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I saw this being discussed on another site a bit, and it got me thinking- what do we really think about this topic? So I dove in and did a search and this is what mormon newsroom says on the topic: Do Latter-day Saints believe that they will “get their own planet”?No. This idea is not taught in Latter-day Saint scripture, nor is it a doctrine of the Church. This misunderstanding stems from speculative comments unreflective of scriptural doctrine. Mormons believe that we are all sons and daughters of God and that all of us have the potential to grow during and after this life to become like our Heavenly Father (see Romans 8:16-17). The Church does not and has never purported to fully understand the specifics of Christ’s statement that “in my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). Source:
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101” class=”bbcode_url”> I find this rather humorous because I hear this casually talked about in church and among the community quite often.
What do you guys think?
It’s one of those “unusual” beliefs non-members use to point out how “unusual” we are. The truth is, it’s pretty nuanced. and the Mormon News Room answered it much in the same way they answered “Do Mormons Practice Polygammy?”, and “Can women lead in the Church?”. Mormonism-101 was written for investigators, in order to clear up some of the “rumors” in ways that will seem less weird. They asked their questions in such a way that they can give a simple, concise answer, without digging into the dirt of why people think otherwise.They took out all nuance. Early Church leaders had plenty to say about exaltation and the hereafter. Current Church leaders have very little, especially very little new to say on the topic. But according to early prophets, exaltation means a promise of “worlds without end” populated by our “posterity”. We will take the role of “gods” and shepherd our own children towards salvation and exaltation.
Brigham Young wrote:“Then will they become Gods…they will never cease to increase and to multiply, worlds without end. When they receive their crowns, their dominions, they then will be prepared to frame earths like unto ours and to people them in the same manner as we have been brought forth by our parents, by our Father and God” (Journal of Discourses 17:143)
So yes, we technically don’t “get our own planet”. Not all LDS will get exalted, and “they” means all latter day saints. But if you’re blessed and faithful enough to meet exaltation, you make them. LOTS of them. And you have LOTS of children, and a spouse, so the planets will be shared (hence, not your own). It’s just one more example of the Church oversimplifying to convert, and then later pulling an Obiwan, “what I told you was true, from a certain point of view.”
Since we’re continually told Satan controls this world, has he evolved to this stage? Maybe it doesn’r work out the way many folk think. I also believe that there is a subtle difference in the concepts being discussed. 1) “Get their own planet” implies that Mormons (or at least Mormon men) will be rewarded for their mortal dedication by becoming supreme ruler/dictator over an entire world.
2) Closer to what Mormons actually believe is that we will become benevolent parent deities over our countless spirit offspring. Thus we are to continue in the Work and the Glory of our Heavenly Father in planning for the eternal life and eventual exaltation of our posterity.
Some Mormons* are in a world of their own already. 😆 * COJCOLDS
Roy wrote:2) Closer to what Mormons actually believe is that we will become benevolent parent deities over our countless spirit offspring. Thus we are to continue in the Work and the Glory of our Heavenly Father in planning for the eternal life and eventual exaltation of our posterity.
Exactly. It would happen in humility, benevolence and continuing the plan of our Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ.
But serious question. How do we view Satan? He is Lord of this World. We do not obey him as Christians, but theologically speaking I understand that humans’ bad choices have handed this world over to him. Does Satan thus have a planet?
My take on this is that Satan is the evil perversion of Jesus’s roles:
* Satan thinks he is fulfilling a plan, and claims to liberate mankind.
* Satan has control over this world, although Jesus is the real master and will destroy him.
* Satan’s fall and suffering vs Jesus’ suffering and descent to hell.
* Satan offers us many things in return for our allegiance.
* Satan has a greater knowledge and intelligence than we do currently. (But much less than Jesus).
* Satan has legions of (former) angels.
Some members believe it, but it isn’t taught actively as doctrine. SamBee wrote:
But serious question. How do we view Satan? He is Lord of this World. We do not obey him as Christians, but theologically speaking I understand that humans’ bad choices have handed this world over to him. Does Satan thus have a planet?
A few factors:
1) The state of the world. Satan may be the “lord” of a world in a fallen state but not the lord of a world in any other state.
2) Who says Satan is the lord of this world? Satan? Maybe Satan believes he’s the lord of this world but isn’t. He’s living a delusion or fails to see the big picture.
nibbler wrote:
SamBee wrote:
But serious question. How do we view Satan? He is Lord of this World. We do not obey him as Christians, but theologically speaking I understand that humans’ bad choices have handed this world over to him. Does Satan thus have a planet?
A few factors:
1) The state of the world. Satan may be the “lord” of a world in a fallen state but not the lord of a world in any other state.
2) Who says Satan is the lord of this world? Satan? Maybe Satan believes he’s the lord of this world but isn’t. He’s living a delusion or fails to see the big picture.
He is and he isn’t.
I certainly think many of those who control this world have given allegiance to Satan or what he represents, maybe not at some blood drinking ceremony with upside down crosses, but certainly by selling out to greed, sadism, cruelty, lust, selfishness, murder and the need to wield unrighteous authority over others.
SamBee wrote:
I certainly think many of those who control this world have given allegiance to Satan or what he represents, maybe not at some blood drinking ceremony with upside down crosses, but certainly by selling out to greed, sadism, cruelty, lust, selfishness, murder and the need to wield unrighteous authority over others.
