I set out to determine whether one may progress in the hereafter between the three degrees of glory. Unfortunately, the answer seems to be that we simply don’t know yet.

There are basically three possible answers: (1) That progression between degrees of a kingdom and progression between kingdoms is possible, (2) That progression is not possible, and (3) That while progression is possible in the afterlife, that those placed in higher kingdoms initially will always be ahead of others.

Having spent many nights studying the scriptures and words of modern prophets to better understand this issue that truly is so central to Heavenly Father’s plan, I have come to believe–I think–that progression between the kingdoms will be provided for.  Ask me the same question tomorrow and I will likely have been convinced otherwise, but for now, I believe it is part of Heavenly Father’s great plan.

So that the message is not lost in this rather lengthy post, I’ll summarize it in a few words.  In short, there is no official doctrine on the point of whether we can progress between kingdoms in the afterlife.  Prophets and prominent church leaders have theorized on both sides of the discussion, but it remains a mystery of God.

Scriptural Insight

Not surprisingly, the scriptures lend strong support for the position that there will be no progress between kingdoms in the hereafter; however, no scripture states this position with enough specificity to rule out the notion that the scripture is only referring to those in Outer Darkness, where there is no doubt that progress is impossible.

One of many examples of this type of scripture is Alma 34:34-35, which seems to strongly assert that no progress can be made in the hereafter. Put in its context, however, verse 35 seems to imply that the passage only applies to those in Outer Darkness. The scripture reads: “Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.” Alma 34:34-335 (emphasis added).

However, Melvin J. Ballard understands Alma 34:34-35 to answer this question. In response to the anticipated question of whether progression between the Kingdoms can occur, he said: “I have just read the answer, so far as the Telestial group is concerned. ‘Where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.’ I take it upon the same basis, the same argument likewise applies to the Terrestrial World. Those whose lives have entitled them to terrestrial glory can never gain celestial glory. One who gains possession of the lowest degree of the Telestial glory may ultimately arise to the highest degree of that glory, but no provision has been made for promotion from one glory to another.” Melvin J. Ballard, Three Degrees of Glory, a discourse delivered 22 September 1922 (Independence, n.d.), pp. 26-27.

Still, however, this leaves open the possibility that if they ceased to be Telestial beings by progressing to the glory of a Terrestrial or Celestial being, they could then move up to another kingdom. There are countless scriptural references that can be construed to lend support to one position or another, but none goes so far as to spell out whether progress between the kingdoms of Heaven is, in fact, a possibility.

In the Old Testament, Jacob had a dream of a ladder on which he saw angels ascending AND descending.  Marion G Romney said he thinks of the rungs of that ladder as representing covenants and ordinances that we much climb.  To me, this gives support to their being progression (and regression) between kingdoms.  This may seem odd at first, but at least in my life, there have been many times where I’ve made great progress, and others where I backslide.

Modern-Day Teachings

The Church has no official position on whether or not there will be progression between kingdoms. In response to a question regarding progression between kingdoms, the First Presidency directed their secretary In 1952 and, again, in 1965 to respond: The Brethren direct me to say that that the Church has never announced a definite doctrine upon this point, though some have held the view that it was possible in the course of progression to advance from one glory to another, invoking the principle of eternal progression; others have taken an opposite view.  Cited in Dialogue, Vol.15, No.1, pp. 181-182.

Although the Church has not announced an official position, many church leaders have opined on the topic because the quotes are numerous, they are included in somewhat of chronological order in an attempt to show trends.

Franklin D. Richards kept a small book in which he recorded quotes from Hyrum and Joseph Smith. In it, he wrote, “Hiram [Smith] said Aug 1st. Those of the Terrestrial Glory either advance to the Celestial or recede to the Telestial or else the moon would not be a type, [because] it ‘waxes & wanes.’” Words of the Prophets, p. 24, Church Historians Office. Hyrum Smith’s concept is novel and insightful. Applying this interpretation of the astronomical symbols is fitting because the Sun, representing the Celestial Kingdom, neither waxes nor wanes—showing no possibility
retrogression.

Joseph Smith also adds insight to the discussion, but falls short of the type of specificity required to clearly show Joseph Smith’s belief on the topic. His famous “learn our salvation” quote shows that we can progress in knowledge in the hereafter, but not that such knowledge would propel one from a lower kingdom to a higher kingdom:When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.”  Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 348.

Brigham Young expressed the view that it may be possible for some to advance to a higher degree of glory: “He [Brigham Young] though they [those in lower kingdoms] would eventually have the privilege of proving themselves worthy and advancing to a celestial glory but it would be a slow process.” Quoted by Wilford Woodruff in his Journal, August 5, 1855, Church Historians Office.

Lorenzo Snow’s comments on the topic are somewhat vague, but seem to provide support for progress between kingdoms.  That sacrifice of the divine Being was effectual to destroy the powers of Satan. I believe that every man and woman who comes into this life and passes through it, that life will be a success in the end. It may not be in this life. It was not with the antediluvians. They passed through troubles and afflictions; 2,500 years after that, when Jesus went to preach to them, the dead heard the voice of the Son of God and they lived. They found after all that it was a very good thing that they had conformed to the will of God in leaving the spiritual life and passing through this world.” Lorenzo Snow, MS 56:49-53; Collected Discourses 3:364-65.

Joseph F. Smith’s view on the topic seems somewhat illogical. He stated, “Once a person enters these glories there will be eternal progress in the line of each of these particular glories, but the privilege of passing from one to another (though this may be possible for especially gifted and faithful characters) is not provided for.” Joseph F. Smith, Improvement Era 14:87 [November 1910]. This view seems illogical because, if one were especially gifted and faithful, why would they be in the Telestial or Terrestrial Kingdoms in the first place?

B.H. Roberts expressed a more complete theory on the topic. This theory is sometimes explained by the symbol of a train’s wheel. “If one point is ahead of another on a train’s wheel, then both points will advance along the track, but the point which started behind the other point will never catch up to its predecessor. Brother Roberts stated: “[I]t is said that those of the Terrestrial glory will be ministered unto by those of the Celestial; and those of the Telestial will be ministered unto by those of the Terrestrial–that is, those of the higher glory minister to those of a lesser glory. I can conceive of no reason for all this administration of the higher to the lower, unless it be for the purpose of advancing our Father’s children along the lines of eternal progression. Whether or not in the great future, full of so many possibilities now hidden from us, they of the lesser glories after education and advancement within those spheres may at last emerge from them and make their way to the higher degrees of glory until at last they attain to the highest, is not revealed in the revelations of God, and any statement made on the subject must partake more or less of the nature of conjecture. But if it be granted that such a thing is possible, they who at the first entered into the Celestial glory–having before them the privilege also of eternal progress–have been moving onward, so that the relative distance between them and those who have fought their way up from the lesser glories may be as great when the latter have come into the degrees of Celestial glory in which the righteous at first stood, as it was at the commencement. Thus: Those whose faith and works are such only as to enable them to inherit a Telestial glory, may arrive at last where those whose works in this life were such as to enable them to entrance into the Celestial kingdom. They may arrive where these were, but never where they are.” B.H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God 1:391-392.

Joseph Fielding Smith said, It has been asked if it is possible for one who inherits the Telestial glory to advance in time to the Celestial glory? The answer to this question is, No! The scriptures are clear on this point. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:31).

President Spencer W. Kimball concurred. He wrote, “No progression between kingdoms. After a person has been assigned to his place in the kingdom, either in the Telestial, the Terrestrial, or the Celestial, or to his exaltation, he will never advance from his assigned glory to another glory. That is eternal! That is why we must make our decisions early in life and why it is imperative that such decisions be right.” The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 243-244. (Also cited in The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.50; and Search These Commandments, 1984 ed., pp.81-82.)

