This Sunday, in Gospel Doctrine Class, the study is on 2 Nephi 31-33. One of the summary statements in the heading of chapter 31 says, “Eternal life comes to those who kept the commandments after baptism.” Since I posted about eternal life just a couple of months ago (see the post for 1-13-12) and there showed that the Bible says eternal life is the present possession of believers through faith, I thought I would, in this post, explore what Mormonism says about eternal life. I’m going to do that with quotes from the last chapter of their basic manual, Gospel Principles. If you would like to read the entire chapter, you can do that on lds.org.

The first thing to note is that Mormonism equates eternal life with exaltation. “Exaltation is eternal life, the kind of life God lives. He lives in great glory. He is perfect. He possesses all knowledge and all wisdom. He is the Father of spirit children. He is a creator. We can become like our Heavenly Father. This is exaltation.” (p. 275) Note that this says eternal life is not only equal to the kind of life God lives but also to becoming like him. That is illustrated with the list in the middle: great glory, perfection, possessing all knowledge and wisdom, Father of spirit children, creator. In other words, Mormonism teaches that people will be able to possess all knowledge and wisdom, that they will become creators etc.

1. They will live eternally in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (see D&C 76:62).

3. They will be united eternally with their righteous family members and will be able to have eternal increase.

5. They will have everything that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have—all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge (see D&C 132:19–20).”

Mormonism plainly teaches that people can become gods. I’m emphasizing that because many Mormons have told me that Mormonism doesn’t teach that. I don’t know how many told me that it says that they will be like God, but not become a god. But note what this official manual states. “They will become gods.” Gods who have everything that Heavenly Father and Jesus have. And lest we forget, that is what Mormonism is talking about whenever it talks about eternal life. Eternal life and exaltation are the same thing.

This chapter also includes a couple quotes from Joseph Smith. (Again the italics are mine) “The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil [died] before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 268).”

“Joseph Smith taught: “It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God. … He was once a man like us; … God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 345–46).”

I highlighted that last part because again many Mormons have stated to me that Heavenly Father never was a man. Some have told me that the famous couplet, “As man is, God once was; As God is, man may become”, no longer applies. When I explored that with them, they said it wasn’t just that this wording is not used that much anymore, but that is not what Mormonism teaches. It’s obvious that this chapter of their basic manual says otherwise.

The bottom line is that when Mormonism talks about eternal life, it means something vastly different than when Christians talk about it. (See my January 13th post for a full look at the Christian view.) This is a point both Mormons and Christians need to keep clearly in mind when talking with each other.

From the blog: ...showed that the Bible says eternal life is the present possession of believers through faith, I thought I would, in this post, explore what Mormonism says about eternal life. I’m going to do that with quotes from the last chapter of their basic manual, Gospel Principles...The first thing to note is that Mormonism equates eternal life with exaltation. “Exaltation is eternal life, the kind of life God lives. He lives in great glory. He is perfect. He possesses all knowledge and all wisdom. He is the Father of spirit children. He is a creator. We can become like our Heavenly Father. This is exaltation.” (p. 275) Note that this says eternal life is not only equal to the kind of life God lives but also to becoming like him. That is illustrated with the list in the middle: great glory, perfection, possessing all knowledge and wisdom, Father of spirit children, creator. In other words, Mormonism teaches that people will be able to possess all knowledge and wisdom, that they will become creators etc.

So, when it comes to receiving praise, adoration, worship, prayer...move over god...the Mormons continue to "eternally progress" unto godhood!

From the blog: Mormonism plainly teaches that people can become gods. I’m emphasizing that because many Mormons have told me that Mormonism doesn’t teach that. I don’t know how many told me that it says that they will be like God, but not become a god. But note what this official manual states. “They will become gods.” Gods who have everything that Heavenly Father and Jesus have. And lest we forget, that is what Mormonism is talking about whenever it talks about eternal life. Eternal life and exaltation are the same thing...I highlighted that last part because again many Mormons have stated to me that Heavenly Father never was a man. Some have told me that the famous couplet, “As man is, God once was; As God is, man may become”, no longer applies. When I explored that with them, they said it wasn’t just that this wording is not used that much anymore, but that is not what Mormonism teaches. It’s obvious that this chapter of their basic manual says otherwise. The bottom line is that when Mormonism talks about eternal life, it means something vastly different than when Christians talk about it. (See my January 13th post for a full look at the Christian view.) This is a point both Mormons and Christians need to keep clearly in mind when talking with each other.

Mormonism is in such flux that Mormons can't even tell anymore 'tween what the Mormon PR department is telling the world (to sound "Christian") and what their own past Lds "prophets" & "apostles" & present official manuals clearly teach!

Yes, the mainstream media will be rigourously vetting Romney if we are foolish enough to nominate him. I wrote a piece on January 27 touching on that fact:

“How long will it take before someone asks Romney, “do you believe you will become a god?” (which begs the question of the potential implications of a “god complex”) or “do you believe that the 80% of Americans who claim to be Christians are in error?” The door will be WIDE OPEN to those questions on the basis that we could potentially have “our first Mormon President”.

Newly produced documentaries will be airing all over the liberal controlled media, highlighting the controversies – but they will not come directly from the campaign. Romney understands that tactic but this time it won’t just be PACs; it will be The History Channel, Discovery Channel, 60 minutes…

We might as well nominate Marshall Applewhite and wait for him to return in his space ship hidden within the tail of the Hale-Bopp Comet.”

From:
Romney Pledges to be “True to his Faith” as President - Just what might that entail?

http://www.tableofwisdom.com/2012/01/romney-pledges-to-be-true-to-his-faith.html

They have the advantage of controlling most of the media companies - including programming. The edge that gives them is that they can destroy Romney without the campaign “officially” denounces “attacking” Romney for his heretical beliefs.

The Doctrine and Covenants

Section 132

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded 12 July 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, and also the plurality of wives (see History of the Church, 5:501–7). Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831.

1–6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7–14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15–20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21–25, The strait and narrow way leads to eternal lives; 26–27, The law is given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28–39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation are made to prophets and Saints in all ages; 40–47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48–50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51–57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

16Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in ^amarriage; but are appointed angels in ^bheaven, which angels are ministering ^cservants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

17For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are ^aangels of God forever and ever.

18And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that ^acovenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.

19And again, verily I say unto you, if a man ^amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ^beverlasting covenant, and it is ^csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of ^dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the ^ekeys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit ^fthrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s ^gBook of Life, that he shall commit no ^hmurder whereby to shed innocent ⁱblood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their ^jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the ^kseeds forever and ever.

20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from ^aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be ^bgods, because they have ^call power, and the angels are subject unto them.

21Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my ^alaw ye cannot attain to this glory.

22For ^astrait is the gate, and narrow the ^bway that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the ^clives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.

23But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that ^awhere I am ye shall be also.

24This is ^aeternal lives—to ^bknow the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath ^csent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.

25^aBroad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the ^bdeaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they ^creceive me not, neither do they abide in my law.

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