Are you talking about Satan or fundamentalist religious adherents?
:angel: Satan may think he has claim on the world and now God’s servants have looked over the whole of it and want to take it from him…but it wasn’t his to take away from. Regarding the next life…I don’t find we have specific teachings about much, but we have many projections and assumptions by many.
I think most temple recommend holders believe there will be chances to rule other worlds in the eternities…even if not sure how it works…but most believe we get sealed as couples so we can go do our godly stuff and become like our heavenly parents…without specifically know what that is.
I was at a work lunch once when one guy at the table started getting loud and boisterous and said he used to be Mormon but left because they were so whacky. Most knew I was Mormon even though this guy didn’t…they looked at me to see if I was gonna be offended. I just spoke up…”well…I’m Mormon.” And smiled.
He says to me: “Are you kidding? So … You believe you’re getting your own planet when you go to heaven?” and then laughed.
It was actually awkward because he was being rude (he was in IT and didn’t have great people skills…we all knew that about him anyway).
I just replied….”I dunno…but do you believe it’s out of the question? Do you really know what happens after death for sure? I’m not so sure it is much whackier than believing you get reincarnated, or that hell is fire and heaven is clouds and harps, or that there is 144,000 saved. All religions can seem whacky to the outsider who doesn’t believe it. Truth is….we won’t know until we get there.”
Just seems like…all religions have their beliefs ..but none of us know for sure. It doesn’t hurt or help to believe in getting a planet to rule…it will or it won’t happen. Focus now is on becoming a good person…the rest will take care of itself.
nibbler wrote:
SamBee wrote:
I certainly think many of those who control this world have given allegiance to Satan or what he represents, maybe not at some blood drinking ceremony with upside down crosses, but certainly by selling out to greed, sadism, cruelty, lust, selfishness, murder and the need to wield unrighteous authority over others.
Are you talking about Satan or fundamentalist religious adherents?
:angel:
Some of them are in the same camp too.
I mentioned in another thread how there is something the Q15 seems to talk about a lot less lately. This is another of those things and maybe we should take the hint and focus on what is really important and that we understand much better. I personally do not believe in any of the stuff about being gods and creating our own worlds, etc. Likewise, while I do believe there is evil and opposition in all things (yin and yang, darkness and light, etc.) I do not believe in a literal Satan.
DarkJedi wrote:I do not believe in a literal Satan.
You don’t have to. Whether an abstract idea or directed by personalities, evil is a force and must be combated. It’s out there and happens regularly – the hobo who got set on fire in my city, the swindlers, child abusers, heroin trade, the bosses who do not pay their workers properly (or not at all in some cases), dictatorships, police torturers in some parts of the world, slavery, the arms trade… the list goes on.
I’m inclined to think there is more to it. I have been to places which oozed evil even though no one was around. Other things I will not discuss on here.
SamBee wrote:
DarkJedi wrote:I do not believe in a literal Satan.
You don’t have to. Whether an abstract idea or directed by personalities, evil is a force and must be combated. It’s out there and happens regularly – the hobo who got set on fire in my city, the swindlers, child abusers, heroin trade, the bosses who do not pay their workers properly (or not at all in some cases), dictatorships, police torturers in some parts of the world, slavery, the arms trade… the list goes on.
I’m inclined to think there is more to it. I have been to places which oozed evil even though no one was around. Other things I will not discuss on here.
Yeah, that’s what the first part of that sentence was about:
Quote:Likewise, while I do believe there is evil and opposition in all things (yin and yang, darkness and light, etc.) I do not believe in a literal Satan.
dande48 wrote:
So yes, we technically don’t “get our own planet”. Not all LDS will get exalted, and “they” means all latter day saints. But if you’re blessed and faithful enough to meet exaltation, you make them. LOTS of them. And you have LOTS of children, and a spouse, so the planets will be shared (hence, not your own). It’s just one more example of the Church oversimplifying to convert, and then later pulling an Obiwan, “what I told you was true, from a certain point of view.”
When I thought about it more I figured it was this. The “subtle” difference in wording like Roy spoke about. It feels very manipulative and dishonest to me. I get that they are trying to talk to investigators and show them we aren’t dictators of our own planets or whatever, but I think it could have been done in a way that feels more genuine.
DarkJedi wrote:This is another of those things and maybe we should take the hint and focus on what is really important and that we understand much better.
I personally do not believe in any of the stuff about being gods and creating our own worlds, etc. Likewise, while I do believe there is evil and opposition in all things (yin and yang, darkness and light, etc.) I do not believe in a literal Satan.
I totally get that we shouldn’t focus on these types of things, but it is very surprising how much I hear this casually talked about– so I wanted to know the truth of it.
I no longer have any idea what the afterlife holds. I know what I hope for, and that’s all I have. It was interesting watching the show, The Good Place, and realizing that the idea of a “medium place” is nuanced. I think if there is an afterlife and “different kingdoms” then I would think that if you have eternity that you could progress and become “better”, but I don’t know if you could become a God.
Same Bee wrote:I’m inclined to think there is more to it. I have been to places which oozed evil even though no one was around. Other things I will not discuss on here.
I also don’t know if there is a hell or a Satan, but I have definitely felt that same thing.
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