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− | ==Question | + | <onlyinclude> |
− | + | ==Question: Do Mormons believe that there is there progression between the three degrees of glory?== | |
− | = | + | ===There is no official pronouncement on this question. Some leaders of the Church have, however, expressed deep skepticism about this idea=== |
− | There is no official pronouncement on this question. Some leaders of the Church have, however, expressed deep skepticism about this idea | ||
Elder Bruce. R. McConkie made it one of his "Seven Deadly Heresies," concluding: | Elder Bruce. R. McConkie made it one of his "Seven Deadly Heresies," concluding: | ||
− | + | <blockquote> | |
+ | They neither progress from one kingdom to another, nor does a lower kingdom ever get where a higher kingdom once was. Whatever eternal progression there is, it is within a sphere. (Full text [[Primary_souces:Seven_deadly_heresies#Heresy_four | here]]). | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
A major scriptural argument against this idea comes from the Doctrine and Covenants, speaking of the telestial kingdom: | A major scriptural argument against this idea comes from the Doctrine and Covenants, speaking of the telestial kingdom: | ||
− | + | <blockquote> | |
+ | 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;...And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell '''they cannot come, worlds without end'''. ([http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/76/109#112 D&C 76:109–112]). | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
This seems to suggest that for telestial residents, at least, there can be no advancement to terrestrial or celestial. | This seems to suggest that for telestial residents, at least, there can be no advancement to terrestrial or celestial. | ||
− | = | + | There is a further reference to the eternal state of those who do not reach a full celestial glory: |
− | === | + | |
− | + | <blockquote> | |
− | + | Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, '''but are angels of God forever and ever'''. ([http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132/16#17 D&C 132:16–17]). | |
− | + | </blockquote> | |
− | + | ||
− | + | This scripture again seems to state that there can be no further progression for those who have not accepted all the necessary ordinances and covenants. | |
− | + | ||
− | + | A final scripture that might be cited is Alma 34:33 where it states: | |
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote>And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness '''wherein there can be no labor performed'''. ([https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/34.33?lang=eng Alma 34:33])</blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Quotes from other Church leaders on the subject of progression between kingdoms=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1952: Joseph L Anderson, Secretary of the First Presidency | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | The brethren direct me to say that the Church has never announced a definite doctrine upon this point. Some of the brethren have held the view that it was possible in the course of progression to advance from one glory to another, invoking the principle of eternal progression; others of the brethren have taken the opposite view. But as stated, the Church has never announced a definite doctrine on this point. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sincerely your brother, Joseph L Anderson, Secretary of the First Presidency” </ref>Joseph L. Anderson, Secretary to the First Presidency in a 1952 letter; and again in 1965.</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1995: Boyd K. Packer: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | Some years ago I was in Washington, D.C., with President Harold B. Lee. Early one morning he called me to come into his hotel room. He was sitting in his robe reading Gospel Doctrine, by President Joseph F. Smith, and he said, “Listen to this!” | ||
+ | “Jesus had not finished his work when his body was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? Not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time, except the sons of perdition. That is his mission. We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission.” | ||
+ | “There is never a time,” the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “when the spirit is too old to approach God. All are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who have not committed the unpardonable sin. <ref>Boyd K. Packer, "[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1995/11/the-brilliant-morning-of-forgiveness?lang=eng The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness],” ''Ensign'' 25 (November 1995): 18.</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1855: Brigham Young | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | None would inherit this earth when it became celestial and translated into the presence of God but those who would be crowned as Gods — all others would have to inherit another kingdom — they would eventually have the privilege of proving themselves worthy and advancing to a celestial kingdom but it would be a slow process [progress?]. <ref>Brigham Young, in Wilford Woodruff Journal, 5 Aug 1855.</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1910: Joseph F. Smith: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | Once a person enters these glories there will be eternal progress in the line of each of these particular glories, but the privilege of passing from one to another (though this may be possible for especially gifted and faithful characters) is not provided for. <ref>Joseph F. Smith, ''Improvement Era'' 14 (November 1910): 87</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1960: J. Reuben Clark | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | I am not a strict constructionalist, believing that we seal our eternal progress by what we do here. It is my belief that God will save all of His children that he can: and while, if we live unrighteously here, we shall not go to the other side in the same status, so to speak, as those who lived righteously; nevertheless, the unrighteous will have their chance, and in the eons of the eternities that are to follow, they, too, may climb to the destinies to which they who are righteous and serve God, have climbed to those eternities that are to come. <ref>J. Reuben Clark, ''Church News'', 23 April 1960: 3</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 1899: James E. Talmage: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <blockquote> | ||
+ | It is reasonable to believe, in the absence of direct revelation by which alone absolute knowledge of the matter could be acquired, that, in accordance with God’s plan of eternal progression, advancement from grade to grade within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom, will be provided for. But if the recipients of a lower glory be enabled to advance, surely the intelligences of higher rank will not be stopped in their progress; and thus we may conclude, that degrees and grades will ever characterize the kingdoms of our God. Eternity is progressive; perfection is relative; the essential feature of God’s living purpose is its associated power of eternal increase. <ref>James E. Talmage, ''The Articles of Faith'' [1899 edition]: 420-421.</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | {{NoOfficial}} | ||
+ | </onlyinclude> | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{To learn more box:three degrees of glory: progression between}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | {{endnotes sources}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE --> | ||
+ | [[es:Pregunta: ¿Los mormones creen que hay progresión entre los tres grados de gloria?]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Questions]] |
Elder Bruce. R. McConkie made it one of his "Seven Deadly Heresies," concluding:
They neither progress from one kingdom to another, nor does a lower kingdom ever get where a higher kingdom once was. Whatever eternal progression there is, it is within a sphere. (Full text here).