J. Reuben Clark is a firm believer in the “Second Chance Theory.” He wrote, I am not a strict constructionist, believing that we seal our eternal progress by what we do here. It is my belief that God will save all of His children that he can: and while, if we live unrighteous here, we shall not go to the other side in the same status, so to speak, as those who lived righteously; nevertheless, the unrighteous will have their chance, and in the eons of the eternities that are to follow, they, too, may climb to the destinies to which they who are righteous and serve God, have climbed to those eternities that are to come.”  J. Reuben Clark, Church News, 23 April 1960, p. 3.

One of the most telling evidences of the differing opinions of church authorities is found in the successive editions of Talmage’s The Articles of Faith. The first edition of the book states in part:  “[I]t is reasonable to believe, in the absence of direct revelation by which alone absolute knowledge of the matter could be acquired, that in accordance with God’s plan of eternal progression, advancement from grade to grade within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom, will be provided for. But if the recipients of a lower glory be enabled to advance, surely the intelligences of higher rank will not be stopped in their progress; and thus we may conclude, that degrees and grades will ever characterize the kingdoms of our God. Eternity is progressive; perfection is relative; the essential feature of God’s living purpose is its associated power of eternal increase.”  Articles of Faith, James E. Talmage, 1899 First Edition, pps. 420-421.

In 1917, the words “within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom,” were replaced by the words “within each of the three specified kingdoms.” Finally, in the 12th edition of 1924, this line was changed once again. The words “from grade to grade” and “But if the recipients of a lower glory be enabled to advance, surely the intelligences of higher rank shall not be stopped in their progress; and” were entirely deleted. In place of the second set the following was added: “though as to possible progress from one kingdom to another the scriptures make no positive affirmation, eternal advancement along different lines is conceivable.” Cited in Dialogue, Vol.15, No.1, pp. 181-182.

Bruce R. McConkie called the Second Chance Theory a heresy in a BYU devotional address. “Heresy five: There are those who say that there is progression from one kingdom to another in the eternal worlds or that lower kingdoms eventually progress to where higher kingdoms once were. This belief lulls men into a state of carnal security. It causes them to say, ‘God is so merciful; surely he will save us all eventually; if we do not gain the Celestial kingdom now, eventually we will; so why worry?’ It lets people live a life of sin here and now with the hope that they will be saved eventually. The true doctrine is that all men will be resurrected, but they will come forth in the resurrection with different kinds of bodies–some Celestial, others Terrestrial, others Telestial, and some with bodies incapable of standing any degree of glory. The body we receive in the resurrection determines the glory we receive in the kingdoms that are prepared.” “The Seven Deadly Heresies,” Bruce R. McConkie, Brigham Young University Devotional Address, 1; June 1980.

Support for the Second Chance Theory comes from Boyd K. Packer in October 1995. He recounted the following story. Some years ago I was in Washington, D.C., with President Harold B. Lee.  “Early one morning he called me to come into his hotel room. He was sitting in his robe reading Gospel Doctrine, by President Joseph F. Smith (1838– 1918), and he said, “Listen to this! ‘Jesus had not finished his work when his body was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? Not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time, except the sons of perdition. That is his mission. We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission.’  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “All are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who have not committed the unpardonable sin.”  “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report October 1995.

An important note regarding the quote from Elder Packer above is that the words “redeemed and saved” are used rather than “exalted.”  Obviously, we will not stop doing missionary work until all of Heavenly Father’s children are saved from outer darkness and placed in one of the kingdoms of glory.  So sticking strictly to the quote, it neither supports nor disproves the idea of progression between the kingdoms.

My Current Theory

You didn’t read this blog post to get my take, as I sit here in my pajamas on a chair in my office on a lazy Sunday morning.  However unqualified I may be, it may be helpful to see at least one person’s harmonization of all of these quotes.  Take it as an opinion.

I believe that we are God’s children.  He took our intelligences (whatever that means) and gave us his potential.  It was like taking elements and a tree making those elements into an oak seed. He made us his species.  An oak seed will either die completely, or it will become an oak.  It cannot be a maple or a cherry or anything else.  God made us his.  Oaks.  I believe that’s what it means to be a son or daughter of God.  

It seems logical that scriptures would focus on the finality of death and importance of preparing now.  God wants us to progress in our growth.  There is little point in assuring the mortal, lazy man of the eternal time period available for growth–not when there’s a phone in his hand that is much more enticing in the moment.

Without question, there is progress in the afterlife.  Why would Christ have gone to preach to those in prison if they would never progress anyway?  The real question is, will it continue after the “final judgment”?  

I believe it will.  Jacob’s ladder envisioned angels ascending and descending as they slowly progressed upward.  That feels like my life.  I try to ascend, but I also have periods where I backslide and need to restart.  Hyrum Smith’s description of the moon waxing and waning as a type for those in the lower kingdoms is also instructive to me.

Joseph F Smith’s vision of the afterlife in Doctrine and Covenants 138, taken as a whole, describes to me an afterlife filled with eternal progress and learning–not just a short time while in spirit prison. “And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.”

My opinion is that we are oaks.  Eternally.  The only way we can stop being God’s children is to reject our destiny to become as He is, and forever give up the desire for good and growth.  Those are they who will inherit outer darkness.  But other than those, we will all eventually end up as God.  

So why three degrees of glory?  We know those distinctions are a way to classify but aren’t absolute.  After all, the Doctrine and Covenants describes degrees WITHIN the highest degree.  But I personally view them all as stages with certain privileges and requirements, rather than eternal abodes.

It’s only my theory.  Either way, I am very far from matching up to where I need to be.  As long as I wake up each morning and try my best, and reach out to my Savior to help me to learn my salvation, I believe I can someday have a fullness of joy.

59 Comments

  1. I really enjoyed the first episode. Look forward to more! Thanks for not being afraid of “deep doctrine”. I feel like the JS quote could easily apply only to spirit prison/paradise between death and judgement. Nothing about it clearly says “progression between kingdoms.” But it is great to read the brethren’s differing opinions on it, and realize it’s not as cut and dried as most people think.

    I hope you’ll have a similar discussion on evolution. It’s something which the brethren over the years have been equally divided (and possibly more heatedly so). It also seem to be a huge stumbling block for many as they go to college etc. They’re taught that evolution is of the devil, then go to school and are shown the many evidences for it’s truthfulness. Many fall away because of it, without ever realizing that many of the brethren consider it a strong possibility that evolution is the means by which God created life on earth.

    Side note (you can remove this if you like): did you realize your theme is still displaying the default “Genesis Framework” logo at the top? I can help, if needed.

    1. We will be able to progress WITHIN the Kingdom We are assigned to after the Final Judgment. We are in error to think that We can progress from a Lower Kingdom to a higher one. Too many say “ I think” or “ believe’…NO , Doctrine is Doctrine and WILL NOT CHANGE!😇 Jerald Wayne DeGraw

      1. Hi Jerald, you seem very sure of that opinion. I agree that doctrine is doctrine. However, this is NOT well-settled doctrine in the church. There is much on this point yet to be revealed and learned.

        1. Interesting discussion. I take no dogmatic position on this issue. Whether it’s possible or not, I do see the wisdom of focusing on the “this life is the time to prepare to meet God” line of thinking. As you mentioned in your article, there’s no use in procrastinating repentance.
          That being said, I have pondered this topic, and once came across an interesting quote by Orson Pratt. It’s not doctrine; just one man’s opinion, but I’ll share it to add to the discussion:
          “In the resurrection, the meek of all ages and nations will be restored to that portion of the earth previously promised to them. And thus, all the different portions of the earth have been and will be disposed of to the lawful heirs; while those who cannot prove their heirship to be legal, or who cannot prove that they have received any portion of the earth by promise, will be cast out into some other kingdom or world, where, if they ever get an inheritance, they will have to earn it by keeping the law of meekness during another probation” (# The Earth—Its Fall, Redemption, Etc.
          [Orson Pratt](https://scriptures.byu.edu/#0ce015:t273f$124669:c0a60312)).
          This adds a different perspective that isn’t addressed in your article. I’m not convinced it’s true. However multiple probations could enable eventual progression between kingdoms.

