The Bible says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)
It also says(speaking of the scribes and Pharisees), "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)
Your LDS scripture says, "15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.
16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.
17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.
18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God." (Doctrine and Covenants 132).
"Such a person eventually receives godhood and becomes a member of the "church of the Firstborn." (
D&C 76:54.)
Roy W. Doxey, "Accepted of the Lord: The Doctrine of Making Your Calling and Election Sure,"
Ensign, Jul 1976, 50
Note:
Roy W. Doxey, dean emeritus of Religious Instruction at Brigham Young University, serves as a Regional Representative of the Council of the Twelve.
In your Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76, blessings are promised:
"They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
"They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
"They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
"And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
"Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
"Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
"And they shall overcome all things." (
D&C 76:52–60.)
"
These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
"These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
"These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood." (
D&C 76:62, 65, 69.)
Doctrine and Covenants 76 goes on to say:
92 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;
93 Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever.
94
They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;
95
And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.
96 And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.
Your prophet, Spencer W. Kimball said:
"Only through celestial marriage can one find the strait way, the narrow path. Eternal life cannot be had in any other way." - Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, quoted in the Deseret News, Church News, Nov. 12, 1977
"The ordinances of the temple, the endowment and sealings, pertain to exaltation in the celestial kingdom, where the sons and daughters are. The sons and daughters are not outside in some other kingdom. The sons and daughters go into the house, belong to the household, have access to the home. ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’ [John 14:2].
Sons and daughters have access to the home where he dwells, and you cannot receive that access until you go to the temple. Why? Because you must receive certain key words as well as make covenants by which you are able to enter. If you try to get into the house, and the door is locked, how are you going to enter, if you haven’t your key?
You get your key in the temple, which will admit you.". . . You cannot find a key on the street, for that key is never lost that will open the door that enters into our Father’s mansions. You have got to go where the key is given. And each can obtain the key, if you will; but after receiving it, you may lose it, by having it taken away from you again unless you abide by the agreement which you entered into when you went into the house of the Lord." -
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:40–41
So my question to you would be, although LDS consider all humans to be literal children of God at birth, don't these children face the possibility of being cut off from that status if they do not become part of the Church of the Firstborn?