A major scriptural argument against this idea comes from the Doctrine and Covenants, speaking of the telestial kingdom:
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;...And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. (D&C 76:109–112).
This seems to suggest that for telestial residents, at least, there can be no advancement to terrestrial or celestial.
There is a further reference to the eternal state of those who do not reach a full celestial glory:
Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever. (D&C 132:16–17).
This scripture again seems to state that there can be no further progression for those who have not accepted all the necessary ordinances and covenants.
A final scripture that might be cited is Alma 34:33 where it states:
And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. (Alma 34:33)
1952: Joseph L Anderson, Secretary of the First Presidency
The brethren direct me to say that the Church has never announced a definite doctrine upon this point. Some of the brethren have held the view that it was possible in the course of progression to advance from one glory to another, invoking the principle of eternal progression; others of the brethren have taken the opposite view. But as stated, the Church has never announced a definite doctrine on this point.
Sincerely your brother, Joseph L Anderson, Secretary of the First Presidency” </ref>Joseph L. Anderson, Secretary to the First Presidency in a 1952 letter; and again in 1965.</ref>
1995: Boyd K. Packer:
Some years ago I was in Washington, D.C., with President Harold B. Lee. Early one morning he called me to come into his hotel room. He was sitting in his robe reading Gospel Doctrine, by President Joseph F. Smith, and he said, “Listen to this!” “Jesus had not finished his work when his body was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? Not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time, except the sons of perdition. That is his mission. We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission.” “There is never a time,” the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “when the spirit is too old to approach God. All are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who have not committed the unpardonable sin. [1]
1855: Brigham Young
None would inherit this earth when it became celestial and translated into the presence of God but those who would be crowned as Gods — all others would have to inherit another kingdom — they would eventually have the privilege of proving themselves worthy and advancing to a celestial kingdom but it would be a slow process [progress?]. [2]
1910: Joseph F. Smith:
Once a person enters these glories there will be eternal progress in the line of each of these particular glories, but the privilege of passing from one to another (though this may be possible for especially gifted and faithful characters) is not provided for. [3]
1960: J. Reuben Clark
I am not a strict constructionalist, believing that we seal our eternal progress by what we do here. It is my belief that God will save all of His children that he can: and while, if we live unrighteously here, we shall not go to the other side in the same status, so to speak, as those who lived righteously; nevertheless, the unrighteous will have their chance, and in the eons of the eternities that are to follow, they, too, may climb to the destinies to which they who are righteous and serve God, have climbed to those eternities that are to come. [4]
1899: James E. Talmage:
It is reasonable to believe, in the absence of direct revelation by which alone absolute knowledge of the matter could be acquired, that, in accordance with God’s plan of eternal progression, advancement from grade to grade within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom, will be provided for. But if the recipients of a lower glory be enabled to advance, surely the intelligences of higher rank will not be stopped in their progress; and thus we may conclude, that degrees and grades will ever characterize the kingdoms of our God. Eternity is progressive; perfection is relative; the essential feature of God’s living purpose is its associated power of eternal increase. [5]
J. Reuben Clark |
This is one of many issues about which the Church has no official position. As President J. Reuben Clark taught under assignment from the First Presidency:
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Harold B. Lee |
Harold B. Lee was emphatic that only one person can speak for the Church:
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First Presidency |
This was recently reiterated by the First Presidency (who now approves all statements published on the Church's official website):
In response to a letter "received at the office of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" in 1912, Charles W. Penrose of the First Presidency wrote:
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