        2. Jim, not sure who you are, but what You are thinking and trying to explain is VERY DANGEROUS THINKING!😩 Yes, Joseph Smith, Joseph F. Smith and Joseph Fielding Smith, for starters, are Clear on this subject, and anyone who thinks like You do, is in danger of shooting for a lower Kingdom, thinking that they, AFTER the final Judgment can progress upwards, even to higher Kingdoms…not only that, should We get assigned to the lowest, or even the MIDDLE of The CELESTIAL KINGDOM (were we will be ‘Separate and Single’ to be Helpers to those of Exaltation. If You really are sincere in wanting to know the TRUTH, I suggest You simply read Elder Oaks’ talk, from THE MOST RECENT GENERAL CONFERENCE Oct., 2023.

          1. Someone’s feeling a little judgy this morning, aren’t we? 🙂 You’re telling me that my life is shooting for a low kingdom and yet feel I’m the one in dangerous territory? Beams and motes, brother. We all have them.

            I re-read Elder Oaks’s talk from the most recent general conference. I found many insightful thoughts in the talk, but I don’t think he wiped away all theories mentioned by previous church leaders with a declaration of how this entire area of doctrine goes. I’m curious what you read in that talk to make it seem as if there cannot be any progression after this life. I see nothing of the sort in that talk.

  2. Well written. This is a seminal issue. It impacts on the purpose of this earth, and the potential effects of our efforts to lift others while here.

    With the notable exception of the brilliant J. Reuben Clark, the statements of the Brethren seem to have gravitated gradually to the eternal limitation of souls to the kingdom to which they graduate from this probationary state. Joseph Fielding Smith and Spencer W. Kimball were particularly direct in this regard. This feels right for a number of reasons:

    The purpose of this world is proving. You cannot stop a human being from learning, but learning is not the purpose of this life. Proving=probing=problems=testing. Exam week, as it were. Not class time. Matriculation examinations which open or close certain lines of future study.

    The administration of the Terrestrial by the Celestial, and of the Telestial by the Terrestrial, makes good sense to me in the absence of kingdom-to-kingdom progression. Honest government is one of the characteristics that makes the Telestial Kingdom glorious beyond all understanding. Who else to mentor and minister to the honorable men and women of the Terrestrial than their friends and loved ones from the Celestial?

    We are told that God is unchangeable. How so? He was once a man like us, on a world like ours. How, then, can we regard Him as unchangeable? Only, I suppose, if His core nature is unchangeable. He was always Love. He always loved the appearing of the Lord Jesus. He was always perfect, as he commands us in this life to be perfect. He was always consecrated, as he commanded Israel in Lev 11:44 to be consecrated (Heb. qadash.)

    Doesn’t each of us have an unchangeable core – the core that we are here to prove? I have no doubt that Elder Packer’s brilliant talk is correct in stating that, other than the very few who will defect to Perdition after seeing the Father’s plan clearly, none are so “old” that they cannot obtain forgiveness from any sin when repentance is fully completed. I am grateful for that, because only now in my 7th decade am I coming to realize how much I need repentance and the Atonement.

    God can change human nature, but I find no evidence that He can change eternal nature – neither His own nor mine, neither Christ’s nor Satan’s, Peter’s nor Judas’s. God was always God, though once in embryo. I would be delighted to see Cain or even Satan repent, recompense his victims to the limits of his capacity, turn away from his vomit, and catapult over me to exaltation, but there is no unpardonable sin except one that is unrepentable. Unrepentable is not about the gravity of the sin, but the eternal absence of capacity to repent.

    We often hear the Brethren talk about developing our talents, exercising our faith. We do not hear about spiritual evolution. Important words, carefully chosen: develop is the opposite of envelope. the root concept is about veiling and unveiling or revealing something. E-volve is to spin off and become something else. Ex-erce-ize is about taking something out of the box. Again, we see the concept of proving what we really are, stages of gestation, not evolution into some other organism.

    It is nice to suppose that there will be progression from one kingdom to another, but if it is possible at all, I can’t see it as anything but a great rarity. I think it not worth planning for except to be ready to accept the Lord’s lovingkindness to other sinners as gratefully as that which He shows to us.

    1. The application of the non-progression-among-kingdoms conclusion is that one is not upset when others “fail” to accept the Gospel, or even when they fight against it.

      One of the primary mandates of the Church is to prepare the world for the Second Coming. Not only prepare the Saints, but the whole world. What does that look like?

      For Terrestrial souls, it is that they receive the Savior as their lawgiver. “Oh, it’s the Mormons’ Jesus – well, that’s all right.” They love God, but certainly have no desire to be like Him!

      For Telestial and Perditious souls, they have proven themselves suitable and without any question deserving to be recycled to another place. Only Celestial and Terrestrial souls will be left on the earth to begin the Millennium.

      In the end, every soul receives a reward s/he will enjoy (D&C 88:32)

      To me, that means that if a wicked, truly Satanic man says to me, “Oh, you are a servant of Jesus Christ. I hate Him and you, and I am going to kill you,” and then he does kill me – that is a success. He has proven himself the only a wicked man can: by deliberately injuring an innocent person. Is there any other way to describe wickedness? Some innocent(s) must suffer so that the wicked may exercise their agency. Whom else would I choose to have take the abuse?

      Is there really some way that the wicked can prove themselves without innocent suffering? I wish I could think of one. Am I at peace with this application of the Atonement? Moses 7:20-69 and the garden of Gethsemane suggest that tribulation is not joyous to anyone at the time, but joy is in the morning. Even the wicked will enjoy their own place – and the rest of us are saved from them forever. The Great Plan of Happiness actually means happiness for all? I come to that conclusion, and it gives me much peace when inviting all to come unto Christ and accepting their exercise of agency.

    2. Hi Jonathan, Sad that I am coming across your review years after it was posted. Still, I enjoyed the read. Just one comment, question…As we know the goal of those who will inherit the Celestial kingdom is to become Gods and therefore perfect…does this mean that those in the “lower” kingdoms never reach this state of perfection? I mean, it would seem if everyone becomes perfect at some time then they would eventually be enjoying the same degree of exaltation? This of course gives rise to the old saw,…is any particular kingdom a defined place?

    3. This is the second time I have read your comments, Jonathan, and I do thank you for them. They ring justly reasonable to me. I especially liked, “Unrepentable is not about the gravity of sin, but the eternal absence of capacity to repent.” And your last paragraph. That is lovely.

  3. The 19th Section of the D&C reveals light not previously known. Before this revelation we were taught that those who die unrepentant go to hell where they suffer endless torment. After this revelation we are told that the torment is not endless in the literal sense but rather endless in the Godly sense. The use of “express” terminology like endless and eternal torment and damnation was designed to “work upon our hearts”
    The 19th Section provides a singularly polished lens through which we may view any revelation–especially any having to do with the doctrine of atonement and the Lord’s plan for bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
    Eternal torment is not meant to permanently torture but rather to exquisitely teach, cleanse, purify, sanctify and exalt. Why would it be otherwise?
    I don’t understand how anyone can read the 19th Section and still cling to the ancient notion that the power of the atonement is not sufficient to fully redeem all the sons and daughters of God. Are we not already, all of us celestial beings?
    Our Savior’s atonement is the power through which our true foundational nature is revealed! We are not mortals sent here to have spiritual experiences. We are divine celestial beings sent here to have the mortal experience. Christ’s atonement is sufficient to smite through, penetrate and cleanse us of our mortal corruption. In addition the power of the atonement penetrates the very veil that blinds us to the reality of who we truly are. The more the atoning power of Christ touches our hearts the more it awakens our souls to a clearer and brighter sense of our true divine nature.
    As President Uchtdorf taught in April 2016 General Conference–we are by divine birthright worthy of rescue. We don’t make ourselves worthy of rescue by being better mortals than our spiritual brothers and sisters. We are already worthy of rescue because we are all the sons and daughters of God. Jesus has the power to reach and rescue all of us. That is the gospel. That is the good news.
    With the clarifying lens of D&C 19, ancient and modern scriptural references to “eternal” punishment or “eternal” kingdoms should not be narrowly construed as condemning celestial beings to live forever banished from the Celestial Kingdom. Yes we do have to learn the lessons of the mortal experience some of which may be exquisitely painful and hard to bear but through Christ we can and will overcome. All these things shall give us experience and shall be for our good.

