a question about Mormonism

[Monica4316]

Hi, I have a question for anyone who knows the Mormon teaching…

why is being married necessary for “eternal progression”??

I dont understand… what if a person really loved God but never married? (such as those in religious orders )

also, do only Mormons get to be in the ‘celestial’ heavenly kingdom?

just wondering…

thanks

 

[Drawmack]

Monica,

Yes, according to Mormon theology, marriage is necessary to reach the higher levels of heaven. Mormon believe in many levels of heaven and you can only get to the highest levels if you are married. However, they also believe that Mormon marriage is eternal, extending into the after-life. They also believe it is possible to get married after you are dead.

Don’t ask me to explain the beliefs, when my brother starts talking about this stuff I listen respectfully and don’t ask too many questions because the answers are usually even stranger than the original statement that prompted the question.

God Bless
Drawmack

 

[ParkerD]

Hi, I have a question for anyone who knows the Mormon teaching…

why is being married necessary for “eternal progression”??

I dont understand… what if a person really loved God but never married? (such as those in religious orders )

also, do only Mormons get to be in the ‘celestial’ heavenly kingdom?

just wondering…

thanks

Monica,
Hello to you and I hope you are well.
The fullest meaning of the words “eternal progression” have to do with being enabled through Christ’s atonement and through the desires of a righteous couple who made covenants and kept them as well as through being “sealed on earth and in heaven”, to have eternal increase in their ultimate resurrected state, after they have also learned many things in the spirit world and in the resurrection. “Eternal increase” means to have spirit children by bringing them forth into a spirit world where they will live and prepare to live on an earth by being nurtured and taught as spirits.

The condition of people in the resurrection ultimately has to do with their desires, their sense of love for Christ and for others, and how they followed the promptings and influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads to all truth, if people seek and follow the promptings, but if they only partially seek to do that then they would stop “progressing” based on their desires and where it placed them. One who desires to serve others but didn’t desire marriage and children, would not be brought into a condition that was contrary to their own expressed and chosen desires, but they will have ample opportunity to serve throughout eternity in a joyful way where they feel happy and fulfilled. It just means they didn’t want a condition of marriage.

The celestial kingdom is comprised of three “levels” according to what was revealed to Joseph Smith, and the highest level has those who are righteously married with a “sealing” through the apostolic keys to bind in heaven. Most of those kinds of “sealings” will be done vicariously for people who died without receiving that sealing in life, but who chose to marry in life and who had righteous marriages or were faithful to their marriage to the best of their ability. That is the reason for LDS temple work. It means their sealing is “bound in heaven” by the authority given by God and recognized by God.

We don’t know much at all about the levels of the celestial kingdom that include those not married, but presumably it will include those who chose not to marry but loved God and served Him with all their heart, might, mind and strength as a single person. Your question about “only Mormons” becomes somewhat of a moot point when considering that as a person finds out that the ordinances that were required for entrance into the celestial kingdom had to be done by authority that really was recognized by God for it to be “bound in heaven” or in other words, “have effect in heaven”, that righteous and loving person will, one assumes, receive the ordinance that is offered to them as they discover that it is truly needed. This all will be worked out in the spirit world after that person has died, particularly during the Millenium when many, many people will be filled with desires to search out their ancestors and do the needful temple ordinances for them.

Another aspect of “progression” through marriage applies to this life as well as the next, and has to do with learning to become “one” in heart which really does become a path of progress and change as couples learn to be fully supportive of each other and learn to have synergy through their differences rather than have marital conflict and discord. They learn to place Christ at the center of their marriage, and find that forgiveness and unselfishness truly do yield the kind of happiness that Christ promised, in that marriage is a perfect circumstance for finding out what one’s weaknesses are so that Christ can heal those weaknesses through repentance and active change.

 

[Jay53]

The fullest meaning of the words “eternal progression” have to do with being enabled through Christ’s atonement and through the desires of a righteous couple who made covenants and kept them as well as through being “sealed on earth and in heaven”, to have eternal increase in their ultimate resurrected state, after they have also learned many things in the spirit world and in the resurrection. “Eternal increase” means to have spirit children by bringing them forth into a spirit world where they will live and prepare to live on an earth by being nurtured and taught as spirits.

Hi Parker!

Who do or who will these children worship once they are living on an earth?

 

[ralphinal]

If you have answered this one already, I am sorry that I am reasking it. Would Jesus have to have been married? If so, to whom was he married?

 

[ParkerD]

Hi Parker!

Who do or who will these children worship once they are living on an earth?

Jay53,
I’ll give you my opinion on this since there is no revealed specific answer about that. Christ is the Savior for more worlds than this world and the Creator of more worlds than this world, so God the Father and the Savior are worshiped by people on other earths besides ours.

