Many Mansions

Mainstream Christianity teaches that the afterlife is conceptualized as either heaven or hell. Life is a test, that is either pass or fail.  If a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they will be saved independent of behavior.  Although, accepting Christ will tend to manifest itself in good behavior, salvation itself is not contingent on any moral behavior or good works.  

The Church of Jesus Christ also conceptualizes the afterlife as a heaven and hell, but according to 1 Cor 15, Latter-day Saint heaven is divided into degrees, glories, kingdoms, mansions, or rewards.  Some charge that the Mormon heaven is exclusive.  But in reality, there is no religion has a more inclusiveness conception of heaven than does the true Church of Jesus Christ. 

The Bible is clear, that the first steps to accepting Christ involves a bending of the knee, a softening of the heart, and a confession with the lips that Jesus is the Christ.  According to scripture, anyone who bends the knee and accepts Christ will be saved in a degree of heaven. However, the Bible foretells that one day, every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.  Therefore, except the sons of perdition who willingly reject any portion of God's salvation, all the family of Adam can be saved.  

However, we shouldn't make the mistake of Corianton in the Book of Mormon.  Corianton, a son of Alma the Younger, misunderstood the idea of universal resurrection, of the just and unjust, to justify himself in committing sexual sin.  Corrianton believed that because both the just and unjust would be resurrected, his resurrected body would be redeemed and purified.  The ressurrected body would be perfect and no longer subject to the weakness of the flesh.  Therefore, according to Corianton, his moral behavior and the content of his character no longer mattered.

Corianton was correct in believing, that the resurrected body would be perfected, incorruptible, and no longer subject to some of the weaknesses of the flesh. In heaven, Corianton was correct to believe certain sins would no longer be possible. However, he was wrong in thinking that the resurrection would also change our love, desire and devotion towards God.  Laziness, and slothfulness may still be a thing. Pride, and wanting to do our own thing your own way may still be a thing.  Accordingly, our reward in heaven is not only determined by our capacity to sin (harm self and others), but also by our desires to serve God. Therefore, the three degrees of heaven, are also based on our capacity for faith, work, and devotion towards God.

Those who inhert exaltation in the highest degree in heaven will seek to "live by every word that preceedeth from the mouth of God". But also because they are on the same page with God and have the same mind and will as God, they will find they don't have to be commanded in all thing. Those that are exalted will already know the things they should do. The righteous will be agents unto themselves, not commanded in all things, but free to be engaged in many good causes, and free in bringing about much righteousness. Those that wish to do "do their own thing" will have different responsibilities in heaven and a different degree of glory. 

In my estimation, heaven to not so much a physical separation but like the hospital has doctors, nurses, and techs. We all work together,  but there are certain responsibilities reserved for the doctors.  Nurses and techs are an invaluable part of the healthcare team.  Most nurses find great joy in their choosen career, and have no desire to be the doctor. But like nurses and techs, there may be responsibilities, those of a lesser glory are not permitted to do (world's without end). In life, some techs decide to go back to school and become a nurse.  Some nurses choose to go back to school and become NPs, PAs, or even MDs themselves.  However, in God's plan we are warned, there is no going back to school.  Scripture warns, "do not procrastinate", "today is the day for men to perform our labors".   Gods university has open enrollment, but the decision to attend medical school is now. Jesus Christ invites all to get all the education we can and lay up in store our treasures in heaven. 

While, confessing Christ is the first step in accepting Him.  Taking Christ's name upon us is a process that leads to baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This process of sanctification continues, leading the believer to making additional sacred covenants in Holy Temples.

Pliny the Younger to Trajan: Early Christian Covenants

We had been having a respectful conversation about the exclusiveness and inclusiveness of the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ and it's requirements for  inward purity and sactification. While, all kingdoms, nation's, tongues and people's are invited (you also are invited), admittance has it's requirements according to 1 Cor 5:9-13. You had expressed that such requirements of inward purity were unrightly exclusionary.  Yet James 1:27 says pure Religion demands purity just as faith demands works. Good works, such as covenant-making and covenant-keeping, are a manifestation of true faith.

The Church of Jesus Christ maintains that, except the "sons of perdition" (those that would crucify Christ afresh); all of God children will eventually bend the knee and confess that "Jesus is the Christ".  Therefore, all who confess will receive some degree of salvation (many mansion, differing rewards, 1Cor15:40-42, see Ireneas on Papias).  Accordingly, LDS doctrine has a place for all of God's children in heaven unless they absolutely refuse (no coersion in religion). No Christian doctrine is more inclusive. 

Now, while you had mentioned that in the resurrection (just and unjust), all men would be glorified (to a degree), and have no more disposition to do evil.  While, our susseptability for evil will end, what will differ is men's willingness to do right.  Some are valiant in their testimony of Christ and others less so.  The degree of our love for God and capability to serve Him will be restored unto us.  Just as the ED has Doctors, nurses, and techs; but all work together; the degrees of heaven may not be so much a physical separation, but one of responsibility or calling. 

The Latter-day temple is the Mountain of the Lord's House.  The temple is the physical manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven, and it is preparing the Earth for the Second Coming of Christ.  The temple is preparing human kind (those who will) to receive the highest responsibilities on Earth and in heaven-- even reaching beyond the grave. Death has no power over Christ or Christ's followers at all. Again, there can not be any more inclusive doctrine than vicarious proxy and baptism for the dead (1 Cor 15:29). Christ's atonement was the supreme act of vicarious proxy, and in His temple, His disciples offer His atonement (by covenant) to all the human family. 

But what about covenant making and covenant keeping.  Are baptism, the Lord's Supper, and temple only arbitrary, man-made, fear-based, additions to Christ's already all-sufficient Gospel? While confession with the lips that Jesus is Lord is the minimum requirement for any degree of salvation.  Those who are called, chosen, and faithful (Rev 17:14); have more fully received the Holy Ghost.  These faithful will be inspired to draw nearer unto Christ and will be empowered to make additional righteous covenants as did Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. The temple and it's covenants are not man-made but divinely given (house built without men's hands).  The temple and it's covenants, are given by Christ, and are part of His all-sufficient Gospel. 

Do we have evidence of Early Christian covenant making? Thanks to the words of Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan (see below) , Pliny records the earliest (non-Christian) descriptions of Christian religious observance and covenant making.  Covenant making and covenant keeping are not a product of fear, but a product of love for our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Covenants are not about being exclusive, but cleansing the inner vessel and being made a "vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use" (2 Tim 2:21).  

Pliny the Younger's Description of Early Christianity!

On top of this, they affirmed that this was the sum of their guilt or error:

They had been accustomed to come together on a fixed day before daylight and to sing responsively a song to Christ as God. They bound themselves with an oath—not to commit some crime—but, on the contrary, that they would not commit theft, nor robbery, nor adultery, that they would not break faith, nor refuse to return a deposit when asked for it.

When they had done these things, their custom was to separate and to assemble again to partake of a meal, common yet harmless (which is not the characteristic of a nefarious superstition)

Christ's Church is the Kindom of God and His Temple is the Kingdom of Heaven on the Earth. Apart from a false temple that may be built in Jerusalem and an anti-Christ that may rule for a time. The restoration of the true temple, according to Isa 2, will accompany and preceed Christ's coming in glory (Mal 3:1).  The true temple and it's covenants will be the divine mechanism by which world peace will finally be achieved. According to Isaiah, it is because of the true temple (it's laws it's paths, it's ways), that men will finally "beat their swords into plowshares". 

Righteous covenants are the laws, paths, and ways of the true House of the Lord.  The covenants themselves are more important than a physical building.  Accordingly, covenants have been made by prophets and saints on mountain-tops and other surrogate sacred spaces.  But the physical importance and reality of God's kingdom, His Church, and His temple cannot be ignored.  Only the unification if the spirit and body together produces a fullness of joy. The Church of Christ is both a spiritual and physical reality.  Christ's resurrection was both a physical and spiritual reality. Likewise, Christ's temple is both a spiritual and physical reality. 

