JLHPROF Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Many mansions doesn't equate to kingdoms. It could be translated- "In my Father's kingdom are many residences:... Each of them ruled over by a King and Priest who was crowned with the saints - if the saints are crowned to rule as Kings and Priests then whatever portion of the Father's Kingdom they inherit will be their Kingdom. Thus Christ becomes King of Kings, and God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Kingdoms.Mansions absolutely mean Kingdoms. 1
Rodeo Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Each of them ruled over by a King and Priest who was crowned with the saints - if the saints are crowned to rule as Kings and Priests then whatever portion of the Father's Kingdom they inherit will be their Kingdom. Thus Christ becomes King of Kings, and God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Kingdoms.Mansions absolutely mean Kingdoms.So, in God's kingdom are many kingdoms. Is that what you are saying? 1
The Nehor Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 There are at least 3. Brigham Young hinted there could be more. We know there are degrees in the Celestial and Telestial and most people infer the same about the Terrestrial even though this is never said outright. Heaven and hell are pre-judgment. The degrees of glory are post-judgment.
Calm Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Don't worry, you are young still. There will come a time when remembering what you had for breakfast will be a struggle. I hadn't thought about that benefit to my currently poor memory (here's hoping when they cure my disorder it will jump back to the almost perfect one it once was...I think).Thanks for the chuckle.
Calm Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 How are we going to have time to enjoy our mansions if we're sitting on our thrones while exalted?It is eternity and we will be infinite, we will have enough and to spare (personally I think the throne is symbolic, most kings didn't spend much time on them if they could help it from what I've studied). 1
Calm Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Lots of Mormons have different opinions. How did Joseph Smith see his brother Alvin in the Celestial Kingdom if Alvin hadn't been resurrected yet?He was seeing a vision of the future. He saw his father there as well and his father was still alive, close by his side if I remember correctly. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks cal, I do think the throne could be symbolic since we'll have lots of work to do traveling the universe, and how can we do that if we're just sitting on a throne for eternity. Just like I assume the crown is symbolic as well. And thanks for clarifying that Joseph Smith saw a vision of the future.
Rodeo Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 If Celestial means "heavenly" isn't it translated just as the heavenly kingdom?
rpn Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 (without reading any but OP): perhaps the biblical heaven and hell dichotomy (fueled in western society by dante's Inferno) merely summarizes that all the three kingdoms described are kingdoms of glory, presided over by God.
Rodeo Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 It is interesting that the laws and ordinances of the gospel are for the Celestial kingdom. What then are the laws and ordinances for the other kingdoms?
Rivers Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 I think it's best not to think of the degrees so much as places. Rather think of them more as states of being. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 So will all the kingdoms be together in the same heaven, just separated from each other like continents?
rpn Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 They are all "heaven" as they are within the orbit of God, though to various degrees --- they aren't the same. (And remember that the NT scripture on point suggests a lot of variations ---"In my Father's house, there are many mansion". )
Rivers Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 So will all the kingdoms be together in the same heaven, just separated from each other like continents? They might not even be seperated. Maybe everyone is in the same place but are in different social classes. Kind of like Downton Abby. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted August 31, 2014 Author Posted August 31, 2014 Haha let's imagine heaven as Downton Abby. I still think glory is displayed in the spirit world by how bright the whiteness of our robes are and how bright the light we give off is.
katherine the great Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 They might not even be seperated. Maybe everyone is in the same place but are in different social classes. Kind of like Downton Abby. That place where all the fun happens in the basement?
Ahab Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 Haha let's imagine heaven as Downton Abby. I still think glory is displayed in the spirit world by how bright the whiteness of our robes are and how bright the light we give off is.The whiteness of robes is symbolic of cleanliness. I think of wearing a robe after I've taken a shower.How bright we are or will be is symbolic of our degree of intelligence, just as when we say someone is bright to mean they are highly intelligent. God has already told us that the glory of God is intelligence, and that intelligence is light and truth, so that means our degree of brightness from the light and truth we have received is our degree of intelligence.
