Exaltation (The Plan for Our Progression)-Mormon (OPEN)

LDS Gospel Principles, (2009),275–80 ^ | 2009

[greyfoxx39]

Chapter 47: Exaltation,” Gospel Principles, (2009),275–80

The Plan for Our Progression

When we lived with our Heavenly Father, He explained a plan for our progression. We could become like Him, an exalted being. The plan required that we be separated from Him and come to earth. This separation was necessary to prove whether we would obey our Father’s commandments even though we were no longer in His presence. The plan provided that when earth life ended, we would be judged and rewarded according to the degree of our faith and obedience.

From the scriptures we learn that there are three kingdoms of glory in heaven. The Apostle Paul mentioned that he knew a man who was “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2). Paul named two of the kingdoms in heaven: the celestial and the terrestrial (see 1 Corinthians 15:40–42). The celestial is the highest, and the terrestrial is second. Through latter-day revelation we learn that the third kingdom is the telestial kingdom (see D&C 76:81). We also learn that there are three heavens or degrees within the celestial kingdom (see D&C 131:1).

Exaltation

• • What is 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.

If we prove faithful to the Lord, we will live in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of heaven. We will become exalted, to live with our Heavenly Father in eternal families. Exaltation is the greatest gift that Heavenly Father can give His children (see D&C 14:7).

Blessings of Exaltation

• • What are some blessings that will be given to those who are exalted?

Our Heavenly Father is perfect, and He glories in the fact that it is possible for His children to become like Him. His work and glory is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

Those who receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ will receive special blessings. The Lord has promised, “All things are theirs” (D&C 76:59). These are some of the blessings given to exalted people:

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

• 2. They will become gods (see D&C 132:20–23).

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

• 4. They will receive a fulness of joy.

• 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). President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “The Father has promised through the Son that all that he has shall be given to those who are obedient to His commandments. They shall increase in knowledge, wisdom, and power, going from grace to grace, until the fulness of the perfect day shall burst upon them” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:36; italics in original).

Requirements for Exaltation

The time to fulfill the requirements for exaltation is now (see Alma 34:32–34). President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “In order to obtain the exaltation we must accept the gospel and all its covenants; and take upon us the obligations which the Lord has offered; and walk in the light and the understanding of the truth; and ‘live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God’” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:43).

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:

• 1. We must be baptized.

• 2. We must receive the laying on of hands to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

• 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:

• 1. Love God and our neighbors.

• 2. Keep the commandments.

• 3. Repent of our wrongdoings.

• 4. Search out our kindred dead and receive the saving ordinances of the gospel for them.

• 5. Attend our Church meetings as regularly as possible so we can renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.

• 6. Love our family members and strengthen them in the ways of the Lord.

• 7. Have family and individual prayers every day.

• 8. Teach the gospel to others by word and example.

• 9. Study the scriptures.

• 10. Listen to and obey the inspired words of the prophets of the Lord.

Finally, each of us needs to receive the Holy Ghost and learn to follow His direction in our individual lives.

• • How do ordinances and covenants prepare us for exaltation?

• • How does faith in Jesus Christ help us obey the commandments?

• • Why must we learn to follow the direction of the Holy Ghost to become exalted?

After We Have Been Faithful and Endured to the End

• • What happens when we have endured to the end in faithful discipleship to Christ?

The Lord has said, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7). President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “If we will continue in God; that is, keep his commandments, worship him and live his truth; then the time will come when we shall be bathed in the fulness of truth, which shall grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:36).

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).

Our Heavenly Father knows our trials, our weaknesses, and our sins. He has compassion and mercy on us. He wants us to succeed even as He did.

Imagine what joy each of us will have when we return to our Heavenly Father if we can say: “Father, I lived according to Thy will. I have been faithful and have kept Thy commandments. I am happy to be home again.” Then we will hear Him say, “Well done … ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23).

• • Review Matthew 25:23. Think about how you would feel if you heard the Lord say these words to you.

For teachers: When you give class members or family members time to ponder gospel truths, reflect on their lives, or think about their love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, you give them an opportunity to be taught by the Holy Ghost.

Additional Scriptures

• • D&C 132:3–4, 16–26, 37 (pertaining to exaltation)

• • D&C 131:1–4 (eternal marriage is key to exaltation)

• • D&C 76:59–70 (blessings of celestial glory explained)

• • D&C 84:20–21 (the power of godliness is manifest through priesthood ordinances)

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[reaganaut]

You obviously do not know what Mormons believe. We Mormons believe that without the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we are all lost. That is my definition of being saved by grace. Unmerited favor. A free gift.

Apparently I know more about Mormon doctrine than you do.  The LDS teach that they are saved by grace ONLY IN THAT they will be resurrected, THAT is the ‘free gift’.  They have to EARN exaltation and the Celestial Kingdom (returning to the presence of God) by their works and ordinances.  THAT is ‘salvation by works’ not grace.

Romans 11: 6 - And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.   You can’t have it both ways.  Either you have to DO SOMETHING to be saved, or you can do NOTHING to be saved.  Even belief is not a ‘work’ that too is a gift from God.  When the LDS add baptism, church membership, endowments, callings, priesthood etc, then it is by WORKS not Grace. 