    1. Thank you so very much for your more liberal-minded—in Joseph Smith’s sense of the term—and compassionate view of eternal progression. As a mother of 7 children—most are adults now—my views on this question have evolved greatly over time. When I was younger, I simply accepted that “life was for proving ourselves,” and “we all have our agency,” and we would be rewarded at a “final judgement” according to our unfettered choices. Now I see it differently.

      We are all at different stages of developing in our divine nature—we came to earth at different stages, were born into different circumstances and experiences, and progress at individual paces and in individual ways. This mortal life is far too short (even if you enjoy the historically rare lifespan of 70 years) and unequal in its opportunities (even if you are blessed to be born in a peaceful, prosperous and enlightened place, time and family) to be the basis for any kind of one-time-fits-all “final judgment.” Why would Heavenly Father—an infinitely loving parent—ever put an end to the progression of any child who wished to continue progressing? To what purpose is eternity, if not for progression? And why would Heavenly Father—an all powerful parent—not be able to design a means whereby all of his children could continue to grow in light, truth and righteousness? I believe He did; it is the Saviors infinite atonement (and I understand “infinite” to extend to duration as well as depth and breadth) for ALL mankind.

      How does it rob justice if we are allowed eternal opportunities to develop and reach the point where we can accept higher and higher laws? The requirements have not been changed—but there is no arbitrary cut-off to the chance to keep trying, growing and developing. Yes, in morality we do “have our agency,” but common sense and life experience show that the exercise of our agency is largely dependent on our level of moral, intellectual and emotional development. The saving ordinances themselves mirror this truth: you must develop and rise through successive levels of understanding and ability as you advance in the laws and glory you can accept. We do not consign some people at the outset to baptism only, without the chance to further progress to endowment, or sealing because they are not currently able to abide those higher laws. We expect a process of growth and development. Why should eternity be any different?

      Some say that there will be those who simply will not desire to live the higher laws—but even our desires are products of our understanding and maturity. It is hard for me to conceive of anyone—free of the weaknesses, traumas, biology, blindness and misunderstandings of mortality, and surrounded by divine love, patience and entreaty—who would not respond by desiring to increase in glory and joy, although it might be a gradual process, as all growth in understanding is. Even now, when we encounter a doctrine or concept that is difficult to understand (polygamy being a prime example), we are often encouraged to consider that the understanding and desires we have now will not be the same as those we possess when free of mortality’s constraints and limitations. Why would that not also be true for those that might not desire to live the gospel law now? Can’t we imagine that their desires will also change once the “earth falls away?”

      I find Joseph Smith and some of his contemporaries often had a more generous conception of the Plan of Happiness and it’s scope than is currently considered. The King Follett Discourse (while not recorded by Joseph himself and not canonized by the Church) seems to affirm this broader view, with opportunities for exaltation for all except the sons of perdition. I wonder (lacking an official statement of policy from the Church) why we seem to have limited the application of the Saviors saving powers to a specific time frame. I also wonder if the “kingdoms” of glory seen in “The Vision” (Section 76) were actually “end states”, or whether it was a vision of the Plan and the Saviors atonement in progress—again, with parallels to the Kingdom of God on the earth—where at any given time there are some who have just entered in the gate, but not yet able to be endowed, some endowed but not yet able to be sealed, and those who are sealed, but who are still far from perfection. We are abiding at different levels of law, but each is progressing along the path to exaltation, and none are prevented from further progression as soon as they have developed to the point where they can accept a higher law and therefore abide a higher glory. This perspective brings me peace, when I consider that my Father and my Savior’s work is to help each child attain eternal life and they not only know how to do that work, but have an eternity to accomplish it. To my present way of thinking, that truly IS a Plan of hope and eternal happiness.

      1. That is said so beautiful. This is i think what our hope and Grace is built upon. I\\\’m gonna say this and don\\\’t throw a fit because I\\\’m far less intelligent than all of you all. Science tells us the smartest human or at least that\\\’s what I\\\’ve heard all these years… We only use ten percent of our brains. Could it be possible that we cannot use the rest of our brains here on Earth. There is more to us than we will ever know or learn down on this Earth. So could it be possible that our brains are reserved for something much higher that we cannot get here. So just saying if we only use that ten percent what happens to the other 80%? Is it a waste of cells matter or whatever it\\\’s made of, so is father gonna make something like our brain to only use ten and flake off the rest for nothing? Just maybe we\\\’ll need it in the kingdoms? Idk just a random thought because I\\\’d sure like to know what happens to the rest of it?

      2. There is no chance for progression from glory to glory in the eternities-Alma 12:27; 42:16; D&C 76:77, 79, 112; 132:17

        1. By “no chance”, do you mean there’s a deadline?
          Like God saying, “Oh, I see in your heart that you have finally come to yourself and repented. That is wonderful, but the deadline was last Thursday. Go back to hell.”
          Or do you mean that there is no chance that our heavenly Father’s foreknowledge about each of us faulty?
          Or…?

          1. “Oh, I see in your heart that you have finally come to yourself and repented. That is wonderful, but the deadline was last Thursday. Go back to hell.”

            -Brilliant! When you put it that way you see the ridiculousness of it. Is God loving and merciful, or isnt he? Is he a parent helping a toddler learn to walk, or isn\’t he? I think if we didn\’t all feel compelled to take up the opinions of today\’s Apostles and Prophets, that many more of us would think and feel along these lines.

          2. Andrew is 100% CORRECT! Besides statements from Joseph Smith, Joseph F Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith and MANY more, all You have to do is read Elder Oaks’ MOST RECENT TALK IN GENERAL CONFERENCE, October, 2024

      3. “Those who receive the exaltation in the celestial kingdom will have the “continuation of the seeds forever.” They will live in the family relationship. In the terrestrial and in the telestial kingdoms there will be no marriage. Those who enter there will remain “separately and singly” forever.” Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:288-289

      4. Thank you, Gr8fulmi, for your beautifully compassionate and to my understanding, clear statement. I really felt the wisdom in your following comments, “Yes, in morality we do “have our agency,” but common sense and life experience show that the exercise of our agency is largely dependent on our level of moral, intellectual and emotional development. The saving ordinances themselves mirror this truth: you must develop and rise through successive levels of understanding and ability as you advance in the laws and glory you can accept. We do not consign some people at the outset to baptism only, without the chance to further progress to endowment, or sealing because they are not currently able to abide those higher laws. We expect a process of growth and development. Why should eternity be any different?

        Some say that there will be those who simply will not desire to live the higher laws—but even our desires are products of our understanding and maturity. It is hard for me to conceive of anyone—free of the weaknesses, traumas, biology, blindness and misunderstandings of mortality, and surrounded by divine love, patience and entreaty—who would not respond by desiring to increase in glory and joy, although it might be a gradual process, as all growth in understanding is.” Really appreciate the insights.

    2. THE END FROM THE BEGINNING:
      If the God of Abraham says there are some who will not progress after the Judgment of the Great Day, then that is a FACT, not a deadline.

