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I've read over most of your questions and I'm still a bit uncertain on your view of Hell or Eternal Darkness. You said that you
believed most people would be in Heaven and that a few (Satan and his followers) would be in Hell. Do you mean you believe only
"Satan Worshipers" will go to Hell? You also seem to believe in having to ask God for forgiveness, repenting and being baptized to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Doesn't the Bible state that the road to salvation is narrow and that few will enter? If you do believe in the processes you mentioned of asking forgiveness, repenting, etc. then isn't that what determines who will go to Heaven? What about people who claim to have no faith or no belief of any kind (not in Heaven, Hell, God, Jesus, or Satan)? Where do they go if they have been presented with the gospel and chosen not to believe it?
Another question I did not understand your answer to was the one about everyone you loved would being in Heaven. You said that yes you believed everyone you loved that had died would be in Heaven. Is that because everyone you loved that has died has been a Christian and held your same beliefs? Or is it because you believe that because you love them and you believe in Eternal Families that they will be in Heaven? If it is the latter then, what if, you had a relative or loved one that was not a believer or perhaps in extreme, a Satanist? Do you believe they will be in Heaven with you and if so how can that be?
On a side note you have mentioned marriage in the temple and I'm wondering if a couple converted to the LDS church would they go through a ceremony in your temple? If so why?
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| Response |
You asked about my view of hell, or eternal darkness. As you have probably read on my web page, we believe that when people die, they go to the spirit world. The spirit world is divided into two parts. The first is for those who have lived righteous lives, who have believed in and loved our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, kept His commandments, and did the best they could to treat their fellow men in a Christ like way. The other part of the spirit world is for those who have died without hearing the gospel message. While they wait there, the gospel is preached to them and they have the opportunity to either accept or reject the gospel message. (See 1 Peter 3:18-20; 1 Peter 4:6)
In due time, all who die will come before their Savior and be judged by Him according to the way they have lived their lives. Based on that, they will receive the degree of glory they are worthy of.
The highest of these is the Celestial Kingdom.
Next, is the Terrestrial Kingdom,
and the third is the Telestial Kingdom.
These three kingdoms are designated for all of our Heavenly Father’s children and will be their eternal home.
Hell, or eternal darkness, is reserved for Satan and all of the countless millions of evil spirits who have been his disciples throughout the ages.
You asked about my belief in asking God for forgiveness or repenting and asked if the Bible didn’t state that the road to salvation is narrow and that only a few will enter. To clarify, I do believe that it is essential for all of our Heavenly Father’s children to repent of those things they do wrong, to ask Him for forgiveness for those sins or transgressions, and it is necessary for all of us to be baptized in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Christ himself clarified that to Nicodemus in John 3:5. Additionally, since none of us are perfect, the ongoing process of repentance is required of all who claim to be followers of Christ (see Mark 6:12; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19).
You asked about my belief that my family and loved ones will be with me in eternity. The answer is that I do. However, if any of my family or loved ones do not remain faithful to all of the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or if they should turn away from it, they will not inherit the highest degree of glory. This place is reserved for those children of our Heavenly Father who live righteously and faithfully all of their lives and take upon themselves His name.
You asked about our belief that we can someday become like God. This one is difficult to verbalize in the short space that I have in this e-mail, but that is what we believe and I invite you to study it further and make it a matter of sincere prayer to learn the truth of it. If you will do that, the Lord will bless you to know. In the meantime, you might want to consider what the Savior means in Matthew 5:48 when he invites us to,
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as you Father which is Heaven is perfect."
I ask the rhetorical question, if we can figure out how to become perfect, would we not then become more and more like God in our attempts at perfection?
You asked if a couple converted to the LDS church, should they be subsequently married in our temple? The answer is that yes I do believe that they should be "sealed", married for time and all eternity. Without it, their original marriage vows said, "Until death do us part."
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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