Exaltation (Mormonism)
doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Exaltation is a belief in Mormonism that after death some people will reach the highest level of salvation in the celestial kingdom and eternally live in God's presence, continue as families, become gods, create worlds, and make spirit children over whom they will govern. In the largest Mormon denomination, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), top leaders have taught that God wants exaltation for all humankind and that humans are "gods in embryo". A verse in the LDS Church's canonized scripture states that those who are exalted will become gods, and a 1925 statement from the church's highest governing body said that "All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother ... [and are] capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God."
The LDS Church and several other Mormon denominations teach that Mormons who sufficiently follow church teachings may become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ through exaltation. A popular quote from this church—often attributed to the early apostle Lorenzo Snow in 1837—is "As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be."
LDS Church teachings
Required ordinances
According to Mormonism, certain ordinances are required of all those who hope to obtain exaltation. The ordinances that are required for exaltation are called "saving ordinances". The saving ordinances are
Baptism;
Confirmation;
Melchizedek priesthood ordination (for men);
Endowment, including washing and anointing;
Celestial marriage.
The endowment and celestial marriage take place in temples. LDS Church members are taught that they can receive exaltation through performing saving ordinances. Performance of the saving ordinances does not guarantee exaltation.
“Exaltation (Mormonism)” enters the record as doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Exaltation, Mormonism and doctrine can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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