Line upon Line

Recently, a friend texted me a question. She is a faithful, devoted member of the Church, but her adult children have some challenges. It made me sad and caused me to think. This is what she wrote: 

Do you really, deep down want to live for eternity in the highest realm of the Celestial Kingdom where you will create worlds and deal with all of the heartache and pain of those living on your ‘earths’? Being a parent is such a very heavy load.  I can’t fathom parenting a world of inhabitants. I think I have a different role to play through eternity. I’ve always considered myself to be more of a “worker bee.”  But all we hear about is reaching that lofty goal. WHY?

My glib and almost immediate response to her was “You drastically underestimate yourself for two reasons. First, you assume that mortal you reflects your true capabilities as developed through the eternities. Remember, we are ‘looking through a glass, darkly.’  Second, you are ignoring the infinite, enabling power of the Atonement. Grace, grace, grace. Paul says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)’”

That wasn’t enough for her, so I referred to a “higher source,” LDSBOT, which is an artificial intelligence app available from the B.H. Roberts Institute. It’s based on CHATGPT and tailored to respond to church-related queries. I have mixed feelings about it because of the potential for misuse. I can see a deacon being asked to speak in church on repentance and totally procrastinating the assignment until riding to church when he asks LDSBOT to write him a five minute talk. When his time comes, he just reads the talk off his iPhone. Zero learning.

Nevertheless, I compartmentalized my integrity and asked it, “What if someone in the Celestial Kingdom doesn’t want to create worlds?  After just 10 seconds of cyber-speed contemplation, the BOT responded:   

Great question! (apparently, I was AI approved). The doctrine of the Church teaches that in the Celestial Kingdom, our will is aligned with God’s will. Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught that part of our journey in mortality is to learn to align our desires with God’s desires for us. When we are exalted, our joy and purpose will be in fulfilling God’s plan, which includes creating and nurturing eternal family units.” [1]

LDSBOT then laid out point-by-point how this will work:

1. In the Celestial Kingdom our desires will be perfected. We will have a full understanding of God’s plan and a deep love for His work. It’s hard to see how someone who has reached such a state of perfection and joy would not want to participate in the creation and governing of worlds, as it aligns completely with divine love and purpose.

2. Our current earthly perspective is limited. The things we find difficult or unappealing now might be seen differently when we have a broader, eternal perspective.

3. While it’s theoretically possible to wonder about differing desires, our eternal progression and perfected state of being in the Celestial Kingdom should align our desires with God’s work and glory.

Basically, the answer was, “get with the program and everything will be fine.” Apparently, one size fits all, or at least will fit all in the future. My friend found the AI’s recommendation to be somewhat helpful because she’s more obedient than I am. I was left wanting more, so I decided to explore what we have been taught by scripture, latter-day prophets, and scholars.  

 Comparative Religious Beliefs Regarding the Nature and Potential of Mankind 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (hereafter, Church) has distinctive beliefs on the origin and destiny of man. They are rooted in the concept of pre-mortal life and the literal fatherhood of God.  Other Christian churches teach that creation was ex nihilio (out of nothing) and that our existence begins at birth. The implication is that God and man are not just different in terms of level of perfection; they are fundamentally different species. There is a qualitative divide between Creator and creature, and, consequently, mankind’s potential is inherently and significantly limited.

In contrast, Church doctrine holds that human potential is based on a relationship with God that extends eternally backward in time and that God is “a kindred Being who invites the human family to share His condition and nature…. humans are inherently more godlike, God is more anthropomorphic, and God’s purposes are more oriented toward human theosis than is the case with earlier Christian conceptions….”[2]  

Paul taught that we are “children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)” Parley P. Pratt distilled Church theology on the topic as “God, angels, and men are all of one species.” [3] The concept takes on its most lofty form in the oft-repeated couplet from Lorenzo Snow that, “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.”

C.S. Lewis didn’t go quite as far, but he did ask, “Is it so very difficult to believe that the travail of all creation which God Himself descended to share, at its most intense, may be necessary in the process of turning finite creatures (with free wills) into—well, into Gods.” [4] 

What Will Those Who Inherit the Celestial Kingdom Do?

Not much has been revealed about the ongoing activities of those in the Celestial Kingdom. To be AI neutral, I gave the non-sectarian CHATGPT a crack at the question. It responded that activities and experiences in the Celestial Kingdom may include: 

1. Living in the Presence of God. The faithful will dwell with God the Father and Jesus Christ, experiencing perfect joy and love.

2. Eternal Families. Families can be united eternally, allowing individuals to be with their loved ones forever.

3. Progress and Learning. Fundamental to Church theology is the concept of eternal progression. Those in the celestial kingdom will become more like God as they increase in knowledge, wisdom, and power.

4. Service and Work. There will be meaningful service and work, contributing to God’s purposes.

5. Creation and Stewardship. Some teachings suggest that the righteous may participate in creation and stewardship over worlds or other divine responsibilities. However, there is not much detail about what this will entail.

6. Receiving Exaltation. Those in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom will receive exaltation, becoming like God and sharing in His glory.

