teddyaware

In case you missed it, in the beginning God created the human generations of the heaven and in His own image, a divine image that fully extends to the natures of both human males and human females. The context of Genesis 1 makes it clear that prior to the fall these human males and females were created by God to be sexual beings capable of bringing forth offspring by means of obeying the very first commandment God ever gave to man, which is to lawfully engage in the act of sexual procreation. And since the generations of the heaven and earth were created in the very image of God as both male AND female, to many Latter-Day Saints (Yours Truly included) it’s perfectly reasonable and logical and to expect that the divine nature of God’s family circle would include both male and female natures. After all, God himself declared the divine nature to be both male and female. And when was there ever a father who was able bring forth a son without the indispensable contribution of a mother? And let’s not forget that prior to the fall, while in Eden, that God commanded the then immortal and sinless Adam and Eve, to multiply and replenish the earth. In this regard, it always amuses me that it never seems to dawn on non-LDS Christians that redemption from the fall should include the redemptive blessing of being able to bring forth children while existing in a state of holiness since prior to the fall Adam and Eve were an eternally married couple who were under the commandment to bring forth children while living without sin in God’s immediate presence. In other words, redemption from the fall should necessarily include a return to the state of eternal marriage that was enjoyed by our first parents before their fall, including the opportunity to fulfill the commandment to multiply while living lives of holiness in the presence of God. We can actually get a glimpse of how the male and female divine natures combine to work in wondrous ways when it’s understood that by means of the sexual reproductive system of Mary God’s Son gestated in her womb and was born into the world with a human body. God wisely implemented the holy miracle of human sexual procreation for his eternal purposes, its spiritually blind men and women who ignore its sanctity and debase it. It’s fallen mankind who made sex “dirty” but In the beginning it was highly esteemed as the holy mechanism through which God’s great purposes in the creation to roll forward. It’s the refusal to believe that human sexuality can continue beyond the grave that makes “first wave,” mid-19th century Mormonism appear so strange to many. Nevertheless, if we’re going to be raised from the dead with fully functioning human organs suited to a holier state, why is it so hard to imagine that the human sexual reproductive system can also be perfected in the resurrected to function in a holier state? But I guess it’s easier and less icky to presume that all human beings are going to be raised from the dead with either anatomically incorrect Barbie and Ken bodies that will ultimately serve to prove that gender really is nothing more than a human construct. “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and PURPOSE” (The Family, a Proclamation to the World)

The Apostle Paul was exceedingly grateful for all the trials and tribulations he had to pass through because he came to realize that it was by faithfully grappling with and overcoming each of these great challenges that the Lord was able to increasingly strengthen him in the inner man until he was finally spiritually empowered to overcome this fallen world and know before death that his exaltation was assured. Herein is the answer to your question. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12)

For the same reason that Christ was required was to suffer far more than us all. Our suffering with Christ is the essential refiner’s fire by which our faith in God’s goodness is perfected, for if our faith remains unshakeable, in spite of every device the adversary can amass against us, we will be found worthy to inherit the infinite and eternal fullness of God’s love, intelligence, wisdom and power, and forever thereafter the powers of darkness will remain forever subject to those who have overcome the powers of darkness through their faith in Jesus Christ. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: 17 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. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:16-18)

The following two quotations, the first from the Prophet Joseph Smith and the second from our victorious atoning Lord, who endured infinite and eternal suffering on the way to being crowned with eternal glory and Lordship, provide two very illuminating answers to your question: “You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God, and ... God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God.” (Joseph Smith} 6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; 7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? (Doctrine and Covenants 122)

