Gospel Principles
Unit 10: Life after Death
Chapter 47: Exaltation
Concept 4: Requirements for Exaltation
"The time to fulfill the requirements for exaltation is now (alma/34/32-34#32">Alma 34:32-34 "32 For behold, this alma/34/32a">life is the time for men to alma/34/32b">prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of alma/34/32c">this life is the day for men to perform their alma/34/32d">labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many alma/34/33a">witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not alma/34/33b">procrastinate the day of your alma/34/33c">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 alma/34/33d">night of alma/34/33e">darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful alma/34/34a">crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth alma/34/34b">possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.").
President Joseph Fielding Smith said, "In order to obtain the exaltation we must accept the gospel and all its covenants; and take upon us the obligations which the Lord has offered; and walk in the light and understanding of the truth; and "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God." (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:43).
To be exalted, we first must place our faith in Jesus Christ and then endure in that faith to the end of our lives. Our faith in him must be such that we repent of our sins and obey his commandments.
He commands us all to receive certain ordinances:
1. We must be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.
2. We must receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
3. We must receive the temple endowment.
4. We must be married for time and eternity.
In addition to receiving the required ordinances, the Lord commands all of us to--
1. Love and worship God.
2. Love our neighbor.
3. Repent of our wrong doings.
4. Live the law of chastity.
5. Pay honest tithes and offerings.
6. Be honest in our dealings with others and with the Lord.
7. Speak the truth always.
8. Obey the Word of Wisdom.
9. Search out our kindred dead and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for them.
10. Keep the Sabbath day holy.
11. Attend our Church meetings as regularly as possible so we can renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.
12. Love our family members and strengthen them in the ways of the Lord.
13. Have family and individual prayers every day.
14. Honor our parents.
15. Teach the gospel to others by word and example.
16. Study the Scriptures.
17. Listen to and obey the inspired words of the prophets of the Lord.
Finally, each of us needs to receive the Holy Ghost and learn to follow his direction in our individual lives.
Discussion
Why are faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ necessary to become exalted? What ordinances must we accept in order to become exalted? What laws does the Lord give us that we must obey to become exalted? Why must we learn to follow the direction of the Holy Ghost to become exalted?"