clbent04

I read the Gramps post. In short, he supports the answer given by modern day prophets and apostles while quoting Doctine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. He says it is fair for children who die before age 8 to receive Celestial glory because it was predesigned that way. They proved themselves worthy of the Celestial Kingdom in the premortal life, and no further testing is necessary. They are of exceptional caliber who simply deserve the Celestial Kingdom, and there is nothing unfair about someone obtaining something they deserve. Yet this still doesn't make sense to me. It is HIGHLY probable that out of the entire group of children who die before reaching 8 years old in this life, that had they all been given the opportunity to live out their lives, there would undoubtedly be some who would turn out to be deserving of the Terrestial and Telesstial Kindgoms. i know this goes against what Bruce R McKonkie said of our stations here in life being predesigned, but did not Elder mcKonkie also suggest that people of African American descent were born with black skin in this life because they didn't prove themselves in the premortal life as well as those born with white skin. And wasn't this theory of predesign later debunked by the Church?

Mormon doctrine states that in order to make it to Heaven, you must accept Jesus Christ and His gospel into your heart. Everyone is to be extended a chance to accept Jesus Christ and His gospel whether in this life or the next. But you only get one chance. The Mormon doctrine of the “chance” shows the position of the Church that everyone has an equal shot at salvation, not just those who lived as Mormons here on Earth. This doctrine treats outsiders to the Mormon religion much more fairly than how some other religions treat their own outsiders. Many religions don’t consider salvation possible for those outside their own religion. In my personal opinion, this is an incredibly close minded view to take. Just because someone does not find the same path you are on in this life means that they are automatically damned to Hell? I don’t see how you could honestly say you believe in a righteous, just and merciful God if that is how you believe. The Mormon doctrine of the “chance” is reassuring to me that everyone is equally valued in the eyes of God. It supports my belief that God is a loving God and respecter of no man. God does not operate by favoritism. He is the Great Keeper who ensures everyone has an equal chance to obtain salvation. As long as you have a good heart, humble and receptive to the truths of God, and suppose you don’t receive an adequate chance to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ in mortal life, you are likely to fully embrace it in the life hereafter when your official chance to accept the gospel is extended to you. I think an official chance is much more than someone just offering you a Book of Mormon or a couple missionaries knocking at your door. I think an official chance involves you receiving God given knowledge that the Church is true. Knowledge that impresses itself so deeply upon you, that if you were to refute the truth of it, you would unmistakably be aware that you have lied and sinned against the light (Doctrine and Covenants 82:3). I believe most people will receive their chance after this life. This assumption is based on the large percentage of people in mortality who never received or will receive God given knowledge of true gospel of Jesus Christ. Mormons make up .2 percent of the world’s population (15 million out of 7 billion people accordingly to 2013 statistics). In other words, 1 out of 500 people here on Earth is Mormon. What a small percentage of the world’s population! And to think of how many people outside the Church live equally virtuous lives compared to Mormons who are in good standing with the Lord. For those who won’t receive their chance in this life and who are ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ in the life hereafter, what process do you think they would go through in order to do so? Would baptism and all the other ordinances we perform here on Earth be just as necessary to go through in the next life to obtain salvation? How long do you think the process would take? I believe it will be quick and simple. Already having a heart that is receptive to such truths is the part that takes time to develop. n my mind, I don’t really see much of a distinction between Mormons and people of other faiths. As long as you have good desires and live as you believe, I see us all as one flock. I see everyone who lives as they believe equally worthy to receive Celestial glory regardless of what religion you claimed or didn’t claim while here on Earth. This is dependent of course on if 1.) you never had a fair chance to accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ in mortality and, 2.) in the life hereafter you do accept it. But if you already are in the category of having lived a faithful life to what you believed was right, what is to stop you from embracing further light and knowledge from the Lord? Seems like it would be a simple transition for all our righteous brothers and sisters.

One of the most controversial topics of Mormonism, Polygamy, has troubled me for some time, but for different reasons than what most people get hung up on. My issue: Why would God introduce Mormons to the practice of polygamy only to restrict it, and then say the restriction is only temporary and that Polygamy is indeed a true eternal doctrine to be embraced by those worthy and willing at a later time? When has God ever introduced something as a true eternal doctrine only to later restrict it until further notice? This kind of back and forth practising of eternally true doctrine does not follow the nature of God as I know and understand it. Some have said that the Lord had to restrict Polygamy because while it is a true eternal doctrine, had the Church continued to practice it, it would of led to the Church's demise considering the United States was very close to shutting down the Church back in the 1800's. But how does this type of thinking make sense? Since when has God been dependent on man in the timing of his designs? Why would Polygamy need to be embraced by popular consent of man in order to be allowed to be practiced? When has God ever done anything that was popular to the mainstream? Did he send His son Jesus Christ to Earth during a time that it was safe and popular to accept someone as the Savior of mankind? Did King Harold not command all new born male babies be killed? Why then would Mormons and the Church be sparred from persecution by no longer needing to practice polygamy? Even if the Lord hasn't revealed why He decided we should stop practicing polygamy for a period of time, it's reasonable to question if it makes sense in relation to who we understand God to be. Is God a god of consistently, is He not always in control even if the odds are stacked against His chosen, and where in the Bible have we ever seen anything similar to an eternally true doctrine being introduced only later be restricted until further notice?

The Church says that the highest level of salvation, Celestial glory, is automatically awarded to young children who die before they reach 8 years old. This is because sin is not possible to commit until a child reaches age 8, which is the declared age of accountability. While this is a merciful doctrine which surely comforts parents who sadly have had to deal with the loss of a young child, is it logical to how we generally understand obtaining Celestial glory? Should dying at a young age in itself be the reason why Celestial glory is awarded? Is not faith in Jesus Christ prerequisite to obtaining salvation? Many children who die before 8 years old are not even capable of comprehending the concept of Jesus Christ as a Savior to mankind. Some say that these children of premature deaths are special, that each and every one is of Celestial caliber. If they had been able to live out their lives they would have unquestionably succeeded in living Christlike lives worthy to return to God. The predicament of being able to logically accept this thinking can be related to the school bus example: A kindergarten class of 5-year-olds rides the bus home one day. During the ride, a tire blows out and the bus driver loses control. The bus veers off a bridge resulting in the tragic deaths of everyone aboard. How would the teacher of this class describe her class? Were all these children of perfect behavior? Was everyone in the class bound to live out the remainder of their lives in a Celestial manner? Did no one ever yell or argue in that class? Did no one ever lie? Did everyone willingly share their toys? Or was the class similar to any other kindergarten class where kids have different levels of obedience? Most likely the latter. Why are a portion of us exempted from the consequence of sin solely because of a premature death? And how does it make sense that these children are automatically awarded Celestial glory even if they have never accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior?