How much work does it take to receive exaltation?

[MikeWaters]

I was thinking about this in conference, in light of our discussions about grace.

I can't come up with a rational answer. What amount of effort is required? Does God run a frequency table and see where the break is?

The whole explanation of telestial, terrestial, and celestial are hard to understand in terms of grace.

I'm still struggling with this. Some of us think it will be very few that will be exalted (why, I am not sure). Others think most people that seek exaltation will be exalted.

It's all very confusing.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I was thinking about this in conference, in light of our discussions about grace.

I can't come up with a rational answer. What amount of effort is required? Does God run a frequency table and see where the break is?

The whole explanation of telestial, terrestial, and celestial are hard to understand in terms of grace.

I'm still struggling with this. Some of us think it will be very few that will be exalted (why, I am not sure). Others think most people that seek exaltation will be exalted.

It's all very confusing.

I think the only real answer we've been given to this is question is "all we can do."

Not a terribly satisfying answer, but there you go.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Tex

I think the only real answer we've been given to this is question is "all we can do."

Not a terribly satisfying answer, but there you go.

After all, what can we do?
Not much.

I think everyone will be exalted.
Even haddow.

[MikeWaters]

"all we can do" implies a certain amount of perfection. so, no, that is not satisfying. not hopeful.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by Tex

I think the only real answer we've been given to this is question is "all we can do."

Not a terribly satisfying answer, but there you go.

Actually, what we have to *do*, is realize we can't do anything.
And in humility, fall down and say, "God, I'm a total screwup. I can't do it." And then the magic happens.
This is taught over and over in the BoM.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

"all we can do" implies a certain amount of perfection. so, no, that is not satisfying. not hopeful.

That's what I've had a few born-again's tell me when we've discussed this passage. They say it's impossible ... "I never do 'all I can do'; I fall short!" They are right, of course, no one literally does "all they can do" other than Jesus.

So is it possible this scripture has a different meaning than perfection? What do you think Nephi meant by it, Mike?

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by Tex

I think the only real answer we've been given to this is question is "all we can do."

Not a terribly satisfying answer, but there you go.

"all we can do" is misinterpreted. Most commonly misinterpreted scripture of all. Nephi didn't mean it the way we use it.

[jay santos]

Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that
is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire
labourers into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a
penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw
others standing idle in the marketplace,

Matthew 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard,
and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Matthew 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour,
and did likewise.

Matthew 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found
others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all
the day idle?

Matthew 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us.
He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever
is right, that shall ye receive.

Matthew 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard
saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their
hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

Matthew 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the
eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

Matthew 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they
should have received more; and they likewise received every man a
penny.

Matthew 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured
against the goodman of the house,

Matthew 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and
thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden
and heat of the day.

Matthew 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I
do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

Matthew 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give
unto this last, even as unto thee.

Matthew 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with
mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last:
for many be called, but few chosen.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by jay santos

"all we can do" is misinterpreted. Most commonly misinterpreted scripture of all. Nephi didn't mean it the way we use it.

I agree. So what do you think it means, santos?

This would suffice, FYI: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/20

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by Tex

I agree. So what do you think it means, santos?

This would suffice, FYI: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/20

Nephi's making a point to show salvation comes through the grace of Christ, emphasizing Christ's part and showing how piddly our part is. The "afer all we can do" is almost a sarcastic reference to show relatively how little we can do. It could be translated as "even with what little we can do". And yeah I got this from Stephen Robinson so it may not be popular to everyone here, but I repeat it because it seems linguisticly obvious to me in the setting. Instead it is used most often in the church as a works scripture, emphasizing the importance of us doing "all we can do" as if that was the important part of the equation.