The very reason the earth was created was so families could be formed and sealed to each other. Salvation is an individual matter, but exaltation is a family matter. No one can be exalted alone.
In the funeral services for Sister Pat Holland, wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. July 2023. As found in "The Sealing Power," by D. Todd Christofferson. General Conference October 2023
We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality and consistency of the same.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, P.51, as quoted in Not My Will, but Thine by Neal A. Maxwell. 2008. Deseret Book. p. 88
Robert Krulwich: Here is for you the hardest thing. I was just trying to think about how difficult this must be. You have been… Your life has been saved by her. She is, in effect, your savior. And yet your belief is that unless she accepts Jesus, that in some sense she is outside of grace and you know, I don’t know what you believe about hell and heaven, but that she might be punished. So what do you do about this weird combination. She’s insisting nope, not for me and you’re insisting oh no, this is the way it is and oh my gosh… Is it hard for you?
Jim Munroe: No, not at all.
RK: Okay
JM: And I’ll tell you why because it’s not my place to do that. I am very sorry to everyone who listens to this who ever feels like they got judged by a Christian because it’s never their place to do that. And this is where I think most of the times and everybody listening to this podcast is placed as kind of positioned or pigeonholed Christians and what they don’t understand is that I’m not commanded to do anything but to love and to start conversations, right? I’m not the one. I’m not the one who was sent into the world to judge, alright? But what I… so… putting it like that - i know where you want to go with this…
RK: No, this is I’m asking an honest question. You have to love the judge that may not love the woman who saved your life. That’s hard, I think.
JM: Yeah but at the same time it’s… That’s not what I’m.. that’s not my place.
Soren Wheeler: I have to say I think that we were sort of expecting that maybe sharper edge to the differences between JIm and Jennell. But the truth is, in the room that night Jim and Jennells conversation and thus their story start to feel like some kind of allegory, not for any particular religion, or moral code, but for a way of how to move through the world and hold your differences but still be one.
RK: Let me just finish this way. Do you have a sense between the two of you? Because obviously you stay very very good friends. I mean that’s obvious. Is there some... Something that either of you can say that explains why you can dignifyingly but emphatically disagree and still stay in such extraordinarily close touch?
Jennell Jenney: I think the idea of humility and, as Jim might even say grace, is absolutely essential, no matter your tenets of belief. And that’s really what’s going to get you through conflict so yeah…
RK: And is it because you’re in this big ocean of the world and the two of you are just little little dots in there and so whatever you think it’s still you’re in a big ocean and there you are together? Is that the…
JJ: I think maybe yeah.
JM: Yeah. And…
RK: Do you have her bigness thing? Do you feel small?
JM: Do I feel small?
RK: Yeah
JM: I feel tiny. Humility at its root word it comes… The root is humos. Which means dirt. So when you become humble you become dirt.
RK: That’s better than the sea analogy, I think…
JM: I could keep going. You know, what god does with dirt is he creates things, but I won’t go there. But we become dirt, and I think where we get hung up is that we want to be right. And that hasn’t been brought into this yet. And right and wrong are… The words right and wrong I think in relationship are deadly words. I think saying I’m right, you’re wrong is not good for relationships. I think it’s…
RK: And have you ever said you’re right or you’re wrong to her?
JM: No.
JJ: I haven’t said it to him either, I don’t think.
JM: Never
RK: Well that’s a nice place to land.
JM: I think so.
To the Nephite fold, Jesus announced that He had still other sheep (3 Nephi 15:21; 16:1). How many folds there are we know not.
Therefore, unto this parable I will liken all these kingdoms, and the inhabitants thereof - every kingdom in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, even according to the decree which God hath made (D&C 88:61).
Of this particular verse, President John Taylor said, "That is, each kingdom, or planet, and the inhabitants thereof, were blessed with the visits and presence of their Creator, in their several times and seasons.
Not My Will, but Thine by Neal A. Maxwell. 2008. Deseret Book. p. 55
