Eternal Life, Corrections of The Book 'Mormon Doctrine'

According to Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “Eternal life is not a name that has reference only to the unending duration of a future life; immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state, and by the grace of God all men will gain this unending continuance of life. But only those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life. (D&C 29:43-44) It is ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God' (D&C 14:7), for it is the kind, status, type, and quality of life that God himself enjoys. Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation; they are sons of God, joint-heirs with Christ, members of the Church of the Firstborn; they overcome all things, have all power, and receive the fulness of the Father” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 237).

The first thing I want to say is that this quote, from the book Mormon Doctrine, was the opinion of its author Bruce R. McConkie. It was never agreed upon or declared as doctrine by the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What I am about to say in contradiction to this opinion is my own opinion and not doctrine either.

The first sentence is completely true. The second sentence would be completely true if it left off the word 'only;' but then it would still be extremely misleading to the same end, rather than wrong. Also, the scripture used to support the second sentence doesn't support it. It mentions nothing about gospel law or fulness; it talks about believing and repentance which are related but certainly not the same thing.

All those who obey 'the fulness of the gospel law' will inherit eternal life; on top of that they will inherit celestial glory and even exaltation to the top degree of that kingdom of God. But while all those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life, the opposite is not true. Those who do not obey the fulness of the gospel law may inherit eternal life. The difference is in the word 'fulness.'

So what is the difference? Those who accept a portion of the gospel law but reject the fulness will also receive eternal life. The lower kingdoms of glory are part of the kingdom of God. They take part in salvation, inherit eternal life, and are part of the gospel law. However, those who reject all portions of the gospel law will not receive eternal life; these are they who go to outer darkness after resurrection. Rejecting all portions is not the same as rejecting the fulness.

The last two sentences are also wrong in at least one way. They both imply and indirectly state that the telestial kingdom, terrestrial kingdom, and the lower degrees of the celestial kingdom are not part of 'the greatest of all the gifts of God' and therefore not part of eternal life. This implication is false. They are included.

Eternal life is not exaltation and exaltation is not eternal life; although exaltation is part of eternal life. Eternal life is permanent entrance into the kingdom of God. Entrance into the telestial kingdom after resurrection is permanent entrance into the kingdom of God and is 'the greatest of all the gifts of God.' This is likewise true of the other kingdoms.

So the question remains, isn't celestial glory a greater gift then telestial glory?
The short answer is no. There are only three verses in all scripture that use the phrase "the greatest of all the gifts of God." The first is 1 Nephi 15:36. This states that "the tree of life," or the fruit of the tree of life, is that greatest gift. The second is D&C 6:13 which states that to "be saved in the kingdom of God" is that greatest gift and goes further to emphasize that "there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." The third is D&C 14:7 quoted above stating that eternal life is that greatest gift. From these three verses we see that eternal life is salvation in the kingdom of God, and salvation and eternal life is the fruit of the tree of life. We see from D&C 76:88 that telestial spirits are heirs of salvation, which means that they both have eternal life and inherit the kingdom of God.

Once someone has demonstrated their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by repenting and being washed clean, they are heirs of salvation and have received the greatest of all gifts, eternal life. Then they "shall receive a reward according to their works" (D&C 138:58-59), whether that be a telestial reward, a terrestrial reward, or a celestial reward.


Corrected:
Eternal life is life with The Eternal God; dwelling in His presence, the presence of God the Father and/or God the Son and/or God the Holy Ghost. It is life in His kingdom, the kingdom of God which include the telestial, terrestrial, and celestial kingdoms. It is a life of glory, telestial, terrestrial, or celestial glory. It is a life of power on the right hand of God. It is the life enjoyed by those who, by Jesus, are both redeemed from the first death and saved from the second death, also known as being saved from outer darkness, through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the house of God and of the gospel (see D&C 138:58). It is a clean, spotless life for the righteous saints who have been washed clean by the baptism of water and fire through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, either in this life or the next, and endured to the end of this probationary state which end is the resurrection and includes the final judgement. It is "the greatest of all the gifts of God" (D&C 14:7). Those who gain eternal life are sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Eternal life is not a name that has reference only to the unending duration of a future life; immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state, and by the grace of God all men will gain this unending continuance of life.