Garden Girl Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 They might not even be seperated. Maybe everyone is in the same place but are in different social classes. Kind of like Downton Abby. I don't understand this interpretation... And some of the others here... the Degrees of Glory are very specifically identified, as well as who will be within each... also, that the Godhead associates with those in the Celestial Kingdom... but God's presence is only in the Celestial Kingdom. However, Christ and the Holy Ghost associate with those in the Terrestial Kingdom... but it is the Holy Ghost who ministers to those in the Telestial Kingdom. Because of this, I do not agree we are in one big melting pot... I do believe there is a separation.. otherwise what's the purpose of striving for Celestial glory if we are going to be with everyone else anyway and have access to the presence of God... People in the Telestial Kingdom cannot abide the "glory' or light of those in the higher kingdoms... that's why there was a transfiguration of Moses and others when in the presence of God... GG
Ahab Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 I don't understand this interpretation... And some of the others here... the Degrees of Glory are very specifically identified, as well as who will be within each... also, that the Godhead associates with those in the Celestial Kingdom... but God's presence is only in the Celestial Kingdom. However, Christ and the Holy Ghost associate with those in the Terrestial Kingdom... but it is the Holy Ghost who ministers to those in the Telestial Kingdom. Because of this, I do not agree we are in one big melting pot... I do believe there is a separation.. otherwise what's the purpose of striving for Celestial glory if we are going to be with everyone else anyway and have access to the presence of God... People in the Telestial Kingdom cannot abide the "glory' or light of those in the higher kingdoms... that's why there was a transfiguration of Moses and others when in the presence of God... GGThe words in the D&C were carefully chosen and I think you are missing some of the nuances.Those of Terrestrial glory receive "of the presence" of Christ but not the "fulness" of our Father. Think and ponder on what that means and signifies.Those of Telestial glory receive the "ministrations" of the Holy Ghost, without denying him, and yet they do not receive all that our Father has tried to teach them. Only those of Celestial glory receive all that our Father has and has tried to teach them to become like he is, so they receive not only the "presence" of Christ and our Father but all that they know and experience in their own lives, so they are able to do as much as they do to help others rather than needing the help of more intelligent/glorious people to enlighten them.We will all be in heaven, if we are not in hell, and the only thing that will really separate/distinguish anyone from anyone else is our individual degree of intelligence/glory, with some being as "bright" as our Father while others are not that bright.
Stargazer Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 There are at least 3. Brigham Young hinted there could be more. We know there are degrees in the Celestial and Telestial and most people infer the same about the Terrestrial even though this is never said outright. Heaven and hell are pre-judgment. The degrees of glory are post-judgment. Occasionally I am forced to agree with you, and this is one of those times. Simply said, and completely accurate. 1
Garden Girl Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 We will all be in heaven, if we are not in hell, and the only thing that will really separate/distinguish anyone from anyone else is our individual degree of intelligence/glory, with some being as "bright" as our Father while others are not that bright. I guess this point is where we will have to agree to disagree, because I do believe there will be some type of separation as actually taught... GG
Ahab Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) I guess this point is where we will have to agree to disagree, because I do believe there will be some type of separation as actually taught.I don't think you caught what I meant. I was talking about what will distinguish people of different orders of glory/intelligence in heaven.Suppose for example that a person with a celestial degree of intelligence/glory went to minister/help another person with a lower, say telestial, degree of intelligence/glory, so that the 2 persons were side by side in the presence of each other. How do you suppose you would be able to discern who was the brighter/more intelligent of the 2. Edited August 31, 2014 by Ahab
Garden Girl Posted September 1, 2014 Posted September 1, 2014 I don't think you caught what I meant. I was talking about what will distinguish people of different orders of glory/intelligence in heaven.Suppose for example that a person with a celestial degree of intelligence/glory went to minister/help another person with a lower, say telestial, degree of intelligence/glory, so that the 2 persons were side by side in the presence of each other. How do you suppose you would be able to discern who was the brighter/more intelligent of the 2. Yes, I do agree that those of a higher order of glory will be able to minister/help/teach others of a lower degree of glory (like an assignment), but I don't see that as a continual association, side by side in one place as it sounds like some have suggested. GG
Rodeo Posted September 1, 2014 Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) Heaven and hell are pre-judgment. The degrees of glory are post-judgment.Heaven and hell, spoken of in the plan of salvation from scripture are post-judgment. The degrees of glory are rewards for those going to the heaven side. Edited September 1, 2014 by Rodeo
The Nehor Posted September 1, 2014 Posted September 1, 2014 Heaven and hell, spoken of in the plan of salvation from scripture are post-judgment. The degrees of glory are rewards for those going to the heaven side. I disagree. When Jesus and other prophets talk about hell they make it sound easy to get there. If hell was primarily meant to describe a post-judgment state they really should have said that to get to hell is hard as getting condemned to Outer Darkness does take quite a bit of work. Not exactly the broad path Jesus described.
Recommended Posts