God didn’t create hell. Fundamentally, hell is the inescapable natural consequence of one having to live within his own tormented conscience due his failure to comply with the eternal laws that alone are able to reconcile repentant souls to the God of truth and justice. In truth, hell is a naturally occurring spiritual condition that needs to exist as an essential manifestation of the immutable law of opposition in all things. Indeed, the existence of hell is powerful evidence of God’s infinite and eternal love for each of his spirit children, for it’s by the means of the torment of conscience for rebellion that recalcitrant human souls are finally able to awaken from the sleep of death and reach out in faith to the Savior (who suffered in the depths of hell for us all) for rescue and deliverance. The abolishment of hell would mean the end of existence for hell is an essential and indispensable manifestation of the law of diametric opposition in all things, and as father Lehi so eloquently testified, without opposition in all things nothing could exist. Without hell no one could be saved, for there would be nothing to be saved from and life would be totally meaningless. And lest we forget, with full foreknowledge we all joyfully signed up for this experience in the fallen state knowing that it was the right thing to do. By his own experience, Alma powerfully testifies how the state of hell is able to awaken souls to the wonders of God’s redeeming love… 13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments. 14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. 15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds. 16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul. 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. 18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. 19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. 20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! 21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. (Alma 36)

With full and complete exposure to all the possibilities we might encounter while in this fallen state, we all had complete foreknowledge and agreed to the Father’s plan of salvation before we were born. You and others like yourself likely said, “Lord, if causing me to experience the full, unalloyed effects of my sinfulness turns out to be the only way you’ll be able to save and reclaim me from an endless hell, then you have have my permission to cause me to experience what it’s like to live with myself in my unconverted, unredeemed state until I finally wake up realize that the only way to escape the perfectly natural effects of my rebellion against truth is to repent accept Christ as my Lord and Savior. But I guess you think it would be better to just let the unconverted wicked spend all eternity in the endless sorrow and misery of hell without the Lord even trying to rescue them? It’s hard to kick against the pricks wishing to live in a fantasy world where good and evil have no consequences. 13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away. (2 Nephi 2)

Doctrine and Covenants 76 describes the “hellish experience” that the wicked will experience after death as “the Wine-Press of the Fierceness of the Wrath of Almighty God.” Section 76 goes on to testify that the rebellious spirits who suffer for their sins while within this spiritual wine-press of divine wrath will eventually be humbled, rendered contrite and subdued unto Christ, and as a consequence will be made fit subjects to receive salvation and a mansion of glory in the telestial kingdom of heaven. But before their salvation can be consummated these formerly rebellious souls will publicly bow the knee before God the Father on the day of judgement and gratefully confess unto him that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of their souls. By this, we can see that the scriptures are true when they declare that there can be no salvation without living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 104 These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth. 105 These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. 106 These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of God, until the fullness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; 107 When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. 108 Then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever. 109 But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore; 110 And heard the voice of the Lord saying: These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever; 111 For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared; (Doctrine and Covenants 76)

I believe it’s likely that when he referrers to being barred from speaking at family weddings and funerals he’s not pointing to any official church policy. Rather, it’s probable that his own family members have made it clear to him that they don’t want to an excommunicated “lose cannon,” such as himself, to insert apostate ideas into what are supposed to be solemn, faith affirming family gatherings.

It will be both. Enoch’s heavenly city of Zion will descend and merge with its sister city, the latter-day Zion that will be built and established on the American continent by the faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! The might, majesty and glory of this sacred event will rival any of the sacred events of the past and will mark the beginning of the Lord’s millennial reign on the earth. 62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. 63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other. 64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest. (Moses 7)

It’s understandable how the phrase “generation upon generation” could cause some confusion here, but by reading verse 24 in the context of the following 20 informative verses it become perfectly clear that the previously mentioned righteous souls who were taken up to the heavenly Zion were contemporaries of Enoch who were lifted up so as to avoid the destruction of the great flood that would follow soon after the ministry of Enoch, which is the same ministry that was passed on to Noah after Enoch and his people of the city of Zion were taken up to heaven. 24 And there came generation upon generation; and Enoch was high and lifted up, even in the bosom of the Father, and of the Son of Man; and behold, the power of Satan was upon all the face of the earth. 25 And he saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth. 26 And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced. 27 And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion. 28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains? 29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity? 30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever; 31 And thou hast taken Zion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep? 32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; 33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood; 34 And the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them. 35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also. 36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren. 37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer? 38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them. 39 And that which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment; 40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands. 41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook. 42 And Enoch also saw Noah, and his family; that the posterity of all the sons of Noah should be saved with a temporal salvation; 43 Wherefore Enoch saw that Noah built an ark; and that the Lord smiled upon it, and held it in his own hand; but upon the residue of the wicked the floods came and swallowed them up. (Moses 7)