      He knows us perfectly. He sees the heart, and the end from the beginning. He’s God. This foreknowledge is the natural, logical result. Do we doubt it?

      Regardless of which kingdom each of us is sent, all will (as far as I can tell) still be His beloved children, and ours will still be our beloved children to bless, visit, and care for eternally. Probably more than they want us to.

      1. Yes. I believe you make an important distinction. Fact is not a deadline. We can get derailed in our focus. Thank you.

  4. Q. Will all humanity be given a “fair” or “equal” opportunity to hear and accept God’s plan, whether in this life or the next?
    A. Yes. Christ’s doctrine clearly states that the spirits of post-mortal, non-covenant makers can go through the process of exercising faith, repenting and ultimately receiving all the same blessings promised to those covenant makers in mortality. However, as humans we clearly are in no condition to know or judge what exactly constitutes that opportunity or timing. What if a man who turns away the missionaries at his door because his kids are screaming? What if the kids were simply watching a tv show? What if he simply wasn’t in his best spiritual mode in that particular moment? Why might some people get even hundreds of potential bites at the apple over 75 years in MORTALITY before they finally partake? Is that “fair”? Only God knows, but our eternal intelligence bound together as a living spirit might easily cry that the “fairness” doctrine would imply that every child should get at least the same maximum number of chances. But at the same time, I tell my kids all the time that life is in fact not fair, and to expect that each child will not be identically parented.

    Q. Given there is clearly allowance for the hearing and accepting of the Word, and timing of acceptance can be fluid along the continuum of mortality and immediate post-mortal life in the spirit world, is it such a terrible stretch to suppose that the same “fairness” principal applies equally to the timing of one person’s desire to fully and faithfully live the Word?
    A. I think not.

    Q. Are we ultimately judged and positioned by the condition and desires of our heart?
    A. Yes. We must abide a celestial law to live a celestial life. Sanctification through Christ will allow our imperfectness to ultimately be perfected.

    Q. Is it reasonable to think that any covenant maker suddenly becomes transformed and locked in as either celestial or whatever at that instant of death, after which the darkness comes and no work can be performed?
    A. I think not. But as the blog author and threads points out, there are several scriptures and GA statements that would seem to differ.

    Q. Do most LDS people like ambiguity?
    A. No. Historically our church environment has fostered a culture that relies on “certainty” and “logical doctrine” that often provide black and white answers. Just the facts, ma’am. Unfortunately when there are any “cracks” in the logic (or church history narratives), many people just break down and throw the baby out with the water.

    Q. Is it any wonder that many saints become exhausted and start to honestly believe that they are simply not capable of being “celestial material” since it is so far beyond their ability to “perform and conform”?
    A. Yes. They are missing the mark, maybe too focused on judging instead of living, but we are all human after all. The church is trying to positively impact that culture by focusing youth and now general membership on what they come to know spiritually as true, and how that truth is felt, known and experienced.

    Conclusion to rambling…..
    As covenant saints today we all can benefit from a heightened sense of urgency, just like the people listening in Alma 34. There is no excuse to delay and it hopefully helps us commit to and be better disciples of Christ, and be reminded that this life is indeed a test (not excluding the possibility that the spirit world is also a test). Context and audience clearly matter. So for me it does not necessarily logically or spiritually follow based on other firmly established LDS doctrines (excepting any future official decree of doctrine, and excluding any past or future potentially conflicting GA opinions on the topic) that we can shut the door on the “fairness” principal of loving Heavenly Parents and the eternal reaching power of Christ’s atonement across the continuum of our pre-mortal, mortal, post-mortal existence. At the end of the day, it is assuring to know that the process will be “fair” for others and for us personally.

    1. One line from the Prophet\’s HC 1:252 exultant entry about DC 76 caught my attention: \”the continued duration for completion, in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord and bow the knee\”
      I cannot see any meaning here other than progression after the Great Judgement.
      Whether in the kingdom or out of the kingdom, I know not…

    2. Thank you for recognizing a pervasive trait among us. I fight against it all the time. I seem to crave certainty with all my soul, I think in part because I equate being certain with knowing the truth. Desiring truth, I crave certainty….possibly on the fallible assumption that truth is unchanging.

  5. Great discussion. I love reading intelligent theories concerning the application and even interpretation of doctrines. I think sections 45, 93, 137 and 138 should be added. It is interesting that the further away we get from the time of the revelation the more restrictive theses comments become, (except Boyd K. Packer quoting Harold B. Lee). The more restrictive version of the Articles of Faith is the 1990 edition…Elder Talmage was long passed away. Sometimes I feel we don’t want the progression to be possible, maybe that says more about us than we want to admit.

  6. Interesting comments/quotes!

    We read in D&C 76 regarding these separate kingdoms, and within the description of the celestial kingdom description there is a term regarding just men being made perfect (a current process (and continuing?)

    Within the terrestrial kingdom, we see descriptions of men having accepted Christ\’s teachings in what appears to be spirit prison, but symbolically could reference a prison of our own making. Verse 106 is broad and could be interpreted as a continued perfection and his (Christ\’s) work being perfected.

    We hear of an infinite atonement, but do we consider to what degree what and how \”infinite\” is applied? I\’m certainly not suggesting grace undermines the efforts and agency of all to overcome the natural man and choose to come to our Heavenly Father\’s presence, but I think relying on others\’ possibly incorrect interpretation regarding the inability to participate in eternal progression might be man\’s limits upon the salvation of Christ\’s atonement as it is applied to each of us.

    I\’d be interested in hearing of scriptural references that give a final disposition of man. As symbolically represented in the temple, each person progresses through each kingdom, with increasingly stringent requirements for entry to each. Why would we be held back from progressing outside of our own desire to stay where we want?

    Is the efficacy of our work in the temple nullified for those who have died and likely fit the mold of those in D&C 76 who died without the knowledge of Christ but accept His teaching, and seem to be described perfectly with those of the terrestrial kingdom?

    Within Abraham 3:24-28, I think you\’ll find the last few words in verse 26 to be enlightening. Verse 28 delineates the 1st estate from the 2nd (which is also referenced in vs 26).

    I think the work and glory of God as mentioned in Moses 1:39 is a beautiful pattern upon which we can compare our own lives as it relates to our own children. Would we ever give up trying to give them blessings and love? Would we welcome back a wayward child and give feast and riches as we see in the parable of the prodigal son?

    I think our Heavenly Father seeks to have ALL of His children back in his presence, but respects the agency of all to choose for themselves, and still shows love in how He wants all his children to be happy in his preparation of many mansions (of different types) for them.

    Food for thought…

    We had a long list of apostles and prophets speak of black men never receiving the priesthood. We see how that revelation was changed, and in a time of the Lord\’s choosing, likely because we as a church and people were finally able to accept that all worthy men were eligible for the priesthood, and we took it to heart that a man or woman born into a black family should not suffer the \”sins\” (curse) of their fathers to be the deciding factor for their salvation, but upon their own transgressions.

  7. It would seem to me that while we may have the same spirits we chose to create through our actions while in mortality, it couldn’t continue to be so for all eternity. In order to continue a sexual addiction you would have to have the ability to commit sexual sin, however there will be no such thing in the Terrestrial or Telestial kingdoms. I don’t limit this to sexual sin, however that is the greatest threat anyone faces next to murder. However, this also may point to the reason one couldn’t progress. Say you had committed a grave sin, you couldn’t prove that you had overcome unless you had the ability to choose that option in the next life. Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ could take care of that here, but not in the next life. And to live in the Celsestial Kingdom is to be trusted to live responsibly and righteous, even when no one is looking. But like the article reads, there isn’t an exact answer to satisfy.

