Right in the middle of JESUS' healing of the Roman centurion's servant is a seemingly harsh statement from our GOD.
King James Version Matthew 8: 11-12
But I say unto you that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It can appear from this statement that no Jew, or members of the kingdom of Judah, are going to make it to the kingdom that really counts. Except that is not what the SAVIOR said. Here is the corrected version courtesy of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 8
And I say unto you that many shall come from the East and from the West and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the wicked one shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There is one small change: the addition of the article "the" in the line "from the east and from the west." Makes the phrase more dignified and symmetrical, but it is not going to effect anyone's salvation.
There is one huge change: It is the children of the wicked one going to outer darkness and not the children of the kingdom. People who prefer satan to CHRIST get a ticket to outer darkness. People who love JESUS above all things get to enter Heaven.
So religion is not an absolute disqualification from Heaven. It is certainly still an obstacle. Why? Because too many individuals think their religion is going to save them. Of course only CHRIST can save.
There will be members of all religions in Heaven, even Mormons, but it will only be people who put JESUS above everything, especially their religion.
John Scott Peterson