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Concerning our salvation the prophet Joseph Smith taught: “If men would acquire salvation, they have got to be subject, before they leave this world, to certain rules and principles, which were fixed by an unalterable decree before the world was.” In the next sentence he went on to say, without explanation: “The disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection would be indescribably dreadful.” (History of the Church, 6:50-51). This sobering pronounced by the prophet should weigh heavily on our minds. One of the most oft-repeated statements in the scriptures is to repent. Certainly repentance is one of the principles the Prophet was referring too. The purpose of this post is to further our understanding of the second principle of the gospel; repentance.
A Question for the Saints
For Latter-day-Saints, heaven consists of three degrees of glory: the telestial, the terrestrial, and the celestial. To inherit any one of these glories is to receive a place in one of the Lord’s kingdoms. However, the rewards obtained in each degree of glory differ significantly. In the language of the scriptures, the glory of the celestial is compared to the sun, the terrestrial to the moon, and the telestial to the stars. When resurrected all of God’s children, with the exception of the sons of perdition, will enter into one of the three degrees of glory. Only members of Christ true church will be eligible to enter into the celestial glory. Yet, in D&C 76:71-80 we learn that members of Christ true church will also be found in the terrestrial kingdom.[1] Why will some members of the church be found in the terrestrial kingdom while others will receive an inheritance in the celestial kingdom? The answer provides an opportunity for some interesting doctrinal discovery.
A Parable for the Saints
Consider the parable of the ten virgins. All ten are waiting for the coming of the Lord (the bridegroom) with the expectation of meeting Him. All ten virgins are outwardly worthy, active church members. However, the scriptures identify five as being wise and five as being foolish. Each virgin has a lamp, but only five have oil for their lamps–these five are the wise virgins. The other five, who lack oil for their lamps, are the foolish virgins. When the bridegroom comes at an unexpected hour, all ten are slumbering or sleeping. As all arise and trim their lamps the foolish virgins find that their lamps have gone out. They attempt to borrow oil from the wise virgins but are appropriately turned down. “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10). Later, the foolish virgins seek to enter saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us” (vs. 11). But the Lord refuses, saying, “I know you not”. The anticipated, expected, and hoped for blessing of receiving an inheritance in the celestial kingdom is denied.
The cry, “Lord, Lord”, is repeated in other scriptural accounts by church members who plead to obtain that which the Lord, in his justice, is required to deny them. When the time of preparation is past, no amount of pleading will change the circumstances. Those who procrastinate the day of repentance until it is everlastingly too late, will join the chorus of those who howl, weep, wail and gnash their teeth (see Mosiah 16:2). As Joseph Smith said: The disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection would be indescribably dreadful. Even those who hold important positions in the Lord’s church–bishops, stake presidents, relief society presidents, patriarchs, and even general authorities could find themselves without oil for their lamps at the critical time. “Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Inspired Version, Matthew 7:22-23). [2] The disappointment of receiving a terrestrial glory when a celestial inheritance was expected will be indescribably dreadful.
To those who seek the Lord, the idea that they could be shut out from His presence and hear Him say, “Ye never knew me” is beyond their comprehension. President Spencer W. Kimball said, “The Lord has given us this parable [the parable of the ten virgins] as a special warning” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 254).
What did the foolish virgins (members of the church) lack? The Lord revealed the key to understanding the parable of the ten virgins to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived–verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.” (D&C 45:56-57.) The Lord describes those whom he considers wise in verse 57. The wise have, “received the truth”, have “taken the Holy Spirit for their guide,” and “have not been deceived.” Conversely, we might define the foolish as those who have received not the truth, have not taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have been deceived. The Lord will likewise judge the Latter-day Saints, and even though they live in the same neighborhood, attend the same ward, read from the same scriptures, attend the same Sunday School class, and so forth, some will be judged wise and some will be judged foolish. Why? Because “the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
In the Church but Not of It
Elder James E. Talmage explains that the lamp each virgin possessed represents “the outward profession of Christian belief and practice” (Jesus the Christ, p. 579). In other words, the virgins are all active church members. The presence or absence of oil, which other men cannot discern, represents the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Although all ten virgins are outwardly active in the church, only five have truly embraced the gospel. President Ezra Taft Benson described the idea of being in the Church but not partaking of the fruits thereof this way: In the usual sense of the term, Church membership means that a person has his or her name officially recorded on the membership records of the Church. By that definition, we have more than six million members of the Church. [He said this in 1989].
But the Lord defines a member of His kingdom in quite a different way. In 1828, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, He said, “Behold, this is my doctrine–whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.” (D&C 10:67; italics added.) To Him whose Church this is, membership involves far more than simply being a member of record. [Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, October 1989, p. 2.]
