Is polygamy required in heaven?

[Jason]

I have said before that my image of a celestial couple is that of Celeborn and Galadriel in LOTR, both equal in stature and power.

Considering how much more powerful Galadriel seems in the story, that's probably not the best possible example.

Beren and Luthien, perhaps?

[zeezrom]

You fail to understand that Celestial beings are only in the Celestial Kingdom in the first place because they have learned to leave behind mortal flaws like jealousy and human errors.

Is it going to be like the Celestial room of the mormon temple? Boring.

[Ahab]

...

Lehi

Lehi,

Thank you for trying to share your understanding of words, and language, with me. I do appreciate it.

Right now I'm at the point where I still don't see how words have gender, meaning either masculine or feminine or neuter, even though you say they do. I do see how words are associated with the particular sex of the object, but the words, themselves, in my mind, are only tools to focus our minds on the object, rather than things that have sex or gender in themselves.

Anyway, I jumped on this bandwagon with you because I was trying to make the point that sex does have something to do with gender, after you said gender has nothing to do with sex, and while it appears I was wrong in saying they are exactly the same thing, I still think you were wrong in saying that one has nothing to do with the other.

Looking back, I think it would have been better if I had simply responded to zeezrom

[zeezrom]

Well you don't appear to think much about it. Do you really think that petty jealousies will exist in the presence of God? Our lives will be so expansive who will have time to worry about such things.

And, yes, I have thought a great deal about this and I think that our perspective on marriage is so narrow that we will be astonished at what great opportunities await us. I have said before that my image of a celestial couple is that of Celeborn and Galadriel in LOTR, both equal in stature and power.

I can't fathom heaven. I just can't do it. Maybe Joseph Smith tried but it is impossible for us to understand. Obviously, God does not think it necessary for us to understand it.

[David T]

Is it going to be like the Celestial room of the mormon temple? Boring.

I have had some of the most powerful and inspiring experiences in the Celestial Room with my wife that have strengthened our bonds and love for each other, and extended our vision. It did help me visualize heaven, and realize that I was experiencing a foretaste of it within my own Family.

[Ahab]

Is it going to be like the Celestial room of the mormon temple? Boring.

It wouldn't be boring if you talked and learned from our Father in heaven while you are in there.

Don't just sit there, looking around.

THINK while you are in there, directing your thoughts to God while LISTENING to what he will tell you while you are in there.

And as I said before, if you don't want to go to the Celestial kingdom, you don't need to do what you need to do to go there, because it's only for those of us who really want to go there.

[Ahab]

I can't fathom heaven. I just can't do it. Maybe Joseph Smith tried but it is impossible for us to understand. Obviously, God does not think it necessary for us to understand it.

That's a good point, and that should tell you something.

I think our goal here is more about learning to become like God by learning from God, rather than focusing on where we are or where we are going.

In other words, it's not the destination that's important. It's mainly about who you really want to be like.

[zeezrom]

That's a good point, and that should tell you something.

I think our goal here is more about learning to become like God by learning from God, rather than focusing on where we are or where we are going.

In other words, it's not the destination that's important. It's mainly about who you really want to be like.

I agree with you. We should focus on the now and here.

As stated by Elizabeth Bennet: "I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."

[Deborah]

Considering how much more powerful Galadriel seems in the story, that's probably not the best possible example.

Beren and Luthien, perhaps?

I think only because we saw that one display of her power and because she had one of the rings. What I also saw was Celeborn respecting her gifts and with no jealousy whatsoever.

[Deborah]

Is it going to be like the Celestial room of the mormon temple? Boring.

LOL. No one is forcing you to go there. How sad though that you feel that way. Whenever my kids said they were bored I told them I had lots of things for them to do.

[Deborah]

I think our goal here is more about learning to become like God by learning from God, rather than focusing on where we are or where we are going.

Yes but in order to learn to become like God we need to understand who He is. If we do not understand his relationship to us and how great his love and desire for us how can we appreciate what he has asked us to do?

[David T]

Yes but in order to learn to become like God we need to understand who He is. If we do not understand his relationship to us and how great his love and desire for us how can we appreciate what he has asked us to do?

And we best learn and understand who He is by doing what He would do, and striving to do so with His eyes and heart.

[Jason]

I think only because we saw that one display of her power and because she had one of the rings. What I also saw was Celeborn respecting her gifts and with no jealousy whatsoever.

True, Celeborn had the correct attitude, but I still am not sure he could really be considered her equal.

