Understanding the Strait and Narrow Gate
Thanks for tuning in. This time the subject is the Strait and Narrow Gate, what it means or what it is; why is it hard to find and hard to pass through; why will comparatively few even find it after searching for it; and once it’s found what is required to pass through it; and once through it what is on the other side?
This subject is of such importance that this topic should have been the first one of any and all topics addressed here. This is the entry into God’s Kingdom; it is being saved from our sins; it is being spiritually born again; and it is receiving a wedding garment to attend the marriage feast of the Son; and it is the ticket to return to and live eternally in the presence of God after this life. Because of the importance of this subject matter the script I’m reading from will also be blogged on the website originalmormonism.org.
I have said for many years that if a person only accomplishes one thing in their life it should be acquiring the Gift of the Holy Ghost to be one’s constantly available companion and tutor, which is only accomplished by passing through the strait and narrow gate spoken of in the scriptures. The remainder of this podcast will be reviewing the scriptures that mention the strait gate and then the scriptures that help define exactly what it is and what is necessary to pass through it and along the way I will add some personal commentary. The biblical references come from Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible and other Mormon scripture as well as teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Beginning with the words of Lord Jesus we read…
JST ST. MATTHEW. CHAPTER 8:22-33 Quote
22 Repent, therefore, and enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat.
23 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
24 And, again, beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
25 Ye shall know them by their fruits; for do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
26 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
27 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
28 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
29 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
30 Verily I say unto you, It is not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
31 For the day soon cometh, that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works.
32 And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name; and in thy name cast out devils; and in thy name done many wonderful works?
33 And then will I say, Ye never knew me; depart from me ye that work iniquity. Close Quote
This is the first New Testament encounter where the Lord mentions the strait gate. The word strait used here means “difficult.” It does not mean that it doesn’t bend or change course. What is curious and a bit jarring is that He says there will be few by comparison who even find this metaphoric gate. He makes it clear that at least one requirement is repentance. He then goes on to warn against false prophets who would be those purporting to be teachers, preachers, leaders, pastors, evangelists, or priests, who are not authorized by God to access this strait gate even though they may have done many seemingly good things. It makes one think the iniquity they do might be only pretending to lead others to the strait gate when in fact they are not.
Going on we read…
JST ST. LUKE. CHAPTER 13: 23-24 Quote
23 And there said one unto him, Lord, are there few only that be saved? and he answered him, and said,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for I say unto you, Many shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able; for the Lord shall not always strive with man. Close Quote
Here in the gospel of Luke the Lord warns that there will be times when one or more of the necessary elements to pass through the gate will not be available even if the knowledge of the gate is found. This will not be because the Lord has shut the gate but rather that man has polluted or lost the keys to approach the gate.
Found in the Book of Mormon is the best and most clear explanation of what is the strait gate.
2 NEPHI 31 : 4–13 Reads, Quote
4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water,
7 Know ye not that he was holy ? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.
9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?
11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. Close Quote
Nephi clearly links the strait gate with the baptism of water and the baptism of fire or spirit. Make note that in verse 7 the phrase “according to the flesh.” This makes it clear that baptism is something required to be done while in mortality, even for the Lord while on earth. In verse 13 Nephi stresses that this baptism is to be done with “full purpose of heart, AND acting no hypocrisy, AND no deception AND with real intent repenting of one’s sins. This says to me that if not done honestly, one does not enter the strait gate and one does not receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost to be one’s companion and teacher of truth from then on. This may explain the man without a wedding garment who is cast from the wedding feast to outer darkness. It’s noteworthy that the requirement of baptism is a commandment of the Father who is the one true GOD of the children of Israel. Nephi also makes it clear that a baptism of spirit or fire must follow the baptism of water. One must then ask, how is this baptism of fire, or the reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost accomplished? We find that answer in the New Testament.
Acts 8: 14-20 Quote
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Close Quote
So we find that the Apostle Peter conveyed the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands. Paul also makes it clear that this power is not something trivial or to be had by just anyone who desires it.
