Do Mormons Believe in Universal Salvation?

Perhaps the strongest argument for universal salvation runs along these lines: If you give an omnipotent or all powerful God an infinite amount of time to save his creations, why would he not succeed?

I think the best way to approach this issue is to begin with the traditional Christian understanding that there are only two eternal destinations: heaven or hell.

Joseph Smith’s thinking on salvation is arguably more nuanced than this, partly because of his views on proxy baptism on behalf of the dead, but also due to his views on the salvific nature of knowledge.

I believe the better approach is to understand Joseph’s view of salvation as entailing a broader and more merciful understanding of God. Under Joseph’s model, even those individuals deserving of an eternity of hell in the traditional Christian conception of hell, may still be saved in a kingdom of glory, although not without suffering the wrath of God (D&C 76:106). Those who were unable to obtain baptism in this life, but would have accepted Christ, may have an opportunity to receive baptism by proxy.

The phrase “outer darkness” is sometimes popularly, although inaccurately, used to mean some sort of eternal existence after the resurrection, but this is actually not how the scriptures use the term. In both the Book of Mormon, “outer darkness” refers to the temporary state of the wicked, where there is “weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth”as they anticipate final judgment and then the resurrection (Alma 40:13-14).

In addition, while some Mormons have considered anything other than the Celestial Kingdom to be a genre of hell, this too is not a desirable understanding as it requires one to ignore the fact that all the three kingdoms are spoken of in Joseph’s revelations as “kingdoms of glory.” Therefore, to speak of the Telestial Kingdom as a degree of hell would be inaccurate, and would be a distortion of Joseph’s understanding of salvation.

LikeLike

Stephen B-kneeling and confessing has nothing to do with salvation and everything to do with recognizing ultimate authority-not unlike when an enemy surrenders. That passage is not a good support for the doctrine of univeralism. I do not consider LDS universalist-but they move far closer to that view than almost any non-universalist church does.
Is it true that Latter-day Saints equate the two lower levels of glory as hell? From what I’ve read even some Mormons are going to end up in the middle kingdom (along with us evangelicals!) I always thought you believed that hell was a place for Satan and a few of the really wicked.

LikeLike

In LDS doctrine I believe that there is a distinction between salvation and eternal life. Eternal life is apart of salvation, but salvation is much more inclusive. Every knee will bow and confess that indeed Jesus Christ is the Son of God. But just because a person confesses this fact, it does not mean that he necessarily wants or is willing to be like him.

We learn that as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive. All men are saved from the fall and death of the physical body to live again. We will all receive a resurrected body just as Jesus has. We will then be judged and rewarded according to our works just as the Bible says. But is that “reward according to our works” salvation? No. Because we also learn from the Bible that salvation is not based on our works. So is this a contradiction in the scriptures? Again the answer is no. We are saved from the fall through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which is a gift given because of the grace and love he has for us. And the reward we receive is the kingdom and mansion which has been prepared for us by him, in which we will dwell.

God the Father and his son Jesus Christ partake of and enjoy the fullness of Glory which is eternal life. This is more than just salvation, this is exaltation or eternal life. Those who truly love the Lord with all their heart, might, mind and strength can partake of that same fullness. Those who do not will enjoy an eternal state of salvation much more fitting to their person and their level of faith and commitment, (it is clear from scripture that ones level of faith can be measured from great to small) therefore the various degrees of glory in the resurrection. As Jesus explains, their state will be more like that of the Angles. Those who will have no joy at all are those who in open rebellion turned against God from the beginning as well as those who have turned in open rebellion against him in this life ( the point that Cal made). Thou they receive a resurrected body, it is resurrected in damnation. And with that body they will have the power to rule over Satan but will know no joy or happiness, but will be most miserable just as Satan is.

This view of salvation could be argued to be the same as is taught in universalism if it were not for the distinction that there is a promise of something more for those who truly seek after those things.

LikeLike

Just so that the evangelical understanding of 1 Peter 3 & 4 is presented, spirits from the time of Noah were freed when Jesus died on the cross–because, as Isaiah prophesied (61), the Messiah would ” proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,”
even as his death and resurrection would mean that God’s people would have
“a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

This ties in with Paul’s proclamation to the Colossians (2:12f) that with Jesus’ death comes the redemption of all mankind; with his death on the cross, Christ, by his death subdues the invaders and recaptures those whom they had subdued. His death and resurrection and his ascension on high is reason that Christ fulfilled the words of David, who prophesied, ” “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8).