The CHATBOT response was helpful, but generic. I wanted some validated specifics. The most relevant information in the scriptures is found in these verses: 

D&C 131: 1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; 3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. 4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase. (emphasis added).

D&C 130:2 -And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy

D&C 130:19– “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.”

Latter day prophets tell us more.  The most revealing information provided by Joseph Smith is in the King Follett Discourse, his last public sermon before his assassination. Joseph taught that God was once a man like us and progressed to become God.  He explained that humans have the potential to progress and become like God. [5] In Moses 1:39, we learn “For behold, this is my work and my glory–to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  The implication is that, as we become like God, we too will create worlds.

Parley Pratt wrote, “I might also tell you of the continued exertions of creative power by which millions of new worlds will yet be formed and peopled, not just by God the Father, but also by king Adam and his descendants.”[6]

Brigham Young taught that “All those who are counted worthy to become Gods, even the sons of God, will go forth and have earths and worlds like those who framed this and millions and millions of others.” [7] 

Comments by recent church leaders have been consistent, but more circumspect. Gordon B. Hinckley emphasized mankind’s divine potential when he said, “The whole design of the gospel is to lead us onward and upward to greater achievement, even, eventually, to Godhood.” [8] And Dallin H. Oaks has taught that exaltation means to become like our Heavenly Father, which implies developing the attributes and potentially the capacities that God has. [9]

Another concept that may be relevant to life in the celestial kingdom is that of ministering angels. Typically, this role is associated with assisting those of us in mortality. But the scriptures suggest that there will also be ministering angels in the post-judgement existence.  Usually, they are afforded a secondary status. For example, D&C 132:16, referring to those who did not participate in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, teaches that such are, “…..appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.” 

But it is plausible that there may be those who are righteous and who are sealed to eternal companions who would be happier to be associates rather than the CEOs charged with the demanding work of creation and “eternal lives.”  Couldn’t that still be a noble and fulfilling destiny?  

So What About My Friend’s Question? 

Joseph Smith promised that “if you could gaze into heaven for five minutes, you would know more than you would be reading all that ever was written on the subject.” [10] Unfortunately, that option is not available to most of us. 

We spend a lot of time thinking about and, hopefully, acting in ways that will take us to the top level of the celestial kingdom. Not surprisingly, we tend to gloss over what we will be doing there on a day-to-day basis. This is probably appropriate because we don’t have much guidance about that final abode and celestial pursuit must be our primary concern—getting there precedes being there.  

An intriguing, but somewhat disquieting evaluation of the heaven issue is portrayed in the quirky TV series, The Good Place, which aired on NBC from 2016 to 2019. The starting point was a young woman who died in an accident after living a rather sleezy life. Because of a snafu, she was sent to the “good place” in the hereafter. As the series evolved, because of a truly gigantic foul up, none of the righteous departed were getting to their deserved reward. In the final season, the problem was corrected and the leading characters (some of whom had turned their after-lives around) were experiencing bliss.

 This heavenly experience went on for an extremely long time during which the characters had the opportunity to see everything, patch up all their tarnished relationships, and learn everything there is to learn. The result was a feeling of overwhelming boredom. There was nothing left to be done or to experience. Those in charge (and who that is was always a bit vague in the series) provided a final option. By simply walking through a portal in the woods, their consciousness is terminated and they no longer exist. Several of the key people in the series chose this path and we watched as they voluntarily ended their existence.

 That final episode was one of the best series finales I have seen. It was touching and profound. And the question it raised is still on my mind. Eternity is a long time. What could we do that would continue to be interesting forever? Wouldn’t boredom set in after the first million or so worlds created? How many chats would you find interesting with siblings? How much math and science is there to learn and apply?  And how does the principle of godly omniscience reconcile with the concept of eternal progression?

So where does all of this leave my friend who is not sure she wants to be a world creator?  The answer may be that our understanding and nature will be much different in eternity. Our capacity to love, serve, and handle responsibilities will be greatly enhanced and our exercise of agency will cause us to align with God’s work as described in Moses 1:39.  Or maybe, as long as God’s purposes are fulfilled, not every righteous one of His children has to be in charge. 

Finally, there is the boredom issue. Boredom may not be a possibility for perfected or perfectible persons. I can accept that, but it is beyond my limited comprehension at this point.  And my guess is that most of you have never worried much about being “bored in eternity.”

NOTES: 

[1] Oaks, D.H., “Desire,” General Conference, April 2011.

[2] Givens, T. L., Wrestling the Angel, Oxford University Press, 2015, p.264.

[3] Pratt, P.P., Key to the Science of Theology, 1855, p. 33.

[4] Lewis, C.S., Collected Letters, Harper-Collins, 2007, 3:520.

[5] Smith, J.F., Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-7.

[6] Pratt, P.P., “Celestial Family Organization,” 1-2.

[7] Journal of Discourses, 18:259.

[8] Hinckley, G.B., “The Great Things Which God Has Revealed,” General Conference, April 2005.

[9] Oaks, D.H., “The Challenge to Become,” General Conference, October 2000.  

[10] History of the Church, 6:50.