Terrestrialization: The Doctrine of Translation

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We are all on a journey, of sorts. This journey started long before we arrived at where we are. It started long before we were “born” as spirit children to glorified Perfected Parents–in a pre-existive state. Part of the reason why Intelligent Design created Gods in the first place was so that matter (elements) could take on a form other than space debris floating around, disorganized.

It made more sense to have a purpose, a goal. Once Gods were organized, the devised Plan required a process of progress. And, the process required initiates to qualify for greatness based on a display of desire and obedience. A desire to do good continually. (Mosiah 5:2) A demonstration of an individual’s willingness to serve the greater good, to show love, to embrace Charity as the primary motive for, well, everything, every action. Every action must be motived by selflessness–Charity–the Pure Love of Gods. It means that the elements that have subjected themselves to commands (from Gods) would be obeyed because the genesis was Charity.

Some elements would be organized into planets, some stars, some water, some dirt, some rocks, some animals, some food, some people, etc. All matter would be developed and progress in its own sphere and element. It’s really an amazing possibility! And, because the First Law of Thermodynamics reinforces the fact that matter can’t be annihilated, only changed from one form to another, through a process of reorganization, elements would change, evolve, as they made their way through the Plan. From quarks to elements, planets, stars, galaxies, universes, multiverses…and, beyond, EVERYTHING has a purpose…to glorify and define Creation.

Within the infinite Plan of Gods’ Creation, apprentices move along a path of qualification–it’s how the Gods got to where They are. This earth life is a time to prepare to advance to the next “level,” or state, as They did. So, after we’re done here (on earth), how do we change, evolve, to move to the next “level.”

The spirit and the body are the soul of man, so we’re taught. It’s pretty simple concept, actually. Physical separation, or bifuraction, of earthly elements from spirit matter is inevitable at death. We are taught that death is just as important to eternal progress as birth was.

Joseph Fielding Smith taught that “DEATH AS IMPORTANT AS BIRTH. In other words, death is just as important in the welfare of man as is birth. There is no greater blessing that can come than the blessing of birth. One third of the hosts of heaven, because of rebellion, were denied that privilege, and hence they have no bodies of flesh and bones, that great gift of God. But who would like to live forever in this mundane world, filled with pain, decay, sorrow, and tribulation, and grow old and infirm and yet have to remain with all the vicissitudes of mortality? I think all of us would come to the conclusion, if that proposition were placed before us, that we would not like to have it. We would reject it. We would not want life of that nature. Life here in this world is short of necessity, and yet all that is required may be accomplished, but death is just as important in the plan of salvation as birth is. We have to die — it is essential — and death comes into the world “to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator.” (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. I, p. 116)

However, the Plan allows for some who will delay their natural departure from their bodies through a process of continued progress referred to as “Terrestrialization” or “Translation.” What is Translation? Joseph Smith taught it this way:

The Doctrine of Translation

Now the doctrine of translation is a power which belongs to this Priesthood. There are many things which belong to the powers of the Priesthood and the keys thereof, that have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world; they are hid from the wise and prudent to be revealed in the last times.

Many have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fullness, but his is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters He held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fullness as those who are resurrected from the dead. “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” (See Hebrews 11:35.)

Now it was evident that there was a better resurrection, or else God would not have revealed it unto Paul. Wherein then, can it be said a better resurrection. This distinction is made between the doctrine of the actual resurrection and translation: translation obtains deliverance from the tortures and sufferings of the body, but their existence will prolong as to the labors and toils of the ministry, before they can enter into so great a rest and glory.

On the other hand, those who were tortured, not accepting deliverance, received and immediate rest from their labors. “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for from henceforth they do rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” (See Revelation 14:13.)

They rest from their labors for a long time, and yet their work is held in reserve for them, that they are permitted to do the same work, after they receive a resurrection for their bodies. But we shall leave this subject and the subject of the terrestrial bodies for another time, in order to treat upon them more fully.

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 170-171)

From this doctrine, it appears as though there are some who, at a particular point of their earth life “transition” into a being not dead, and not subject to the normal course of death, but are “suspended” from pain and conditions of the normal mortal experience, for the purpose of building the Kingdom of God, and establishing Zion, throughout ALL of God’s Creation.

What would it be like to be a ministering angel to other children of our same Heavenly Parents who are living on other planets within the Kingdom of God–lightyears from were we reside now?! We know there are innumerable planets inhabited by God’s children–all saved by the Infinite Atonement of the Savior who performed that series of saving and sanctifying events here on this planet (i.e. the suffering in the Garden of Gethsemene, the suffering and death on the cross at Galgotha, and the miracle of resurrection).

Joseph Smith wrote in the Millennial Star, vol. 4, pp. 49-55:

And I heard a great voice bearing record from heav’n He’s the Saviour and Only Begotten of God; By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made, Even all that careen in the heavens so broad. Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last, Are sav’d by the very same Saviour of ours; And, of course, are begotten God’s daughters and sons By the very same truths and the very same powers.

This excerpt from the Pearl of Great Price, Moses Chapter 1, reinforces the vastness of God’s Plan and Creation:

29 And he beheld many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof.

30 And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?

31 And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.

32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.

33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.

God has made all His Creation for His purpose, through His Only Begotten, Jesus Christ, the Savior. And, the Savior of ALL God’s Creation wrought the Infinite and Eternal Atonement here on this very planet, for ALL of God’s children.

Why, then, was it your privilege to be born here, a member of the House of Israel, where the Savior performed the Atonement for ALL of His (El’s) Creation, and not on some other planet?