Revelation 6

As the Savior opens the six seals or thousand year periods, we read of the opening of the fifth seal -

"...I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."  (Revelation 6:9–11)

It seems to me, those faithful saints were persecuted and killed in the opening days of the Savior's Church qualified for exaltation, it also seems there would be the same in the latter days with the restoration of the Church.