Obedience to the Ordinances of the Gospel PART 3

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SALVATION AND EXALTATION:
A Latter-day Saint believes that Jesus' Grace will redeem everyone from the fall of Adam and Eve.

This means that every man woman and child on the earth will one day be ressurected. Also everyone will receive a kingdom of glory, except for those who activily fight against the Lord by denying the Holy Ghost. (The unpardonable sin spoken of in the New Testament. Matt 12:31)

The Kingdoms of Glory are...

The Telestial Kingdom (lowest)
The Terrestiral Kingdom (middle)
The Celestial Kingdom (Highest)

(See 1 Corinthians 15:40)

This almost, universal salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The salvation mostly talked about in the Bible and the Book of Mormon concerns those who will inherit the Celestial Kingdom or the Kingdom of God.

When a person is baptized and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, they enter the Kingdom of God on earth and are qualified through the grace of Jesus for the Celestial Kingdom. This person could be considered "Saved" in the sense talked about in the Holy Scriptures.

However, this person has only entered the kingdom at this point. They have only inherited the lowest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.

Latter-day Saints also believe that one can fall from this state of grace if they do not endure in faith until the end of their mortal lives. (Galatians 5:4, Matt 24:13, Mark 13:13, James 5:11, 2 Nephi 31: 16)

Now that they are in the Kingdom, there is more to do. There are three degrees of glory within the Celestial Kingdom. (D&C 131:1) The highest degree, is where God dwells.

When a person obtains this glory, it is also through Jesus' grace, and obedience to the higher ordinances performed and entered into in the Holy Temple. This person is qualified for Exaltation, if they endure faithfully to the end.

Baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, are required to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) They can be considered the ordinances of salvation. The ordianances after this are important for our growth and progression within the kingdom of God, these can be considered the ordinances of Exaltation.

God wants to save us. But He also wants to change us. He wants us to become more than we are. He wants us to be fit for His kingdom. He wants us to eventually become perfect (Matt 5:48) This is only possible through the merits and grace of Jesus Christ. (2 Nephi 2:8) Without the Savior, none of this would be possible.

But because of Jesus, we can change. We can become more. When you enter in at the gate through baptism, you then receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost as your guide within the kingdom. He sanctifies us (Rom 15:16). The Holy Ghost helps you on your journey from being saved, to changing and becoming Exalted. This can only happen if we submit our will to the will of God. (Mosiah 3:19) Then it is through His power that we are changed and become perfect.

If you would like to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the the Higher ordinances available in the temple through the new and everlasting covanent, I invite you to come and be baptized by an authorized representative of Jesus Christ.


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