    1. This is most interesting. I have never considered that limited options would of course limit our choices but do we know for certain that those in the two lower kingdoms will be without sexual capacity? It does seem logical that if they can’t be married, there would be no point in retaining this ability.

  8. What if, in order to achieve our goal, our desire to progress to a higher kingdom, we are asked to live a life in another world to be tested again?!

    1. That\’s crossed my mind before…. kinda nice to see it in print. Average LDS people I\’ve encountered find comfort in certitude. It\’s never felt either comforting or intuitive to rule out the out-of-the-box possibilities. Here is my own non-scriptural imaginitive notion: I can hardly see why those spirits of Heavenly Father and Mother who walked-out during the \”Grand Council\” in heaven (or \”war\” of persuasion or whatever) could not ultimately decide their decision was a big mistake, and then like prodigals, come home and make whatever changes necessary to be born into a mortal life. Personally, I find the idea of the \”free\” ticket back (however illogical) to sound so appealing, and the uncertainty of the unknown so intimidating, I think I may well have been one of those people who wanted to walk. (Seriously! I was born a nervous person!—that\’s why I ended up on this blog, looking for some reassurance that Heavenly Parents don\’t kick their kids out of the house at 18, and tell them if they pass the Big Test, they can come home….and as beings with eternal consciousness (first disembodied, then embodied), our eternal destiny is set in stone based on an infinitely short time-span, where otherwise time has little relevance whatsoever. It just doesn\’t make sense to me. So I finally decided to get online and see if anyone else has something to say about it not being over until it\’s over—without being dogmatic about when \”over\” is.

  9. Something to consider is that most of the speculative statements in favor of progression between kingdoms were made BEFORE the 1918 revelation on the Spirit World. That revelation made it clear that there is progression in the Spirit World but before the resurrection.
    I wonder if President Smith’s revelation on the progression that will be possible in the Spirit World satisfies some of the speculatory statements and the logic behind them without providing a progression between the kingdoms which would happen after the resurrection–which, the way I understand, is permanent.

  10. My son passed away March 11, 2018. He had confessed Jesus as his saviour with a pastor from our old church we use to go to. I’m a convert of nine years and absolutely love learning all i can get. I’m also a person​ who has millions of questions and 100% of the time they get answered one way or another by the holy spirit will lead,guide, me to the answer. It has never failed. The most important thing as a church of Jesus Christ is excepting him as our one and only saviour, the rest of it yes we can learn and teach ourselves from the scriptures how to become a better person, there are all kinds of this and that in the Bible, but we can’t say 100% that all is correct because Joseph Smith even changed things back and forth many times. It’s kinda hard to say yes i know this is Jesus church without exactly knowing why because the spirit tells and confirms it is, but hard to explain. I wonder now about my son, where is he? We all know he’s not in the celestial kingdom, but is he in the telesstrial kingdom awaiting and learning for the day we can get him baptized? I’m kinda confused about that myself. He had an accident which the doctors gave him pain meds and he got addicted to and became a drug addict. He had a heart of gold kind considerate never hurt anyone. He prayed the prayer several times for forgiveness and excepted Jesus, he was well on his way to getting baptized but died before he did. So because of his sins of breaking the law to get drugs and i know for a fact he studied, prayed, all the time. Can someone plz plainly in terms i can understand where his soul might be? He is not evil at all, he was looking forward to getting baptized but had to go to jail for a while because a friend of his set him up with the law to save her own husband from jail and my son gave her two pills and they got it on camera as trafficking. He dies in jail because he had a bad heart and they didn’t give him his meds correctly. They toiled with his pacemaker until they had him so messed up with that not tuned right to no meds half the time. He fell over dead after having four small heart attacks and one big one that killed him. I just need to know with you all’s opinions where you might think his soul is. Thank you!

    1. Dear Sweet Sister, as I read your post my heart goes out to you in your suffering. And yet I know that those things I feel when I read your post are infinitely smaller than that which God feels for you in your pain. Please know this, that God’s love for your son is infinite and eternal and irresistible and never fails. God’s hand is stretched out still and will be forever. We all have to choose Him and follow Him along the path that leads to eternal life but that His love extends to his children and reaches out to them eternally and infinitely is true. Never allow those around you to put a limit on God’s love for His children. He will always and forever provide a way for us to receive Him and His love. God is now and forever more extending His love to your son.

    2. Sandra, I concur fully with Eric\’s July 2018 answer to your question, and I think DC 138:58-59 gives us a fundamental, universal answer.
      QUESTIONS that helped me understand these verses:
      ~ Are the spiritually dead considered \”dead\”? I believe so.
      ~ Is obedience different than performance? I believe so.
      ~ Are \”ordinances of the house of God\” merely baptisms, endowments, sealings, etc? I cannot see it. The grammar is wrong.
      ~ When Jesus spoke of many mansions in His father\’s house, was He speaking of the temple?
      ~ Does your local government have ordinances? Mine does. What are we required to do: obey them, or perform them?

      For myself, the more I study and ponder the Great, merciful Plan of Happiness/Salvation/Redemption/Exaltation, the more convinced I become that our invitation is simple and sincere, that every one of God\’s children on both sides of the veil is invited to repent, come unto Christ, and be exalted. That\’s what President Russell M. Nelson said. God and Jehovah commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. (2 Ne 26:24-28)

      I try to imagine our loving Father saying to any repentant son or daughter, \”Oh, no. Too late. The deadline was last Thursday. Sorry about that.\”

      I can\’t see it.

      THE END FROM THE BEGINNING: Now, If the God of Abraham says there are some who will not progress after the Judgment of the Great Day, then that is a FACT, not a deadline. This foreknowledge is the natural, logical result of His knowing us perfectly. He sees the heart, and the end from the beginning. Regardless of which kingdom each of us is sent, all will (as far as I can tell) still be His beloved children, and ours will still be our beloved children to bless, visit, and care for eternally. Probably more than they want us to.

    3. I don’t know if you’ll see this, Sandra, and for all I know you’ve already been introduced to D&C 137, but that seems to be the scripture your post begs for. Joseph’s brother Alvin was never baptized into the true Church by priesthood authority, yet Joseph still saw him in vision in the celestial kingdom. Joseph wondered why, and received the following answer:
      7. Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this [restored] 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.
      God is fair, and He can see in people what they can’t even see in themselves a lot of times. Your son is in great hands, and I don’t think you have any reason to fear for him.

  11. This is a great resource, especially with the David lesson this week that caused all High Priests to explode when I mentioned the possibility of eternal progression. All things are not revealed…yet, however the fact that in scripture God says that David will not remain in hell forever, is proof enough the there is progression. I think the question that is not answered is how that occurs.

    Salvation is free to all-Christ paid for that.
    Exaltation is still mostly Christ’s mercy and a tiny speck of our own actions. The scriptural term after all we can do is not a chronological if, then it is almost said that regardless of all that we do.

    The main point is that if Christ’s atonement is indeed infinite, than those who have sinned here, even knowingly, will have the opportunity to obtain exaltation (of life with God) Moses 1:39 this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life (exaltation-life with God) of man. Christ’s mission and his atonement has no ends.

    While I appreciate previous prophets idea on the matter, since there is no official point on this matter, I choose Grace over Justice.

  12. There seems to be a couple of lenses through which to view this matter: one perspective is the legalistic perspective where families are eternally divided into different levels. There is abundant support for this view from some authorities and some scriptures. This view has been echoed by some members here.

    Of course, not everyone in the church has a legalistic view. This has been expressed by members, and by authorities, as noted above.

    Gr8fulmi certainly presented a compelling perspective in her post.

    Then there the recollections of those attending the King Follet Discourse mentioned above, Again, while not canonized, Smith is quoted as saying, just two months and days before he died:

    \”When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world\”

    I think it is interesting that Smith\’s is quoted as using the word \”learn\” rather than \”earn\”, that the timeline for this learning of both salvation and exaltation is extended and not a fixed event in time, and that he asserts we do not have a full comprehension of these matters.

