http://scottstover.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/seeking-exaltation-part-2-calling-and-election/
Great synopsis of the process.
Here is a quote from the above article from Bruce R. McConkie:
As expressed by Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
“To have one’s calling and election made sure is to be sealed up unto eternal life; it is to have the unconditional guarantee of exaltation in the highest heaven of the celestial world; it is to receive the assurance of godhood; it is, in effect, to have the day of judgment advanced, so that an inheritance of all the glory and honor of the Father’s kingdom is assured prior to the day when the faithful actually enter into the divine presence to sit with Christ in his throne, even as he is ‘set down’ with his ‘Father in his throne.’ (Rev. 3:21.) (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Bookcraft, 1973, 3:330–31.)As Elder McConkie goes on to indicate, the “unconditional guarantee” means that a person’s actions have been fully approved, that “there are no more conditions to be met by the obedient person.” (P. 335.) When one has been thus sealed up unto eternal life, he is “sealed up against all manner of sin except blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and the shedding of innocent blood.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:46.)
I find it interesting that you can still commit two of the three great sins (blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and the shedding of innocent blood) and fall from the presence of the Father once you have obtained your sure witness. The violation of the third one, and "least" among the three biggies will not get you "tossed out". Here is why (according to my thinking). In order to receive a body (second estate), you have to show that you honor the principle of agency; the very bedrock of Heavenly living and eternal principle. When you receive your body, you are given the possibilities of two great powers - the ability to give life and possibly even take it - at least in the defense of the lives of those over whom you have stewardship. Some would take it with guile as an offense to God, just as Cain did in the earliest propagation of that sin. Few men or women struggle with a desire to murder or even have a desire to harm another even in the defense of their families. There are none that I am aware of that do not struggle with desires towards another member of the opposite sex; at least in their pre-marital state. It is hard wired into us for our survival as natural men and women. Whether it is the ultimate struggle to control our thoughts, our desires, or to avoid the physical act outside the bounds the Lord has set - or today's scourge, pornography; we are all afflicted on some level at some point in our lives. Once an individual has overcome all of these things, plus they are able to keep the remainder of the commandments with exactness, I believe they can cross the threshhold and qualify for the blessings of the Second Comforter. I want to re-iterate that this IS NOT doctrine - just my musings.
I feel, that once you have mastered sexual sin and complete control of your thought processes (remember that angels communicate by thought - so the random impure sexual thought that might fly out of our minds on this earth will not fly in a Heavenly setting), the rest of it is a breeze. Who is worried about murder or denying the Holy Ghost when they have attained mastery of thought and self control to that level of exactness? Maybe its just me being a guy and all - but that is my perspective. I personally think this mastery is easier for the average female.....
The easiest way for a person to receive their Calling and Election sure is as part of a couple with a healthy spousal relationship. Singles can do it, no doubt, but it is in the strength of the couple that the greatest power is obtained as individual strengths are leveraged to obtain a better whole. It is God's perfect plan - its what we are taught in the Temple. We have all the proper prototypes, we just need to execute while not running any faster than we have strength.
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