ABSTRACT
Exaltation, as the foundational Mormon process of salvation, operates a grammar of theological discourse that differs from that of most mainstream Christian groups. Mormonism achieved success by developing a scheme of ‘degrees of glory’ in the post-mortem world that highlights the general notion of reciprocity by which each person gains an achieved award. In Mormonism’s ritual history, force is the product both of human achievement in relation to formal covenant promises and of divine blessing given to the faithful. Individual achievement couples with the ritual necessity of marriage to ensure exaltation. The strength of the temple as a focus of veracity and validation of faith can be assessed by the extent to which it is bounded and protected from malign influence or harm. Mormons speak of ‘temple-work’ and of ‘doing temple-work’ both for themselves and for family members, whether dead or alive.
