Beyond Mitt's Underwear: Part 3: The Preexistence, Creation, and Plan for Salvation
Father in Heaven (Elohiem) and His wives live near the star called Kolob on a pair of magic stones. They were once mortal humans just like we are and have retained their physical bodies of flesh and bone, but instead of blood they have “spirit matter, a substance which is more refined and pure and glorious than blood”. At the time of creation
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Pish posh. That is not what D&C 76:82 means. If this life were all there was, then maybe. But I know many atheists who are fine, upstanding folk. For all I know, if they had been raised in an LDS family, they would be faithful LDS people now. Perhaps if they were raised LDS, they might not accept God but would still live fine, upstanding lives. But because we have the next life, then someone's beliefs here aren't the only measuring stick for eternity.
There will be those who even in the next life are simply uninterested in being a part of God's family. They will be very happy to accept a lower kingdom, and in fact, would be more miserable in a higher one. I am willing to bet that there will be tons of people who were atheists here that will receive the highest glories in the next life, just like there will be plenty of LDS people that will go to the Telestial Kingdom. It goes both ways.
So let me say it again - because of the next life, *everyone* gets a full chance to accept or reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
That being said, God doesn't look too kindly on people who try to work the system, saying, "Well, if I can accept the Gospel after I'm dead, then I can do anything I want here and repent later." It doesn't work like that.
Those who live honorably and “receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fullness of the Father” and translated beings will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom.
Also false - while translated being do have what we would call a terrestrial body, they will die and be resurrected in the twinkle of an eye, receiving a full glory later. Anyone righteous enough to be translated is full on celestial in the eternities, but they either lived previous to the resurrection of Christ (which means no one had been resurrected and God needed them to have a physical body - Moses, Enoch, Elijah, etc), or desired to stay here on earth doing God's work beyond their mortal lives (John the Beloved, The Three Nephites).
The less worthy Mormons in the Celestial Kingdom will not receive their eternal increase (giving birth to spirit-babies) and instead become ministering angels who will serve the most righteous Mormons.
Not the way it works. There are three levels in the Celestial Kingdom. Everyone there has been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, they are pure without spot before the Lord. But not everyone wants to be a parent. When Lucifer was thrust out, the heavens wept over him. Heaven is not a place of pure happiness - there is heartbreak as well. There will be those who will be pure without spot who will say, "I do not want to be a parent again. I do not wish to be married. I wish to stay with the Father, and I am satisfied with that."
The key point here is that it will be their choice. They are not "condemned" to a lower level, they choose it.
I don't have a ref for this. It is one of those things that we believe and are taught but isn't necessarily recorded.
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It's a fair question. Baptisms for the dead are not done to force someone into membership of our church after they have passed. While baptism in this life is how you enter the church as a full member, for those that have passed on, the focus is on the spiritual aspect of baptism - accepting Christ and His church. Christ said that unless we are baptized of water and of the Spirit, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and we take that very literally. Since baptism is a physical ordinance, it must be done, and done here. A spirit cannot be baptized, and so someone with a physical body must do it for them.
However, it's like a free ticket for them. They don't have to take it - they are free to accept or reject on their own. But since it's been done, they have that option.
Does that clarify?
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