in man, animals, trees: - even all created - "whose seed is in itself."
Talk not to me of universal laws, and attraction and repulsion, to govern the bodies above, or below! What a confusion of worlds there would have been, in such a case, when Joshua commanded the "sun and moon" to stand still, and the earth ceased to roll for at least a day!
Again, what becomes of philosophical nonsense, when the earth is suddenly jogged back "ten degrees," as in the instance of Hezekiah? Only forty minutes slow o'clock, at one instant's sudden back action!
No more matter on the earth at one time than another! O fools! and slow of understanding! Did Enoch's city and people weigh nothing? They left this earth. After the resurrection, Jesus took his body and went to his Father. That body was a part of this world, but it is gone!
No universal law, of man's seeking, governs the works of God. Every world "rolls on its wings," and is controlled by a God, whose laws are executed by the angels: - as guardian angels; as "angels holding the winds;" as angels holding the "vials of wrath;" as angels having the "everlasting gospel to preach," - and, as quick as sight or thought, a look, a sign, or a hint to God in Kolob, Tamen, or any glorified kingdom, brings assistance, that earth and hell cannot demonstrate.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments of the world, and not after the doctrine of Christ."
Well may it be said, "man was created upright," but he has sought out many foolish theories, aided by Lucifer; whose perigration from one world to another, furnish astronomers, philosophers, doctors and priests, with an ocean of words and hypotheis, which, like the spider's web, entangles flies, but the fowls of heaven fly through unimpeded!
Then, the following statement comes from William W. Phelps, Deseret Almanac, for the Year of Our Lord 1853: Being the First After Leap Year, and After the Sixth of April, the Twenty-Fourth Year of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; and the Third of the Last Half Century of This Dispensation (Grand Salt Lake City, UT: Willard Richards, [1853]), 5:
The stars are worlds of people.
Finally, the following statements come from William W. Phelps, Deseret Almanac, for the Year of Our Lord 1854: Being the Second After Leap Year, and After the Sixth of April, the Twenty-Fifth Year of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; and the Third of the Last Half Century of This Dispensation (Great Salt Lake City, UT: Willard Richards, [1854]), 5.
The fixed stars are worlds celestial.
The planets are worlds in probation.
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