    The church\’s teachings are not static. We will continue to learn more, both in this life and beyond, it seems. I do not profess to know much, but I do know that the definition of grace is is \”unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification\” (Mirriam Webster)……and I believe that the atonement of Jesus is very great.

    Our bishop asked the question to a missionary before our congregation in sacrament meeting: \”who is going to the Celestial Kingdom?\” The missionary replied, \”everyone\”. That moment gave me considerable hope.

    1. I’m interested in knowing how we can progress in a lower Kingdom , without opposition
      Opposition as we know it
      There is a theory out there but haven’t tied all of it together yet

  13. The argument of moving from Kingdom to Kingdom ,though not settled ,has validity on both sides
    It is how they are able to do so ,is the territory that hasn’t been explored much that I’m aware of
    Given the audience I would believe exposure to MP or SP would not be new

    With that said and given the possibility of a “sliding scale” of words ,having multiple meaning from Gods perspective ( eternal damnation for example) the landscape of how to interpret or see things ,changes
    MP
    Growth takes opposition -in the spiritual realm
    Limited as our understanding is Opposition, as we know it ,only occurs in a fallen world with a fallen nature

    The spirit world would not seem to allow for this possibility
    It is a place to rest for some, to learn ,to be called our chosen even place to decide ,perhaps if given other options
    What options?

    To go back down and perhaps to eventually never have to “go no more out “- whatever that phrase means- it is mention 5 times in BOM

    We already know that it is possible to go from one glory to less glory and still maintain one’s identity
    Pre- mortal to Mortal
    From gender to character nothing is lost in this transfer except memories and memory
    We are here to be added upon!

    “Time is not measured unto God only man, “is a priceless treasure but given our nature we can only see time
    In time ,who really wants to be stagnated or damned ?
    What father would not provide a way for his children ,who are ready and qualify ,to do just that
    It may takes 1000s of yrs , as measured by man
    It surely would be a choice and to make it easier on those who choose to do so ( and our work isn’t over nor His until all who want salvation and exaltation is over and perhaps it is never over – works without end)
    By allowing what every degree of intelligence and glory your attain to -during your next life -would rise with you in the next glory – you would never lose whatever glory you had attained to
    That would be more appealing, no risk
    Could take 1000s of yrs to get there for some

    The struggle that hasn’t fit is the Resurrection
    But in reading Alma 40;4— He seem to be struggling to explain that the Resurrection Day isn’t fixed, it isn’t the same for everyone
    It can be read and seen many different ways but it seems to imply that it isn’t fixed , allowing that gap in MP to have at least an option

    Some may choose to stay in whatever kingdom they are assigned or given- given what JS said about the lowest, it isn’t bad
    But in time (and it may involve family members and their circumstances ) all will want to “go down “ not to start over but really in some ways to start where they left off
    Maybe there is far more to déjà vu then just fiction or fantasies
    Far more to a night sky than just one feeling homesick to one place but too many places out there
    “worlds without numbers “and perhaps you and I have lived on more than just this one of them

    For me it makes HF plan far more glorious ,for more achievable- filling me with wonderment of the atonement that now would really -have intergalactic relevance in such context, having application to all worlds then- but having to die only on-this one

    It doesn’t lessen my desire to do less now but to do more!!!

    I believe JS knew this. Fits into KFD easily
    Little wonder
    What we have is but a outline of the Great Plan Of Happiness not the blue print
    I’m beginning to believe we only have cliff notes!!

    I do have an idea about the other concern about this idea and sealings
    But I’m tried now

    1. It IS settled…besides all of the clear statements from the Prophets, read or re-read Elder Oaks’ talk in General Conference, last (October 2023)…it’s SETTLED.

  14. The thought only recently came to me that eternal means no terminus. No beginning or end. We are eternal beings.

    So when we talk about beginning and end , we are talking about this Proving \”round\” of salvation. Thus prob-lem-ationary state.

    I suppose the beginning is when the Father called forth his son as the 1st born in the spirit. The end, I think is when this this Earth\’s purpose as probationary state is finished; it becomes a celestial kingdom, Also, satan and his ilk \”return to their own place\” , eternal torment, for however long is required there.

    What happens after that, I for one have not a clue, other than the term eternal progression.

  15. That the church has never offered an official statement tells you all that you need to know, we simply don’t know and at this present time God doesn’t want us to know or he would have told us. What Talmage, Kimble, Young, Packer etc al say is their opinion, nothing more, it is not doctrine. The fragile human mind cannot begin to contemplate the majesty of the eternity,the grace of God, his love for his children. Do not let the bigoted, ignorant ramblings of the die hard zealots act as a framework for your views of what is to come, they have no more idea than you have.

  16. I’m a patient questioner on these matters. I can wait decades without stress. In fact, I must admit that generally the only real questioning I do is when I notice something in the scriptures that escaped me previously.
    For example, it was just a half dozen years ago that I read about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, “And there appeared unto Him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.” What??? God Almighty needed an angel to strengthen Him in order to finish His mission?
    If so, then do I? (Art thou greater than He?)
    Strange to say, this was revelatory to me.
    Many months later it occurred to me to ask, “What would that strengthening look like . . . or sound like?” (Oooo, more revelation!)
    And later, “May I expect that? Can I do that for others?” (Oh…)

    1. Jonathan–it’s an intriguing episode. But how do you strengthen someone who knows everything and has all power, but isn’t using His power or privilege to save Himself from spiritual agony? I believe the only way the angel could strengthen Him was to say, “Thank you; we love You and appreciate what you’re doing.” Of course He already knew they (and we) appreciate what He was doing, but how gratifying it would be to actually hear it! Of course, that’s only my opinion.

  17. J. Masters said on September 1, 2017 above, that he would like to see a scripture that would “give a final disposition of man.”
    Pondering the Plan of Salvation, particularly DC 76 and 88 in detail, I was struck with the root definition of the word ETERNAL. It means no terminals; no beginning or end. We are eternal beings. The Plan has a beginning and end, we do not. I will be very shocked to find any scripture or authoritative statement confirmed by 2 or 3 of the prophets that gives a final disposition of man.
    How God’s children progress after receiving a place in the highest degree of Celestial glory, I have no idea. But I am certain that they will…we will, if I make it.
    At present, I’m interested to see whether or not I have that unchangeable something that makes me a desirable friend and neighbor of the Almighty.

  18. This was a thorough and enlightening discussion. Thank you for sharing your research and insights. I have often pondered this issue and yearned to do all this research, but you did it for me! Like you, I am not certain yet whether I believe in inter-kingdom progression, and I think it is telling that the Lord has not seen fit to officially reveal it in clarity from his mouthpieces (referencing the statement from the first presidency through their secretaries.) I am wary of committing to one belief or the other unless or until the Lord tells me Himself. I am comfortable with the idea that we believe God will “yet reveal many great and important things.” I am reminded of a discussion Henry J. Eyering had with a colleague. A faithful member of the church, Eyering was also a dedicated scientist and believed the fossil record indicated that evolution was a part of the creation process. A colleague asked Eyering how he “thought it was” that this fit in with Adam and Eve’s creation. Rather that give a personal opinion, Eyering chose to say that he believed it happened how it actually happened. In other words, what is the point of committing to a conjecture if you can’t be certain it is right anyway? He wouldn’t hold onto his hypotheses too tightly, only to truth. I think that is good science, and good faith.
    One thought I have had on the progression topic is this: that same spirit will possess our bodies in the world to come. Perhaps progression between kingdoms is possible, but just doesn’t happen (at least often) because, well, we get set in our ways. To live in the celestial kingdom we must be celestial people, living celestial laws. If we aren’t willing to put for the effort to utilize Christ’s atonement and be sanctified in this life, what would change that would make us want to in the next life? My 60 year old Dad could possibly become an avid lover of victorian fashion. But I doubt he would. What I’m saying is, people can change, but I think there is real danger in the “I’ll change someday” mentality. That danger may be not only that our opportunity is gone (although there is a fair argument to be made for that–“the night wherein no man can work” etc) but also that every time we choose not to change it becomes easier not to change. It is easier to leave home and get a job when you are 18 than it is to do when you’ve been living in your parents’ basement and your 50. Maybe It is easier, or at least every bit as easy, to develop celestial qualities on this telestial earth than it would be living in the telestial kingdom in the future.
    This perspective shows God not an harsh referee, “You missed your chance! Sorry, time’s up!” but as a Loving Father begging his children to accept all He has. But will they? If they won’t here, why would they there?
    Just thinking out loud.

