1

Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual

(Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000), 13. Rev 6-1-05

2

“The

Boo

k of

Abr

aham

,” P

earl

of G

reat

Pri

ce, 3

6-37

.

3

Jose

ph F

ield

ing

Smith

(pr

ophe

t), A

nsw

ers

To

Gos

pel Q

uest

ions

, co

mp.

Jos

eph

Fie

ldin

g S

mit

h, J

r.

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: D

eser

et B

ook

Com

pany

, 196

0), 3

:142

-144

.

4

Milt

on R

. Hun

ter

(sev

enty

), T

he G

ospe

l Thr

ough

The

Age

s (S

alt L

ake

City

: Ste

vens

and

Wal

lis, I

nc, 1

945)

, 14-

15.

5

Ete

rnal

Mar

riag

e St

uden

t Man

ual

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: T

he C

hurc

h of

Jes

us C

hris

t of

Lat

ter-

day

Sain

ts, 2

003)

, 259

.

Doc

trin

e an

d C

oven

ants

and

Chu

rch

His

tory

: G

ospe

l Doc

trin

e T

each

er’s

Man

ual

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: T

he C

hurc

h of

Jes

us C

hris

t of

Lat

ter-

day

Sain

ts, 1

999)

, 106

.

6

M

elvi

n J.

Bal

lard

(ap

ostle

), T

hree

Deg

rees

of G

lory

( I

ndep

ende

nce:

Mis

sion

s of

the

Chu

rch

of J

esus

Chr

ist

of L

atte

r-da

y Sa

ints

in A

mer

ica,

[19

22?]

), 1

9-20

.

Jo

seph

Fie

ldin

g Sm

ith (

prop

het)

, D

octr

ines

of S

alva

tion

, com

p. B

ruce

R. M

cCon

kie

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: B

ookc

raft

, 195

4), 1

:61.

7

The

Boo

k of

Mor

mon

.

8

Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual

(Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000), 20.

9

Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000), 21.

10

The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979), 23.

11

Orson Pratt (apostle), The Seer (Salt Lake City: Seagull Book and Tape, 1993), 158.

12

Family Home Evening

(Salt Lake City: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1972), 126.

13

14

The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979), 172.

15

Ete

rnal

Mar

riag

e St

uden

t Man

ual

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: T

he C

hurc

h of

Jes

us C

hris

t of

Lat

ter-

day

Sain

ts, 2

003)

, 319

.

“Art

icle

s of

Fai

th,”

The

Pea

rl o

f Gre

at P

rice

.

16

Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed.

(Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2001), 447.

17

Pre

para

tion

for

Exa

ltat

ion

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: T

he C

hurc

h of

Jes

us C

hris

t of

Lat

ter-

day

Sain

ts, 1

998)

, 36-

37.

18

Pre

para

tion

for

Exa

ltat

ion

(Sal

t Lak

e C

ity: T

he C

hurc

h of

Jes

us C

hris

t of

Lat

ter-

day

Sain

ts, 1

998)

, 40-

41.

19

Eternal Marriage Student Manual (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003), 167.

20

Achieving a Celestial Marriage (Salt Lake City: Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1976), 132.

21

Isai

ah 4

3

Sear

ch T

hese

Com

man

dmen

ts:

Mel

chiz

edek

Pri

esth

ood

Per

sona

l Stu

dy G

uide

(S

alt L

ake

City

: The

Chu

rch

of J

esus

Chr

ist o

f L

atte

r-da

y Sa

ints

, 198

4) 1

51-1

52.

The Three Questions Where Did We Come From?

Latter-day Saint Teaching Before birth on this earth, we were born to Heavenly Father and Heavenly mother as spirit persons. “All men and women are…literally the sons and daughters of Diety (sic)….Man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal [physical] body.”1 In the pre-earth life, we all chose to follow God or Satan.

