48 ^aBe ye therefore ^bperfect, even as your ^cFather which is in heaven is ^dperfect. Matt: 5:48

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus charged the people to be perfect.  Not only perfect, but "as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".  Notice he didn't say, "be good", or even, "do your best"... he said be perfect.

We know that we can't be perfect in and of ourselves.  We also know that we can't make ourselves perfect in this life, or the next.  The only way we can be perfect is through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

But does being a perfect person fill the charge given by Christ?  Did he say, "be ye therefore a perfect person" or "be ye therefore a perfect spirit?"  Or even, "accept me and you will be a perfect worshipper of Me forever?"

16 The Spirit itself beareth ^awitness with our ^bspirit, that we are the ^cchildren of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; ^aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we ^bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  18 For I reckon that the ^asufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the ^bglory which shall be revealed ^cin us. Romans 8:16-18

In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul taught that the children of God can be joint heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. 

What does it mean to be "joint heirs" of God, and Joint Heirs with Christ?  If we are to inheret eternal life, and be able to live that eternal life at the feet of Christ worshippin Him forever, is that "joint heirs"?  If what we are to inheret is a spot at the foot of the throne, that would be what was taught.  But it wasn't.  What was taught is that we would be heirs of God.  and Joint hiers with Chist.  For that to be true, then we can expet to inheret all that Christ inherets. 

Christ's inheretance is the glory of God.  Didn't Paul also talk about the glory that shall be revealed in us?  What glory is in us lowly creatures whose greatest hope in existence is to worship at the feet of the Master?  Or is there more to it, and more to us?

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.  40 ^aThere are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the ^bcelestial is one, and the glory of the ^cterrestrial is another.  41 There is one glory of the ^asun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the ^bstars: for one star ^cdiffereth from another star in ^dglory.  42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in ^acorruption; it is raised in incorruption:  43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in ^aglory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a ^anatural body; it is raised a ^bspiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 1 Cor 15:39-44

So, from his letter to the Romans, we learn that there will be glory revealled in us.  From this passage in his letter to the Corinthians, not all will receive the same glory when the dead are resurrected.

There are bodies of Celestial glory, and bodies of Terrestrial glory.  They differ like the glory of the Sun, the Moon and the Stars.

 2 ^aI knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the ^bbody, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the ^cthird ^dheaven.  1 Cor 12:2

Paul received a revelation from a "man in Christ", one who John couldn't tell if he was a spirit or had a body.  The man was such as one from the "third heaven". 

So, from this we know that there are three degrees of glory, and they have something to do with the resurrection, and there are spiritual bodies.

21 To him that ^aovercometh will I grant to ^bsit with me in my ^cthrone, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:21

So where will we be sitting?  At Christ's feet? Or with The Father in His thrown?  If John the Revelator is to be taken at his word, and the Book of Revelation taken as the word of God, then the only way for this verse to be true is that we'll be sitting on the throne, not beneath it. 

So, if all these scriptures are true, then those who follow Christ's commandments have to become perfect.  Not perfect in the way of man, but perfect, "even a the Father which is in Heaven" is perfect.

For these scriptures to be true, as perfect beings, we will inheret what Christ inherets.

For these scriptures to be true, we will sit with the Father on His thrown.  Not at His feet (although there is evidence that we will start there).  There also has to be a way for us to be as perfect as God.

Now, "perfect" is one of those concepts that cannot be qualified.  Something is either perfect or it isn't.  You could argue that we are to be perfect lowly spirits at the feet of God, but that wouldn't be scriptural.  The only kind of perfect that is scriptural is to be as perfect as God.  So, can we be as perfect as God without attaining Godhood ourselves?

Most spiritual paths have the same goal.  Some call it "wholeness", others call it "being one with the universe" (with the spetrum running from literally filling the universe to a more figurative state).  As far as I know, all Christian denominations teach that we will become "one with God".  Well, if they believe that Christ and the Father are the same being because Christ said, "I and my Father are one" (John 30:10), how can we become "one with Christ" and not become Christ?

So, in reality, all Christians actually share this belief, they just never thought about what the scriptures were teaching them.

~~~~~

The fullness of our real purposes here on earth was revealled to the Prophet Joseph Smith. His experience is canonized in the Section 76 of The Doctrine and Covenants.  It is too long to quote here, but I guarantee it is very much worth a read.

(((Note:   I have given explanations based on my understanding of the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  If you choose to leave comments (which, as always, I encourage you to do), feel free to tell me your explanation of these passages. 

I know most of you won't agree with this and that is fine, but when you disagree tell me why you feel you're right, don't bore me with why you feel I'm wrong.

I have given New Testament references for the concepts I wrote about here.  When you cite references, give me the same respect.  As usual, any references to anti mormon trash will be deleted. Not because I disagree with it, but because I took time to make sure I stuck with New Testament references, so I expect the same respect.  Besides, I'm much more interested in a two way discussion than me against everyone you feel you have to turn to to try to prove me wrong.   If you insist that the Holy Bible is the extent of God's word, then I'm sure it's good enough to stick with here.)))

Now, let's have a fun, stimulating and spiritual discussion here!