Progression of Covenants

The covenant progression of Zion is divided into two great stages: Salvation and Exaltation. Salvation concerns the individual's covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and preparation to return to the presence of God. Exaltation builds upon salvation and concerns eternal marriage, family, priesthood stewardship, and receiving the fullness of glory of the Father with Jesus Christ.

For children raised in Zion, the ages listed below identify the earliest ordinary stages of progression. Age alone does not establish readiness or grant access to an ordinance, covenant, authority, or stewardship. Adults who enter the Kingdom of Zion later in life follow the same progression according to their preparation and circumstances.

Salvation

Eight Years Old — Baptism and Confirmation: The person becomes accountable before God, makes covenants with Jesus Christ, becomes a member of the Kingdom of Zion, and receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Sixteen Years Old — Initiatory and Endowment: The person makes the final salvation covenants required to dwell with God in the celestial kingdom, receives priesthood rights and powers, spiritual gifts, and is prepared for the necessary requirements the Lord has set to enter into His glory for all eternity.

Eighteen Years Old — Full Adult Stewardship

For those raised in Zion from childhood, eighteen years old marks the transition into full adult spiritual and temporal responsibility and stewardship. At this point, the parents' governing responsibility over the child ends, and the adult governs himself or herself and answers directly to the Lord for personal conduct, obedience, covenants, and temporal responsibilities.

Parents remain parents and may continue to love, counsel, teach, warn, support, and bless their adult children, but they are no longer responsible or accountable before God for governing the choices those adult children make.

Exaltation

Civil Marriage and Couple Sealing: A man and woman first enter lawful civil marriage and, when worthy and prepared through the salvation ordinances, may have that marriage sealed for eternity, establishing their permanent Household Kingdom.
Alliance Sealing: When personally called by Jesus Christ, the husband and wife couple may receive the Alliance Sealing, through which they receive the promised blessing of being a King and Queen within their Household Kingdom, receive limited but direct household priesthood jurisdiction and authorization under Christ, and are joined through a sealing ordinance to all Household Kingdoms within their generation to build Zion.
Sealing to Christ at the Second Coming: When the Savior comes, each generational head will be sealed to Jesus Christ, connecting and completing the covenant relationship begun when they first took His name upon themselves and receiving their place within the eternal generational family under Jesus Christ, their King of kings, and Lord of lords.

The sections that follow explain the requirements, covenants, responsibilities, authority, and interview questions belonging to each stage.