1 Mormonism Salvation – Becoming a Celestial God Introduction The Mormon view of mankind and his...

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MormonismSalvation – Becoming a Celestial God

IntroductionThe Mormon view of mankind and his salvation is actually a doctrine of eternal progression toward Godhood. Most Mormons hold the following basic beliefs regarding what could only loosely be called salvation:

• God's purpose for having “spirit children” is for them to obtain a physical body and then progress to godhood

• There are various estates through which one must pass in order to become a god.

• There are different levels in Heaven, the highest of which results in godhood.

• In order to reach the highest reward after death (Celestial Kingdom), one must be a Mormon

• In order to become a god, one must be married with children and have their marriage “sealed” in a Mormon temple.

• Terrestrial level of salvation can be gained by proxy “baptism for the dead”

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Lesson Outline

• Man born into the spirit world before creation

• Eternal Progression

• The Kingdoms of Heaven

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Man born into the spirit world before creation

Position documented

“Things were first created spiritually; the Father actually begat the spirits, and they were brought forth and lived with Him. Then He commenced the work of creating earthly tabernacles, precisely as He had been created in this flesh himself, by partaking of the course material that was organized and composed this earth, until His system was charged with it, consequently the tabernacles of His children were organized from the coarse materials of this earth.” Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, volume 4, p.217

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Eternal Progression

Position documented

“And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, ...Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; ...and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, ...and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them...For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me. (D&C 132:19-22)

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“The Father has promised us that through our faithfulness we shall be blessed with the fullness of his kingdom. In other words we will have the privilege of becoming like him. To become like him we must have all the powers of godhood; thus a man and his wife when glorified will have spirit children who eventually will go on an earth like this one we are on and pass through the same kind of experiences, being subject to mortal conditions, and if faithful, then they also will receive the fullness of exaltation and partake of the same blessings. There is no end to this development; it will go on forever. We will become gods and have jurisdiction over worlds, and these worlds will be peopled by our own offspring. We will have an endless eternity for this.” -- Joseph Fielding Smith (President/Prophet), Doctrines of Salvation, volume 2, p.48

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Proof text

• Matthew 5:48 Mormons try to stretch the “be perfect as your Father in heaven is

perfect.” to mean that we are to become like God in every way, including glory and exaltation. The Greek word “teleioi” translated here as “perfect” carries the meaning of mature and complete, but certainly not exalted or glorified.

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Three Distinct Levels of Heaven

Position documented

“The Lord will judge each individual case and will assign transgressors to that degree to which each is entitled according to his works. If a man only merits a place in the telestial, that will be his reward; if it should be the terrestrial, then he shall be admitted to that kingdom. In order to enter the celestial a man must be true and faithful to the end, observing all things which the Lord has commanded, otherwise he shall be assigned to some other kingdom, or to outer darkness if his sins so merit. Joseph Fielding Smith (President/Prophet), Doctrines of Salvation, volume 3, p.310

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The Three Kingdoms of Heaven

According to Mormon doctrine, at the end of this world everyone will be resurrected. At that time all but Satan and the very most wicked will go to heaven, which is divided up into three main levels.

Telestial Kingdom

• Sometimes referred as the “glory of the stars.” Reserved for non-Christians, divisive Christians and the wicked excluding murderers. (D&C 76:81-86). Although those above include Muslims, Hindus, “they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves a lie (D&C 76:103), yet “they shall be heirs of salvation.” (D&C 76:88) Notice verse 89, which states, “we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding.” This is quite a contrast to Revelation 21:8

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The Three Kingdoms of Heaven - continuedTerrestrial Kingdom• Good people of all non-Mormon beliefs and “lukewarm” Mormons, will go to the

middle level, the Terrestrial Kingdom (D&C 76:71-79). Celestial Kingdom• Only faithful Mormons will go to the highest level, the Celestial Kingdom (D&C

76:50-70). Even among this most favored people, only those who have obeyed Celestial Law (have their marriage and children sealed in a temple ceremony, keep the “Word of Wisdom”, etc,...) will be granted entrance into the highest part of the Celestial Kingdom. These will have Eternal Life (the ability to live in a marriage relationship and continue to beget children and progress toward godhood (D&C 132:20-24). All others have immortality (the ability to live forever in a single condition, not married and no future children and no chance to progress toward godhood) but do not have Eternal Life.

Outer Darkness• Reserved for Satan, his angels, murderers and sons of perdition (apostate

Mormons).

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Three Kingdoms of Heaven

Proof texts

• I Corinthians 15:40–42Far from being a discussion about kingdoms of Heaven, Paul is

addressing the subject of bodies in answer to the question in verse 35

• II Corinthians 12:2-4The “Celestial” kingdom is not even mentioned. If Paul were familiar

with this idea as asserted in I Cor. 15:40-42, why did he not use this language here? He was simply making it clear that this one was not caught up to the sky or even the stars, but to Heaven itself.

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