HEBREWS CHAPTER 6 Quote
1 Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And we will go on unto perfection if God permit.
4 For he hath made it impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to be renewed again unto repentance; seeing they crucify unto themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Close Quote
Here is reinforced the major steps of the Plan of Salvation namely, baptism then the ordinance of laying on of hands, etc. What should be realized at this point for many Mormons is the explanation of the impossibility of someone who has received and realized the Gift of the Holy Ghost and then fall away from the faith to be forgiven of that sin. It is believed by some of the Mormon faith that it is almost impossible to become perdition but it is likely less hard than they might want to believe and it is possible for them lest they are aware and vigilant.
Another account is given in
ACTS CHAPTER 19 Quote
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve. Close Quote
In this example it is not only made clear that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands by one with authority to do such, but that the baptism of water must be done correctly also.
In the Book of Mormon it is made clear that to baptize and confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost requires authority. The circumstance of the following is when Jesus visited this continent after His resurrection and gave priesthood authority to His apostles of the Americas to carry on the gospel on this continent.
MORONI CHAPTER 2 1-3 Quote
1 The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them—
2 And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.
3 Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost. Close Quote
Returning to Nephi’s explanation of a complete baptism we read,
2 NEPHI 31 : 14–21 Quote
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. Close Quote
So after a proper water baptism and the actual receiving of the Holy Ghost one’s sins are washed away and if all is done according to the requirements of the governing law, one is then allowed to pass through the strait gate by the One who guards the gate.
In
2 NEPHI 9 : 40–41 We read Quote
40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. Close Quote
And now we know that our attitudes, actions and intent must satisfy God to have the gate opened for our entry therein.
And here are Nephi’s parting words.
2 NEPHI 33 : 8–15 Quote
8 I have charity for the Jew—I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.
9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.
12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.
13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.
14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.
15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen. Close Quote
Following we see that Jacob of the Americas knew of the strait gate also.
JACOB 6 : 11 Quote
11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life. Close Quote
In
3 NEPHI 14 : 33 we read, Quote
33 And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work. Close Quote
One aspect of the night to which the Lord is referring are the times in this earth’s history when the priesthood or authority to access the strait gate is not on the earth. The last time this happened is alluded to in the following. The other aspect would be the mortal death of someone who was taught the true gospel of Christ and rejected it before they died.
D&C SECTION 22 Quote
1 Behold, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning
2 Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works
3 For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old
4 Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God Amen. Close Quote
Because of the clarity of this reference the only explanation owing is the meaning of the phrase the “new and everlasting covenant.” Many think the phrase refers to the covenant of an eternal marriage sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. An eternal marriage is certainly included in this last covenant but it is only one part of many parts. Put simply, the first covenant between man and God was made with Adam after the expulsion from the garden and was that a Redeemer was promised and required blood sacrifice as a reminder and a sign of commitment and compliance. Then came the New Covenant when the Savior entered mortality and established it based on a spiritual sacrifice of a humble and contrite being who conforms to the requirements specified by the Lord’s teachings doing away with blood sacrifice until the reclamation of the first tribes of Israel. Finally, after the great apostasy when the priesthood of God was no longer found in the church established by Christ and His apostles, the New Covenant was reestablished for the last time, never to be completely lost from the earth again until the Millennial reign of Christ on earth, so it is called the “New and Everlasting Covenant.” This amounts to essentially the earthly mopping up dispensation of the church of the Messiah, Jesus before the end.
Many use the catch phrase of being “born again” and take it to mean just confessing Christ to be their Savior and voila they are saved and born again into the highest heaven to reside in the presence of God and after accepting Christ into their life they are then under the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and will have all their past and future sins forgiven as long as they try to be good. Actually, being fully born again requires passing through the strait gate and the requirements of a full and proper baptism consisting of faith in Christ, a full repentance, and an authoritative water baptism followed by a legal administrator laying on hands for the baptism of fire and passing through the strait and narrow gate.
