Edspringer

Just chill out!!

How do we exercise our agency to choose exaltation if we do not know what it is we need to do?
It's not that complicated. We are commanded to obey the commandments, repent, take upon ourselves the ordinances of the gospel, and endure to the end in order to gain exaltation. We are also told that those who are valiant in the testimony of Jesus will gain exaltation. The correlation seems pretty straightforward to me.
Actually, there are those whose personal interpretation holds significant more weight than "anyone else's". For example:
 
"To be valiant, we need to focus on the power of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice to overcome death and, through our repentance, to cleanse us from sin, and we need to follow the doctrine of Christ." - Quentin L. Cook
 
"TO BE VALIANT IN A TESTIMONY of Jesus means that we accept the divine mission of Jesus Christ, embrace His gospel, and do His works. It also means we accept the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith and his successors and follow their counsel.
[...]
"They are courageous in defending truth and righteousness. These are members of the Church who magnify their callings in the Church (see D&C 84:33), pay their tithes and offerings, live morally clean lives, sustain their Church leaders by word and action, keep the Sabbath as a holy day, and obey all the commandments of God." - Ezra Taft Benson
 
"The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel.
"To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”; it is to deny ourselves “of all ungodliness,” and “love God” with all our “might, mind and strength.” (Moro. 10:32.)
"To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unshakable conviction. It is to know of the verity and divinity of the Lord’s work on earth.
"But this is not all. It is more than believing and knowing. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only. It is more than lip service; it is not simply confessing with the mouth the divine Sonship of the Savior. It is obedience and conformity and personal righteousness. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21.)
"To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” It is to “endure to the end.” (2 Ne. 31:20.) It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep the commandments. It is the manifestation of “pure religion” in the lives of men; it is visiting “the fatherless and widows in their affliction” and keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27.)
"To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to bridle our passions, control our appetites, and rise above carnal and evil things. It is to overcome the world as did he who is our prototype and who himself was the most valiant of all our Father’s children. It is to be morally clean, to pay our tithes and offerings, to honor the Sabbath day, to pray with full purpose of heart, to lay our all upon the altar if called upon to do so.
"To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to take the Lord’s side on every issue. It is to vote as he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be one with him as he is one with his Father." - Bruce R. McKonkie
 
Etc., etc., etc.
 
A claim that "valiant" (or, rather, how we may be valiant) has not been clearly defined by the church and its doctrine strikes me as spurious. 
 
Oh...and also: "Members of the Church who have testimonies and who live clean and upright lives, but who are not courageous and valiant, do not gain the celestial kingdom. Theirs is a terrestrial inheritance." - Bruce R. McKonkie

Maybe the angels and gods are something like an honour god, standing along the path that leads to the pearly gates to honour and welcome those who have qualified for the highest degree of glory?

In line with this thought; although separate from the OP (sorry @Edspringer), a common statement being said lately from visiting GAs and stake president is the question, "Is the father worthy enough to bless his baby, stand in the circle of baby being blessed, baptize his son/daughter, to participate in priesthood ordinances." He might not be worthy of a temple recommend but is he worthy to perform priesthood ordinances (at least ordinances that do not require one to be a worthy temple recommend holder).
The notion is progression. As I began my statement last time, "I would not be surprised..." if a similar question is presented with the Father. Is my son/daughter "valiant" enough for the celestial kingdom (not a Terrestrial being) but not for exaltation. This appears to be so, and then again, I don't know, but thoughts that I entertain to try to understand God's mercy and justice. As you stated, this then turns right back to me, what am I doing to be valiant in my testimony of Christ? What am I doing to put away the natural man? What am I doing to put away all ungodliness. If I do one thing each day to separate myself from the natural man, put away all ungodliness, then the ultimate result is that I will become "valiant in my testimony of Christ."

Oath & Covenant for one reason. Those who receive servants, receive Son, and receive the Father. These are members of the Church who have taken upon themselves the covenants to receive the Father, but have been less diligent in their covenants. They still receive the servants, they still pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. They partake of his life and death (on occassion). They live lives that are not Telestial. I can't see any reason why they would be Terrestial beings. I can see how they would not be exalted.
As a note: I am not presenting any thing that I have felt witnessed as true via the Spirit. These are thoughts I have according to the mercies of God, which in my opinion, do not rob justice. I could be totally wrong. I could be correct.
EDIT: An example of "not valiant" in my opinion are those members who have received all covenants, but have left the gospel, but remain honorable Christians with a different church, these are Terrestial beings.

Is there any difference between the principles & Doctrines of truth and the Great Plan of Salvation?  Are there doctrines taught in the truth that do not apply to the Great Plan of Salvation?  Is there a truth that is not part of the Great Plan of Salvation?
Often, I hear someone imply that they are not interested in determining the truth of something because it is not necessary for their salvation.  I this a morally correct approach for understanding the Great Plan of Salvation as well as determining the value of truths?
 
The Traveler

I like that attitude

You are totally right! Thanks for the reminder

Thanx for replying.
Of course there's nothing official on the matter. Of course our Father wants the best spot for us His children. "No ad for what  is not the best". 
I quoted a verse of scripture and asked everyone's opinion about it in relation to the degrees within the CK. If we can at least speculate... Why not?

