The Plan of Exaltation and Mormon Missionary Lesson 2
Today we cover Lesson 2 in the LDS Missionary Lessons based on “Preach My Gospel”. This one is about what Mormons call "The Plan of Salvation" - but it's really about a concept foreign to biblical teaching called "exaltation". It's where Mormon missionaries introduce the concepts of eternal progression and "Kingdoms of Glory". Spoiler alert: it's not biblical!
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The Plan of Salvation
- Premortal Life: God’s Purpose and Plan for Us
- God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children (see Acts 17:16–34; Hebrews 12:9).
- God has a plan for our happiness. Jesus Christ is central to that plan.
- God’s plan of happiness makes it possible to return to His presence (see Moses 1:39).
- Our eternal progression depends on how we use our agency (see 2 Nephi 2:27–29).
- The Creation
- Under the Father’s direction, Jesus Christ created the earth (see Hebrews 1:1–3).
- Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve
- Adam and Eve were created in God’s image (see Genesis 1:26–27).
- In the Garden of Eden they were innocent and lived in God’s presence.
- Because they partook of the forbidden fruit, they were cast out of the garden (see Moses 4:19–31). This is called the Fall.
- They became mortal, were able to have children, and were also subject to sin and death (see 2 Nephi 2:22–25; Moses 5:11).
- Our Life on Earth
- Our purpose in life is to find lasting peace, joy, and happiness as families and to prepare to return to live with God.
- We came to the earth to be tested (see Abraham 3:24–25).
- We gain a body of flesh and bones, but we are subject to physical death.
- God gives commandments. If we obey, we are blessed. If we disobey, we sin and receive the consequences.
- All sin must be paid for, either by ourselves or by Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:15–20).
- We make choices, and we all commit sin (see Romans 3:23).
- We have experiences that bring us happiness and also sorrow.
- We cannot overcome either physical or spiritual death without Christ.
- The Atonement of Jesus Christ
- Because Jesus Christ overcame physical death, we will all be resurrected (see Alma 11:41–43).
- Through Christ’s Atonement we can become clean from sin so that we can return to live in God’s presence (see 2 Nephi 9:8–9).
- Christ will forgive our sins as we have faith in Him, repent, receive baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.
- The Spirit World
- All people must die.
- At death our spirits go to the spirit world.
- We live in either a state of misery or a state of peace and rest, depending on how we lived in this life.
- The Resurrection, Salvation, and Exaltation
- Our spirits and bodies will be reunited in the Resurrection (see Alma 11:42–45; 40:23).
- Eternal life and exaltation are gifts of God given to those who fully obey the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; 132:17).
- Judgment and Kingdoms of Glory (see Doctrine and Covenants 76; 137; 1 Corinthians 15:40–42)
- We will return to God’s presence to be judged according to our works and desires.
- If we have repented, we will receive mercy.
- We receive a kingdom of glory according to our works and desires (see Doctrine and Covenants 137:9).
- Those who receive the gospel and live it valiantly throughout their lives will receive the celestial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–70).
- Honorable people who are “blinded by the craftiness of men” and who are “not valiant in the testimony of Jesus [Christ]” receive the terrestrial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:75, 79).
- Those who sin and do not repent will receive the telestial glory after they suffer for their sins.
