[Colofornian]

Excerpts above are from pp. 75, 107, 114, 118. (Page 101, not included above, mentions how many endowments for the dead were performed in Utah between 1877-1898...the article itself mentions "the dead" 28 times...only twice in the context of "the resurrection of the dead." The rest regards this ritualistic focus of Mormonism upon the dead, which, btw, is The primary "service" focus of the Mormon Church...for documentation of this, see their ongoing "revelations"...found in Doctrine & Covenants 128:15; 138:27).

The author is Mormon; the publication is Mormon -- though one more open to discussing oft-considered more "skittish" issues to church leadership.

From the article: The 1970s saw a renewed emphasis on temple work. During the latter part of the decade, many stakes were issued endowment quotas by their temples. While less emphasis is now placed on quotas, expectations remain high. For example, active recommend holders living close to a temple usually are expected to average one endowment per month...

Endowment quotas? (Can you say legalism?)

But...I guess ya gotta understand the crunching-the-numbers reality of a so-called "fair" system of "salvation":

From the article: ...members of the church's computer planning committee realized during the late 1950s and early 1960s, that, given the estimated 70 billion people who had been born on the earth, all LDS adults working in temples eight hours a day, seven days a week wouldn't be able to keep up with the world population growth, much less complete ordinance work for deceased ancestors. This concern has apparently not disappeared. 149 ... 149 See Church News 20 July 1986, 16.

[teppe]

Colofornian

Are you a Christian...or just anti-Mormon?

I’ve never seen a post by you trying to build faith in Jesus Christ ..... only your attempts to tear it down.

[Colofornian]

From the article:

...FOR FAITHFUL LATTER-DAY SAINTS, the temple endowment ceremony is one of the most...powerful ordinances received in mortality. One authoritative source called it the temporal stepping stone which all people must pass to achieve exaltation with God the Father and Jesus Christ...1 ... 1 Gospel Essentials, rev. ed., sunday school manual (Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), 1979, 247.

At first glance, "exaltation" just sounds like another word for reaching glory -- to be with Jesus and Heavenly Father.

But don't be fooled as to how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses this term. As a matter of fact, as the chart quotations below show, "exaltation" is simply a Mormon byword for becoming a fellow god!!!

Chart excerpt from: THE TOP TEN MOST SURPRISING 'MORMON TEACHINGS' ABOUT MORMON HEAVEN and AFTER-LIFE [Vanity]

RANK	SURPRISING MORMON AFTERLIFE BELIEF	EXPLANATION/SOURCE
5.	"Eternal life" is redefined to be an exclusive term that applies to temple Mormons ONLY! "Eternal life" is thus reserved for legalistically abiding Mormons ONLY. "Eternal life" does NOT = ALL living forever with Heavenly Father; 'tis ONLY applies for those who EARN exaltation...and "exaltation" is a Mormon by-word for becoming a god! Hence, to the Mormon, resurrection alone does not = eternal life.	Yes, Mormons believe that just about all people become immortal due to the resurrection. But "eternal life" is ONLY for those who live in the presence of Heavenly Father -- and become "gods" themselves (what Mormons call "exaltation"...To Mormons, "exaltation" and "eternal life" are interchangeable terms...but "eternal life" and heaven-as-a-residence for non-Mormons are not interchangeable terms..."eternal life" is ONLY for Mormons! * ”Eternal life is a term which always means ‘exaltation,’ when used in the Scriptures (John 3:15; Romans 6:23; 1 John 1:2; 2 Nephi 2:28; D&C 5:22; 18:8; 131:5; 138:51; Moses 1:39).” (David R. Ridges, Mormon Beliefs and Doctrines Made Easier, p. 88) Sub-title: “WHAT IS EXALTATION? Exaltation is eternal life, the kind of life that God lives.” (Older 1970s version, p. 289) * ”Exaltation is a synonym for eternal life. Exaltation comes only to those who inherit the highest degree within the celestial kingdom…it consists in the continuation of the family unit throughout eternity; it is the type of life that is lived by our Heavenly Father.” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrines and Covenants, 2:85) * “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.” (Gospel Principles, 1997, p. 302) * “Eternal life…In fact…means exaltation. He who receives the greatest portion of eternal life becomes a God.” (Milton R. Hunter, an LDS Seventy, The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 11) * ”Exaltation means godhood, creatorship. ‘As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 53) * “Exaltation is the greatest of all the gifts and attainments possible. It is available only in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom and is reserved for members of the Church of the Firstborn. This exalted status, called eternal life, is available to be received by a man and a wife. It means not only living in God’s presence, but receiving power to do as God does, including the power to bear children after the resurrection.” (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 2:479 Quote for resurrection alone not = 'eternal life': * “…resurrection alone does not qualify us for eternal life in the presence of God…we need His grace to purify and perfect us ‘after all we can do’ (2 Nephi 25:23).” (Truth to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, Intellectual Reserve, 2004, p. 77)

[Rockwarf]

Believe it or not an lds person recommended freerepublic to me and I've enjoyed the discussions and posts. But the constant anti LDS stream is irritating. I challenge anyone to find a more patriotic, hard working, generous group of people. Of course I've found God fearing good people in all religions I've worked with. Why all the hate here? I'd venture to say that a large percentage of visitors here are LDS. I suggest that it is time for all of them to find another web page to support or make a new one. I know I'll be looking. Time to move on.

[lewislynn]

Your obsession with Mormons is apparently a sickness

I do business with a lot of people of different faiths. Without a doubt the most honest and the most pleasant to deal with are Mormons. Catholics are the worst.

My good friend, also a business man, says when he goes to church he sits in the front row so he can turn around and see all the faces of the people he wouldn't do business with...I suspect you might be in that group.

[alexander_busek]

...members of the church's computer planning committee realized during the late 1950s and early 1960s, that, given the estimated 70 billion people who had been born on the earth, all LDS adults working in temples eight hours a day, seven days a week wouldn't be able to keep up with the world population growth, much less complete ordinance work for deceased ancestors. This concern has apparently not disappeared. 149 ... 149 See Church News 20 July 1986, 16.

Surely computers should be able to speed this process... But what happens when they complete their endowments?

Sounds like Arthur C. Clarke's The Nine Billion Names of God.

Regards,

[RginTN]

Since you’ve gotten a lot of criticism for examining LDS, I would like thank you for posting these threads. I’ve learned a lot from them.

I find it interesting that Mormons react like Muslims by calling critics haters when their faith is put in the spotlight for examination and criticism.

Keep up the good work!

[truth_seeker]

The Daily Obsessional. The regulars here just might have some mental health issues.

[Elsie]

IF, as you say, Mormonism = Christianity...THEN I am posting “faith-building” “Christian” stuff regularly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bde8eGumrCk