Exaltation (Mormonism)
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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 (Romans 8:16-17).
According to LDS beliefs, certain ordinances, such as baptism are required of all those who hope to achieve exaltation. Yet millions have lived and died throughout the earth's history without having received these saving ordinances. Unlike traditional protestant doctrine which suggests that those who die without accepting Christ are forever cut-off from the presence of God, LDS doctrine teaches that all individuals will have an equitable and fair opportunity to hear the 'fullness of the gospel' taught in this life, or in the life to come, and will subsequently have the opportunity to either accept the message of Jesus Christ and His gospel, or reject it. Church members are committed to performing these sacred ordinances vicariously in behalf of those who have died without the opportunity of the gospel or its saving ordinances. It is their belief that those who have died without these ordinances need them in order to progress beyond this life. They feel obligated to perform these ordinances for all mankind who have lived before them, 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 those who have died is entirely voluntary in that existence (the Spirit world or paradise), and in no way takes away the agency of those individuals, or coerces them 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 faithful LDS Church members. LDS Church founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., taught this doctrine in the King Follett Discourse.
In the Mormon scripture 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, through merits and mercy of the Atonement of Christ, may become like the Heavenly Father. As Paul taught the Romans, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)" The eternities will be spent in a process of eternal progression and becoming like the Father; even to the extent of eventually creating additional worlds and people in an endless process of exalting humankind.
Latter-day Saints posit that 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 indeed part of the original Christian church.