An interesting point regarding the Byrd’s rendition of Turn! Turn! Turn: When listening to the song’s instrumental interlude one might mistakenly think that Roger McGuinn is simply plucking the individual notes of the song’s melody on his Rickenbacker 12 string guitar, but what he’s actually doing is playing an intricate double-time finger picking banjo solo on a guitar (he’s an excellent banjo player). On the following tutorial video, McGuinn’s famous 12 string guitar solo starts at 2:00. https://youtu.be/ZAejkh4rTjs?is=syJeD0trdF7kvxv8

I’m the Gospel Doctrine teacher in my ward and during my lesson preparation I considered playing the Byrds masterpiece ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ as part of the lesson, but rejected the idea due to the new time constraints.. There were seven specific interesting bullet points I was hoping we could discuss as a class, but due to the new 25 minute time limitation we were only were able to touch on one of them. Frustrating! Going forward, I’m seriously considering simply choosing some interesting quotes from that week’s scripture reading and offer them to the class members for discussion. Other than reading and pondering that week’s assigned chapters, there will likely be minimal lesson preparation on my part. We’ll see…

Greetings! I’m an unusual case in light of the fact that when seniors perform squats it’s strongly recommended they never dip lower than the point where their thighs are parallel to the floor, and this so as to prevent potential injury. The only reason why I’m able to easily do 100 deep knee bends every other day is because I’ve gradually and cautiously improved my leg strength and mobility to the point that I’ve now demonstrated to my satisfaction that I’m very likely not going to incur injury. And while it’s true that there’s added physical benefit to squatting down as low as possible, I’m definitely an outlier because deep knee bends for seniors are not recommended. In addition, it’s important to let you know that almost all physical therapists and trainers will tell you that if you were only able to do one exercise for the rest of your life that squats would win hands down. As we age, the legs are normally the first thing to go, so keeping your legs strong and flexible will pay enormous benefits! And remember to be sure you get adequate quality protein in your diet because sarcopenia (age related muscle wasting) will actually accelerate if you exercise without supplying enough protein for post exercise muscle recovery. Finally, my 6 days per week workout program is quite varied with 20 different weight resistance and calisthenic exercises, with an added 30 minutes on an exercise bike on each of the six days. It’s no fun, but my health is excellent (I take zero prescribed drugs) and when I’m not huffing and puffing I feel great! An added benefit is that I’ve definitely noticed disciplining the will to face the rigors of an uncomfortable exercise program toughens and sharpens the mind. All the best!

One of the things I’ve learned is that the body has a remarkable ability to renew and repair itself if you eat right and consistently push it to work beyond your comfort zone. In your case, you may have to start out very slowly and cautiously, but once you get your blood really cascading through your body good things will begin to happen, Another benefit I’ve noticed is that adequate exercise not only strengthens the body it but also toughens the mind. Constantly pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone (within reason) will cause you to be far more emotionally resilient. It sure worked for me! Things that used to throw me for an emotional loop now leave me unfazed.

