What's This Stuff About Getting My Own Planet?

[Ahab]

Upon hearing about my conversion to Mormonism, a Protestant friend skeptically asked me, "So have you picked out your own planet yet?" I jokingly told him that my planet was being custom-built on a lot in the Delta Quadrant but I was still waiting for a couple of inspector approvals before it could be completed.

When he pressed me to explain about exaltation, I had to admit that I really knew very little about it. In fact, what little I know about it, I've learned on the Bloggernacle. It certainly isn't something that I've heard an apostle speak about in GC over the last three years.

Is exaltation still an important part of our theology? If so, is it only taught in seminary or primary or the days I miss Sunday school? It seems that I've missed a major part of the Gospel. Have I not been paying attention or does this fall in the "milk before meat category"? And if the latter, who do I show that my back molars have come in and that I'm ready for solid food?

You'll learn more the more you read and hear what other people have had to say, and you'll read and listen to what other people have had to say once you want to know more than you know now.  Like when you want to know more about what past prophets of God have said.  It's all out there for you to learn, when you're ready.

 

Go forth, young padawan!  Learn as much as you want to know.  And for the best results ask God to help you know what is true.

[Sanpitch]

I'm sort of out of the loop as far as church matters are concerned but isn't McConkie a rather unreliable source as far interpretation of the doctrine is concerned?

[Scott Lloyd]

Well possibly, lots of things are getting dismissed as folk doctrine these days. Course then we would have to toss aside the idea of eternal progression as well.

No. Check the Doctrine and Covenants for the definition of eternal.

[Scott Lloyd]

I'm sort of out of the loop as far as church matters are concerned but isn't McConkie a rather unreliable source as far interpretation of the doctrine is concerned?

He got some things wrong, but that does not or should not invalidate his entire body of discourse through a lifetime of study, teaching and writing.

[Ahab]

He got some things wrong, but that does not or should not invalidate his entire body of discourse through a lifetime of study, teaching and writing.

I think it's helpful to point out that after he got something wrong he accepted correction from someone else who helped him to see where he had gone wrong before and then he wasn't wrong anymore.  Unlike some people who refuse to accept correction when it is offered and still go on believing they are right when they still have got it wrong on some point.

 

I know I have been wrong before and I often thank God when I know I'm not wrong anymore. 

[pmccombs1]

I'm sort of out of the loop as far as church matters are concerned but isn't McConkie a rather unreliable source as far interpretation of the doctrine is concerned?

 

That's not how I see it.  I don't think there is any measure for reliability of interpretation. Either the doctrine connects with you in some way or it doesn't.  If it does, call yourself Mormon or Catholic or Baptist, or whatever; even if there are others who accept the same doctrine in a different way. The trouble with McConkie was that he took his authority very seriously and thought that it gave him the personal directive to expound the doctrines as the absolutes that he saw them to be.  He got reprimanded by the Brethren for that behavior on at least a couple of occasions.

 

The truth is that there are lots of, shall I say, "open ends" in Mormon Doctrine. Some of us have this idea that the point of continuing revelation is to answer all of the questions, but that isn't it at all.  When the questions are all answered, then you are finished. We are all finished.  If there is a paradox in the doctrine, the way we go about solving it for ourselves says something about what we are. Some people are McConkie absolutists: God is perfect, things are known and certain, and we have live up to them. Other people are England indefinites: God is on the move and we mortals can't put a finger on what He is up to, but we need to investigate and experience.

 

There are people who pick up Mormon Doctrine, and it clicks with them. It conveys a view of the universe that parallels their desires. They receive the Spirit of it. It's truth. There are people who pick up The Weeping God of Mormonism and have the exact same experience. They find truth through the Spirit.  Both of these opposites are grounded in Mormon history and teaching, and the people who adopt these opposing viewpoints sometimes come into conflict with each other. Does one idea come closer to actual reality than the other one? Of course! To each who connects with a particular idea, it is theirs that is the real one. But there is no impartial measure that can set everyone straight at once, for both opposing parties have received their witness by the Spirit. It's as if we are to walk by faith and not by sight, for some reason.

Edited December 18, 2013 by pmccombs1

[Stone holm]

He got some things wrong, but that does not or should not invalidate his entire body of discourse through a lifetime of study, teaching and writing.

Thus applied "God' Progression" how does that help?

[ERayR]

I'm sort of out of the loop as far as church matters are concerned but isn't McConkie a rather unreliable source as far interpretation of the doctrine is concerned?

 

Nope

[JLHPROF]

Who thinks that we will be Elohim's equal?

 

Well, Joseph taught that the term Eloheim was a plural term and referred to both the Council of the Gods and the Head of that Council.  I certainly think exaltation would include membership in the Eloheim council.

[Stone holm]

Our company provides safe healthcare products. Look at our health contributing site in case you want to look healthier. Xenical dosis Our site offers a wide variety of non prescription drugs. Look at our health site in case you want to to feel healthier with a help of generic supplements. Viagra 3 Our company provides a wide variety of non prescription products. Visit our health contributing site in case you want to look healthier. Ciprofloxacina cefalosporina Our company offers weight loss products. Take a look at our health contributing site in case you want to improve your health. Ciprofloxacina endovenosa Our company offers healthcare products. Look at our health contributing portal in case you want to look healthier. http://medhealth.de.vc/3vg/us/eriacta/48152-sildenafil-canadian-pharmacy-hamokitu.html Our company offers a wide variety of health and related products. Take a look at our health contributing portal in case you want to look better. Finasteride for hair

