Over the years, I’ve been thinking about eternal progression, and I’ve developed some ideas — but not the typical Plan of Salvation. I grew up in the LDS church which teaches The Plan of Salvation as a linear progression — pre-earth life — mortal life (probation) — death — resurrection — “assigned” to a kingdom, and that’s it. End of story, never to go out again. If you make it to the top of the Celestial Kingdom, you become a god or goddess. If you make it to the terrestrial or middle kingdom, you stay there — forever and ever. Ditto for the Telestial kingdom.
That type of salvation is often portrayed like this: Plan of Salvation is illustrated with a beginning and an end — with one final judgment –which I do not believe.
Or this embarrassing one from the 1950s that looks like a boardgame:
However, God says that he is Alpha and Omega — the first and the last — the beginning and the end — meaning that this course of becoming like God is not a straight line. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the last letter. The best way for God to be Alpha and Omega at the same time is for those two points to be on the same line at the same place — hence the need to take two points on a line and bring them together — the straight-line becoming a circle:
I love geometry. To my understanding, salvation is not linear — going from point Alpha to point Omega on a straight line (the Greek letters of the alphabet– A to Z). It is a circle, where point Alpha and point Omega are combined and become one point — hence, “I am Alpha and Omega.” It might even be portrayed as a spiral circle (the ladder image).
I don’t believe that this life is your only chance to reach the Celestial Kingdom and become a god or goddess. I have come to realize that I am nowhere near the level of a goddess. In fact, I find it rather presumptuous for church members to believe that they are at that level and that they will have their own world and progeny to govern (after this life). The God I worship has considerable power and compassion and has already gone to extraordinary heights and depths to reach that state. I’m not anywhere near that yet. Although, some have probably arrived — Abraham and Sarah.
I believe that the noble and great ones on this earth already arrived at an exalted station before this life and that they chose to fall into mortality (the telestial world) to help others in their progression — as proxy saviors — Christ is the supreme example of someone who chose to fall to save others. Adam and Eve also (whether or not they are the god and goddess of this world, i.e., the Adam God theory – or if they are two of those who have already progressed to godhood.) (Why do we pretend that we are Adam and Eve in the temple?)
Those above administer to those below, and in doing so, they move up while lifting others. (The Holy Ghost administers to the telestial, Christ to the terrestrial, God the Father to the celestial). One Eternal Round.
So let’s take a look at some eternal progression theories —
Secretary to the First Presidency in a 1952 letter; and again in 1965:
“The brethren direct me to say that the Church has never announced a definite doctrine upon this point. Some of the brethren have held the view that it was possible in the course of progression to advance from one glory to another, invoking the principle of eternal progression; others of the brethren have taken the opposite view. But as stated, the Church has never announced a definite doctrine on this point.”(Dialogue, Vol.15, No.1, pp. 181-182 and here.
James Talmage, 1899:
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. (Articles of Faith, Talmage, 1899 edition, pg 420)
The Prophet Joseph Smith 1841:
“There is never a time when the spirit is too old to approach God. All are within the reach of pardoning mercy, who have not committed the unpardonable sin.” (JosephSmithPapers)”Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Times and Seasons,” p. 577, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed January 10, 2021, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/discourse-3-october-1841-as-reported-by-times-and-seasons/1
Brigham Young, 1855:
I [Wilford Woodruff] attended the Prayer Circle in the evening. . . . In conversing upon various principles President Young said none would inherit this Earth when it became celestial & translated into the presence of God but those who would be crowned as Gods & able to endure the fullness of the presence of God, except they would be permitted to take with them some servants for whom they would be held responsible. All others would have to inherit another kingdom, even that kingdom agreeing with the law which they had kept. He said they would eventually have the privilege of proving themselves worthy & advancing to a celestial kingdom, but it would be a slow progress. (Waiting for World’s End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff, 5 Aug 1855, pg 167)
Hyrum Smith, 1843:
Hiram [Smith] said Aug 1st [18]43 Those of the Terrestrial Glory either advance to the Celestial or recede to the Telestial [or] else the moon could not be a type [viz. a symbol of that kingdom]. [for] it [the moon] “waxes & wanes”. Also that br George will be quickened by celestial glory having been ministered to by one of that Kingdom. (August 1, 1843, transcribed by Franklin D. Richards; Words of the Prophet, pg. 24; CHO Ms/d/4409/Misc Minutes Collection)
In the temple, we learn – “Brothers and Sisters, this is the Telestial Kingdom, in which we now live.” Can people progress from this Telestial Kingdom to inherit a higher kingdom? Yes, of course. We are currently living in the Telestial Kingdom. We are trying to get out of here and are promised that we can.
However, according to D&C 76:112, when you are in the Telestial Kingdom, you cannot go where God and Christ dwell, “worlds without end.” From where I sit today, in this Telestial Kingdom, I cannot go where God and Christ dwell. A telestial person sojourning in the Telestial Kingdom cannot travel by the Spirit or any other means to where God and Christ reside, nor can they visit any other higher kingdom – “worlds without end.” Of course, some people, such as Abraham, Joseph, Lehi, Nephi, and others, learn and follow the teachings that enable them to part the veil, and they do get to see other kingdoms, but they are stuck here to live out their lives until death or translation.
That is the law of the Telestial Kingdom — while, on the other hand, those who sojourn in higher spheres can apparently visit the lower Kingdoms, like ministering angels, for example. In my opinion, that is the correct interpretation of the restriction placed on those who reside in a Telestial kingdom, such as this earth in its present condition. (see Hugh Nibley, Temple, and the Cosmos, pg 292-293)
My husband and I think of it as a “distillation process” which provides an analogy for eternal progression.
References and Notes:
Progression Quotes — from leaders of the Church — some in favor, some not
In the Improvement Era, November 1910, pg 86, the editor (Joseph F. Smith) said that we do not live in the telestial kingdom (but that contradicts what we are told in the temple.). He has an ambiguous statement about progression.
More References that believe this is a one time shot at becoming Celestial
Updated, originally posted Feb. 2015