I’m a 77 year old male who’s in excellent health and in prime athletic physical condition (for example, my resting heart rate is presently 36 beats per minute). I achieved this present state of good health and high level fitness by means of a rigorous 6 day per week program of weight resistance training and aerobic exercise. Quite honestly, I don’t enjoy my workouts but the benefits derived therefrom far outweigh any of the discomfort, ‘muscle burn’ and heavy breathing. In all honesty, I feel as I did in my mid-30’s As we age, one of the biggest health problems we humans face is the process of muscle atrophy and deterioration called sarcopenia. In order to stave off the debilitating scourge of sarcopenia I need to be sure I’m getting sufficient protein in my diet. That’s why I drink the following protein shake concoction every day: 1 raw organic egg, 1/2 cup of quality whole milk plain Greek Yogurt, 1 container scoop of high quality protein powder, a handful of frozen blueberries, 1 container scoop of Black Forest brand high flavanol cocoa powder, 1 heaping teaspoon of Navitas brand raw cacao powder, 2 teaspoons of freeze dried pomegranate powder and 10 ounces of purified water. Mix in a blender. And don’t hesitate to throw in whatever else suits your fancy. A final note: The only way to truly arrest the onslaught of incapacitating sarcopenia is to do at least a moderate amount of weight resistance training. Walking isn’t enough. Even if you can only manage to regularly do some squats, pushups and sit-ups, these 3 calisthenic movements will do you a world of good. Personally I started out very slowly, and now, in addition to all the other exercises I do, I can easily do 100 pushups, 100 deep knee bend squats and 100 bent leg sit-ups a day in 5 sets of 20 for each movement. Like I say, it’s no fun but it’s so much more than worth it! In fact my doctor recently told me I’ve succeeded in turning back my biological clock 20 years! Good luck and best wishes.

The remarkable thing is that they think they’re somehow glorifying God when they assert that men are incapable of being filled with all the fullness of God, but in reality they’re actually asserting that the infinite and eternal God somehow lacks the power to perfect his own creation. And what possible justification could there be for God not wanting to perfect his children whom he created in his own image? Why would he want to prevent them from being just as happy, enlightened and glorious as he is? 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3)

There are two primary usages of the term telestial in the church. One use refers to the state of this fallen world so grievously impacted by physical and spiritual death. The second use of the term refers to a kingdom of immortal heavenly glory inhabited by resurrected beings who have received a remission of their earthly sins, and who enjoy constant communion with the Holy Spirit and visitations from heavenly messengers. This fallen telestial earth and the post-resurrection Telestial kingdom of heavenly glory are vastly different entities. For the most part, the only thing these two realms have in common is that they both exist in a condition distant from the immediate presence of God, one much more so than the other.

The Book of Mormon does indeed assert the reality of original sin as a doctrinal concept, one that’s very similar to the original sin doctrine of the Catholic Church. Where the Latter-Day Saints part company with the Catholics on this point is we believe that the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ mitigates the utterly destructive spiritual and temporal effects of the fall, and does so by mercifully allowing every member of the human family to be endowed at birth with the indwelling and uplifting light of Christ so that each individual isn’t left utterly bereft of a spiritual connection with God While it’s true that the Book of Mormon does testify that the fall, if allowed to stand alone without counteraction, would have left man in a state of total spiritual depravity, it’s also true it the Book of Mormon testifies that thanks to the atonement of Christ the totally devastating spiritual effects of the fall are mitigated to the point that all accountable humans are free to draw upon the inner light of Christ to choose good over evil. This means that while the fall could have been the worst possible calamity that could possibly befall the children of men, nevertheless, thanks to the atonement of Christ the fallen state has been transformed into a wisely designed spiritual proving ground in which men and women are able to freely choose between good and evil, and if one so desires, follow Christ on the covenant path to glory. Anything less than this would make God unjust. 6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut of from the presence of the Lord. 7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. 8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. 9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel light, and strirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. 10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit. 11 And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave. (2 Nephi 9)