Ezekiel and John were commanded to measure the temple   The temple serves as divine pattern that transends reality. That is why Daniel described a stone cut out of a mountain without hands, which grew until it became a mountain and eventually filled the whole Earth. The temple is the body of Christ.  When you accept Christ and receive His Spirit, your body becomes a temple. When your marriage is blessed by Christ's Spirit it becomes a covenant marriage.  A family becomes an eternal family, a city becomes a temple city, a nation becomes a holy nation until the entire Earth is filled with the light and glory and truth of God. When John is shown the future sactified Earth, he comments that "there is no temple there".  There is no temple because there is no special place set aside as holy. The whole Earth has become sanctified and has become holy.

Covenant making and covenant keeping are critical to the preservation of society.  Keeping our word increases trust, cooperation, and social capital.  When people break their word, even if circumstances seemingly justify it, trust is erroded. The social fabric of society breaks down.  Kindergardeners recite the pledge of allegiance,  Boy Scout take the scout oath. Lawyers, military, and politicians take an oath of office.  Doctors make the Hippocratic oath.  Oath-making has ancient Christian roots, but it seems most religions today preach very little oath making and even less oath keeping. 

Why do we make covenants? We make them because life never fails to provide all the reasons, justifications, excuses, and rationalizations to break our word.  Covenants give us the ultimate divine reason to keep our word in spite of our good excuses. Each and every one of us have given our Heavenly Father every reason to cast us off forever.  But God is the ultimate Man of His Word, and has sent His Son Jesus Christ (the Word) to rescue and redeem us. 

Isa 49:15_16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;

We can not learn to become more like our Heavenly Father unless we learn to become people of our word as our Heavenly Father is the God of His Word. God makes covenants with His children, and helps us keep them, in order that we might become more like Him. Covenant making and covenant keeping is a major aspect of the society of heaven. If we desires to live with God in heaven, we need to get used to living with people that keep their commitments by becoming the kind of people that keep ours. 

Justice is not some monster that God must appease.  Gods justice is God doing exactly as He has said.  likewise, God's mercy is God doing exactly as He has said.  God knew mankind would fall into sin and error. Justice demands consequences. But in the Grand Heavenly Council,  before the foundations of the Earth, God also promised to send us a Savior who would satisfy the demands of justice, and take upon Himself the consequences of our sins.  But our acceptance of Christ is contingent upon the conditions of repentance.  Covenant making and covenant keeping in His Holy Temple are part of these conditions, the process of repentance, and our ultimate sactification. 

Book of Abraham

In 1835, Joseph Smith came into possession of a collection of Egyptian papyri. After examining the papyri, Joseph Smith recorded the Book of Abraham which detailed Abraham's early life, travels to Canaan and Egypt, and early vision of the cosmos and its creation. 

The Book of Abraham papyri were thought to have been lost in the 1871 Great Chicago Fire.  However, in 1966 several fragments of the papyri were discovered in the archives of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Upon examination by scholars, the few existing papyrus fragments are excerpts from Egyptian funerary texts: Book of Breathings, and Book of the Dead.  Accordingly, some critics question the authenticity of the Book of Abraham. 

So what gives? Does the Joseph Smith papyri expose Smith as a phony?  Not at all.  First, we need to check our own assumptions about what we mean by translation.  Joseph Smith was a prophet, not an Egyptologist.  When Joseph claimed to translate something, like the Book of Mormon, or excerpts from the Bible. He produced a prophetic translation, and not a scholarly one.  

There is some debate whether the recovered papyrus fragments even contain the original source material for the Book of Abraham.  Regardless the source, because the Book of Abraham was a product of prophetic revelation, the source material is irrelevant. God didn't need papyri or a bunch of mummies to reveal the Book of Abraham to Joseph Smith.  All God needed was Joseph Smith to ask the right question-- "Ask and ye shall receive." The papyri served only as a catalyst for revelation in the same way masonry served as a catalyst for the temple.  Joseph simply asked "if there is some partial truth here, what should this look like if it were 100% true? "

How is a prophetic translation different from a scholarly translation? When a scholar conducts a scholarly translation, the scholar attempts to precisely convey the words and meaning of the text in another language. When a prophet translates something, God is not revealing what is written, but what should have been written. A scholar seeks to remain true to the text, a prophet strives to be true to the truth.

