Posted on 04/25/2015 6:00:40 PM PDT by Colofornian
Requirements for Exaltation
[SNIP]
To be exalted, we first must place our faith in Jesus Christ and then endure in that faith to the end of our lives. Our faith in Him must be such that we repent of our sins and obey His commandments.
He commands us all to receive certain ordinances:
...
3. Brethren must receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and magnify their callings in the priesthood.
4. We must receive the temple endowment.
5. We must be married for eternity, either in this life or in the next.
In addition to receiving the required ordinances, the Lord commands all of us to...
(Excerpt) Read more at lds.org ...
This book has been THE essential Lds Church curricula assimilation study manual for those investigating the Mormon Church.
In the 1978 version of this same book, marriage was #4 under 18 "Requirements for Exaltation"...In the 2009 and 2011 versions, those 18 "requirements" became "5" plus another 10 were listed as additional commandments.
What? Did 18 "requirements" become a Mormon 'gospel' lite version of 5 (or even if you count the 10 secondary ones, 15?)
What? The Mormon Church can't keep it straight for its own people as to how many requirements it takes to live forever with Heavenly Father? (Because THAT is what "exaltation" is in the Mormon Church: It's the only degree of glory where supposedly people get to live eternally with him...and failure on these "requirements" means no celestial kingdom eternal relationship with Heavenly Father...)
Which, in turn, makes me ask: What's "heaven" minus living forever with Heavenly Father?
Anyway, here's what p. 291 in the 1978 "Gospel Principles" version included:
There are specific ordinances we MUST have received to be exalted: ... 4. We MUST be married for time and all eternity.
(No ifs, ands, or buts there!)
Luke Chapter 23 solves all that without resorting to extra manmade rules:
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
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