Exaltation (Mormonism)

Exaltation is a belief in Mormonism that after death some people will reach the highest level of salvation in the celestial kingdom and eternally live in God's presence, continue as families, become gods, create worlds, and make spirit children over whom they will govern.[1][2][3] In the largest Mormon denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), top leaders have taught God wants exaltation for all humankind and that humans are "gods in embryo".[4][5][6] A verse in the LDS Church's canonized scripture states that those who are exalted will become gods,[7] and a 1925 statement from the church's highest governing body said that "All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother ... [and are] capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God."[11]

The LDS Church teaches that through exaltation believers may become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.[12][13][14] A popular Mormon quote—often attributed to the early apostle Lorenzo Snow in 1837—is "As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be."[15][16][17]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Continuation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Carter, K. Codell (1992). "Godhood". In Ludlow, Daniel H. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York City: Macmillan Publishers. pp. 553, 555. ISBN 978-0-02-904040-9. They [resurrected and perfected mortals] will dwell again with God the Father, and live and act like him in endless worlds of happiness ... above all they will have the power of procreating endless lives. ... Those who become like him will likewise contribute to this eternal process by adding further spirit offspring to the eternal family.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fundamentals was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Boyd, George T. (1968). "A Mormon Concept of Man". Dialogue. 3 (1): 65. doi:10.2307/45226953. JSTOR 45226953. S2CID 254392103.
  5. ^ Hagen, Kirk D. (Summer 2006). "Eternal Progression in a Multiverse: An Explorative Mormon Cosmology". Dialogue. 39 (2): 2. doi:10.2307/45227238. JSTOR 45227238. S2CID 254398580.
  6. ^ Cook, Bryce (July 1, 2017). "What Do We Know of God's Will for His LGBT Children?: An Examination of the LDS Church's Position on Homosexuality". Dialogue. 50 (2): 6. doi:10.5406/dialjmormthou.50.2.0001. S2CID 190443414.
  7. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 132:20
  8. ^ Evolution and the Origin of Man. Brigham Young University. 2004. p. 3.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Believe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Mormon Leader Explains View of His Church on Authenticity of Bible Story of Creation". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. June 23, 1925. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ [8][9]: 155 [10]
  12. ^ Romans 8:17
  13. ^ Revelation 21:7
  14. ^ Smith, Joseph (April 7, 1844). King Follett Discourse (Speech) – via Joseph Smith Papers.
  15. ^ Morris Brown, Samuel (December 1, 2011). In Heaven as It Is on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Early Mormon Conquest of Death. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-979368-6.
  16. ^ Mouw, Richard J. (May 2016). "Mormons Approaching Orthodoxy". First Things. New York City: Institute on Religion and Public Life. ProQuest 9deca3393917d5a61d59857dcb107139.
  17. ^ Lund, Gerald N. (February 1982). "I Have a Question: Is President Lorenzo Snow's oft-repeated statement—"As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be"—accepted as official doctrine by the Church?". Ensign.

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