Do You Think You Will Be Exalted One Day?

[VideoGameJunkie]

I don't believe it is just a chance. I believe we will have full knowledge of what God has to offer, and we decide where we will be happy. God won't force us into Heaven or any Kingdom therein. We choose.

If that's the case, who wouldn't choose the best possible option?

[Hamba Tuhan]

If that's the case, who wouldn't choose the best possible option?

 

A man who doesn't want to 'put down the game station controls.  And pick up the scriptures, and get involved heavily in his ward and sacrifice along with so many other things.....'

Edited November 12, 2013 by Hamba Tuhan

[thesometimesaint]

If that's the case, who wouldn't choose the best possible option?

 

In this life it is largely determined by what we do, or don't do. It is kinda like that old expression "What you are doing speaks so loudly I can't hear a word of what you are saying". God takes EVERYTHING into consideration. God is the only one whom knows the intents of our hearts.

[VideoGameJunkie]

In this life it is largely determined by what we do, or don't do. It is kinda like that old expression "What you are doing speaks so loudly I can't hear a word of what you are saying". God takes EVERYTHING into consideration. God is the only one whom knows the intents of our hearts.

If I'm judged on my heart I'll be ok. If I'm judged on my actions I hope I'll be ok.

[Tacenda]

A man who doesn't want to 'put down the game station controls.  And pick up the scriptures, and get involved heavily in his ward and sacrifice along with so many other things.....'

Ah, I think I was a little too stict here.  Everybody needs an outlet.  Or a hobby or something that gives joy. 

Edited November 13, 2013 by Tacenda

[california boy]

Lots of great ideas, but this is all speculation.  Sometimes I think that Mormons by nature try and figure out the very best scenerio to difficult questions and then proclaim them to be what will happen.  I remember reading a book a long time ago called "Death Life's Greatest Experience".  What ever happens when we die, will be an adventure for sure.

[Hamba Tuhan]

If I'm judged on my heart I'll be ok. If I'm judged on my actions I hope I'll be ok.

 

You choose your actions as much as you choose the intents of your heart, and the former are often the clearest indication of the actual state of the latter.

 

A few years ago, I was attempting to help one of our Young Men, recently returned to activity. He had failed every single academic subject in year 10 (and for many years before that). He said he really wanted to make a change, so at the beginning of year 11, I helped him enrol in a different college, and he promised he'd perform. He didn't. He again failed every single academic subject. Then at the beginning of year 12, he told me after Mutual one night that this year was going to be different, that he really, really wanted to do well. I told him he was deceiving himself, that he didn't really want what he thought he wanted.

 

He was offended and asked me what right I had to tell him what he wanted. I asked him what he had done all that week after rugby training. He'd watched Spongebob and then played X-Box, he said. I said, 'If you really wanted to do well at school this year, you would have opened one of your textbooks'. He protested that he was tired after seminary, school, and training and needed to relax. I told him I understood -- I was in the final year of my PhD at the time -- but pointed out to him once again that he would know what he really wanted by how he chose to spend his time. It's easy to say, 'I want to pass chemistry', whilst watching Spongebob for a couple of hours, but it's a lie.

 

He fumed for the next couple of days before ringing me Saturday morning to apologise. He realised he'd been so angry, he said, because I'd spoken truth, and he didn't want to hear it. This time, he added, he really, really wanted to do well at school ... and then he asked for help. I told him he knew where to find me. For the rest of the year, he spent around 15-25 hours a week at my house, sitting at the end of my dining table with his books open. Some evenings I'd get home from uni and feel almost too wasted myself from 9-10 hours of solid thesis writing, but then this boy would walk through the front door still in his footy gear, his bag of books slung over one shoulder, and I would remind myself that, just as he was choosing to succeed at school, it was my choice to live up to my temple covenants by once again spending the next 3-5 hours helping him instead of chuckling my way through a fail compilation on YouTube and then falling asleep.

 

At the end of the year, he received an academic achievement award from the college. He pulled straight A's in English, and he was one of only three students chosen to have their work published in the yearbook. He earnt a B on his final exam in tertiary mathematics, and he even passed chemistry, though just barely. In fact, he passed every subject ... and was stilled named Sportsman of the Year. As for me, I finished my thesis in time, and it was the unanimous decision of the examiners that it pass outright, without the need for a single revision. More importantly, I had the peace and assurance that instead of just talking about loving my neighbour and giving my time and talents for strengthening of Zion, I had actually chosen to do so.

