Mormon Misconceptions: Heaven

One day 3 dear friends passed peacefully from this life to the next., and found themselves standing before St. Peter at the pearly gates.

"Welcome to heaven! Are you ready for the grand tour?" he greeted them warmly. Then he directed them to a golf cart waiting nearby.

Once all were seated, St. Pete summoned an angel who took the driver's seat and off they went.

Up a beautiful, gold brick street they drove, winding their way among gentle hills covered with the greenest grass, the most beautiful flowers the friends had ever seen!

Around the next bend, they came to a large open field covered with picnic blankets and filled with happy people who were chatting, and children who were playing and laughing... They waved to the passengers of the golf cart and the passengers waved back.

"Those are the Baptists" the tour guide remarked.

Further down the road they came across another group, happily singing and dancing.

"The Pentecostals." The angel reported. Another exchange of greetings occurred.

Further still they found a large pavilion filled with people enjoying an afternoon meal together. They paused briefly from their pleasantries to greet the newcomers.

"That would be the Lutherans."

On they went, passing and exchanging greetings with the Methodists, the Catholics, The Seventh day Adventists.

Then quite suddenly the cart slowed to a crawl, and the guide motioned for silence. Ever so quietly, the group passed a large, well lit house from which emanated singing, talking and laughter, while the occupants of the cart hardly dared breath.

Finally, they passed the house and the cart zoomed ahead again. One of the passenger queried "What was that about?"

The angel replied, "Those are the Mormons. They think they are the only ones here."

I heard that joke while on my mission. From a Minister of a nondenominational Christian church. I didn't find it particularly humorous then. Sadly. It was not an entirely inaccurate description of my perception at the time.

I think Mormons often forget something rather crucial. Probably has something to do with all that talk about perfection, and then somehow, we merge that thought with secular schools and grading.

We start out on the right path - John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions". But then we start thinking about school grades, and conclude that any grade lower than A+ is a failing grade.

I remember a good analogy I heard, and repeated, but somehow missed the point. Say you are a biker, you have an awesome Harley, you love to ride that bike. You love to work on that bike. Now, say you show up at a big shiny mansion, all gold and silver and glass. Everyone is dressed up in Tuxedos and ball gowns, eating little finger sandwiches and drinking from crystal goblets. And here you are in your Leathers, grease on your hands, maybe a spot or two of dirt and grease on your face... Would you feel comfortable? Probably not, you'd probably prefer to hop back on your bike, drive down the street to the local greasy spoon diner, and talk shop with the other bikers.

The analogy is actually excellent, you go where you are comfortable, where you are happy, but somehow, in our narrow, Darwinian model minds, we conclude that everyone wants to be at the palace, and the only reason you are going to the diner is you didn't qualify for the palace. Only A+ is a passing grade...

But, Doctrine and Covenants Section 76 tells us about those "many mansions", and in verse 89 it notes that even the lowest of those mansions, referred to as the telestial - final destination for liars, adulterers, murderers, who choose not to accept gospel of Jesus Christ (verse 82) - the glory of it "surpasses all understanding." It is still glorious! It is glorious beyond human comprehension!

So, in reality, the Mormon perspective on heaven is actually one of the most inclusive. You don't even have to accept Jesus Christ, you just have to not knowingly, willfully reject him.

So, just like in school B, C and D are also passing grades. Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't give your best effort. It does however suggest you might want to make an effort to be kind to those people you are so smugly certain have a seat in the proverbial hand-basket. They just might be your neighbor... for... a very... very... long time...