Biblical Teaching The Bible teaches that God created humans, not procreated them (Gen. 1:27, 5:1, Deut. 4:32, Ps. 104:30, Isa. 45:12). This is true of the physical and soul. “God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Gen. 2:7). Hence, Adam was not a living soul until he was created on earth. The word “formed” above is the same word found in Zechariah 12:1: “[The LORD] formeth the spirit of man within him.” It means to make or fashion. Just as Adam’s physical body did not

exist before being formed, his spirit did not have a previous existence before being formed. God is not called “Father” in the sense of procreation. Instead, people can call God “Father” in the sense of adoption (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:5, Eph. 1:5). John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” If God gives a person power to become His son, then that person is not His son naturally. The LDS often use Jeremiah 1:5 to show that humans existed before birth; “…before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee.” This does not demonstrate Jeremiah’s pre-existence. Romans 9:10-13 reveals that God chose Jacob over Esau before their birth. But, his choice was not due to Jacob’s pre-birth goodness. Paul explains that God chose them before they were born, hence, they had not “done any good or evil” (11). These verses indicate God’s work in calling a person, not human achievement before birth.

Why Are We Here? Latter-day Saint Teaching

“This earth is a place where people are given the opportunity to learn, to prove themselves, and to develop the characteristics of Heavenly Father.”2 God “proves” his children by giving them commandments; “We are tested in mortality to show whether or not we will keep God’s commandments and overcome sin and opposition.”3 After one receives and lives God’s commandments, eternal life is obtained.4

Biblical Teaching The Bible teaches that we are here to seek God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31 instructs: “Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” While the Latter-day Saint would see God’s glory as important, the focus of this

earth life is to seek self exaltation. Romans 11:36 says, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Hence, the purpose for our existence is found in the person of God. He not only created us, but he created us for Himself. He did not create us to achieve His status. (See also Prov. 16:4, Col. 1:16, Rev. 4:11). Even when God saves a person, He does so to show His glory. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9, see also Eph. 1:5). Hence, a person does not receive salvation based on personal merit. Instead, God blesses people so He will receive glory (Ps. 67:7).

Where Are We Going? Latter-day Saint Teaching

Upon death, “…people who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived righteously are assigned to a state of happiness known as paradise. People who have rejected the gospel and people who have died without a knowledge of the truth are assigned to a state of darkness called spirit prison, sometimes called hell….After we have been resurrected and judged, each of us will dwell in one of three kingdoms of glory.”5 Those who enter the Celestial Kingdom (the highest) are those who have “accepted the testimony of Christ [and] obeyed ‘the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.’”6 They will eventually “become gods and have jurisdiction over worlds, and these worlds will be peopled by [their] own offspring.”7 The middle kingdom is for honorable people who did not comply with all the requirements for exaltation. The last, the Telestial Kingdom, will be inhabited by the “murderers, liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and whoremongers—in general, the wicked people of the earth.” The Father dwells only in the Celestial Kingdom.8

Biblical Teaching Those who are saved enter the presence of God upon death (Acts 7:59, 2 Cor. 5:1, Phil. 1:21-23). Later, they will receive a resurrected body (1 Cor. 15:35-54). Their ultimate destiny is to continue worshiping God for eternity (Rom. 11:36, Rev. 19:1-6). The unsaved will enter a temporary state called “Hades” (often translated “hell”) awaiting their final judgment. Then, they will be resurrected, judged, and receive punishment for eternity in Gehenna (normally translated “hell”) (Matt. 10:28, Mark 9:48, Rev. 20:13-15, 21:8). To justify levels of heaven, the LDS often appeal to: “In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). Jesus means that within the Father’s one house (heaven), there are many places to live. Hence, there will be plenty of room for all of the Father’s adopted children to dwell. This guarantees eternal intimacy with the Father and Son. The LDS doctrine undermines Jesus’ intent since the Father’s presence is only in the Celestial Kingdom.

1 Joseph F. Smith, “The Origin of Man,” Improvement Era, November 1909, 78, 80, quoted in Gospel Principles, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1986) 9.

2 Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2001) 394.

3 Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000) 27.

4 Doctrines and Covenants Student Manual, 395.

5 Preparing for Exaltation, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1998) 36, 38.

6 James Talmage (apostle) Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1925) 91-92, quoted in Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, 91.

7 Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1955) 2:48, quoted in Achieving a Celestial Marriage, (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1976) 132.

8 Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, 90.

Star: ________________________________ God: ________________________________ Heavenly _________________________ Spirit: ______________________________ Jesus and _______________________

1st Estate

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Where did we come from?

Where are we going?

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The Law of Eternal Progression

Why are we here?

1. _____________ 2. _____________ 3. _____________ 4. _____________ 5. _____________ 6. _____________ 7. _____________ 8. _____________ 9. _____________

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