[Hamba Tuhan]

Ah, I think I was a little too stict here.  Everybody needs an outlet.  Or a hobby or something that gives joy. 

 

I thought you were spot on. As far as 'something that gives joy', I will fondly remember for all of eternity the endless joy that came to me as I helped a boy who initially couldn't add fractions or figure out a per cent become someone who every time we set foot in a shop together would start figuring the unit prices in his head, the thrilling joy that came to me as I listened to the rich and wonderful poetry he composed, the heart-bursting joy that came to me as I saw him on stage in the local theatre accepting an academic achievement award, the unspeakable joy that came to me as I ordained him an elder, accompanied him to the temple again and again, and tearfully said good-bye to him at the airport as he left everything behind to serve the Lord for two years.

[The Nehor]

Everyone will have a perfect body so attraction will be to the person's beauty of their soul.

 

No, attraction will just be more general. I will shut up now as my thoughts on this matter make me sound insane.

 

Well......more insane.

[VideoGameJunkie]

You choose your actions as much as you choose the intents of your heart, and the former are often the clearest indication of the actual state of the latter.

 

A few years ago, I was attempting to help one of our Young Men, recently returned to activity. He had failed every single academic subject in year 10 (and for many years before that). He said he really wanted to make a change, so at the beginning of year 11, I helped him enrol in a different college, and he promised he'd perform. He didn't. He again failed every single academic subject. Then at the beginning of year 12, he told me after Mutual one night that this year was going to be different, that he really, really wanted to do well. I told him he was deceiving himself, that he didn't really want what he thought he wanted.

 

He was offended and asked me what right I had to tell him what he wanted. I asked him what he had done all that week after rugby training. He'd watched Spongebob and then played X-Box, he said. I said, 'If you really wanted to do well at school this year, you would have opened one of your textbooks'. He protested that he was tired after seminary, school, and training and needed to relax. I told him I understood -- I was in the final year of my PhD at the time -- but pointed out to him once again that he would know what he really wanted by how he chose to spend his time. It's easy to say, 'I want to pass chemistry', whilst watching Spongebob for a couple of hours, but it's a lie.

 

He fumed for the next couple of days before ringing me Saturday morning to apologise. He realised he'd been so angry, he said, because I'd spoken truth, and he didn't want to hear it. This time, he added, he really, really wanted to do well at school ... and then he asked for help. I told him he knew where to find me. For the rest of the year, he spent around 15-25 hours a week at my house, sitting at the end of my dining table with his books open. Some evenings I'd get home from uni and feel almost too wasted myself from 9-10 hours of solid thesis writing, but then this boy would walk through the front door still in his footy gear, his bag of books slung over one shoulder, and I would remind myself that, just as he was choosing to succeed at school, it was my choice to live up to my temple covenants by once again spending the next 3-5 hours helping him instead of chuckling my way through a fail compilation on YouTube and then falling asleep.

 

At the end of the year, he received an academic achievement award from the college. He pulled straight A's in English, and he was one of only three students chosen to have their work published in the yearbook. He earnt a B on his final exam in tertiary mathematics, and he even passed chemistry, though just barely. In fact, he passed every subject ... and was stilled named Sportsman of the Year. As for me, I finished my thesis in time, and it was the unanimous decision of the examiners that it pass outright, without the need for a single revision. More importantly, I had the peace and assurance that instead of just talking about loving my neighbour and giving my time and talents for strengthening of Zion, I had actually chosen to do so.

That's a great story! And it definitely earns you brownie points with God.

[Hamba Tuhan]

That's a great story! And it definitely earns you brownie points with God.

 

As King Benjamin made clear in the Book of Mosiah, one doesn't 'earn brownie points with God'.

[VideoGameJunkie]

As King Benjamin made clear in the Book of Mosiah, one doesn't 'earn brownie points with God'.

What I meant is good deeds go a long way.

[Hamba Tuhan]

What I meant is good deeds go a long way.

 

Unless lived, faith dies.