As mentioned, God is gracious and grants us salvation in a very simple way: by faith in what he has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory, now and forever. Amen.

LikeLike

Ama-I look forward to furthering exploring this issue in another post!
Ken-you make some great points! Let me give your ideas and insights some thought and prayer before I respond.

LikeLike

Nothing that Peter said in any way changes or diminishes anything Cal pointed out in the above scriptures. We die only once and we will face a judgment day each and everyone of us. These are two things that are more sure than the sun will rise. Jesus Christ will be the judge that we stand before to give an accounting. But I do believe that before we go to that judgment we will know who is judging us and why he is qualified to be the judge of all mankind. There is no one who has ever lived in this life that can say to him, “You have no idea what I had to go through.” For he descended below all things and suffered all things. He knows better than anyone just exactly what we had to go through. And no one can say “ I didn’t know it was wrong to commit that act of sin” for each of us is given the light of Christ which is our conscience that lets us know that which we should do and not do. And no one can say “ I had no idea I had to accept you as my savior to live with the Father” And this is so because everyone will, on bended knee confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is indeed the son of God. In order for this to happen each and every person must have been taught the gospel. If a sparrow can fall and God knows, then God knows when a child of his falls and he will reach out to save him, but not against the will of the child.

It is a fact that many people will die without knowing Christ or his gospel message in this life, but they must face the judgment seat just as everyone else must do. In death there is as Christ explained a large divide that separated those in Abraham’s bosom and those that will suffer. But Christ swallowed up death and hell as freed the captive and release the chains that held them bound. His death and atonement bridge that gap which allowed his gospel message to go to them as well. Not as a second chance, but to make perfect the plan of the father. For those who rejected the message in this life, the 10 gallon bucket is no longer an option, but what they can receive they will receive, should it be no more than a thimble. And for those who rejected the light of Christ that was in them in this life, again this is not a second change, but an acknowledgement and an acceptance of something less. But for those who did abide in the light of Christ in this life, yet knew not his name, he knew theirs for their name was ever before him. And once they heard his name for the first time in the spirit world they knew and accepted him and the full joy he had to offer.

Does this mean we have no worries, that it will all be taken care of? By no means is this true. For the urgency of spreading the gospel message has as much to do with our own salvation as it does for those to who the gospel must go. For if we do not accept that commission from Christ to go into the world to share his message once we come to know it is true, then we must give an accounting of this at the judgment. As Joseph Smith said “it hath become every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor” I think I got that quote right.

LikeLike

Hi Ken,
Sorry it took a while to get back to you-your final statement regarding continuous revelation through the Prophets is one that is very interesting to me. I believe in personal revelation and I believe the Lord speaks through leaders however we must be clear that God never contradicts himself and that the word given in no way contradicts what has been said previously. For example google the United Church of Christ and take a look at their ‘God is still Speaking’ program and see how they are using this concept to promote the most godless teachings imaginable. Going back through 180 years of LDS history haven’t some of the Prophets said things that no longer reflect LDS thought (the whole Adam/God controversy and Polygamy)? Some years back evangelist Oral Roberts said some very odd things about his new hospital (The City of Faith) that did not come to pass even though he claimed to speak in the power of the Holy Spirit and in prophetic voice. How do we know when a Prophet is speaking in the power of the Spirit? Sounds like another blog for Ama!
Regarding Jesus Christ setting the captives free-Revelation 1:18 says that Jesus hold the keys to death and Hades. He descended into the underworld to liberate the children of the Old Covenant and to keep those promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I must confess, I am unclear what defines “saving faith.” I believe we are accountable for what we know. Let me share a story that I heard from Rev. Richard Wumbrand-a Romanian minister who was tortured for his faith in Christ under communism. While ministering in Odessa he met a woman and began sharing the gospel. At the mention of Jesus Christ, the woman’s face lit up and she said, “I love that name!” She then shared how as a little girl her grandmother had mentioned the name of Jesus Christ. The only thing this woman knew was a name-but she understood that it represented goodness and love and she had cherished that truth throughout her life. She was faithful to what she knew and I believe she would have been welcomed by God into the Kingdom if she had died. It was with great joy that Brother Wumbrand could share the rest of the story with this woman.
In speaking about the atonement in Hebrews 9:28 the author says in verse 27, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” While I’m not seeing a second chance after the grave I do recognize that what constitutes saving faith can be a bit broader than we suppose. In the end we are in the hands of the perfect judge. That is something in which we can all agree!
Jeremy-thanks for clarifying the LDS understanding of the degrees of glory.

LikeLike