Mormon Terminology

18 September

Salvation 

In Mormonism there is a general or “unconditional salvation” of all people because God gives “grace alone without obedience to gospel law”.  After this general salvation comes the placement of souls.  Heaven is comprised of three distinct levels and you earn your way into the various levels by the amount or type of work you’ve done here on earth.  These levels are; the Celestial Kingdom, Terrestrial Kingdom and the lowest level of the Telestial Kingdom.  To the Mormon you aren’t truly ‘saved’ unless you enter into what they call the Celestial Kingdom and have become a god.

In addition to this, in Mormonism there are three different ways to earn your way to hell.  Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (the unpardonable sin), murder, and becoming an apostate that speaks out against the church.

“Highest among the kingdoms of glory hereafter is the celestial kingdom. It is the kingdom of God, the glory thereof being typified by the sun in the firmament. (D. & C. 76:50-70, 92-96; 1 Cor. 15:39-42.)”   Mormon Doctrine, 116.

 “Another thing that we must not forget in this great plan of redemption and exaltation, is that a man must have a wife, and a woman a husband, to receive the fulness of exaltation. They must be sealed for time and for all eternity in a temple; then their union will last forever, and they cannot be separated because God has joined them together, as he taught the Pharisees.”  Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2: 43.

The Terrestrial Kingdom is for “accountable persons who die without law” and who have not accepted the gospel in the spirit world and it’s for the Mormons “who are not valiant but are instead lukewarm in their devotion to the Church and to righteousness.  (D&C 76:71-80).”  Mormon Doctrine, 784.  These people are separated from God’s presence but at the same time will be servants of those who attained godhood in the Celestial Kingdom.  They may also be stuck serving the ones in the lower kingdom of Telestial glory.  This kingdom is for the Mormon who hasn’t been to the temple for their endowments, the inactive Mormon (jack-Mormon) and the good Christian from the outside of Mormonism.

The Telestial Kingdom is for “the endless hosts of people of all ages, who have lived after the manner of the world; who have been carnal, sensual, and devilish; who have chosen the vain philosophies of the world rather than accept the testimony of Jesus; who have been liars and thieves, sorcerers and adulterers, blasphemers and murderers. (D. & C. 76:81-112; Rev. 22:15.)”  Mormon Doctrine, 778.  This group of people also includes the proud and those who live wickedly.

There is nothing in the Bible that mentions three levels of heaven for people to reside in according to their salvation.  Jesus told the Sadducees in Mark 12:18-25 that there are no marriages in heaven and then in Luke 16:19-31 He told the Pharisees that there were no second chances after you die.

Acts 4:12 says; “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Eph. 2:8-9; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Rom. 10:9; “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 4:25; “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply