Hi, I really love the church, and hope to join one day. I just have a few questions. Does a woman have to be married in the temple to go the celestial kingdom? What exactly is a patriarchal blessing? In a class on Sunday, they asked the students who recieved their’s and which house they were in. I was a little confused. If I was to be a member, and the rest of family wasn’t, would I ever have contact with them in the eternal life? And lastly, before the restoration, what happened to all the Christians who lived and died way before that?
4 Responses to “Hi, I really love the church, and hope to join one day. I ju…”
Daniel Paz
2010-03-01 00:54:25
Hi friend. Sorry for my delay in answering your question. I'm very happy to hear that you're interested in the church! The church has been a wonderful blessing in my life, as I often say on this site. I'm happy to hear that you've been attending your Sunday meetings and enjoying your church experience as well. I'll answer your first question about marriage and your last question about pre-restoration Christians.
At the last day, Jesus Christ will be the final judge. He'll decide who is worthy of the celestial kingdom, not any mortal human like me. :) I can only talk about general principles, not about individual people. My understanding is that both men and women are incomplete on their own. We need each other to be whole, to become all that God wants us to be. Sealing, or temple marriage, is the sacred ordinance that binds a man and a woman together for all eternity, and so sealing is critical to our spiritual progress in the next life. Neither a man nor a woman can progress alone.
I would say, then, that eternal progression, or exaltation, depends in part on the sealing ordinance. However, those who are not sealed can still enter into the celestial kingdom, though their eternal progress may be limited.
That having been said, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once taught that those who keep their covenants but who through no fault of their own are unable to have an eternal marriage in this life will not be denied any blessings in the life to come. Thus there seems to be an important distinction between those who choose not to be sealed and those who cannot be sealed because of circumstances beyond their control like same-sex attraction, marriage to a non-member spouse that predates conversion, difficulty finding a suitable mate, etc. It's not clear to me how, but I believe that God in his infinite mercy will not deny the innocent any deserved blessing in the life to come.
As you point out, there are billions of people who have lived or are living on the earth that will never hear the gospel message. Millions others may hear about the gospel but, through no fault of their own, may not be able to accept it. God will never condemn one of His children for something that is beyond their control.
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Nevertheless, entrance into the celestial kingdom requires that certain conditions be met. For example, Christ teaches in the New Testament that one must be baptized to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Through modern revelation, we know that other temple ordinances like the endowment are also prerequisite for exaltation. God would not be just if He automatically condemned those who were unable to receive the gospel message in this life. Consequently, they will have the opportunity to accept the Gospel and receive the sacred ordinances in the life to come.
Much of the work Mormons do in their temples is to provide this opportunity for their deceased ancestors. God has revealed that living members of the church can be baptized or endowed vicariously on behalf of their ancestors (1 Corinthians 15:29). Their ancestors who have passed on may then choose to accept or reject the sacred ordinances performed on their behalf.
This teaching is one of my favorites in the church. Some of my friends of other denominations believe that those who do not accept Christ in this life will be eternally damned to hell, even if they never had an opportunity to accept Him. Thanks to the restoration of the Gospel and modern revelation, we know that God will give everyone an opportunity to learn about Christ and to accept or reject Him personally, if not in this life, then in the next.
Richard
2010-02-22 03:44:15
Ok one que at a time
Does a woman have to be married in the temple to go to the celestial kingdom? Men and women need to be married (sealed) in the temple, partake of all the covenants of the new and everlasting covenant, including baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and live worthy in order to obtain exaltation. Righteous people who are not sealed can still enter the celestial kingdom. Also, if a sealing is not possible in this life, perhaps because one can't find a worthy mate for eternity, people will have a chance in the next life.
What exactly is a patriarchal blessing? This is a personalized blessing given through a patriarch of the church which gives outlines and suggestions for your own personal life. Some people think of it as a road map for mortality. I've heard a patriarch state that he feels it's part of a blessing God gave you before you came to earth. They are amazing if you get one and if you're prepared I would recommend seeking it out soon after your baptism. I don't know what's up with the house, I got mine in just the patriarch's home. :p
If I were to be a member and the rest of my family wasn't, would I ever have contact with them in the eternal life? I would say yes because I was taught that those who are judged worthy of the celestial kingdom can visit loved ones in other kingdoms. Also you may be the tool used by God to help your family obtain as many blessings as God can get them to receive.
We all will receive our judgment based on the level of knowledge available to us in our personal lives, and what choices we made with that knowledge. I've read and learned that every person who has ever lived on this earth will have an equal chance to accept or reject God's full gospel, with full understanding of our acceptance or rejection of it. God has this whole life and earth planned from start to finish and beyond. He is not going to let any of his children slip through a crack somewhere.
A statue of Jesus Christ at temple square in Salt Lake City.
Joseph Smith taught how every person who ever existed will have a chance to receive the gospel and get back to God the Father. As per when and how all this is going to happen, that is what Jesus Christ's mission is. He's here to redeem every one of God's children who at some point will accept the plan. We were all there when the plan was presented (see the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price) and God will give a fair chance to every one of his children to get back to Him, but it has to be their choice, he won't force a person back into His presence. (This is also why the reveled truth of proxy ordinances in the temple is such a marvelous blessing from God to His children. This is probably also what the 1000 years of the millenium will be filled with. That is doing the vicarious work for those that passed without knowing about the gospel.)
