Category: Afterlife
-
Eternal Life (Defined)
Eternal Life. Gaining exaltation in the highest level of the celestial kingdome and living forever in the family unit. Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explained, “Only those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life … Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation; they are sons of God, joint heirs with Christ, members…
-
Eternal Increase (Defined)
Eternal Increase. The ability to procreate throughout eternity. This is reserved for Mormon couples who have complied with all the requirements for exaltation. This will give them access to unlimited spirit children. According to Joseph Smith, “Those who are married by the power and authority of the priesthood in this life, and continue without committing the…
-
Celestial Marriage (Defined)
Celestial Marriage. Traditionally meant polygamy. Second President Brigham Young stated, “Our sisters need not be worried about any doctrine. Brother Penrose said it would be better for them if they believed in the doctrine of polygamy. But they do believe it; they know it is true, and that is their torment. It perplexes and annoys…
-
Celestial Kingdom (Defined)
Celestial kingdom. The highest kingdom of glory in the LDS concept of heaven, available only to Mormons who exhibited complete obedience to LDS laws and ordinances during their entire lifetimes. This is the only kingdom of glory where one may enjoy the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Within the Celestial kingdom there are…
-
Mormons Yawn at Christian Heaven
Mormons look forward to an eternity–a Heaven–characterized as a sort of divine extension of their lives on earth. Calling mortal marriage “a laboratory for godhood,” the LDS Achieving a Celestial Marriage Student Manual states, “In the relationship of husband and wife and parent and child we begin to approach the divine calling of godhood. Our…
-
Will Exalted Mormons Govern Their Own Spirit Children and Worlds?
Mormon blogger Joanna Brooks complains that the idea that righteous Mormons will one day get their own planets is “folklore.””Sure, it’s a distorting and sensationalistic caricature of Mormon beliefs to say that all of us believe we’re going to get our own planets. You could sit in your local Mormon Church for a month of…
-
Does Lack of Conscious Focus on Exaltation Excuse the Mormon Expectation of Being Worshiped?
When the Mormon concept of eternal progression unto Godhood is exposed (i.e. brought out of relative obscurity to explicit consideration), one common response from Mormons is that it shouldn’t be made such a big deal because common Mormons don’t think about it very often. There are some big problems with this: 1. The issue matters…
-
Feeling Lucky? The Probability of Exaltation
I just read Odds Are, You’re Going to be Exalted by LDS author Alonzo L. Gaskill (2008, Deseret Book). In this slim volume Mr. Gaskill seeks to reassure Latter-day Saints that even though they are not actually doing “all [they] can do” (2 Nephi 25:23), they can still expect to be exalted in the celestial…
-
"As God" or "Like God"?
By Bill McKeever The ability to attain godhood in the next life is one of the more unique (and blasphemous) teachings associated with Joseph Smith and the LDS Church he founded. Brigham Young mixed no words when he said,
-
Exaltation Speculation
On November 9th (2007) an article by Mathew N. Schmalz appeared in Commonweal Magazine. The article, titled “Meet the Mormons: From Margin to Mainstream,” discussed some interesting aspects of Mormonism, from Kolob to BYU. But one comment really caught my attention: “Smith’s vision of the afterlife was also distinctive. It foresaw a place divided into…
-
Who Are the Sons of Perdition?
By Lane Thuet
-
Eternal Increase: The LDS Doctrine of Celestial Procreation
By Bill McKeever Closely associated with the LDS doctrine of temple marriage is the doctrine of eternal increase. LDS leaders have defined this teaching as the ability for Mormon couples who have achieved celestial exaltation to procreate throughout eternity.
-
Celestial Marriage and Eternal Exaltation
By Lane Thuet
-
Heaven and Hell
By Bill McKeever & Eric Johnson Christianity has historically taught that there is only one of two possible destinations awaiting mankind after death: heaven or hell. To those who have been justified by faith and received the righteousness of Christ applied to their account, there awaits a glorious eternity in heaven. To the rest who…
-
Second Chance Theory and Progression Between Kingdoms
LDS leaders emphasize that life serves as a trial for eternal progression, with no chance for repentance after death. Faithful living now determines one’s eternal glory and advancement among heavenly kingdoms is impossible.
-
Godhood and Theosis
That mere mortal men have the capacity to eventually become Gods is a doctrine that has been defended by LDS leaders since the early years of the Mormon Church. At the root of this concept is the idea that mankind is the literal offspring of God. Speaking in the Tabernacle on August 8, 1852, Brigham…