Exaltation (Mormonism)
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- For the term "exalt", see exalt.
Exaltation or Eternal Progression is a belief among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) that mankind, as spirit children of their Father in Heaven, can become like Him. Although the exact meaning of this has not been defined, most Latter-day Saints speculate that this signifies they may enter the Celestial Kingdom and dwell in the Father's presence. In the Doctrine & Covenants is found a scripture that describes those who are exalted will become gods.[1] Though Exaltation is not limited to Latter-day Saints, saving ordinances will be required of all who may enter. To enter the presence of the Father signifies that one has become a co-inheritor with Jesus thus becoming like the Father and the Son.
According to LDS beliefs, one ordinance required of all those who hope to achieve exaltation is to be sealed in one of the temples of the LDS Church. One reason for Church members' commitment to perform vicarious work is their belief that those who have died without these ordinances need them in order to progress in knowledge beyond this life to a greater state of knowledge than they would otherwise achieve. They feel obligated to perform these ordinances for all those who have lived before them, particularly their ancestors, that all may have an equal opportunity to receive the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom of God if they choose to do so through their faith in and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Acceptance of these ordinances by the spirit beings of those who have died would be entirely voluntary in that existence (the Spirit world or paradise), and none would be coerced in any way. Some would accept them, and others would reject them. Those who rejected them would still have the opportunity to inherit a kingdom of glory distinct from the Celestial Kingdom: either the Terrestrial Kingdom or the Telestial Kingdom.
Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom is the ultimate goal of most faithful LDS Church members. LDS Church founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., taught this doctrine in the King Follett Discourse.
In Moses 1:39 God tells Moses, "this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." God shows Moses a vision depicting some of His vast creations including a vast number of worlds created for other people—a sampling of what God created in the past and what he will continue to do forever. Each world was prepared and peopled by God for the purpose of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of humankind. Immortality refers to personal resurrection by which each individual can continue to enjoy a perfect, physical body forever. Eternal life refers to living in the presence of God and Jesus Christ. Exaltation refers to becoming like God both in terms of holiness or godliness and sharing in God's glory. It is commonly believed by members of the Church that, as God's children, mankind may grow through Christ to become like the Heavenly Father. The eternities will be spent in a process of eternal progression and becoming like the Savior and the Father; even to the extent of eventually creating additional worlds and people in an endless process of exalting humankind.
Of all the doctrines including polygamy, religious critics generally deem this doctrine the most offensive or even blasphemous[citation needed]. Some Latter-day Saints posit that even assuming mainstream Christianity's definition of God's omnipotence and omnibenevolence, not only does God have the power to exalt mortal man, but without the possibility, there is little reason for mortality. They also point to comments made by Christ and Psalmists among others that refer to the Divine nature and potential of humans as children of God. They include many passages in the Book of Revelation that describe the exalted state of those who overcome by faith in Jesus Christ. Some Latter-day Saints also suggest that discussions of theosis by early Church fathers demonstrate that some basic concept of deification, possibly parallel to the LDS concept, was part of the original Christian church.