The Egyptians were a once great, but pagan, corrupt, and ultimately failed society.  God is not xenophobic, but religiocentric.  Accordingly, He is not interested in spreading the false religion of ancient Egypt.  Instead, God desires to teach His children about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. God reveals truth and does not promulgate myths and fables. 

Therefore, what is going on with the Book of Abraham and its Facsimiles, is not that a certain figure depicted is Pharoah or the Goddess Hathor.  The deity depicted on the left in the enthronement scene is Hathor. However, had Egypt been faithful to the true God, the pagan idea of Hathor never would have existed at all. God is borrowing and sanctifying inspiring artwork to tell us His own true story.  Had ancient Egypt respected the true God of the universe, they would have remembered and commemorated Abraham's visit in their funerary texts and Hathor wouldn't have existed at all. 

The Egyptian religion, like all religions, had a few elements of truth.  I don't believe people would subscribe to any religion unless it conveyed some truth.  By borrowing these Egyptian vignettes to tell the true story of Abraham, our Heavenly Father preserves what is good and praiseworthy from Egypt and casts aside what isn't. Borrowing these vinettes from a false religion is not disrespectful.  It was originally disrespectful for false priests in Egypt to invent and spread false religion.  But God respects the millions of Egyptian people who had a righteous faith towards the afterlife. 

After realizing the prophetic origin of the Book of Abraham, God's intent is for His children to focus on the message and truth of the Book.  Critics will always try and distract us by shiftng our focus onto side-matter. However, the Book of Abraham is a beautiful story that reveals details about man's preexistence, the ordered hierarchy of the universe, and chronicles the life and devotion of the father of three world religions. 

(see also   https://ldsdoctrine.blogspot.com/2022/01/book-of-abraham-facsimile-3.html?m=1)

There is debate on Facimile 3 about whether a character in the vingette is Abraham or Hathor, etc.  We need to remember that these vingettes are like watching a movie.  Hathor doesnr actually exist, but in the case of a movie like "Star Wars" we have the fictional character Luke Skywalker as well as the actor Mark Hamill.

Lighting the Fire of Faith

I really enjoyed Elder Dale Renlund's analogy on faith during April 2019 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ. Salvation is neither earned nor arbitrary (predestined), but merited based on our faith.  Elder Renlund likened faith to lighting a fire.  God supplies the matches, tinder, kindling, wood and oxygen. All He expects of us is to 1. strike the match, 2. throw more fuel on the fire, 3. avoid extingishing the flames by dousing them with water or snuffing them out with shovels of dirt.

Captain Moroni tells Pahoran in the Book of Mormon the conditions of deliverance are that we "make use of the means the Lord has provided".  Making use of the means the Lord has provided or striking the match is how we are saved by grace, "after all we can do".  

April 2019 General Conference

Ulisses Soares
Phillip teaching the Ethiopian, we need the help of a divine teacher, or help others in their conversion and keeping covenants.
Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing.
Raise our families in nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Accept the Saviors invitation to come and see.
Accept children who desire to come home. Never lose hope. Be a good example.
Make your home a center of gospel learning.

Becky Crazen
Can't find happiness in cheap trinkets.
Don't be casual in our behavior but be sacred.
Standards don't expire.

Brook Hales
Mormon didn't see the fruit of his labor.
It was not you who sent me hither but God
Sometimes the dream job isn't meant to be
Sometimes God wants to teach us something. I felt like God was with me.
Some blessings are not answered in this life.
Trust in Gods timing. Hold our faihful.

Dieter Uchtdorf
Rome Italy temple dedication
Overall church membership is growing
But compared with world population we are small.
We may feel timid to share gospel. We need to be willing, not perfect.
5 guilt free things:
1. Love God, draw near. His light will shine
2. Love others. See others as children of God. Minister to others.
3. Walk the path of discipleship.
4. Share what's in your heart.
5. Invite others to come and see.

Henry B Eyring
Ministering in the Lords way.
Do not diminish in your faith in Jesus Christ
No more disposition to fo evil
Temple teaches a love for sacred places

President Ballard
All Gods children are created to have joy
Despite the world's challenges
Doing Gods will in our life brings meaning
Focus on first principles
Keep it simple, more time for ministering


Seek truth by study and faith
Good fruit
Families, healthy habits, humanitarian, lay clergy, personal growth.
God gives line upon line
Won't know it all at first
2 eyes produces another perspective when combined produce a 3D image
Likewise spiritual sight brings another perspective when combined reveal things as they really are.



