Unbridled Speculation, the Series Begins

What does it take of one to become like God? Is it a single brief sojourn on earth after which we are eternally confined to a kingdom with no chance to better ourselves? I have often pondered this topic.

A couple of comments. First from the first edition of the Articles of Faith by James Talmadge:

“It is reasonable to believe, in the absence of direct revelation by which alone absolute knowledge of the matter could be acquired, that, in accordance with God’s plan of eternal progression, advancement from grade to grade within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom, will be provided for. But if the recipients of a lower glory be enabled to advance, surely the intelligences of higher rank will not be stopped in their progress; and thus we may conclude, that degrees and grades will ever characterize the kingdoms of our God. Eternity is progressive; perfection is relative; the essential feature of God’s living purpose is its associated power of eternal increase.”

Of course, Talmadge was ‘encouraged’ to modify his position in subsequent editions of the book and will not find this comment in today’s version.

From a scriptural perspective, I would suggest one considers Alma’s comment on the topic from Alma 34:33:

“And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”

I have often heard this quoted as a rationale for this mortality being our only opportunity to prepare to meet God. However, I have been intrigued by the fact that Alma made use of a conditional statement.

“IF we do not improve our time while in this life, TBEN cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”

What happens, then, IF we DO ‘improve our time in this life?’ Do we then have the opportunity to perform labor? If we make progress in this life, can we continue that progress in the life hereafter? That seems to be what Alma is saying to me. Is that progress constrained to a kingdom?

When we come into this life, we are presented with only one set of conditions within which we are to learn and grow. It is hard for me to accept the idea that we can learn everything we need to know in this one short visit. How many millions/billions of people, never having been presented the gospel are now offered the opportunity to ‘jump’ into the celestial kingdom simply because someone on this earth found their records and performed the necessary ordinances vicariously? I would suggest that the church’s own support of the work for the dead supports the idea that progress can be made after this life.

Is the time when it is difficult to improve oneself during the time when we are without bodies? Is it possible to reform and improve but would take longer after resurrection?
It’s an interesting perspective given by Hyrum. I do wonder, though, just how much we actually change and how much we are just revealed to be who we are over time and circumstances.

What a fun quote. I love it. The only thing is that it gets picky on using the moon as a type. I’ve always preferred to keep the sun, moon, star analogy as simple as possible, i.e. brightest, bright, brighter. If we are going to get picky about the moon waxing and waning, you get into the complexities about solar eclipses, atmospheric conditions that decrease the brightness of stars and the general problem with the moon not being an actual source of illumination. (I’m waiting for someone to quote that scripture about the sun receiving its light from another source now).