[Ahab]

Yes but in order to learn to become like God we need to understand who He is.

Right, and the way to get to know him is by getting to know him through Jesus Christ. Basic doctrine.

If we do not understand his relationship to us and how great his love and desire for us how can we appreciate what he has asked us to do?

We can't even know what he wants us to do without hearing from him, personally, through Jesus Christ.

... and I'm not talking about hearing someone else other than God telling us what God or Jesus wants from us. I'm talking about receiving communication directly from God to help us know and understand both who he is and what his desire is for us, and our relationship to him.

[thesometimesaint]

Jason;

They were one.

[Ahab]

I agree with you. We should focus on the now and here.

As stated by Elizabeth Bennet: "I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."

I may be reading her wrong, but Elizabeth seemed to be fostering a self-centered approach to happiness, which I don't think is enough to get us there. We do need to do what is good for us, but we should also be at least a little bit concerned about how our actions will affect other people.

We're all connected, and there is nobody who is wholly unconnected with any of us.

[Jason]

Jason;

They were one.

To be pedantic, they were until Galadriel went to the Gray Havens and left him behind at the end of Return of the King (in the movie Celeborn goes with her - in the books he lingers in Middle Earth for some time without her).

If you want to use a Tolkien example of an equal marriage, I still think Beren and Luthien works better. Or even Faramir and Eowyn.

[thesometimesaint]

Jason:

To be a little less pedantic. We are still commanded to be ONE whether death or the Grey Havens separate us for a time.

I really liked Faramir and and Eowyn.

[alter idem]

I am not really sure about this but in order for a man to make it to the highest degree in the CK does he have to be practicing polygamy there?

Some people in the church, while polygamy was practiced believed this(I think it helped make polygamy more palatable and forced some who were reluctant to enter it), but the fact is that Polygamy is not required to attain the 'highest' glory of the CK.

[Jason]

Jason:

To be a little less pedantic. We are still commanded to be ONE whether death or the Grey Havens separate us for a time.

Yeah, but to go to the Havens is a choice, and Celeborn could have gone with Galadriel but chose not to (at least for a time). That's why I don't think they're all that good an example. Always read the appendixes when discussing Tolkien.

[Calm]

I would think that after passing on into perfection, and having developed and obtained the Charity of Christ, that in the Resurrection in the Celestial Realm, jealousy and favoritism would not be a problem for any involved. Nobody would be forced into anything. Nobody would be degraded. Nobody would be exercising unrighteous dominion to appease carnal pleasures.

And no need to worry about someone getting more time than another due to the infinite nature of the relationship.

I personally believe that if polygamy (and that includes both polygyny and polyandry) is required, it will be in order to maximize the joy of the participants in that it may be in place to avoid the necessity of having to choose which beloved spouse an individual is to spend eternity with to the exclusion of other also beloved spouses (for either men or women).

If there is another reason for plural marriage to exist on an eternal basis, I do not believe we have been informed yet as to why it is needed.

[Calm]

Anyway, why would anyone think this:

"In the Celestial Kingdom, we won't have to do anything we don't want to do."

Suddenly different rules apply in heaven?

In case someone hasn't mentioned it yet....

In seeking the Celestial Kingdom, we are seeking to be one with the Father. If we are blessed to achieve this state, our wants and desires will fully align with what the Lord wants and desires for us.

Just as in this life, if we align our wills with the Father, we will want and desire those things that God desires to give to us and reject those things he rejects and while none of us are perfect yet in this area, we can grow closer to this ideal through conscious seeking and acceptance of his Will.

Same rules apply here and there.

[Calm]

We may have to.... if we want to get to the Celestial kingdom.

If it's something we don't want to do, then we aren't Celestial Kingdom material....at least not yet. Eventually our motivation will change from choosing to be obedient even when some of our own desires point another direction to naturally choosing the things of God as our own desires.

[Calm]

He said in the Sept. 27, 1886 revelation to John Taylor that "I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not."

If it hasn't been mentioned, this document has not been accepted as an authentic revelation by the LDS church though it is considered as such by many fundamentalist polygamist groups.

[Ahab]

In case someone hasn't mentioned it yet....

Oh ye of little faith.

This was a 5 page thread when you posted your post, which while appreciated, is an additional post to the many other posts declaring basically the same thing that you said, in this thread.

Thanks for saying what you said, though. I totally agree with you, which is a good thing, I think.