I assume that during eons of time in the eternal future, a Celestial couple with spirit children will be involved in a creative process of organizing an earth, and that Heavenly Father and the Savior will be those whom the spirit children of such a Celestial couple worship–obviously having a different set of scriptural teachings about the Savior’s role and how He came to an earth and suffered and died so they could repent and change and progress in their lives on the world where they live as mortals.

 

[ParkerD]

If you have answered this one already, I am sorry that I am reasking it. Would Jesus have to have been married? If so, to whom was he married?

Ralphinal,
Some have taught that it seems plausible to them that Jesus was married, but I agree with “Rebecca J” who suggested that Christ knowing His short life span would not have married. Christ lived in perfection and as God the Son without marriage in the pre-mortal life, so He possessed the qualities within Himself that mortals gain through marriage and becoming “one” in spirit and being supportive, thereby learning unselfishness. So Christ didn’t need marriage, nor does it appear to me that His role in eternity requires it since He has a completely unique role. But perhaps He may have marriage in that eternal world to come, and if so Mary Magdalene whose love was so pure for Him (see John 20) would be the likely one, it would seem.

 

[Jay53]

Jay53,
I’ll give you my opinion on this since there is no revealed specific answer about that. Christ is the Savior for more worlds than this world and the Creator of more worlds than this world, so God the Father and the Savior are worshiped by people on other earths besides ours.

I assume that during eons of time in the eternal future, a Celestial couple with spirit children will be involved in a creative process of organizing an earth, and that Heavenly Father and the Savior will be those whom the spirit children of such a Celestial couple worship–obviously having a different set of scriptural teachings about the Savior’s role and how He came to an earth and suffered and died so they could repent and change and progress in their lives on the world where they live as mortals.

OK. Will this earth that the couple organize be similar to this earth, i.e continents/oceans/weather patterns/seasons? Will there have to be a progression similar to what we have gone through, i.e. reinvent the wheel so to speak, to do these new children start from where we left off in terms of knowledge/advancement of technology etc.? Will there be sin and suffering there as well?

BTW, thanks for answering. I actually find this fascinating!

 

[ParkerD]

OK. Will this earth that the couple organize be similar to this earth, i.e continents/oceans/weather patterns/seasons? Will there have to be a progression similar to what we have gone through, i.e. reinvent the wheel so to speak, to do these new children start from where we left off in terms of knowledge/advancement of technology etc.? Will there be sin and suffering there as well?

BTW, thanks for answering. I actually find this fascinating!

Jay53,
Good questions. This earth “works” because of eternal laws that God knows and that follow order, so it makes sense that other earths will have similar conditions to this earth and will make as much “scientific sense” as this earth.

The LDS belief is that Adam and Eve were taught many things including language, by God teaching them, and afterward there was retrogression by some while there was progress by others in terms of what eventually became “technological advances.” It isn’t clear to what extent “evil spirits” will be involved in other earths, because our particular earth had the most opposite opposites–Christ being totally good and being the Savior sent only to this one earth, and Lucifer having chosen to be totally hateful and totally rebellious and also cast out to this one earth.

There will need to be possibilities for making choices amidst conditions of opposition so that real choices exist and real progress (like a muscle being used to become stronger) can be made by those who go as mortals to those new worlds, but it appears that the conditions may be less dramatically opposite as the conditions on our particular earth. There would be suffering from wrong choices and probably from illnesses, but perhaps no murders because the people will not have the direct influence of such a strongly opposing force for evil as Lucifer is. The Holy Spirit will bless the lives of people in those worlds, but there will also be the possibilities for leaders to choose against the Holy Spirit’s guidance and to choose to try and influence through selfish power grabs just as in our world, because the desire for power is such a temptation to the mortal sense of self versus others.

 

[Xavierlives]

The condition of people in the resurrection ultimately has to do with their desires, their sense of love for Christ and for others, and how they followed the promptings and influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads to all truth, if people seek and follow the promptings, but if they only partially seek to do that then they would stop “progressing” based on their desires and where it placed them. One who desires to serve others but didn’t desire marriage and children, would not be brought into a condition that was contrary to their own expressed and chosen desires, but they will have ample opportunity to serve throughout eternity in a joyful way where they feel happy and fulfilled. It just means they didn’t want a condition of marriage.

What abour those people in say, 600AD, who didn’t have access to a Mormon temple and it is highly unlikely their Mormon relatives will be able to do any proxy work?

The celestial kingdom is comprised of three “levels” according to what was revealed to Joseph Smith, and the highest level has those who are righteously married with a “sealing” through the apostolic keys to bind in heaven. Most of those kinds of “sealings” will be done vicariously for people who died without receiving that sealing in life, but who chose to marry in life and who had righteous marriages or were faithful to their marriage to the best of their ability. That is the reason for LDS temple work. It means their sealing is “bound in heaven” by the authority given by God and recognized by God.