Paul described this foolish group of Saints as, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). These are church members who never fully repented and come unto the Lord (in His way), or, were unable to endure in righteousness. Jesus used the parable of the ten virgins, the sower, the pharisee and publican, and the gospel net to illustrate that not all who say, “Lord, Lord” will be received into the celestial kingdom. All of these parables share a common theme: a separation will occur within the church among those who profess to be followers of Christ. The wise will be separated from the foolish, the wheat from the tares, the righteous from the wicked. Church membership, callings, activity, and bearing testimony, are alone not enough for eternal salvation in the Celestial kingdom. The Lord said “Whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church” (D&C 10:67). Church members who attain a form of godliness, but not the power must inherit another kingdom than the celestial.
Repentance: the World’s Way
We live in a day when self-help books are very popular. In fact bookstores and libraries overflow with books designed to help us improve ourselves. They offer many useful techniques and tips to help us gain control of various aspects of our lives, be it weight, self-esteem, vocabulary, appearance, or finances. One book even promised to change every aspect: “How to take immediate control of your mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny!” In a sense, these books are books about repentance–repentance in the world’s way. It is true that by applying willpower and self-discipline we can reform our behavior, which can open the door to a new life. But the Lord’s way to change behavior is through sincere repentance.
Some members of the Church confuse the world’s method of reforming behavior for repentance. Although repentance and reformation are related, reformation can be accomplished without faith in Christ. President Ezra Taft Benson explained the difference when he said:
Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great willpower and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which sincere and meaningful repentance must be built. If we truly seek to put away sin, we must first look to Him who is the Author of our salvation. [Ensign, October 1989, p. 2.]
Repentance: the Lord’s Way
Alma pleaded with his son to repent and forsake his sins when he said, “Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things” (Alma 39:9).
Alma’s counsel to “cross yourself” meant to reform himself through self-mastery, and stop doing what was contrary to the will of the Lord. This is a required step to obtain repentance. As we exercise our will to stop sinning and call on the Lord for help, we can have faith in Christ’s ability to help us change. He is our advocate “who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted”. (D&C 62:1). What a joyful thought to know that the Savior understands our weaknesses and will help us overcome our temptations!
It is not uncommon for people trying to reform their lives to be drawn back into the habits they are trying to conquer. A person once involved in immorality, drug abuse, or pornography, for example, will find the gravity of habit pulling him or her back to that same lifestyle. The Lord knows how to succor those who are so tempted.
Succor is a tender word; it means to give help in time of need. Those who have received the Lord’s help in such times of need understand His love in a special way. If we are sincere in our desires to renounce sin, our advocate, friend, and brother–the Savior of the world, even our personal Savior–has promised us He will succor us and forgive us of our trespasses as many times as it takes for us to break away from our sins, provided we are sincere. (See Mosiah 26:29-30.)
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of repentance. The Nephite prophet Aaron taught that since man had fallen he could not repent in and of himself. (Alma 22:14) Men and women must relay on the mercy and merits and grace of Jesus Christ in order to repent. (2 Nephi 2:8)
Godly Sorrow: prerequisite for true repentance
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians distinguishes between “the sorrow of the world” and “Godly sorrow:” “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). The “sorrow of the world” Paul is referring to is unacceptable to God because it does not lead to salvation. According to President Ezra Taft Benson: “It is not uncommon to find men and women in the world who feel remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is caused because they are caught and punished for their actions.” (Ensign, October 1989, p. 2.)
When we commit sin we not only break God’s law, but often man’s law as well. When we are brought to accountability before man’s law, the resulting loss of status, opportunity, wealth, and even freedom can be a crushing experience. The remorse that can follow is heartfelt and genuine, and many people of the world through self-mastery and determination make great improvements. However, this reformation, though praiseworthy, does not constitute “Godly sorrow”, the prerequisite for true repentance.
President Benson describes Godly sorrow as: “a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore.” (Ensign, October 1989, p. 2.) Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit from God to the true followers of Christ. Those who receive this gift suffer “very real mental and spiritual anguish”. It is what the scriptures refer to as having a “broken heart and a contrite Spirit” (See 2 Nephi 2:7). Such a Spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance. One difference between the wise and foolish followers of Christ is whether they repent the world’s way or the Lord’s way. President Benson explained that “we must take our sins to the Lord in humble and sorrowful repentance. We must plead with Him for power to overcome them. The promises are sure. He will come to our aid. We will find the power to change our lives.” (Ensign, October 1989, p. 2.)
Summary
Reformation or self-improvement is a manifestation of our works; the gift of repentance is a manifestation of the Savior’s grace. Reformation changes our outward actions; the gift of repentance changes our heart. A reformed thief may be nothing more than a thief who is not currently stealing; a repentant thief abhors stealing. President Benson said, “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.” (Ensign, October 1985, p. 6.)
