The Mormon Plan of Salvation as I understand it
The primary purpose of temple work is to “seal” or unite families together, with the expectation that those relationships continue beyond death. The same temple rites can be performed for those who have died. There is no counterpart to temple practices in other Christian churches. Taken from their pages on core beliefs of Mormons with regards to their ministry, it says "This is a difference in practice rather than in doctrinal belief, since many Christian churches send out missionaries to preach the gospel. However, the missionary program of the Church is distinctive and recognizable for the sheer number and distribution of missionaries, for the length and variety of their service, and for their appearance and their preaching of a restored gospel."
A statement from sociologist named Rodney Stark based on his research into the Mormons and other social groups, (who does not claim to be a Mormon or a churchgoer), here he stated, "The missionaries work hard, but most conversations are inspired by others.
People don't convert to anything based on doctrine ... People join because their family members or good friends are members ... that's the way movements always grow." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, founded in New York State in 1830 with just six members, is today the fourth largest church in the United States by independent estimates. But admitted that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is far from being an insignificant religious organization.
I have heard that LDS scholars explain to their members that their new scriptures is not beyond what is declared in the Bible but only a clarification and complement thereof there is no tension between the two that both the Bible and the book of Mormon teach the same plan of salvation I found that the interesting statement so I decided to look further into what I believe to be the Mormon plan of salvation.
This initial part of my investigation was taken from excerpts statements made by Rex E Lee, president of Brigham Young University (hereinafter referred to as BYU) he states, "though we do not remember it, we existed as spirits before this life." According to this LDS belief of eternal progression, by strict obedience, a man, any man may become a God, a creator like God. "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man sits enthroned in yonder heavens" states Joseph Smith. You have got to learn how to be God yourself ... The same as all gods have done before you." Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow said, "as man now is God once was; as God now is man may become." The only offer of God had ever recorded in the Bible was the empty promise by Satan the devil in the garden of Eden Genesis 3:1-5 the Bible shows that God created Adam and Eve to live on earth and instructed them to produce a perfect family and that they would both live here in happiness eternally as long as they were obedient. Genesis 1:28, Psalm 37:29, Isaiah 65:21-25. Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world Romans 5:12 2Nephi 2:22-23, 25 state that "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." Spirits in heaven are thus said to await a chance to live on a sinful earth, a necessary step toward perfection and godhood. And LDS magazine Ensign says: "we look upon what Adam and Eve did with the great appreciation rather than with disdain." Joseph Fielding Smith the great-nephew of Joseph Smith states, "this doctrine that man existed in spirit creation in the Bible only discerned through the mist or fog because of many plane and precious things have been taken out of the Bible," further it states: "this belief is based upon revelation given to the church May 6, 1883."
In Genesis 3:4-5, I indicated that my understanding was that a person would eventually die. This would mean that the person's thoughts and everything he was made out of wood die. You claim that a person spirit will live on eternally. It would be interesting to see if the Mormon understanding was that a person's spirit has everlasting life regardless of its course on earth! At 2Nephi 2:27 where men are apparently given a choice between life with the Great Mediator or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity of the devil. An initial concern would be what the Mormon understanding "the captivity of the devil" was. In verse 29, it states "... And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein ..." I'm not quite sure where Mormon teachings draw the conclusion that the will of the flesh is or could be to want eternal death, or how it is that the evil is in the flesh? Could it be that their teaching is that man was created to be in the spirit rather than in the flesh, since it appears that their teaching is that the spirit is man's eventual outcome? In Alma 42 the statement is made "mortality as a probationary time to enable man to repent and serve God." How could this be though, when people are born, they take on the characteristics of their parents, looks as well as personalities? What would happen if a child dies? Does he or she go back to the spirit world with all the sins forgiven? Why would people than be born handicapped, where would justice be in all of that? When the thought is mentioned that mortality is a probationary time, how does the statement harmonize with God's original command to fill the earth and subdue it in verse 28 Genesis chapter 1? Where's the cross-reference to the Bible was supporting data to show that the statement is a God sponsored belief? Alma 42 in the opening statement says that this fall of Adam brought temporal and spiritual death upon all mankind. And yet you make the statement that all this was well within the purpose of God. Why would God purpose that mankind temporarily fall into spiritual death? Where's the consistency in the Mormon teaching of who Adam is? According to Mormonism, isn't Adam the same as Jesus, father or God himself? This line of reasoning doesn't seem to fit. The statement further implies, "only the truly penitent are saved." And what happens to the rest? It says "all others are subject to God's justice." What does that mean? Life back on earth again? Some form of death? Life in a punishable spirit realm?
In considering the point where Mormonism claims, "we can become like God's," you refer to for Scriptures. In Revelation 3:21, my question is, since you seem to apply this Scripture to mankind in general, that all mankind has the opportunity to be kings with Christ and to rule on his throne? My understanding was that this letter was not addressed to all mankind but to a class of individuals known as the 144,000 who will rule with Christ as kings and priests forever on his throne. In reading the Scriptures in the book of Revelation 3:21, 7:4 I see a conversation culminating this song in verse four chapter 7 listing the number to be 144,000. These of course are not the only ones to be saved but the only one school be in the ruling class with Christ, because in Revelation 7:9-10 there is a discussion of a great crowd which no man was able to number. I feel that those who will be saved on earth will be among those of the great crowd. This is the reason we go door-to-door and find sheeplike people to become members of that great crowd.
You also reference Psalm 82:1-8 and John 10:34 showing that men are to become gods. However, the Scriptures simply use the term gods is mighty men and not to the hope of being angelic creatures. Here the context of the entire Bible needs to be used rather than selecting the text then trying to use it to support a thought not supported by the Scriptures. In 2Corinthians 3:18, you discuss again being a God. I understand the Scriptures taken from 2Corinthians 3:17-18 to discuss the law of Moses, avail and the law of Jesus, the unveiling. It implies that when the law of Jesus which will fill the old Mosaic law covenant, a new relationship with Jehovah existed. By declaring God's truth and conforming ever closer to his personality and ways, Christians make progress from glory to greater glory, but not to ourselves. Their words and actions bring increasing glory to God's image they seek to reflect.
As with all my research, it is ongoing and always under construction. So whatever you may be reading, there's a good chance it will change by the time you read it a second time. As I learn more about the Mormon teaching, I will post it and revise what I have written.
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