[VideoGameJunkie]

One of my worst traits that I need to get over and fix is my jealousy. I'm jealous of others a lot. This being exalted would be another thing I'd be jealous about if I don't achieve.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I keep on having this weird thought that all of my high school friends who knew about my church, receiving the gospel in the next life and achieving celestial glory and exaltation, and then me being a lifelong member of the church falling short and seeing all the people who I talked to about my church being higher up.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Some day I will retire. If I will be exalted depends on if I'm really forgiven for all of my serious sins.

All our sins.

[thesometimesaint]

You are already forgiven. You just have to accept that forgiveness.

[Ahab]

Yes or no question. Go.

If I don't it will be only because I have stopped trying to be as good as I can be.

[Hamba Tuhan]

One of my worst traits that I need to get over and fix is my jealousy. I'm jealous of others a lot. This being exalted would be another thing I'd be jealous about if I don't achieve.

 

It sounds like you have at least two choices: (1) repent of your jealousy and let the Lord heal you, (2) determine now to put your hand to the plough and not look back.

[Ahab]

It sounds like you have at least two choices: (1) repent of your jealousy and let the Lord heal you, (2) determine now to put your hand to the plough and not look back.

I like those choices.  And I think we can all do both at the same time.

[Calm]

As King Benjamin made clear in the Book of Mosiah, one doesn't 'earn brownie points with God'.

I use the same terminology while not really meaning that....more that God is happy for us and those we serve when we do good things...for me it is simply acknowledgement that something of value occurred.

Edited November 15, 2013 by calmoriah

[Calm]

I keep on having this weird thought that all of my high school friends who knew about my church, receiving the gospel in the next life and achieving celestial glory and exaltation, and then me being a lifelong member of the church falling short and seeing all the people who I talked to about my church being higher up.

Taking this personal enough to make an observation, but don't intend to take it further as not appropriate for the board.  

 

And I am saying this publicly as we all need to be reminded at times...

 

From the way you phrase things in many of your posts, you seem to have self-esteem issues...doubt about your value, needing to compare it to others rather than just being about the best you yourself can be**** and turning to God to help with the rest.

 

You are a child of God.  Nothing is more wonderful than that.  You have inherent eternal value to God himself, who is devoting his existence to providing you a way to return to him.  You don't need to look to the future with fear.  If you desire to return to him, surel the Father who is allknowing, allpowerful will provide a way that even if we were to assume the worst about you, you can return to him exalted if that is the desire of your heart.

 

If you cannot recognize that truth through prayer and scripture study, you might want to examine other avenues of learning what value you have...even therapy if that is needed.  God wants you to have joy, not go through life doubting your value to yourself or to him.

 

****and by this I mean doing what you are able to do in a situation, not doing what you are capable of doing...some days my best is getting out of bed and not much more.

Edited November 15, 2013 by calmoriah

[Ahab]

I use the same terminology while not really meaning that....more that God is happy for us and those we serve when we do good things...for me it is simply acknowledgement that something of value occurred.

And there are some of us who he refers to as his "jewels", so yes some of us are more precious to him than some others of us, with some of us being good for nothing but to be cast into the refiner's fire.

[Calm]

And there are some of us who he refers to as his "jewels", so yes some of us are more precious to him than some others of us, with some of us being good for nothing but to be cast into the refiner's fire.

But it is because of what we will turn ourselves into, not because of what we are now which is full of potential.  It is only when we finally reject that potential, when we choose to be good for nothing that we become good for nothing.

 

And we are jewels to God when we place ourselves in his hands and say "thy will be done" because that allows him to turn the coarsest carbon into diamond.

[jkwilliams]

And there are some of us who he refers to as his "jewels", so yes some of us are more precious to him than some others of us, with some of us being good for nothing but to be cast into the refiner's fire.

My guess is that, the second we start thinking we're his jewels, we aren't. And the idea that a soul is "good for nothing" contradicts the scriptures, wherein we are told that the worth of a soul is great.

Practically speaking, though, it's clear to me that VideoGameJunkie suffers, like me, with self-esteem issues. Telling someone like that they are worthless is not a good idea.

VideoGameJunkie, I have to constantly remind myself that as humans, we cannot see what God sees in us. Where people like you and me see only failure, sin, and worthlessness, God sees our inherent good and our potential. You are worth something, and you do matter.