Alonzo L. Gaskill - Odds Are, Youre Going to Be Exalted

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gaskill, Alonzo L.

Odds are, youre going to be exalted: evidence that the plan of salvation works/by Alonzo L. Gaskill.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index. ISBN 978-1-59038-918-8 (hardbound: alk. paper)

1. SalvationMormon Church. 2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsDoctrines. 3. Mormon ChurchDoctrines. I. Title.

BX8643.S25G37 2008
234dc22 2008005298

Printed in the United States of America
Worzalla, Stevens Point, WI

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For my children
That they might have hope

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I acknowledge the invaluable contributions of several individuals who took time out of their busy schedules to read drafts of this book and offer suggestions that have greatly improved the manuscript, namely, Vance R. Bohman, Matthew B. Christensen, Lori K. Gaskill, Richard G. Moore, Kenneth N. Shaw, Daniel R. Winder, and Eric L. Wing.

I also express my gratitude to the editors and staff at Deseret Book for their ever impressive work in preparing my manuscripts for publication.

Finally, I remind the reader that this book is not a publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nor of Brigham Young University. Though I believe the content to be accurate, I bear sole responsibility for what follows.

INTRODUCTION

As a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy, I remember asking myself the question, If I died today, would I go to heaven or hell? I suppose all of us have asked ourselves this same thing; and in all probability, on more than one occasion. Sadly, I fear, too many really arent sure what the answer would be. Robert L. Millet has conjectured that if you asked ten people, If you were to die this minute... where would you go? at least seven out of ten persons would sheepishly respond: I dont know. I suppose the terrestrial kingdom? Such should not be the caseparticularly among those who have abiding testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. One might argue that perhaps were not supposed to be sureat least not until we make our calling and election sure. However, that seems unlikely. The Lord, through His Spirit, is constantly giving us reassurances of His satisfaction with our progress. And His natureas the ultimate Fatheris to encourage His children, particularly when they are progressing and doing as He wishes. True, we are to work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), but it is my firm belief that the Lord wants us to know if were on the right path. I believe He wants us to know that, if we are pressing forward, we will gain exaltation. None of us, ever, are doing all we can or should. But the Lords atonement will compensate for our deficiencies, if we are sincerely trying to daily improve our lives and our natures. Of course, a person who stops trying because he or she thinks that salvation is assured would not, in the end, be exalted. And, similarly, a person filled with fear and doubt as to whether exaltation is attainable is likely to get discouraged and also give up trying. Thus, assurances from the Lord regarding His pleasure at our progress tend to be accompanied by subtle spiritual promptings regarding areas in which we can do better. But my contention is that the Lord does not wish us to be in the dark, per se, about our spiritual productivity and growth.

Some years ago, while renewing my temple recommend (with a member of my stake presidency), I was asked the last of the recommend questions, which at that time read: Do you consider yourself worthy in every way to enter the temple...? I responded, with enthusiasm, Absolutely!to which the good brother interviewing me appeared genuinely shocked. I felt as though I had actually made him uncomfortable, perhaps more so than if I had confessed some serious transgression. When I queried as to why he looked so puzzled, he said that very few of the individuals he had interviewed over the years had responded in the affirmative, without some hesitancy or clarification, such as, Well, Im trying or I do my best. My optimistic response, he said, simply caught him off guard. So I asked, President, am I wrong to feel that way? Should I be less certain about my worthiness or acceptability before the Lord? He assured me that was not the case, and that he was just not used to members of the stake feeling so confident that they were living as the Lord desired. That experience has stuck with me and has caused me time and again to ask myself why this would be the casewhy are so few members of the Church uncertain about how well they are doing in the quest for eternal life?

This book was born out of a manifest recurring concern that too many do not feel confident that they are going to make it to the celestial kingdom.

Will I be exalted?

Can I do all that is required of me?

Can I become perfect?

Have I fully repented of every sin?

How can I ever be as good as the prophets and apostles?

How can I know if Im on the right path?

Questions such as these are common among members of the Church. A seemingly large percentage of us tend to wonder whether were really capable of doing all that is necessary to merit a place in that highest of heavenly rewards. In my view, that pessimism or uncertainty is born less of a sense of unworthiness and more of a misunderstanding of Gods great plan and what it is the Lord actually expects of us. Nonetheless, I cant imagine traversing 70 plus years of mortalitywith all of its accompanying trials and testswith such a nebulous and doubt-filled perspective with regard to my acceptability before God, let alone with regard to His love (or lack thereof) for me. As Robert L. Millet once noted: Though we dare not face life with pride or immoderate self-assurance, we must also avoid false modesty and doubt, which are antithetical to faith. Joseph Smith taught that doubtincluding a constant worry about our standing before God or our capacity to go where Christ iscannot coexist with saving faith (Lectures on Faith, 3:2021; 4:13; 6:12).

What follows is my perception of Gods nature, His plan, and our odds of being exaltedbased on what ancient and modern prophets and apostles have taught! Perhaps you see things differently. But I invite you to explore with me what the Lord has revealed on this vital topicas it is my sincere hope that you too will feel of the functionality of the Lords plan.

As we begin this little theological journey together, I must acknowledge at the onset that every coin has two sides. No matter what the gospel topic, there is always a negative and a positive sidethe dos and the donts, the consequences for breaking a commandment and the blessings that are promised to those who keep it. So it is with the subject at hand. Our focus here is on Gods mercy and grace and the functionality of the Fathers plan of salvation. Part of that discussion