By taking our sins to the Lord and pleading with Him for help, we’ll find power to change our lives. At the appropriate time, the Lord will grant us the gift of a broken heart and contrite spirit, which is the Godly sorrow we need to complete our repentance. (2 Nephi 2:7).
The difference between church members who receives an inheritance in the celestial kingdom and those who receive a terrestrial glory may hinge on their understanding and properly applying the principle of repentance, not just the principle of reformation. True followers of Christ understand that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which sincere and meaningful repentance must be built. Members not valiant in Christ never find the power to reach beyond the principle of reformation.
I’ll close with Moroni’s farewell words to the Gentiles: And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen. (Ether 12:41).
[1] For more information see, A New Witness For The Articles Of Faith, P.146.[2] Some who read this will be shocked to think that this scripture could apply to the Latter-day Saints or their leaders. For more information on this idea see: Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Vol. 2, P. 171-173; JD 20:22, 120-121, 161-163; 25:305-307.
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“Even those who hold important position’s in the Lord’s church” should be
“Even those who hold important positions in the Lord’s church”. No appostrophe needed.
Kramer–
Thanks for your help.
And yet, we cannot achieve the celestial level without first achieving the terrestrial. In a talk given at BYU-Idaho a few years ago, Sister Lili Anderson made the following observations: 1. We cannot jump straight from telestial to celestial, as the terrestrial level is the foundation upon which the celestial builds; and 2. The telestial always is a counterfeit of the celestial, so the terrestrial is a “safety net”, and we are better off aiming for the terrestrial than the celestial. It is true that we are better off aiming for the celestial level once we have attained the terrestrial, but the terrestrial (where much of the better self-help literature focuses) must come first.
I do not understand Joseph’s statement:
to mean the same thing as
In other words, he is not saying that there will be indescribably, dreadful disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection. He is only saying that there would be such dread if those who were willing to be saved were resurrected without first becoming subject to certain rules and principles.
The real truth is that everyone resurrected will be glad to have it come to pass. No one will be disappointed, in the least, because no one who is willing to be saved will be resurrected before they become subject to certain rules and principles.
Here are his words again, paraphrased and switched in order so that his meaning can be read more clearly:
I guess I’ll explain this further…
We only leave this world upon our resurrection. We leave this life upon physical death, but we do not leave this world, but instead go to what we call the spirit world, which is the spirit of this planet, which is attached to its physical body, just as our spirits are attached to our physical bodies. So, then, we say that the spirit world is here.
Everyone who leaves this life, goes to one of two places in spirit world: hell or paradise. The only people who go to paradise are those who have no chain of hell attached to them, meaning, all little children and all saints, who have repented of their sins with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. These people all inherit a celestial glory and await the resurrection in paradise.
Everyone else, regardless of what church they pertain to (including ours), goes to hell when they leave this life. Only people whose hearts are broken and who have repented in the depths of sorrow bypass hell and go to paradise.
Once they find themselves in hell, these people lose all hope of escape and go through the wailing, gnashing of teeth, etc. When spirit missionaries get to them, and preach them the gospel, they obtain hope again and desire to be saved by obedience to the principles that the missionaries teach them. After their hearts are broken and their repentance complete, and forgiveness received, these people can leave hell, for their chain of hell has been shaken off of them, and they can go to paradise to await the resurrection. This means that paradise also contains spirits who will inherit the terrestrial glory, but these spirits only enter after they have been preached to by the missionaries.
The telestial spirits resist being “subject to certain rules and principles” taught to them by the missionaries and only finally repent until after the thousand years are up, to come forth in the second resurrection.
For all of these spirits, celestial, terrestrial and telestial, the resurrection is sweet and represents a hope of receiving salvation. The terrestrial and telestial spirits, having spent time in hell and gone through the hopelessness of that place, are not expecting a celestial glory. They just want out. They don’t care what they get, so their respective rewards will be sweet.
For LDS church members who do not go through this sorrowing, repentance process before they die, and who die thinking they will go to the celestial kingdom because they have the outward ordinances of the gospel (without having their hearts circumcised), this hope of the celestial kingdom dies when they enter hell, along with faith, etc. But if they go through the repentance process in hell, they can receive a terrestrial or telestial reward, of which they will be all too eager and grateful to get, never mind that once they were thinking of the celestial kingdom.
Now, the sons of perdition are a different class of people altogether, for they are not willing to be saved, therefore, they refuse to subject themselves to the rules and principles spoken of by Joseph. They will be resurrected in their sins and received the resurrection of eternal damnation.