  19. There is an old saying that Man made God in his own image and after his likeness. Unfortunately, so many of men\’s interpretations of scripture are based on this inversion of truth, simply because we are finite mortals with limited comprehension, which is precisely why we are here on earth for a time span lasting \”the blink of an eye.\” It is about God\’s will, not our own.

    In D&C 3:2, we read: \”For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round\”. This round is not a circle that starts and stops at the same location, any more than the earth\’s annual orbit around the sun ends where it started in space. It is an upward spiral, never ending and intimating movement and progression. The Hebrew meaning of Jehovah is \”that which was, is and shall be.\” This is a nut humans can\’t crack while in this lone and dreary world bound by the veil of time and space.

    Those who choose to put boundaries around God\’s Plan for Happiness display their own limited comprehension of the Gospel, such as declaring that there is no progression between kingdoms. Given that the Church\’s official position is that we don\’t know the answer to this mystery, such individual\’s (Prophet\’s, Apostles and members) who declare that they do know the answer betray themselves by stating that God is no respecter of persons, except for these self-declared scriptural experts.

    Joseph did make a definitive statement on this point of doctrine, so eloquently, in the King Follett Discourse when he declared: \”It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God…When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel, you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.\”

    Faith is required to know God with a certainty since we are incapable of being at His level of knowledge, understanding and wisdom in this life. Given Jospeh tells us it is the first principle of the Gospel, we are all grasping the bottom rung of the ladder, holding on with our faith, as we navigate through life, enduring to the end. He is telling us that exaltation is not to be comprehended while in this world and the path to exaltation will take a great while after death. President Nelson said the Restoration is a process, not an event. Exaltation is an eternal principle and process. Not a time-bound event.

    Given that we equate Exaltation with the Celestial Kingdom and Joseph declares we can\’t comprehend all in this world and life, he is unequivocally stating that there is progression between the kingdoms. Again, God\’s course is one eternal round of upward, spiraling progression where we can return to his presence (if we choose). To assume that our eternal destiny is determined by this mortal life alone is ignorance masquerading as arrogance.

    Unfortunately, this also implies that mortals don\’t pass from death into one of the three kingdoms based on their lives on earth (Prophet\’s included). God requires order and structure meaning we all go to the Telestial Kingdom where a place is made for us, in our Father\’s house of many mansions, where we can continue our spiritual progression, from Telestial to Terrestrial to Celestial, through eternity. The belief that human\’s can skip kingdoms after death, based on the works of this life, is spiritually, intellectually and morally bankrupt. It shows how limited mortal thinking can become in its pursuit of personal philosophical rationalizations against the backdrop of infinite and eternal principles.

    It reminds me of the joke where Saint Peter gives the new entrant a tour of heaven, showing the parts reserved for those belonging to the many and diverse religions of the world. But when they come to the \”Mormon\” part he smiles and states that they believe they are the only ones there.

  20. It’s forever. Of course there can be progression. It would be decidedly ridiculous to remain in the same state indefinitely.

    1. But ONLY within Our assigned Kingdoms…read Elder Oaks’ latest talk of October 2023 General Conference.

  21. Great discussion….Another dimension to think about are the words of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow, Boyd K. Packer and most recently President Oakes on the topic of the sealing power of the temple and wayward children. Orson F. Whitney, (Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110) recalled that Joseph Smith taught \\\”Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. [Wayward children] will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Brigham Young adds to this teaching by stating that the sealing power of temple and righteous parents \\\”are bound up to their parents by an everlasting tie, and no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity; they will return again to the fountain from whence they sprang” (quoted in Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols.[1954–56], 2:90–91).
    Lorenzo Snow has the most clear answer about this subject. He stated: “If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions and receive a resurrection, you will, by the power of the Priesthood, work and labor, as the Son of God has, until you get all your sons and daughters in the path of exaltation and glory. This is just as sure as that the sun rose this morning over yonder mountains. Therefore, mourn not because all your sons and daughters do not follow in the path that you have marked out to them, or give heed to your counsels. Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and stand as saviors, and as kings and priests to our God, we will save our posterity” (in Collected Discourses, comp. Brian H. Stuy, 5 vols. [1987–92], 3:364).

    These teachings do not clearly settle the debate about progression between kingdoms, but it does seem to allude that progression between kingdoms is possible through the sealing power and exaltation of parents. If Orson F. Whitney was correct in restating what Joseph Smith taught, then the comment that \\\”they will suffer for their sins,\\\” a Telestial designation, is evidence that children can eventually progress toward the celestial kingdom or in other words, become \\\”in the path of exaltation and glory.\\\” Also, Brigham Young\\\’s teaching that \\\”no power of earth or hell can separate them from their parents in eternity\\\” doesn\\\’t make any sense (to me) if this just means exalted parents will only be able to visit their children in the Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms. Thoughts?

  22. This is positively the most inspiring thread I know of. I’ve been returning to it for years, and pondering/studying the subject prayerfully throughout. 1 Ne 11:19-21; Rev 5:12; DC 88:32 (29-33); 77:2; Moses 7:48-49, 61; …
    In the past couple of years the prodigal son has taken a primary position in my thoughts and feelings about this subject. Many consider this a parable about the Almighty. He gave his wayward child a great inheritance completely out of normal order (the father was not dead!) The boy smeared his father’s name in filth, unchecked. Some people just have to lie in the ditch with the pigs until they “come to [themselves]”. This boy did, and began the path of true repentance. I noted that he was not able to sneak up on his father, nor did his father stand in the doorway with arms folded waiting for the reprobate to grovel. I believe that father had been scanning the horizon for his child. He ran out and threw his arms around the boy’s neck and kissed him, took him inside, gave him gifts and threw a party. However, he gave the prodigal none of his brother’s portion. The prodigal will have to “repay the debt to me”, as the Savior says in “The Mediator.”
    The unpardonable sin, I believe and see this supported throughout the scriptures, is continuing willful opposition to our Father, His Son, and their plan. As far as I can imagine, only as long as they are in open rebellion (DC 88:35) they cannot be forgiven, worlds without end.
    Thanks for all your faithful studies and ponderings shared here.

  23. Correction: He ran out while his son was yet a long way off, threw his arms around the boy’s neck and kissed him, took him…

    PS. Most recently the question came to my mind, \”Is the Almighty trapped in the Celestial Kingdom forever?\”

  24. i loved reading your thoughts and feelings on eternal progress and share your conclusion.

    i think we finite fallen beings are not capable now of comprehending the concept of eternity!

    On my mission a little white haired christian lady said, “ I’m going to gaze into Jesus’ eyes for a thousand years!!!”

    I thought at the time, “Good luck with that Sister! I don’t think the Saviour of the Universe is going to be sitting around waiting for people to gaze into His eyes for 10 minutes!!!”

    Eternity is a dynamic process with lots of growth, learning , serving, progressing going on!!! if not all that endless sitting around for endless eons will be pure Hell!!

    How many Jerry Sinfeild re-runs can you watch????

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