What about non-LDS children? Who does their temple-work? And who does the temple work for all the aborted children?
This seems inconsistent with what other LDS sources tell be about exaltation and the necessity of temple work. Are you saying that a Buddhist who lives a life that responds to the graces that he was given by God can become an exalted being just like an LDS member who has undergone the LDS temple endowments? Again, I’m not talking about just getting in the door to heaven here, I’m talking about a non-LDS member obtaining what I understood LDS members believed was the highest possible heavenly reward - exaltation. Are you saying that LDS doctrine teaches that this is possible for non-LDS members? If so, I’d like to see a citation to some LDS authority that states this. Because I have always been told that the exaltation of a person depends upon the extent to which they accept LDS endowments.
Then why are the endowment ceremonies still concealed from the general public?
Peace,
Robert
Robert,
I personally make the assumption that if a baby did not gain the breath of life, they have a chance to come to earth in another body, with another family.
During the Millenium, there will be a great deal of temple sealings going on that will have partly to do with children from all over the world, as the descendants of their relatives become interested in them and provide the family history research necessary for a family to be sealed together, including the babies or young children who died. No child will be “left out”. It will be a perfect work though certainly tedious and pretty mind-boggling–but actually quite fascinating as one does family history research.
The above paragraph also relates to your question about “Buddhists”, as also what I had previously noted as to “what did they do with what they knew?” God knows the hearts of all humankind, of course, and knows their desires, so the spirit world will be a place of learning about Christ for many millions of people who lived by the best light and knowledge they had in their circumstances in life. So given that situation, and with the understanding expressed by Peter about Christ teaching in spirit prison and as Christ taught using Isaiah 61:1-2, yes, they can be exalted through choosing Christ’s fullness and grace in the spirit world, if they lived on earth by the best light and knowledge they had and didn’t turn away from opportunities to be enlightened by the light of Christ or by the Holy Ghost (even if they knew it not at the time).
I’ll give a reference at the end. As far as temple ordinances and ceremonies being kept as “things not lawful to be uttered”, it has to do with the symbolism of being able to be trusted by God with knowledge that is sacred. For a person to think they could ever be “exalted” meaning be given the amazing ultimate grace of being allowed to be omniscient, would certainly mean that such a person would be able to understand that they would have tremendous knowledge that would need to be guarded and protected and kept safe. So this life becomes symbolic of what would eventually be at some point in eternity, and the temple becomes symbolic of showing a willingness to guard, protect, and safe-keep knowledge in eternity.
Here is a D & C scripture and a link and quote about your question about a Buddhist who lived by the best light and knowledge they had:
137:7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;
8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;
9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.
10 And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.
lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=4119cb7a29c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=88021b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
"So far as mortality is concerned, millions of the inhabitants of the earth live according to the best light they have—according to the best knowledge they possess. I have told you frequently that they will receive according to their works; and all, who live according to the best principles in their possession, or that they can understand, will receive peace, glory, comfort, joy and a crown that will be far beyond what they are anticipating. They will not be lost (DBY, 384).
If [people] have a law, no matter who made it, and do the best they know how, they will have a glory which is beyond your imagination, by any description I might give; you cannot conceive of the least portion of the glory of God prepared for his beings, the workmanship of his hands (DBY, 385)."
lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=81969c84f5d6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
Please keep in mind that what matters in becoming “like Christ” is learning to love what He loves, and to accept His nurturing and guiding influence, whether through symbolism or through direct teachings and other means whereby He teaches and the Holy Spirit teaches.