ST. JOHN
CHAPTER 3: 1-7 Quote
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joseph states it plainly
TPJS P 162 Quote
Being born again, comes by the Spirit of God through ordinances.Close Quote
We also have this in Joseph’s translation of the Bible.
JST Genesis 6 62-65 Quote
62 Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory.
63 For, by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified.
64 Therefore it is given to abide in you, the record of heaven, the Comforter, the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things, that which quickeneth all things which maketh alive all things, that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice and judgment.
65 And now, behold, I say unto you, This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time. Close Quote
The final issue to be addressed is what constitutes authority to perform legitimate baptisms, laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and other holy ordinances? We have the examples of the Lord’s apostles.
Matthew 7:36-37 Quote
36 And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings with his disciples, the people were astonished at his doctrine;
37 For he taught them as one having authority from God, and not as having authority from the scribes. Close Quote
This suggests what we already know to be true, that Jesus had been given authority from God to perform His mission.
Luke 9:1-2 Quote
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and he gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Close Quote
This shows that the authority from God was then passed to Jesus’ apostles, so it can be passed on from one who actually has such authority.
2 Corinthians 10:8 Quote
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, Close Quote
Beyond what Paul is saying about the priesthood authority the apostles had to bless people and not to harm them, the underlying point is that Paul had this authority and he got it from Peter and not the Lord directly showing once again that it can be passed on by one who has such authority. In the following Joseph makes the point that one must have a direct and authentic line of authority based on the proper teachings and gospel that the Lord will recognize as legitimate, albeit he was a little sarcastic.
TPJS P 192 Quote
Many objections are urged against the Latter-day Saints for not admitting the validity of sectarian baptism, and for withholding fellowship from sectarian churches. Yet to do otherwise would be like putting new wine into old bottles, and putting old wine into new bottles. What! new revelations in the old churches? New revelations would knock out the bottom of their bottomless pit. New wine into old bottles! The bottles burst and the wine runs out! What! Sadducees in the new church! Old wine in new leathern bottles will leak through the pores and escape. So the Sadducee saints mock at authority, kick out of the traces, and run to the mountains of perdition, leaving the long echo of their braying behind them. Close Quote
TPJS P 271 Quote
Some say the kingdom of God was not set up on the earth until the day of Pentecost, and that John did not preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. But I say, in the name of the Lord, that the kingdom of God was set up on the earth from the days of Adam to the present time, whenever there has been a righteous man on earth unto whom God revealed His word and gave power and authority to administer in His name. And where there is a priest of God—a minister who has power and authority from God to administer in the ordinances of the gospel and officiate in the priesthood of God–there is the kingdom of God. And, in consequence of rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Prophets whom God hath sent, the judgments of God have rested upon people, cities, and nations, in various ages of the world, which was the case with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, that were destroyed for rejecting the Prophets. Close Quote
And Joseph caps the issue with this statement.
TPJS P 274 Quote
Whenever men can find out the will of God and find an administrator legally authorized from God, there is the kingdom of God; but where these are not, the kingdom of God is not. All the ordinances, systems, and administrations on the earth are of no use to the children of men, unless they are ordained and authorized of God; for nothing will save a man but a legal administrator; for none others will be acknowledged either by God or angels. Close Quote
The term “ordinances” has been mentioned several times and for those who may not be clear on what this means is this short summary. An ordinance as used in connection with the operations of the Lord’s church and kingdom means a rite or ritual action or actions recognized as valid by God. What should be realized is that there are always two parts to every one of the Lord’s ordinances. There is the physical or outward part and there is the spiritual or heavenly part and both parts must be correctly accomplished for the ordinance to be valid. Understanding the full impact of any ordinance requires an awareness of both aspects.