In the spirit of speculation: the non-exalted kingdoms are celestial beings who are not married (one for males, one for females) living "separately and singly" (D&C 132:17). These are angels. I do not know who the gods might be, unless they are those who are yet preparing to receive their exaltation (per another thread: https://mormonhub.com/forums/topic/61876-celestial-kingdom-and-exaltation/#comment-916268 ):
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil [died] before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 268). https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-47-exaltation?lang=eng

The only thing I would differ in thought is the last statement of the last sentence. We "can" know, for the Spirit is able to teach all truth, even unrevealed truth. 
@Edspringer, this is a good question. I wouldn't be surprised if part of the lower kingdoms are those who even were baptized, endowed, and sealed but were not diligent in keeping the covenants. More sins of omission rather than commission. Individuals who lived good lives but did not serve. Individuals who did not learn their duty, proactively learn their duty, and to act in all diligence. That member that shows up once every few months, never receives a calling, when asked for assistance they would rather watch TV, but in all they live honorable lives and have all the necessary ordinances in this life.

I believe that we do not enter the Celestial Kingdom but that we start one (look up scripture references for the “everlasting covenant”.  We do so with the divine covenant of marriage between a man and a woman – and that like planting a seed what is started can and will grow and evolved when nurture and care continues.  That as we learn to become parents in this live we will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
 
The Traveler

I think that is the way it will go, but the teaching comes from Joseph Smith sermons and GC talks. For example:
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil [died] before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 268). https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-47-exaltation?lang=eng

My speculation on the three divisions within the celestial kingdom.
1. Those who were baptized only.
2. Those who were endowed
3. Those who were sealed.
I believe angels make up 1 & 2, and gods 3.

It may just be referencing to eternal progression and damnation. God lives in a state of eternal progression and the Devil is damned for all eternity. Only those that reach exaltation will have progression. Everyone else is damned

The three degrees are not taught in the Book of Mormon. Its fulness of the gospel refers I think to the unadulterated testimony of Jesus and His mission, and His teachings to the Nephites. The dispensation of the fulness of times will reveal a greater fulness of doctrines, which I think it different than the "Good News".

Elder Scott seemed to be under the firm impression that ALL in the universe was created by our Father and his Christ.

Both! Physical places, the Celestial Kigdom will be this earth. And states of being in that our bodies will be glorified to different extents. 
The spiritworld is a different story. There is only one spirit world. The idea of paradise and prison refers not to places, but states of being.

“Now let us rejoice”, # 3

3rd verse

“Then all that was promised the Saints will be given,
And they will be crown'd with the angels of heav'n,
And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden,
And Christ and his people will ever be one”.

 
 

We might be in error in thinking to much about the Kingdom aspect as compared to our earthly standard of such.
I do not envision the Celestial Kingdom as having the kind of boundaries as we commonly think of boundaries.  Anything that can "bare the weight" of Celestial Glory is going to be part of the Celestial Kingdom... And if you can handle the Celestial then you can handle the lesser.. so no Kingdom is denied you (The reverse is not true though)
So the Earth becoming a Celestial body means it adds to the Celestial Kingdom.  So in that sense no.  But it seems like it will be our "Family Home" in a sense where we begin our efforts in so it will be important to us as part of our beginning in a sense.
 

The problem with the question is it presupposes the the Celestial Kingdom is a place instead of a state.

Hi, there
In Exodus 20:3 we read: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”. This commandment refers to having any other person or thing to worship but God, the Father. He is the only true and living God to whom we are commanded to worship. Remember that Jehovah, the pre-mortal Jesus, who gave that commandment to the children of Israel.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks has stated, in the last General Conference (talk entitled The Godhead and the Plan of Salvation), that to mortals, to us, the most visible member of the Godhead is Jesus Christ. I strongly recommend you to read the whole talk, but it becomes easier for us to understand why Jesus Christ seems to be more worshiped than the Father or the Holy Ghost. In fact His Atonement is essential in the plan of our Heavenly Father, but we must remember that the Savior credited all the glory to His Father and our Father. So, in my view, in terms of reverence, all three members of the Godhead are to be worshiped. In terms of glory, only the Father must be worshiped.
Now, it is important to understand and know:

We worship God the Father as the life Giver and the One who will reward us with eternal life;

We worship Jesus Christ because of His atoning sacrifice by having faith in Him, repenting of our sins and making and keeping covenants of salvation;

We worship the Holy Ghost by living in accordance to the laws and commandments of the Gospel, so our minds and hearts will be pure enough to receive His influence constantly. The Apostle Paul said we are the temple of the Spirit.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/the-souls-sincere-desire?lang=eng
In this conference talk, Sis mcconkie describes involving each member of the Godhead in prayer. This material is found towards the end of the talk.

Yes.
Somewhere, there was a GA talk about not explicitly trying to form a special relationship with one member of the Godhead over the others.  (But I can't go hunt for it now.  Perhaps someone else remembers...)
IMO, we worship the Father, in the name of the Son (and through his grace), and receive their will, guidance, and blessings through the gift of the Holy Ghost.

As an old single male, I see no need to guess. It is sufficient for me to do what I can in this life and trust completely in Christ that all will end up as it should
Thanks, -Wade Englund-