No matter how many times you state you believe you are saved (in the Christian sense) by grace alone, it does not agree with what your Church teaches.

 

When I used to be a Baptist, I always had a problem with the “once saved always saved” message - meaning you just repeat a few words and “get saved” or “born again” and then you live like the devil the rest of your life and expect to get to Heaven. Ya think?

 

Well, thank you for showing that you really never ‘got it’ when you were Baptist.  It isn’t about ‘saying a few words’, believe, being Born Again (changed given a new heart) is what saves, not a prayer.  And NO CHRISTIAN would ever (especially a Baptist pastor) teach or believe that you can sin all you want once you are saved.  That is NOT what ‘once saved always saved’ is about.  Your interpretation is a lie that the LDS teach about Christians, not Christian doctrine.  If you were ever a TRUE Christian, you would have know that. “Once saved always saved” means we do not have to work to keep our salvation.  Once we are ‘born again’ we are justified before God, forever.  Our daily sins will not break that bond, if they did then we would still be under the law.

Seems to me that Heavenly Father has been perfectly clear about admonishing us to keep the Commandments.

No, Sandy.  Obedience is an offering of love not duty.  We obey BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY SAVED NOT INORDER TO BE SAVED. Christ only gave 2 (two) commandments –love God and love one another.  There is NOTHING that says we must obey God to get back into His presence with Christ.  That is a gospel of ‘works’ and a false gospel.

 

Anyway, the main issue is that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior who took upon Himself all the sins of the world to save us from our sins and to make it possible for us to return to our Heavenly Father.

Let’s get back to your AoF, shall we?  The third one…

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Right there, Sandy, it states that works are required for salvation, not grace.  Someone MAY be saved by OBEDIENCE.

Now, let’s look at the fourth AoF, shall we?  If this is true, then there is no need for priesthood, endowments, church membership.  IOW, by your own AoF, I am destined for the Celestial Kingdom and Godhood.  Right?  So why should ANYONE, especially a Christian, EVER need to join the LDS?

The Fourth Article of Faith of the LDS Church declares, "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Ok, so I have Faith in Jesus Christ, I have repented, I have been baptized by immersion (not even my little toe stuck out and my hair didn’t float), and I have the gift of the Holy Ghost.  So I am golden right?

 

I don’t know why you guys continue to trash Mormons with all your silly nonsense. Your fruit stinks to High Heaven.

Sandy it is NOT silly nonsense, unless you consider the words of your own prophets and the BIBLE to be ‘silly nonsense’.  And for the LAST FREAKING TIME, “by their fruits ye shall know them” is about FALSE PROPHETS, not behavior of believers.   Mormons take this verse so badly out of context and just don’t get it.

 But I will agree that Smith’s fruit stinks to high heaven (or would that be the highest heaven)? 

 

 

[Elsie]

bttt and waiting...

[Graybeard58]

Re 81:

I’ve never seen salvation by grace explained better or in simpler terms. It’s really not a difficult concept at all. Thank you.

Many people believe falsely, that Baptists beliefs free people to sin all they want, when we are truly born again, that will to sin is taken from us and if we do sin, it too is forgiven. If one continues to willfully sin then that one wasn’t born again anyway.

Anyway, you stated it much better than I do.

My God is real and he has freed me from the consequences of and the desire to sin. That is not to say that I do not sin, just that Jesus paid the price and He alone will be my advocate before God and He alone is the intercessor between God and man.

[Godzilla]

Many people believe falsely, that Baptists beliefs free people to sin all they want, when we are truly born again, that will to sin is taken from us and if we do sin, it too is forgiven.

Or the people who say that are seeking justification for their own works of righteousness, because when faced with true grace, they can see the filthy rags that those works really are.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Just for you...

From the REAL papyrus of Abraham ...Verses 1-5

http://www.bookofabraham.com/boamathie/BOA_6.html

(I/1) [”Osiris, the god’s father], prophet of Amon-Re, King of the Gods, prophet of Min who slaughters his enemies, prophet of Khonsu, the [one who exercises] authority in Thebes,

(I/2) [. . .] . . . Hor, the justified, son of the similarly titled overseer of secrets and purifier of the god, Osorwer, the justified, born by the [housewife and sistrum-player of ]

(I/3) [Amon]-Re, Taikhibit, the justified! May your ba-spirit live among them, and may you be buried on the west [of Thebes].”

(I/4) [”O Anubis(?),51 . . .] justification(?).
(I/5) [May you give to him] a good and splendid burial on the west of Thebes as on the mountains of Ma[nu](?).”
[Osiris shall be towed in]to the great lake of Khonsu,
and likewise [the Osiris Hor, the justified,] born of Taikhibit, the justified,
after his two arms have been [placed] at his heart, while
the Breathing Document, being what
is written on its interior and exterior, shall be wrapped in royal linen and placed (under) his left arm in the midst of his heart. The remainder of his
wrapping shall be made over it. As for the one for whom this book is made,
he thus breathes like the ba-spirit[s] of the gods, forever and ever.

