D&C 76

Section 76 from the Doctrine and Covenants is very likely my favorite section in the whole book. It begins with a proclamation that the Lord is God, stating essential truths simply and beautifully. I think this is a perfect introduction to what follows.

The truths introduced to the church through section 76 are some of the truths that distinguish us from other churches more than any others. For all other religions, the only important question is whether or not you are "saved". Mormons have trouble with this word. For most religions, this is a simple concept. If you go to heaven, you're saved, and if you go to hell, you're not. However, as Latter-day Saints have several definitions for the words "heaven" and "hell", this is slightly problematic. This non-Mormon view of the world is essentially what we believe happens initially. However, we believe that all of this happens before the judgment. What takes place after judgment, we believe is one of the "plain and precious truths" that were lost to the world until the restoration of God's church.

I would have a hard time believing in Christianity without this knowledge. To have only one line to separate good people from bad seems impossible to do fairly. Also, there are many problems that stem from this theology in my mind. Firstly, there seems to be no reason to be very good. As long as you believe in Jesus, there is no reason to improve, because in heaven, everyone is instantly perfectly good. There was a time in my life when I sort of had a similar attitude. I judged other people and thought: "well, they're good enough that it won't be fair if they don't go to the celestial kingdom, so I don't have to be more religious than them in any aspect." There's a lot wrong with that argument. Four years ago was a peripeteian time for me. My mindset completely changed. I realized that religion is not about memorizing enough facts or reaching a certain goal before you die. Religion is only about improving yourself.

The principal of different degrees of glory makes religion much clearer for me. It makes so much more sense to have universal salvation in the way Mormons believe it because we believe in a very merciful God. However, it is also evident that it is important to be good. Thus, in our religion, there are two meanings of being "saved". Everyone, except for sons of perdition, are saved in a kingdom of Heaven, but few are saved from damnation, or a halt in progression. However, our circumstances can not damn us. Everyone has an equal opportunity to progress to their potential. Only we can stop ourselves from progressing.