Saints before Gods I am in lock-step with HCK's s...

2010-03-11T11:36:04.293-07:00

Saints before Gods

I am in lock-step with HCK's statement about becoming saints before becoming gods. I do not consider this remark deeply doctrinal but rather pabulum aimed at members of the Church - note my avoidance of the word 'saint' at this juncture - that think entry into the baptismal font qualifies them for exaltation. I can see Heber's finger wagging in their direction, and rightly so if their view of discipleship really is that simplistic.

I reflect on the words of Saint Paul to the saints at Philippi [2:12-13]:

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

In these two verses Paul identifies the nature of covenant in which the conditions of exaltation are set out without the detailed matter so beloved by theologians. The nature of this covenant is that of shared interest in the outcome, and the notification of shared activity on the parts of the Party of the First Part who is Almighty God, and the Party of the Second Part who is the candidate for exaltation.

So, what is a 'saint'? Clearly, a saint, whether ancient, meridianal, or of this dispensation is one that has voluntarily entered into covenant relationship with God in order to receive the highest blessings at the expense Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’ and of conforming their lives to Christ's model of perfection 'to the best of their several abilities.'

Perfection is not a gift that God pours out onto the head of the legalistically perfect. Were it so, then only Jesus would be exalted and he would be the sole recipient of 'all that the Father hath.' But the saints that are as faithful as they can be become 'Joint heirs with Christ of all that the Father has.'

Therefore, every one that is 'or can be called [a] saint' is a candidate to enter into God's rest and sit down on His throne, being exalted to godhood.

All that is required for an individual to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ are a few statements of basic belief. Fortunately, there is no formal examination of theological, Christological, or ecclesiological understanding. If there were then Jesus would never have been able to found his Church during his mortal ministry, and every Patriarch, Prophet, and Apostle upon whom the Holy Spirit moved to act would have yielded no fruit.

I see nothing more sinister in Bro Kimball's remarks to members of the Church that could, conceivably, have had a hard time staying alive, but that needed reminding that the race was not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to him that endures ‘to the end.’

President Hinckley is correct that we do not know the details about how Father in Heaven gained his position. There is speculation oft based on scripture that those of speculative turns of mind have mined for pegs on which to hang their hats. Not a safe way to determine what is not revealed.

However, Augustine [with whom I rarely agree] said: 'God was made man, that man might be made God,' to which I Ignatius': God became man so that man might become a god.

Comments on Life On Gold Plates: Becoming Saints before gods

Saints before Gods I am in lock-step with HCK's s...