Salvation by Sex

         

          

"Saved by Sex" is an expression an elderly lady, Thelma (Granny) Geer, often used when defining her Mormon heritage.  What did she mean by saying this?  "Exaltation is eternal life,..." according to the Gospel Principles Sunday School manual (pg. 275).  Page 278 tells us that "we must be married for eternity" to be exalted.  The focus of Doctrine and Covenants 132 is stated in the first verse: "...the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines-"  In verse four, it is stated that those who reject this doctrine are damned. "...an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned: for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."  Verse 6 again says, "...he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God."  In verse 54, the commandment of polygamy was aimed at Joseph Smith's wife, "...But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law."  This turned out to be a false prophesy.  Joseph Smith received the law of plural marriage and was assassinated.  Emma Smith, his wife, rejected the law and lived a long life.

      In his Book call Mormon Doctrine, Apostle Bruce R. McConkie said polygamy will return when Christ returns.  Under the a section titled Plural Marriage on page 578, he wrote, "...the holy practice will commence again after the Second Coming of the Son of Man and the ushering in of the millennium."

      Heber C. Kimball spoke of having many wives:  "In the spirit world there is an increase of males and females, there are millions of them, and if I am faithful all the time, and continue right along with brother Brigham, we will go to brother Joseph and say, 'Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not, with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state, not even the rings on our fingers?'  He will say to us, 'Come along, my boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes.  Where are your wives?'  'They are back yonder; they would not follow us.'  'Never mind,' says Joseph, 'here are thousands, have all you want.'  Perhaps some do not believe that, but I am just simple enough to believe it" (Journal of Discourses 4:209).

      Today Doctrine and Covenants 132 is still considered scripture by the LDS church.  This chapter states that plural marriage is an everlasting covenant.  Polygamy is deemed necessary for salvation.  It is supposed to continue forever.
      On the contrary, Ephesians 2:8&9 states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."  That statement ends with a period!

Devil's Flattery

      Many are saying that there is no hell or that it is just a mental state.  Where does this lie originate from.  2 Nephi 28:21-23 gives us the answer.  "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.  And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none - and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.  Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment."
      The Book of Mormon is clear on who is destined for hell.  It is reserved for those who have procrastinated their repentance.  Alma 34:35 tells us, "For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked."
      Many feel like they will have plenty of time after this life to repent of their ways.  Alma 34:33 tells us, "...do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."  Many say that repentance is a gradual process.  However, we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  One distracted driver could end our life.  Alma 34:32 says, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."
      Many assume that we are all sons and daughters of God.  The Book of Mormon, however, declares that we must be born again and become sons of God.  Mosiah 27:35 says, "...Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."