Honestly, our family has never intended to “solicit single women to join the Church.” If the truth be known, we try to be examples of good family life and to promote this as best we can. Of course we have our faults just like everyone else but we do try. My mother was the one who really sponsored the idea that we should reach out to others to share our beliefs and I have tried to follow her example in this. I am sure, given that they are the large part of our fan base, more women are likely to respond to our invitations to learn about our faith than men, but we do know that it is much better if the entire family embraces the gospel.

I am not sure what you mean when you say that “single women will never be welcomed into the highest kingdom.” I have no such understanding. Each competent individual who has ever lived, or who ever will live, must decide for themselves, whether he or she will follow Jesus Christ or not. Each must determine whether he or she will or will not live the commandments sufficient to be worthy to dwell with God and Christ in the Celestial Kingdom. This applies to single men or women as well as married men or married women. It does seem to me that women are more inclined to seek the truth and seem more willing to keep the commandments. Each and every person, however, has had or will have the opportunity to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom. It is all based on freedom to choose and the choices made.

Now, as you know, for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom in the very highest level of the Celestial Kingdom, one must have entered into the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage. Many worry that if his or her spouse does not accept and live the gospel they will be excluded from that blessing. Well that is not necessarily the case for a couple of reasons:

1) How can we say that when an individual who cannot accept the gospel here in this life for reasons that may render him or her incapable of it, they may be free of such conditions and be able and willing to accept it in the world of spirits? This was obviously the case referred to in the scripture when Jesus preached to the spirits in prison, some of whom had lived during the days of the flood when only Noah and his family were saved from drowning. (See 1 Peter 3:18-21) “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6) Whatever conditions that are keeping your family from accepting the gospel here, may not exist in the spirit world. Your husband could easily change his mind about being baptized.

2) Let’s say your husband does stand firm in his rejection of the gospel, each of your children will yet have an honest opportunity to make their own knowledgeable choice. If you are worthy, you will be able to receive every blessing including exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom. All of the adjustments that will be necessary to assure this opportunity for every last person will be made during the millennium, if not before. It is only up to you. I am sure that the faith and courage that it took for you to “go it alone” so far and to “suffer for the cause”, so to speak, will not be ignored. I am confident the Lord loves you more than you can comprehend. “But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.” (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:18)

Please let me know if I can help in any way.

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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