Our company provides supreme quality weight loss products. Look at our health contributing portal in case you want to look better. Tadacip Our company provides a wide variety of non prescription products. Look at our health website in case you want to to improve your health with a help of generic supplements. Propecia är för det Our company provides a wide variety of healthcare products. Take a look at our health contributing portal in case you want to improve your health. Impotence viagra Our company offers a wide variety of non prescription products. Visit our health site in case you want to look healthier with a help general health products. http://medhealth.de.vc/p89/it/levitra/23316-levitra-farmaco-dyryxa.html Our company provides a wide variety of non prescription products. Take a look at our health website in case you want to strengthen your health with a help of generic supplements. Kamagra sdbaslhblvjshvbdjv

Our company provides a wide variety of supplements. Take a look at our health contributing portal in case you want to feel better. Sildenafil citrate dГЎvka Our company offers a wide variety of non prescription products. Visit our health website in case you want to strengthen your health with a help general health products. Viagra immagini Our company offers a wide variety of non prescription products. Look at our health website in case you want to to improve your health with a help general health products. Our company offers supreme quality supplements. Visit our health contributing website in case you want to look better. http://medhealth.de.vc/obe/it/viagra/22755-viagra-numbness-lebik.html Our company offers safe non prescription products. Visit our health contributing site in case you want to look better. Viagra o cialis mejor

Our site offers a wide variety of non prescription drugs. Take a look at our health portal in case you want to look better with a help of health products. Buy cialis cheap online Our company provides supreme quality pills. Visit our health contributing website in case you want to look healthier. What is the price of cialis Our site offers a wide variety of non prescription drugs. Look at our health site in case you want to look better with a help generic supplements. Levitra acquisto on line Our company provides supreme quality pharmacy. Visit our health contributing website in case you want to strengthen your health. http://medhealth.de.vc/obm/us/viagra/93544-valium-and-viagra-fokigad.html Our company offers a wide variety of non prescription drugs. Take a look at our health portal in case you want to look better with a help of health products.

Wow, a spammer got past all the mods restrictions

[Stone holm]

In a letter addressed to Eugene England, Bruce R. McConkie once offered the following opinion:

 

"There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

"This is false -- utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it. It grows out of a wholly twisted and incorrect view of the King Follet Sermon and of what is meant by eternal progression.

"God progresses in the sense that his kingdoms increase and his dominions multiply -- not in the sense that he learns new truths and discovers new laws. God is not a student. He is not a laboratory technician. He is not postulating new theories on the basis of past experiences. He has indeed graduated to that state of exaltation that consists of knowing all things and having all power.

Yeah, actually that is a form of progression. But as you may know, I tend to take BRM with a heavy dose of salt. He is pretty good at reiterating scripture, but seems to have a complete lack of inspired imagination when it comes to extending his reasoning beyond them. But let's talk about this. You gain a different understanding of life after you have children. Your understanding increases once you have grandchildren. Although it is unlikely that I will live long enough to either see my gr grandchildren, I expect that if I did my understanding would continue to increase. I suspect the same holds true for gods. Having produced spirit children undoubtedly changes your understanding, having watched your spirit children produce spirit children likely increases your understanding as well, ad infinitum. I believe that form of reasoning to be more consistent with the spirit of Mormonism than the idea that you ever reach a point where learning or experiencing anything new suddenly stops. So I think this is not one of BRM's better assertions. But then, I have doubts about what is meant by "all knowledge" and " omniscience" as well.

[JLHPROF]

In a letter addressed to Eugene England, Bruce R. McConkie once offered the following opinion:

 

"There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

"This is false -- utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it. It grows out of a wholly twisted and incorrect view of the King Follet Sermon and of what is meant by eternal progression.

"God progresses in the sense that his kingdoms increase and his dominions multiply -- not in the sense that he learns new truths and discovers new laws. God is not a student. He is not a laboratory technician. He is not postulating new theories on the basis of past experiences. He has indeed graduated to that state of exaltation that consists of knowing all things and having all power.

 

And on this, I think BRM was completely in error.  It defies reason, scripture and prophetic teaching.  Sorry Bruce.

[Tacenda]

And on this, I think BRM was completely in error. It defies reason, scripture and prophetic teaching. Sorry Bruce.

I totally agree with that quote of BRM. He's putting God right where he should be.

[Stone holm]

I totally agree with that quote of BRM. He's putting God right where he should be.

Why is that because it is more consistent with mainstream Christian philosophy, or because it is reasonable given Mormon teachings.

[thesometimesaint]

Well, Joseph taught that the term Eloheim was a plural term and referred to both the Council of the Gods and the Head of that Council.  I certainly think exaltation would include membership in the Eloheim council.

 

Kinda like the First among Equals.

[ERayR]

Upon hearing about my conversion to Mormonism, a Protestant friend skeptically asked me, "So have you picked out your own planet yet?" I jokingly told him that my planet was being custom-built on a lot in the Delta Quadrant but I was still waiting for a couple of inspector approvals before it could be completed.

When he pressed me to explain about exaltation, I had to admit that I really knew very little about it. In fact, what little I know about it, I've learned on the Bloggernacle. It certainly isn't something that I've heard an apostle speak about in GC over the last three years.

Is exaltation still an important part of our theology? If so, is it only taught in seminary or primary or the days I miss Sunday school? It seems that I've missed a major part of the Gospel. Have I not been paying attention or does this fall in the "milk before meat category"? And if the latter, who do I show that my back molars have come in and that I'm ready for solid food?

 

I think I have found a nice little starter planet for you just the other side of Pluto.  It needs a little work but it is a very nice fixer upper.

Edited December 19, 2013 by ERayR