My church member brother and I both worked on that project to uncover as many quotes about the inheritors of the telestial kingdom as we could find, and did so using the then popular Infobase Library CD-Rom as our source of data. It was amazing and truly eye opening to come to the realization that so many of the early church General Authorities repeatedly taught that accepting Christ as Savior and confessing him before the Father is an absolute prerequisite for entry into the post-resurrection telestial kingdom of glory. Perhaps if the Infobase Library is still available you could do your own search on the subject by using search terms such as “telestial glory, salvation”. As for where that stack of papers might be with the many quotes we printed out at that time might happen be would be a challenge since I’ve moved twice since that time and I’m not a highly organized person. At the conclusion of the project, my brother even wrote a rather long and persuasive summary on our findings. And I must say that as a consequence of that project you could respond to me with your line of reasoning till you’re blue in the face but you’ll never be able to persuade me to budge an inch from my present stance because what the early brethren had to say on the subject if far too beautiful, glorious and sensible to ignore. Without getting bogged down in the rhetorical mire with too much information to digest all at once, let’s proceed by addressing one simple question at a time with direct on-point responses. My first question for you is this: do you believe the inheritors of the telestial kingdom will need to obtain a remission of their sins through Christ prior to receiving their salvation in the telestial kingdom of glory?

So then, you believe the inheritors of the telestial kingdom of glory will somehow be able to enjoy and appreciate the companionship of the Holy Spirt (whose primary mission is to bear witness of the Father and the Son) after the resurrection without first accepting Christ as their personal Savior? Doctrine and Covenants 76 testifies that the only individuals who will not be forgiven by the final judgement are the sons of perdition (see below). Therefore, do you actually believe the inheritors of the telestial kingdom are going to obtain a remission of their sins and the companionship of the Holy Spirit without first having to exercise faith in Christ unto repentance, an idea that’s taught nowhere in the scriptures? Doctrine and Covenats 76 makes it clear that the only ones who will not eventually be redeemed by the Savior are the sons of perdition. So are you saying that it’s possible to be redeemed and obtain a kingdom of glory without having to exercise agency and agree to this arrangement first? And if the only individuals who will experience the second death are the sons of perdition, are you saying you believe that great hosts of those who will be made spiritually alive through Christ won’t have to first agree to the terms of their redemption — that it will just be thrust upon them without any say in the matter? By the way, about 25 years ago I did a very deep dive on this subject and discovered multiple scores of quotes from many of the early leaders of the Church who consistently taught that entry into the telestial glory is only made possible by an acceptance of Christ as Savior and sincere repentance. 36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels— 37 And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; 38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath. 39 For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made. 40 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us— 41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; 42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; 43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.

Doctrine and Covenants 76 provides the answer to your question: Those souls who inherit the terrestrial kingdom of glory are those who have indeed accepted Christ as their Savior, but, as it turns out, they’re not valiant in the testimony of Jesus, hence they receive not the fullness of heavenly reward. Meanwhile the inheritors of the telestial kingdom of glory are those who at first refuse to come unto Christ, therefore it’s only after they’ve been thrust down to hell where they experience intense spiritual suffering that their rebellious spirits are finally subdued to the point where they’re finally able exercise authentic faith in Christ unto repentance and a remission of sins. The reason why three degrees of glory exist is due to the fact that there are varying degrees of valiancy among all the saved who have the testimony of Jesus..

That’s why I said, “one of the main reasons…”

Do you believe in the resurrection that men and women’s resurrected bodies are going to be anatomically correct, with their internal and external male and female reproductive organs fully intact, or do you believe our resurrected bodies are going to be like genderless Barbie and Ken dolls, with no way beyond mere outward appearance to be able to differentiate between those who were once men and once women on earth? 43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. 44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is oneGod, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. (Alma 11)

If God has all power in heaven and in earth, and if by the Lord’s own immutable word all things are possible with God, then why is it that (at least according to your thinking) God is somehow incapable of filling his faithful children with a fullness of his divine power and glory, especially in light of the fact that the Apostle Peter powerfully testifies that through faith in Christ we receive all things pertaining unto godliness and are verily made partakers of his own divine nature? 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (1 Peter 1)

It’s your reasoning that’s utterly ridiculous. The beings that inhabit outer darkness may be coeval with God, but they stand in absolute diametric opposition to the infinite and eternal light, life, intelligence, wisdom and love of God. It appears your obsession with DEI may have thrown your power to reason out of kilter.