(September 24, 2015)
I
struggle to know how to deal with this Section.
On the one hand, the language of this Section seems pretty clear – what we
consider eternal or endless punishment is not what we expect. On the other hand, this threatens us to come
to some improper conclusions and perhaps to encourage or enable sin.
As best
as I understand it, though, this is the Lord speaking out against the
conception of Hell that existed at the time this revelation was given. I don’t think that He was teaching us that we
could progress from the Telestial Kingdom to the Celestial Kingdom, but rather
than the Telestial Kingdom would not be fire and brimstone and pitchforks.
Is such
progression between kingdoms possible? I
honestly don’t know. I can see language
to support both possibilities in the scriptures and if there is a conclusive
statement from the Church I am unaware of it.
But if we aspire to any kingdom but the Celestial Kingdom
in hopes of future progression, we take and awfully large risk. The only course that offers safety is a
Celestial one.
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