Where is this authority given?

We don’t know much at all about the levels of the celestial kingdom that include those not married, but presumably it will include those who chose not to marry but loved God and served Him with all their heart, might, mind and strength as a single person. Your question about “only Mormons” becomes somewhat of a moot point when considering that as a person finds out that the ordinances that were required for entrance into the celestial kingdom had to be done by authority that really was recognized by God for it to be “bound in heaven” or in other words, “have effect in heaven”, that righteous and loving person will, one assumes, receive the ordinance that is offered to them as they discover that it is truly needed. This all will be worked out in the spirit world after that person has died, particularly during the Millenium when many, many people will be filled with desires to search out their ancestors and do the needful temple ordinances for them.

So I am going to get another chance if I fail to make the correct choice now?

Another aspect of “progression” through marriage applies to this life as well as the next, and has to do with learning to become “one” in heart which really does become a path of progress and change as couples learn to be fully supportive of each other and learn to have synergy through their differences rather than have marital conflict and discord. They learn to place Christ at the center of their marriage, and find that forgiveness and unselfishness truly do yield the kind of happiness that Christ promised, in that marriage is a perfect circumstance for finding out what one’s weaknesses are so that Christ can heal those weaknesses through repentance and active change.

Why does Jesus talk about the non-Mormon marriage and leave the sealed marriage to be revealed 1800 years later?

 

[ParkerD]

What about those people in say, 600AD, who didn’t have access to a Mormon temple and it is highly unlikely their Mormon relatives will be able to do any proxy work?

Where is this authority given?

So I am going to get another chance if I fail to make the correct choice now?

Why does Jesus talk about the non-Mormon marriage and leave the sealed marriage to be revealed 1800 years later?

Xavierlives,
Thanks for asking these questions. People who lived on earth with no record of their existence will have a “record” restored to the earth about their existence so that their name can be “remembered” and their temple work be done. That will happen during the Millenium, at some point. Resurrected persons will visit the earth from time to time during the Millenium, and this would be one of the reasons.

The authority was given to the apostles, and restored to Joseph Smith by Peter, James, John, and Elias and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple in 1836. It is given by the laying on of hands through the keys held by the leading apostle on the earth.

Not if you were rejecting an opportunity that was amply provided to you in this life, wherein you turned away from taking the opportunity, especially given that the Holy Spirit is so abundantly available to those who have the Bible and understand how a prayer of faith for guidance works in their life. It is different for people who had no such opportunity at all, and who lived by the light and truth and understanding they received based on the conditions within the place where they lived. God knows the hearts of people, and their desires which are reflected in their choices throughout their life.

I honestly think the principle of eternal marriage was allowed to “slip away” from the accepted teachings because the principle is so sacred that it should not be “copied” or “tampered with” by other uninspired religious practices. I think that was a blessing to the world given by God in how carefully the principle was both “hidden” and yet taught. Jesus taught about the kind of marriage the Sadducees asked about, because they asked Him a specific question about a particular marriage situation that was an earthly institution. Also, marriages for “time only” on earth still provide an institution that is sacred, special, holy, family-building and allows for the kind of growth through unselfishness and the “discovery” of hidden weaknesses within a person such that they can “repent” of those weaknesses and change for the better and seek a oneness with their chosen spouse.

 

[Techno2000]

Xavierlives,
Thanks for asking these questions. People who lived on earth with no record of their existence will have a “record” restored to the earth about their existence so that their name can be “remembered” and their temple work be done. That will happen during the Millenium, at some point. Resurrected persons will visit the earth from time to time during the Millenium, and this would be one of the reasons.

The authority was given to the apostles, and restored to Joseph Smith by Peter, James, John, and Elias and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple in 1836. It is given by the laying on of hands through the keys held by the leading apostle on the earth.

Not if you were rejecting an opportunity that was amply provided to you in this life, wherein you turned away from taking the opportunity, especially given that the Holy Spirit is so abundantly available to those who have the Bible and understand how a prayer of faith for guidance works in their life. It is different for people who had no such opportunity at all, and who lived by the light and truth and understanding they received based on the conditions within the place where they lived. God knows the hearts of people, and their desires which are reflected in their choices throughout their life.

I honestly think the principle of eternal marriage was allowed to “slip away” from the accepted teachings because the principle is so sacred that it should not be “copied” or “tampered with” by other uninspired religious practices. I think that was a blessing to the world given by God in how carefully the principle was both “hidden” and yet taught. Jesus taught about the kind of marriage the Sadducees asked about, because they asked Him a specific question about a particular marriage situation that was an earthly institution. Also, marriages for “time only” on earth still provide an institution that is sacred, special, holy, family-building and allows for the kind of growth through unselfishness and the “discovery” of hidden weaknesses within a person such that they can “repent” of those weaknesses and change for the better and seek a oneness with their chosen spouse.