[Godzilla]

Here is the image smith said was the Heavenly Father

From Facsimile #2 in the Book of Abraham, smith explained it as meaning

Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove.

Egyptologists tell us that this is the god “Min.” Min is an “ithyphallic god,” that is, a sexually aroused male deity, as the picture clearly indicates. None other than Dr. Hugh Nibley wrote regarding Min "As the supreme sex symbol of gods and men, Min behaves with shocking promiscuity, which is hardly relieved by its ritual nature...His sacred plants were aphrodisiacal...and he is everywhere represented as indulging in incestuous relationships with those of his immediate family; he had the most numerous and varied religious entourage of all the gods, consisting mostly of his huge harem...The hymns, or rather chanting of his worshippers were accompanied with lewd dancing and carousing...to the exciting stimulus of a band of sistrum-shaking damsels (Abraham in Egypt, p. 210).

Imagine Paragon, smith chose this egyptian god to represent God sitting on his throne.

Well, I guess this can explain smith's obsession with sex and young girls.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Imagine Paragon, smith chose this egyptian god to represent God sitting on his throne.

Well, I guess this can explain smith’s obsession with sex and young girls.****

Forty one years ago I saw a large coffee table book, THE BOOK OF THE DEAD, full of color plates from Egyptian tombs. On one page was a standing wrapped “god” with a rather large phallus sticking out of the wrappings.

Maybe this is what Smith saw in the grove of trees. ;-)

[reaganaut]

Thank you and THIS is worth a repost, you obviously ‘get it’ Graybeard...

that will to sin is taken from us and if we do sin, it too is forgiven. If one continues to willfully sin then that one wasn’t born again anyway.

[reaganaut]

because when faced with true grace, they can see the filthy rags that those works really are.

- - - - - -
Exactly. When we are confronted with the awesome grace of God we see how the idea of ‘doing our part’ or paying back a debt is the ultimate in arrogance and pride.

[reaganaut]

On one page was a standing wrapped “god” with a rather large phallus sticking out of the wrappings.

- - - - - - -
That would be the risen Osiris. Good choice for the grove actually, but definitely NOT the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

[reaganaut]

and waiting...

[ejonesie22]

LOL...

PD do you even know what that riposte means?

Especially when you do what I pointed out for the umptenth millionth time in the post right below the one I am replying too?

I mean come on man, at least make it less obvious...

[Elsie]

It's KOKOPELLI!

[reaganaut]

NOW you’ve done it, the LDS are going to start using that to prove “Moroni” existed. UGH!

[Saundra Duffy]

“Apparently I know more about Mormon doctrine than you do.”

Thank you for saying that. It exposes the great divide and heinous tactics of your side.

My faith, my love for the Savior, my walk with the Lord, my undying gratefulness to my Heavenly Father, and my minute-by-minute relying on the Holy Ghost - these things are my business, not yours. You are not my judge, thank God Almighty.

Again, you do not know what I believe. I believe the LDS Articles of Faith which I will never post on here again because your side uses them for toilet paper.

The game is over. Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.

[Saundra Duffy]

That is what I said! None are worthy. We all fall short of the glory of God. That is what I said; not what you said that you said that I said.

Sheeeesh already. Can’t you anti’s ever give it rest. Is there no peace, no love, no charity, no decency in you?

[greyfoxx39]

I see CB, that your point about trying to put God in a position of indebtedness was avoided. Mormons go so far as to try and substitute man's judgement for God's final judgment in their arrogance.

SECOND ANOINTING or SECOND ENDOWMENT

    This ordinance is so rare that many good Mormons do not even know that it exists. It is done only by invitation from the president of the church, to one married couple at a time. It is performed in the Holy of Holies room of the temple by one of the apostles of the church. Those who receive this ordinance are guaranteed of their salvation and exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom. The man is anointed as "priest and king" (the wife is anointed "priestess and queen") and their "calling and election [to exaltation] is made sure." Part of the ceremony is performed by the couple in private in their own home, following instructions given during the temple ceremony, and includes the ceremonial washing of feet. One implication of the ceremony is that the recipients will have a personal visitation of Christ. In earlier days many devout Mormons received this ordinance, but since the 1920s it is extremely rare, and probably only given to those in high leadership positions in the church.

Link

[greyfoxx39]

Not true. All Christians - including Mormons

Correct Sandy, mormons aren't Christians..it's not true.

[greyfoxx39]

He (Jesus) alone is the intercessor between God and man.

That was what I told a bishop when I informed him that I was no longer a member of the mormon church. The idea that he had no real control over me hadn't entered his mind. Needless to say, it wasn't well received, as these men seem to believe that THEY are the intercessors due to their membership in the mormon club.

It's sad to see so many men have bought into the idea that the mormon "priesthood" actually exists and binds God to doing their will giving them the power to actually direct God to obey THEIR judgment of others.

[Saundra Duffy]

“. . . mormons aren’t Christians..”

When I stand before my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ will be standing by my side. That is when I will be judged; not here and now; and certainly not by you.