How is eternal life with your family members and God, or exaltation (the highest form of salvation) made possible for you?
"39 For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.
40 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—
41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;
43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.
44 Wherefore, he saves all except them—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment—" (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 39-44)
"50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
63 These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.
64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
65 These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
66 These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68 These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical." (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 50-70)
"16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3: 16-17)
"20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
22 For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
23 But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.
24 This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.
25 Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law." (Doctrine and Covenants 130: 20-25)
And here's the commentary entitled: "Exaltation is the highest form of salvation.":
"Doctrine and Covenants 76:39–44 describe salvation generally. Verses 50–70 describe exaltation, a specific kind of salvation. How would you explain the difference between salvation and exaltation? What is the Savior’s role in both? What do you find in these verses that inspires you to seek exaltation?
See also John 3:16–17; Doctrine and Covenants 132:20–25."
Salvation is obtained in different degrees or forms. Salvation, which is overcoming physical death, or becoming immortal, is free. While exaltation is also salvation or overcoming spiritual death and much, much more, it's also overcoming spiritual death, and yet it is not free. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." This passage pertains to salvation from physical death. All shall be made alive after dying because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All shall become immortal. While everybody will live again after dying (the spirit of each person will return to and reunite with his/her physical body and die no more), not everybody will be able to return to the presence of God or overcome spiritual death, or have eternal life with God and family members forever which is exaltation. Only those who have proved themselves worthy by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel will be able to receive the gift of eternal life or exaltation in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Except for only few who will be punished forever (the sons of perdition who will go to outer darkness), the rest of God's children will still go to God's kingdoms of glory (terrestrial and telestial) after they paid the penalty of their sins and yet they will not enjoy the eternal increase promised only to those who will inherit the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, so they are still damned in their saved condition.
Jesus Christ's role is central in both salvation and exaltation. They both became possible only through the Savior's atoning sacrifice.
I found in these verses that through Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out the perfect atonement, just men who inherit eternal life in the celestial kingdom are made perfect. This means that through God's grace, after all I can do, I can become perfect and receive all of God's promised blessings of eternal life and eternal glory back in His presence. This truly inspires me to keep seeking exaltation. As long as I am doing my part the best that I possibly can, I'm never alone in my pursuit of exaltation. Jesus Christ, my Elder Brother is there for me--leading me by the hand, lifting me up whenever I fall down as I go through this earthly existence, the probationary period appointed under our Heavenly Father's eternal plan of happiness for His children, the plan of salvation, to prove whether I am worthy to return and stay in His kingdom forever.
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