That is the best I have to answer this q. Your questions are deep and well thought out. I feel you have a great future and work ahead of you in this life.
Lowell
2010-02-23 07:18:12
Hello anonymous. A patriarchal blessing is a special blessing that you can only receive from a person who has been called by God to serve as a "patriarch." A patriarchal blessing is a guide map for your life. It contains promises, advice, and warnings. A person only receives one patriarchal blessing in a lifetime, and the blessing is later written on paper and given to you to have for the rest of you life so that you may continually read it and use it as a map for your life. Receiving a patriarchal blessing is a huge event in one's life, and your patriarch will discuss with you what it is and its purpose.
If your parents were to never accept the message of the restored gospel and be baptized in the church, you would still be able to be apart of their lives and communicate with them in the next life, especially if they accept the gospel in the life to come. Regardless, my understanding is that those worthy of the celestial kingdom can visit those in other kingdoms.
I hope this helped :)
Autumn Elizabeth Westwood
2010-02-23 09:02:01
A patriachal blessing is given to an individual from God through the church's patriarch basically its the promises of blessings you will recieve if you follow the commandments of God.
If you do become a member you can do baptisms for the dead and your family will have their agency to choose during the mellinium if they want to become members. Thus there is still hope for the Christians who came before hand. :)
At the last day, Jesus Christ will be the final judge. He'll decide who is worthy of the celestial kingdom, not any mortal human like me. :) I can only talk about general principles, not about individual people. My understanding is that both men and women are incomplete on their own. We need each other to be whole, to become all that God wants us to be. Sealing, or temple marriage, is the sacred ordinance that binds a man and a woman together for all eternity, and so sealing is critical to our spiritual progress in the next life. Neither a man nor a woman can progress alone.
I would say, then, that eternal progression, or exaltation, depends in part on the sealing ordinance. However, those who are not sealed can still enter into the celestial kingdom, though their eternal progress may be limited.
That having been said, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once taught that those who keep their covenants but who through no fault of their own are unable to have an eternal marriage in this life will not be denied any blessings in the life to come. Thus there seems to be an important distinction between those who choose not to be sealed and those who cannot be sealed because of circumstances beyond their control like same-sex attraction, marriage to a non-member spouse that predates conversion, difficulty finding a suitable mate, etc. It's not clear to me how, but I believe that God in his infinite mercy will not deny the innocent any deserved blessing in the life to come.
As you point out, there are billions of people who have lived or are living on the earth that will never hear the gospel message. Millions others may hear about the gospel but, through no fault of their own, may not be able to accept it. God will never condemn one of His children for something that is beyond their control.
Much of the work Mormons do in their temples is to provide this opportunity for their deceased ancestors. God has revealed that living members of the church can be baptized or endowed vicariously on behalf of their ancestors (1 Corinthians 15:29). Their ancestors who have passed on may then choose to accept or reject the sacred ordinances performed on their behalf.
This teaching is one of my favorites in the church. Some of my friends of other denominations believe that those who do not accept Christ in this life will be eternally damned to hell, even if they never had an opportunity to accept Him. Thanks to the restoration of the Gospel and modern revelation, we know that God will give everyone an opportunity to learn about Christ and to accept or reject Him personally, if not in this life, then in the next.
Does a woman have to be married in the temple to go to the celestial kingdom? Men and women need to be married (sealed) in the temple, partake of all the covenants of the new and everlasting covenant, including baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and live worthy in order to obtain exaltation. Righteous people who are not sealed can still enter the celestial kingdom. Also, if a sealing is not possible in this life, perhaps because one can't find a worthy mate for eternity, people will have a chance in the next life.
What exactly is a patriarchal blessing? This is a personalized blessing given through a patriarch of the church which gives outlines and suggestions for your own personal life. Some people think of it as a road map for mortality. I've heard a patriarch state that he feels it's part of a blessing God gave you before you came to earth. They are amazing if you get one and if you're prepared I would recommend seeking it out soon after your baptism. I don't know what's up with the house, I got mine in just the patriarch's home. :p
If I were to be a member and the rest of my family wasn't, would I ever have contact with them in the eternal life? I would say yes because I was taught that those who are judged worthy of the celestial kingdom can visit loved ones in other kingdoms. Also you may be the tool used by God to help your family obtain as many blessings as God can get them to receive.
We all will receive our judgment based on the level of knowledge available to us in our personal lives, and what choices we made with that knowledge. I've read and learned that every person who has ever lived on this earth will have an equal chance to accept or reject God's full gospel, with full understanding of our acceptance or rejection of it. God has this whole life and earth planned from start to finish and beyond. He is not going to let any of his children slip through a crack somewhere.
That is the best I have to answer this q. Your questions are deep and well thought out. I feel you have a great future and work ahead of you in this life.
If your parents were to never accept the message of the restored gospel and be baptized in the church, you would still be able to be apart of their lives and communicate with them in the next life, especially if they accept the gospel in the life to come. Regardless, my understanding is that those worthy of the celestial kingdom can visit those in other kingdoms.
I hope this helped :)
If you do become a member you can do baptisms for the dead and your family will have their agency to choose during the mellinium if they want to become members. Thus there is still hope for the Christians who came before hand. :)