To conclude this part of the podcast allow me to paint the mental imagery of the entire process of passage through the strait gate. It begins with faith in the Lord Jesus the Messiah. Obviously, to have faith in Christ one must learn about Him and His teachings and His atoning sacrifice for us as part of God’s plan of salvation for we inferior spiritual beings. Study is the physical part and faith is the spiritual part. Once convinced of the Plan of Salvation one then repents of all previous sins. Confession, restitution and not repeating the same is the physical part and humble remorse and contrition is the spiritual part. After finding a legal administrator who holds the required priesthood one must enter the waters of baptism by full immersion. The physical part is obvious and the spiritual is a vow to God that one will follow the gospel of Christ for the rest of one’s life on earth. Upon finding a priesthood holder of sufficient authority to convey the Gift of the Holy Ghost, one submits to have hands laid on them for that purpose. The laying on of hands is the physical part and this action spiritually takes one to stand before God at the strait gate and there requesting admittance whereupon God, as the guardian and keeper of the gate opens the gate to the supplicant and completes the full baptism by bestowing the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the baptism of fire or spirit whereupon one’s sins are washed away and one enters clean onto the straight and narrow path that leads back to God’s presence if one endures in the gospel of Christ never thereafter to deny the Spirit of God.
At this point I must clear a few things up to avoid some misunderstandings. When the scriptures and Joseph Smith mention the “Kingdom of God” they are talking about the portion of Heaven where God and Christ personally reside and its extension as a community on earth. A full rendition of the heavens and degrees of glory and exaltations must be for another separate podcast or maybe a blog. For now, we can turn to the Apostle Paul’s statement that there are at least three heavens.
JST 2 CORINTHINANS 12:2 Quote
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven. Close Quote
The Kingdom of God or the third heaven in Mormon parlance is called the Celestial Kingdom or highest heavenly kingdom and is where God and Christ personally reside. It is the strait and narrow gate that leads to this particular heaven or kingdom. There is another heaven named the Terrestrial Kingdom and a Kingdom Telestial. All are heavens and all are kingdoms of glory and exaltations compared to mortality. If one accepts Christ into their lives and tries to live according to the teachings of Jesus and repents of the sins they commit to the extent of their understanding, but have not entered the strait and narrow gate the Savior may still answer for those sins through His Atonement, at His discretion on a case-by-case basis. If one enters the strait gate properly and repents properly, the Lord is required by God to cover them through the promise of His Atoning Sacrifice. Sins that anyone does not repent of before their death must be answered for by the sinner alone whether in this life or afterwards.
This arrangement is implied in the following scriptures.
D&C 82:10 Quote
10 I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
And in D&C 64:8-11
8 My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds. Close Quote
In the end all will be resurrected and most will inherit a kingdom of glory being exalted above mortality with the exception of those who become perdition. It will be the judgement of God in the end that decides which heaven and glory an individual will inherit, but these are the basic guidelines for us to understand now.
All this is a matter of one’s goals. If one desires above all else to live in God’s presence in the eternities; then passing through the strait and narrow gate becomes most important. If one desires only to have one’s sins covered by the Lord’s atoning sacrifice and enter a heaven of glory and happiness; then just confess Christ Jesus as your Savior, strive to live by His teachings and repent of your ongoing sins and do no more than this and you will go to a heaven. Which heaven is up to God’s judgement, but it might not be the heaven where He resides.
My last comment on the subject should already be understood by every Mormon, but if not, here goes. One of the most fundamental and important reasons for this process of baptism is that one obtain the Gift of the Holy Ghost and have a constant and personal source of truth to which one can use throughout this life to guide, inspire and instruct them in how they should conduct their lives to be able to return to the presence of God and Christ. The companionship of the Holy Ghost is one’s link to the heavens and to God and it does not go through another human being. This process of baptism is not a checklist to mark off and then mindlessly follow the dictates of an earthly leader or leaders. Study the scriptures and the teachings of God’s true prophets and pray for the greatest understandings and then listen to others and test what they say by using the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is God’s greatest gift to anyone that hopefully has been diligently sought and acquired. There is no such thing as an infallible mortal with the only exception being Lord Jesus.
Consider carefully the following in the
Doctrine and Covenants Section 88 verse 33 Quote
33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift. Close Quote
Until next time a hearty five finger wave goodbye.