So, my understanding is that your statement: “The disappointment of receiving a terrestrial glory when a celestial inheritance was expected will be indescribably dreadful” is not correct. None of the saved souls will be disappointed in what they receive. Eternity in heaven, regardless of glory obtained, will be an entirely blissful experience, not an eternity of regret.
Goosie,
My understanding is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the celestial law, so, if you are currently living a telestial law and you hear the gospel preached and you accept it and start living it, you are living a celestial law. That’s telestial straight to celestial. There are no stepping stones to the celestial. It just requires repentance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. If you have that, you are under the celestial law. If you don’t have that, nothing else matters, “for none are acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart” (said Mormon.) All celestial, terrestrial and telestial spirits must go through the same heart process. The only difference between the three types of spirits is that one does not procrastinate the day of his repentance (the celestial spirit), while another procrastinates that day (the terrestrial spirit), and the third procrastinates it even longer (the telestial.) [The sons of perdition don't procrastinate the day of their repentance. They simply refuse to ever repent.]
James, see this, as well as the comments that follow.
LDS Anarchist said: “Eternity in heaven, regardless of glory obtained, will be an entirely blissful experience, not an eternity of regret.”
I agree with your statement above. Certainly, the three degrees of glory are just that. I’ve never thought of them as being one kingdom of glory (celestial), and two kingdoms of regret (terrestrial and telestial).
Do I think there will be regret at the time of the resurrection? I do.
The parable the Savior gave us of the 10 virgins collaborates what the prophet said. The prophet Joseph Smith also said, “In the resurrection some are raised to be angels other are raised to become gods.” TPJS, p. 312.
It seems to me if I were hoping and expecting to be raised as a god and wasn’t that would be ” indescribably dreadful”.
When all is said and done, those who were initially disappointed will know, understand, and agree wholeheartedly that their judgment was true and fair. They will know that they have been given a kingdom that will bring them the greatest joy possible. There will be no doubt or equivocation, thus no regret.
James Muir wrote “I want to know if you are a true saint or not. I am testing you. Can you prove your discipleship?”
I don’t really understand what you’re getting at.
James,
If you steal some cookies and then repent of it, then later steal some more cookies later on, did you repent of stealing cookies the first time?
The sons of perdition are the only ones who refuse to repent. They are the only ones who return to their sins like the dog to vomit. Everyone else eventually turns from their sins and forsakes them, or in other words, they eventually repent. This is why the Lord stated that this is how we know a man repents, he will confess his sins and forsake them (D&C 58: 43.) This is also why the former sins return (D&C 82: 7.) Unless you forsake (abandon) the sins, you haven’t repented of them.
But I do appreciate and thank you for calling me out on this. And if you find anything else you feel is wrong in my writings, please bring it to my attention.
James:
What happens to a good Gentile person who chooses to reject the gospel and Christ in this life and in the spirit world? Though he/she never obtained the unction from on High, they likewise never received the gospel and repented of their sins. So does this person have inheritance in the kingdom of God or not?
In the spirit world, Christ is revealed to every person. Nobody is condemned for choices they make in ignorance. But the beauty of LDS theology is that everyone gets to make a fully informed choice to accept or reject Christ, repent of their sins, and be saved.
Further, we can not atone for our own sins. We may suffer for them it is true, but that suffering is unto repentance — it does not atone or remit a single sin. Only Christ’s atonement can satisfy the demands of justice.
Given that — would you place the person described above [an otherwise good Gentile person who never repents and accepts the gospel] inside the kingdom of God upon the resurrection [salvation, in one of its three degrees] or outside of the kingdom of God [damnation, in outer darkness]?
Justin said:
“In the spirit world, Christ is revealed to every person. Nobody is condemned for choices they make in ignorance. But the beauty of LDS theology is that everyone gets to make a fully informed choice to accept or reject Christ, repent of their sins, and be saved.”
Of course LDS recreational disregard of what the scriptures actually say accounts for why you think this. NO! Christ is not revealed to every person in the spirit world. He organized an effort to find those, and only those, WHO WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE GOSPEL IN THIS LIFE “”"WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS”"” IF THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. And to see that their ordinances get done that open the doors to the Celestial Kingdom and even exaltation is that applies for these FEW souls. And it will be very, very few souls respectively speaking.
If LDS think that they are going to somehow convert people there who had the chance here and rejected it they are simply ignorant. And Jesus Christ is no more revealed to the spirits in the next life than he is here, except that they already merit such.
You posit about a Gentile who did reject the gospel and he is doomed to terrestrial or telestial and in no wise is capable of qualifying for outer darkness.
James:
How can one be “doomed” to a state of salvation and glory?
Doomed for a higher salvation and a higher glory. It will begin to feel like that if it matters. If blithe contentment in a lesser kingdom is treasured, great, no doom.