Nottheworld
01-20-2016, 01:12 AM
Swedenborg originated levels of heaven not Joseph Smith. It's false. If there are levels of heaven then salvation is by works. Apparently in the lowest heaven (Telestial) you don't need to believe in salvation and you are still saved.
Hypothesized influence of Emanuel Swedenborg[edit (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Degrees_of_glory&action=edit§ion=11)]Some, including historian of Mormonism D. Michael Quinn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._Michael_Quinn) in his book Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._Michael_Quinn#Early_Mormonism_and_the_Magic_Wor ld_View), have argued that various parts of the plan of salvation were influenced in part by Emanuel Swedenborg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Swedenborg)'s book Heaven and Hell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_and_Hell_(Swedenborg)). In Heaven and Hell, Swedenborg wrote that "There are three heavens" that are "entirely distinct from each other."[33] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-SwedenborgHeavenHell-33) Swedenborg called the highest heaven "the Celestial Kingdom," celestial being the Latin word for heavenly. He also stated that the inhabitants of the three heavens corresponded to the "sun, moon and stars."[33] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-SwedenborgHeavenHell-33) While some historians believe Smith was familiar with Swedenborg's theology at least by 1839[citation needed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)], others have argued that he did not have access to the writings of Swedenborg.[34] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-That_Old_Black_Magic.-34) One of Smith's preeminent biographers has argued it is more likely that Smith and Swedenborg developed their ideas independently based on 1 Corinthians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians) chapter 15.[35] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-35) This argument was more closely examined by William J. Hamblin: he explains that Quinn turned to Swedenborg as an indirect source, whose three heavens are not called "degrees of glory" and are themselves clearly derived from the Pauline passages in question. But Quinn insisted that Smith was not influenced by the original idea from Paul (whom he certainly read), but rather by Swedenborg—whom Quinn agreed Smith had not read, claiming instead that Smith had heard of Swedenborg's ideas secondhand via Sibly (see pp. 217–18).[36] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-36) But Sibly spoke of seven archangelic degrees of glory and not of three heavens as degrees of glory in the resurrection.[34] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-That_Old_Black_Magic.-34)
It's clear to me Smith derived his degrees of glory from Swedenborg. Making up words like Telestial from Celestial+Terrestial is a fabrication.
Hypothesized influence of Emanuel Swedenborg[edit (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Degrees_of_glory&action=edit§ion=11)]Some, including historian of Mormonism D. Michael Quinn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._Michael_Quinn) in his book Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._Michael_Quinn#Early_Mormonism_and_the_Magic_Wor ld_View), have argued that various parts of the plan of salvation were influenced in part by Emanuel Swedenborg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Swedenborg)'s book Heaven and Hell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_and_Hell_(Swedenborg)). In Heaven and Hell, Swedenborg wrote that "There are three heavens" that are "entirely distinct from each other."[33] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-SwedenborgHeavenHell-33) Swedenborg called the highest heaven "the Celestial Kingdom," celestial being the Latin word for heavenly. He also stated that the inhabitants of the three heavens corresponded to the "sun, moon and stars."[33] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-SwedenborgHeavenHell-33) While some historians believe Smith was familiar with Swedenborg's theology at least by 1839[citation needed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)], others have argued that he did not have access to the writings of Swedenborg.[34] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-That_Old_Black_Magic.-34) One of Smith's preeminent biographers has argued it is more likely that Smith and Swedenborg developed their ideas independently based on 1 Corinthians (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_to_the_Corinthians) chapter 15.[35] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-35) This argument was more closely examined by William J. Hamblin: he explains that Quinn turned to Swedenborg as an indirect source, whose three heavens are not called "degrees of glory" and are themselves clearly derived from the Pauline passages in question. But Quinn insisted that Smith was not influenced by the original idea from Paul (whom he certainly read), but rather by Swedenborg—whom Quinn agreed Smith had not read, claiming instead that Smith had heard of Swedenborg's ideas secondhand via Sibly (see pp. 217–18).[36] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-36) But Sibly spoke of seven archangelic degrees of glory and not of three heavens as degrees of glory in the resurrection.[34] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degrees_of_glory#cite_note-That_Old_Black_Magic.-34)
It's clear to me Smith derived his degrees of glory from Swedenborg. Making up words like Telestial from Celestial+Terrestial is a fabrication.