We have cultural belief that we are all literal offspring of our Father in heaven and because of that we have the divine potential to become as he is. This is true to a degree, however the scriptures teach us of what it takes to truly become His sons and daughters in a covenental sense so as to have the power through the grace of Christ to lay hold of these blessings. This is what is meant by becoming members of the Church of the Firstborn, which is an association not left to men on earth to corrupt or add burdens unto or to take away from. This is an heavenly association to which we are initiated to become members of in holy, set apart places here on earth. This initiation or initiatory ceremony is a “dry run” or a practice of sorts, given with the caveat that it is according to our own faith and diligence if we ever attain the real thing. There are no inherent promises made in these ceremonial invitations. The conditions for this membership are not controlled by men on earth. Nephi testifies:
O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, andthe keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; andhe employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. (2 Nephi 9:41)
Here are a few scriptures from many sources that provide a key as to how we may become sons and heirs, daughters and heiresses of the Father just as Christ is. We first become sons and daughters of Christ and then He makes it possible to become sons and daughters of the Father.
10 And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord–I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed? (Mosiah 15, Book of Mormon)
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ. (Mosiah 5)
There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. (4 Nephi 1:17, Book of Mormon)
Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. (Ether 3:14, Book of Mormon)
But to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will receive me, power to become my sons. (D&C 39:1-4)
And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 27:25-6, Book of Mormon)
But verily, verily, I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name. Amen. (D&C 11:30)
And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. (Moroni 7:2, Book of Mormon)
1 My son . . . , hearken and hear and behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer;
2 The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;
3 Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son; (D&C 34:1-3)
I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal life. (D&C 45:8)
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given–
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (D&C 76)
And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? (Moses 1:13)
And it came to pass that Enoch continued his speech, saying: Behold, our father Adam taught these things, and many have believed and become the sons of God, and many have believed not, and have perished in their sins, and are looking forth with fear, in torment, for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God to be poured out upon them.
(Moses 7:1, Pearl of Great Price)
And Noah and his sons hearkened unto the Lord, and gave heed, and they were called the sons of God. (Moses 8:13)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12, KJV)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(Romans 8:14)
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Phillipians 2:15, KJV)
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3, KJV)
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6, KJV)
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7, KJV)
So from these verses it is apparent that becoming a son or daughter of God is something attained and promised us after some kind of effort on our part. To lay hold of the promises and the blessings that God has for us requires diligence and faith. It is to be born again and begotten of the father by being begotten unto Christ. Just being born onto this earth doesn’t qualify us as sons and daughters of God. Being a son of God is covenental language and is a covenental relationship. It requires repentance in the true sense of what that word means; to turn around, to change our minds, our hearts and our very souls towards Christ and to receive from him what he in his loving mercy is willing to give us; which is to become sons and daughters so as to be legitimate heirs of the Father.