Fear: Given the truth that the soul will exist forever…where it will exist becomes a matter of great interest. While all the eternal kingdoms are described as kingdoms of glory (excepting of course Outer Darkness), assumably life there is preferable to life as a lonely intelligence. Sadly, it is also the case that the inhabitants of those kingdoms will retain, through infinity and beyond, the knowledge of their divine potential, their foreordained destiny, their valiance in the initial conflict which was later lost, overcome, surrendered to their enemy, in the 2nd estate.
That truly is a heavy burden, and the prospects of bearing it eternally, can motivate us with a powerful sense of dread. It is no wonder those who have tasted of it, like Alma the Younger, expressed the preference of becoming extinct. Yet we will always exist, and the burden will remain, and so that is an endstate to be avoided at all costs. What adds more to that already ponderous burden will be specific memories of our valiance, the tender associations we enjoyed with deity, juxtaposed to the reality that forever we must be separated from at least part of the godhead we loved.
Telestial inhabitants must be without God and Christ. Terrestrial ones may enjoy the ministrations of Jesus and the Holy Spirit but will be forever barred from the sweet association with Heavenly Parents in whose image they were created, and whose love, tenderness and nurturing they enjoyed for the length of the pre-mortal existence.
These unpleasant thoughts are sufficiently gruesome to motivate many with fear to avoid that fate. Of course, the destroyer will seek to convince the fearful that their fears are overdone, that no such consequences will follow their actions, and in so doing will bring to bear those very consequences upon them.
Reward: There are sufficient scriptural descriptions of Heaven, as a place of perfect peace, joy and love, as to motivate those seeking for just such rewards. In fact, the scriptures speak of such joy as exceeding and incomprehensible, and of a happiness that is never ending. It will be a place and state of being so glorious that both a Prophet and an Apostle declared; “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” One who saw that state described the impact it had on him with these powerful words; “and my soul did long to be there.”
Yet as flawed mortals who “see through the glass darkly” we must trust in the scriptural teachings that there truly await those heirs to that kingdom, a fullness of Joy, and a Happiness that will not end. Such truth informs one of the names the plan carries, “the Great Plan of Happiness.”
The joy of eternal life is not merely the happiness of having escaped the aforementioned woes, it is more, made even greater by the additional gift of all that the Father hath. There will be an unparalleled sense of fulfillment at having completed the mission, performed the labor, accessed Christ’s atonement, and done all that was required. There will be unspeakable joy in knowing the trial is over, increased with the realization that you have an eternal purpose far greater that sitting around singing throughout all time, a purpose bound up in the work and glory of our Heavenly Parents, a labor of love.
Love: The highest and holiest motivation for seeking eternal life, as it is in all other pursuits, is love. We seek to fulfill the desires of our Heavenly Parents because we love them, and seek to please them, desire to bring them joy. We seek to become spotless and pure, because we love Jesus, and want our lives to bring him joy. We desire to do whatever we can to ensure that his atonement and personal sacrifice were not carried out in vain, at least in our individual case.
Love also fills us with the great joy and anticipation of the privilege that will be ours to bless and save unnumbered intelligences, who wait in their lesser estates for someone to love them enough to lift them to a higher one. The joy that overcame Ammon, was based in such love. He cared so intently, that the work of saving souls was one he would never tire of, one he gloried in, boasted of. He exemplified the truth Joseph Smith taught; “A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”
So why could it not be the case with the exalted ones will yearn to range through the universes throughout all eternity, seeking to bless all life, every life. In that way, eternal life becomes a labor of love like no other. Witnessing countless intelligences, growing, progressing, learning, becoming……and all under the loving and tender care of exalted beings who have been there before. Of course, there will be those who fail, who use agency to choose a lesser path, yet as with missionary work in this sphere, we cannot stop the work nor allow disappointment, rejection, backsliding, to stop the work of salvation for those who truly seek to become like God.
As exalted beings we may identify with the boy in fiction who walked along a starfish strewn beach throwing some back into the sea. Only for us it will be the true action of exalting intelligences. Scoffers will look at the infinite numbers and apply the essential truths of the law of agency, then rightfully conclude that we cannot make a difference for all of them, to which with both love and deep joy we may respond, no, but I will make a difference to that one,…….. and that one,……… and that one…….∞
Our Heavenly Parent’s work and glory, motivated by rich love, is what brings them the fullness of joy, and so it shall be with all the exalted.