Exaltation (Mormonism) - Overview of The Doctrine

Overview of The Doctrine

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that human beings can grow and progress spiritually until, through the mercy and grace of Christ, they can inherit and possess all that the Father has—they can become gods.

As the primary source for this doctrine, Mormon Christians look largely to the teachings of their modern (or what they refer to as "latter-day") prophets.

When discussing the Mormon Christian belief in eternal progression, various Mormon and non-LDS scholars generally refer to a couplet written by Lorenzo Snow, the fifth president of the LDS Church, which states as follows:

As God now is, man may be.

This doctrine is generally referred to by scholars both inside and outside Mormon Christianity as the Christian deification. It has been noted by several LDS and non-LDS scholars that the LDS expression of this widely-held Christian doctrine is often misrepresented and misunderstood when applied to Mormon Christians.

Because of this alleged misunderstanding, several LDS scholars (and occasionally LDS authorities and theologians) have sought to clarify the beliefs of Mormon Christians regarding the subject of exaltation. Latter-day Saints do not believe that human beings will ever be independent of God, or that they will ever cease to be subordinate to God. Rather, the LDS believe that to become as God means to overcome the world through the atonement of Jesus Christ (see 1 John 5:4—5; Revelation 2:7, 11). Thus the faithful become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ and will inherit all things just as Christ inherits all things (see Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21—23; Revelation 21:7). LDS commentators have stated that, therefore, the Mormon Christians believe they are received into the "church of the firstborn," meaning they inherit as though they were the firstborn (see Hebrews 12:23).

LDS scholars, particularly at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University, point out that there are no limitations on these biblical passages and declarations; those who become as God shall inherit all things. The LDS believe that, in that glorified state, those who overcome the world through the grace and mercy of Christ will resemble Christ; they will receive his glory and be one with him and with the Father (see 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 17:21—23; Philippians 3:21).