Could you explain the concept of becoming kings and queens in eternity?

Question

Dear Gramps,

Please explain the concept of becoming kings and queens. I think of kings and queens as being powerful rulers, yet when Christ was tempted by Satan to become all powerful he resisted that temptation.

Beth

Answer

Dear Beth,

It wasn’t the concept of power that the Savior resisted when tempted by the adversary, but it was to yield to any command from Satan. If He had acquiesced, He would have been under Satan’s demands and domination.

To become kings and queens in our Father’s kingdom in eternity is the ultimate goal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We read in Doctrine and Covenants 132—

And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood…. and it shall be said unto them–Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths…. and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.. (D&C 132:19)

Think of the inheritance given to those who are sealed as husband and wife in one of the holy temples of the Lord and who live by all of the covenants that they take upon themselves in that sacred ceremony! They inherit kingship and queenship in the eternities as exalted beings in the celestial kingdom of God. The continuation of the seeds refers to the fact that those who achieve exaltation as eternal husband and wife will continue to bear children throughout the eternities. However, the children of exalted immortal beings are born as spirit children. Their bodies would be composed of spiritual material, as were ours before we were born.

This is the great concept that makes logical, understandable and believable the revealed nature of God and the true relationship between God and man. All the human family were born as spirit children of God. We are all in very deed brothers and sisters of the same Father in Heaven. The word, Father, is the most frequent appellation given to God in the scriptures. It also clearly states in the scriptures that God is the literal Father of the spirits of mankind.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:9)

So, if God is our Father, and we are his children, do not the children have the inherent potential to mature to the stature of their parent? This is so in all life upon the earth. However, how many offspring of any species in mortality mature to the stature of their parent? Very few! So it is with the crowning species of man. Our kind and loving Father has revealed to all mankind the path to maturity. It is couched in the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, If any abide by those principles they will return to the presence of their Father in Heaven to continue their progress through eternity as mature children of God, being like Him, and living in his presence. Paul said it this way—

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Gramps