Degrees of Glory - Eternal Progression

When I first learned of the degrees of Glory it was part of a lesson on the plan of salvation. Here is a drawing of that lesson:

I was taught that at the judgment you would be assigned your final destination. It was much like the Protestant theory only instead of being assigned heaven or hell - these were degrees of Glory - each being a place of Glory - so much more wonderful than anything on Earth. But only in the Celestial Kingdom do people live as families with Heavenly Father. D&C 76.

But I find that view to be limiting.

• It limits the work of God to bring his family home
• It limits the ability of people to change and progress
• It greatly limits those who never heard the gospel in this life
• It limits the power of Christ atonement to save us and heal us and "fit us for heaven to live with Him there".

So I will state what I believe and add some quotes that give that hope.

God stated in Moses 3:19 that it is his "work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". Add to that 2 Nephi 26 where we are reminded he "doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world, for he loveth the world even that he lay down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commanded none that they shall not partake of his salvation."

I believe in eternal progression. Because of our gift of free will or agency we progress differently and at different rates. But we do continue to learn and change and grow. That will continue as we each learn to live a principled life moving from a life based on telestial laws to one based on terrestrial laws and eventually a life based on celestial laws. That progress is ours alone to choose. God does not force they're magically make it happen. But he keeps that door open and invites, invites.

Come on to me, all ye ends of the Earth, buy milk and honey without money and without price.

Here are some quotes that should inspire us all to be generous as we think of the eternities - for ourselves as well as all God's children.

Joseph Smith - "A spirit in the lowest kingdom," he is recorded as saying," constantly progresses in spiritual knowledge until safely landed in the Celestial." Joseph deliberately represented this process in the temple endowment. (p 118 The Christ Who Heals)

B.H. Roberts said "The ministry alluded to it in each kingdom is meaningless unless it be for the purpose of advancing our fathers children along the lines of eternal progress."

President Joseph F. Smith asked "When will the Lord's work be done?" and answered, "Not until He has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our Father Adam that has ever or will ever be born upon this Earth to the end of time, except the sons of perdition." (p 119 The Christ Who Heals)

That last phrase acknowledges that God will not force us. We ultimately choose our own destiny and there may be some who choose not to return home.

Like the ever patient, ever persistent, ever-loving Tutor, the Savior does not consider his work completed until his words and actions find a way to permeate the core of each person's wounded heart.

Boyd K Packer "There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness."

Elder Holland "It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite Life of Christ atonement shines."

CS Lewis "No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are already, the towels put out, the clean clothes in the airing cupboard. The only Faith Hill thing is to lose one's temper and give up."

Kenneth Kirk "Three things are true about love. . .

The first is, that it always confers independence upon the object of its love. It gives, compelling no return, it goes on giving in, though no love is given in answer. It is the one force in the world that does not bargain.

Second, if love endows the recipient with formal freedom - with the right to accept or reject at will - it also, and it and it alone, confers upon the giver actual freedom. In love and in love alone can [humankind] actualize the freedom...which God has given to him...Man becomes free as he learns to love.

And finally, love is irresistible...and therefore whatever in the end opposes it must in the end give way... The same power which confers freedom on its recipient also evokes from them - not by contract, not by force, but by the invincible version of a moral appeal - an answer of love freely given in return."  

I am convinced that God's love, combined with the Savior's, will reach all and bring us home - eventually but surely. The question for each of us is merely how long do we want to remain living in lesser kingdoms while the full glory of the celestial beckons? But that may not even be a fair question. My own experience in life has taught me that my own process of growth is slow and labored. It seems not so much a matter of will but of education and experience and learning. Maybe we just need to enjoy the journey and focus our own lives on becoming more like the Savior and learning to love more deeply and freely.  For at the heart of all of this is the amazing Love which was demonstrated in our pre-existence life when our Heavenly Parents called us all together to present a plan...