What is truth?
Some truths are true for everyone.
Natural man cannot see the things of God because they are spiritually discerned
Do not pick and true what is truth with the family proclaimation.
Prophets are seers
Many have walked away from values
Do not walk away from Christ
We are asked to not be of this world
Christ understands our burdens


Feasting is more than reading
Feel joy, Express joy with family,


Beware of hyper-intellectual deprivation
Korihor taught commandments are oppressive restrictions


Jeffery Holland
John testified "behold the Lamb of God"
Be reverent during sacrament
May we bring to His alter more tears for His sorrow...


Stevenson
Athletes sacrifice to train
Athletes have a playbook
Athletes follow a gameplan
Temptation has less power when you have plan
Pray daily, listen to counsel, avoid porn, service, good friends, family history
Offense and defense
Learn the path of discipleship
Get in the game, you are an allstar

Carl Cook
Quorum can help and support its members
Quorums can change the odds
give and receive strength
Be United in our quorum

Clark
Look into Christ in every thought
Surrender our will to Him
Live a covenant life
We are not alone

Eyring
Be careful in criticism
Criticism will offend the spirit
We can improve
We can be loyal
We can pray for leaders
We can pray pray for each other
I know you can make it back

Oaks
Think about the future
Others are consumed with immediate gradification
speak when we see threats
Sound warnings, institute prevention
Keep the end in mind
Spiritual gowth from sacrifice
Stay in the covenant path

President Nelson
Say nothing but repentance to this generation
Repentance is not a penalty
"Change our mind, knowledge, spirit, breath"
It's a process
Satan is attacking testimony
Do better and be better
Care for our body, show reverence
Honor women
Their input will help your output
Satan knows who you are
Be men of the covenant
Communicate the love of the Savior
Experience miracles in your life

Dale Renlund
Are blessings earned or predestined?
Blessings are not earned but faith and action are required.
We have to strike the match to light a fire
God gives us the match, kindling and wood and oxygen.
You qualify for blessings, you don't earn them.
Make bow, make tools, bake small cake before the blessing.
Cheerfully do all that is within your power than stand still and behold the power of God.

Sharon Eubank
Christ is our light
Christ binds up our wounds
Christ reached out to the outcast


Quentin R Cook
Love is found in our work
Love for the Savior and fellow men
Missionary work, temple, ministering
Align our hearts with love

Christofferson
Zion will bring peace on Earth
We should be dedicated to build Zion
Zion will be built in troubled times
Christ permits us to labor with Him
We can hasten that day

Callister
What is the atonement?

President Nelson
Salvation is an individual matter
Exaltation is a family matter
Many have chosen not to covenant with God
Fullness of joy only comes via covenant
Don't settle for a lesser mansion
You can only know God through experience
We are invited to follow Him
Do the spiritual work to know for yourself
Time is running out

President Oaks
I judged crimes under laws of man and laws of God
Come into Jesus
Atonement is real
We all need to repent
Mortal judges waves penalties, only God forgives sin.
Are we born again?
Ressurection does not reverse desires.
Satan has same power to possess there as here.
Arms of mercy are extended to all.

Juan Paulo Villar
Bodies are a miracle
Spiritual gifts need exercise
Peoples countenance changed
Let him deny himself

Gerrit Gong
Christ is the Good Shephard.
Do all things in His name

David Bednar
What did you learn about the Savior at home this week
Not what did you learn at Church today
Learn live becoming
Like Joseph Smith, we need to learn for ourselves
Make our homes sanctuaries
Children can be prepared for the temple
Speak of his holy house with reverence
We may speak about the purposes of the temple

McKay
Soon for you, is a long time for me
Alma waited for deliverance
Some blessings were immediate.
Gods goodness and love is immediate

Ronald Rasband
Go ye unto your homes and ponder Christs words
Satan cheateth our souls and lead us carefully down to hell
The devil seeks for whom he may devour

President Nelson
Each temple is a crowning jewel in the crown of pioneer faith
May we renovate and rededicate our lives