Parker, you are a Master at sugar coating this New Age gobbledygook.

 

[zerinus]

Hi, I have a question for anyone who knows the Mormon teaching…

why is being married necessary for “eternal progression”??

I dont understand… what if a person really loved God but never married? (such as those in religious orders )

I personally don’t like to use the term “eternal progression”. It is not a scriptural term, and it can complicate the theology of salvation in Mormonism. I would rather just call it exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God. So your question is: Why marriage is necessary for exaltation in the celestial kingdom? The requirement for exaltation in the celestial kingdom are described in section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants as follows:

D&C 76:

50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.

One of the requirements of obtaining this exaltation is that they should comply with all the commandments of God, which includes all the ordinances (sacraments) of the gospel. In the LDS Church, those sacraments are more numerous than in the Catholic Church. They include ordination to the priesthood for example, which is not required in Catholic theology. In Mormonism, marriage for eternity (not just ordinary marriage) is one of those essential sacraments required for exaltation. Just as baptism is necessary, and confirmation is necessary, and priesthood ordination is necessary, so is marriage for eternity. God has decreed it that way, as Paul said: “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11). In Mormonism marriage for eternity is a proper sacrament that can only be performed by the authority of the priesthood. In fact, it is so sacred that it can only be performed in our temples. It is not the same thing as ordinary civil marriage. Also, in Mormonism there are three levels or degrees in the celestial kingdom. Marriage for eternity is required for entrance in the highest level or degree.

also, do only Mormons get to be in the ‘celestial’ heavenly kingdom?

just wondering…

thanks

Non-Mormons can obtain exaltation provided they fulfill the conditions spelled out in these verses:

D&C 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.

 

[Techno2000]

I personally don’t like to use the term “eternal progression”. It is not a scriptural term, and it can complicate the theology of salvation in Mormonism. I would rather just call it exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God. So your question is: Why marriage is necessary for exaltation in the celestial kingdom? The requirement for exaltation in the celestial kingdom are described in section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants as follows:

D&C 76:

50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.

One of the requirements of obtaining this exaltation is that they should comply with all the commandments of God, which includes all the ordinances (sacraments) of the gospel. In the LDS Church, those sacraments are more numerous than in the Catholic Church. They include ordination to the priesthood for example, which is not required in Catholic theology. In Mormonism, marriage for eternity (not just ordinary marriage) is one of those essential sacraments required for exaltation. Just as baptism is necessary, and confirmation is necessary, and priesthood ordination is necessary, so is marriage for eternity. God has decreed it that way, as Paul said: “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11). In Mormonism marriage for eternity is a proper sacrament that can only be performed by the authority of the priesthood. In fact, it is so sacred that it can only be performed in our temples. It is not the same thing as ordinary civil marriage. Also, in Mormonism there are three levels or degrees in the celestial kingdom. Marriage for eternity is required for entrance in the highest level or degree.

Non-Mormons can obtain exaltation provided they fulfill the conditions spelled out in these verses:

D&C 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.

zerinus every time you post with that long space banner on it makes my page twice as wide, I have to scroll back and forth just to read a page is your banner set right ?

 

[zerinus]

zerinus every time you post with that long space banner on it makes my page twice as wide, I have to scroll back and forth just to read a page is your banner set right ?

That is caused by giving your monitor the incorrect screen resolution. If you right-click on the desktop, a menu comes up that allows you give your monitor the correct resolution.

 

[zerinus]

If you have answered this one already, I am sorry that I am reasking it. Would Jesus have to have been married? If so, to whom was he married?

No He wouldn’t need to have been married. According to our scriptures Jesus had been divine in the preexistence, as a spirit, before He was born in mortality (see John 17:5; Ether 3:13–18). You will ask, Why is Jesus is an exception? The answer is that God makes the rules, so He can make exceptions to His rules if He wants to. Whether Jesus will be married at some future time it has not been revealed.

 

[mangy_dog]

Hi, I have a question for anyone who knows the Mormon teaching…

why is being married necessary for “eternal progression”??

I dont understand… what if a person really loved God but never married? (such as those in religious orders )

also, do only Mormons get to be in the ‘celestial’ heavenly kingdom?

just wondering…

thanks

Mormons ???

Aren’t they those people stuck in that LDS trip?

Just say no!

 

[Monica4316]

Mormons ???

Aren’t they those people stuck in that LDS trip?

Just say no!

I’m not looking to convert to Mormonism, I’m perfectly happy being Catholic lol!

 

[Monica4316]

Thanks everyone, especially Parker and Zerinus, that helps

God bless

 

[mangy_dog]

I’m not looking to convert to Mormonism, I’m perfectly happy being Catholic lol!

Very cool.