THE PLAN OF SALVATION
WHERE DO WE GO AFTER THIS LIFE
IS OVER?
The gift of the resurrection will come to all men
because of the death and resurrection of Christ.
An important part of the Lord’s plan for our eternal progression is
that each of us must die. (1) I have heard it said that if no
one died this earth would be a "mighty crowded place". The importance
of death (2) was expressed by the apostle Paul in the New Testament.
He taught that our bodies are imperfect and subject to weakness and disease.
Death is part of the process by which our bodies become perfected.
WHERE WILL I GO AFTER THIS LIFE?
From an earthly perspective, physical death may seem like an end, but really it
is a beginning, a step forward in our Heavenly Father's plan. At death,
your spirit will leave your body and go to the spirit world, which is a place of
learning and preparation. In the spirit world, your memories of this life
will remain with you.
At death your spirit leaves your body and
goes to the spirit world, a place of preparation, learning, and resting from
care and sorrow.
Death will not change your
personality or your desire for good or evil. If you choose to follow
Christ during your life on earth, you will be at peace in the spirit world and
will rest from your cares. Those who choose not to follow Jesus Christ and
do not repent will be unhappy.
After death, which is the separation of the spirit from the body, our
mortal bodies of flesh and bones will be placed in the grave. But,
our spirits, which can never die, will go to a place called the spirit
world to prepare for the resurrection.
RESURRECTION AND JUDGMENT
One
of the great gifts of God to all who come to earth is the resurrection, which is
made possible by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the
cross, His spirit went to the spirit world. Three days later, His spirit
was reunited with His glorified, perfected body that could no longer die.
This reuniting of body and spirit is called resurrection. Everyone who is
born on earth will be resurrected.
The scriptures teach that all men will be resurrected.
21. For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the
dead.
22. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
In other words, all mankind must die, and all mankind will be resurrected.
(3)
This is the greatest news any individual could learn, that both death and the resurrection are universal!
(4)
The prophet Amulek
(5) said,
43.
"The Spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both
limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this
time; and we shall be brought to stand before God,
knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.
44. "Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and
young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the
righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost;
but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame."
Alma 11:43-44
This blessing of the resurrection will come to all mankind because of
the death and resurrection of Christ.(6) The resurrection is
His gift (7) to all mankind.(8)
The resurrection is the union of the spirit with the immortal body. After
the resurrection we will not die; our physical body and our spirit will be
inseparably joined for eternity. We will live forever! The fact that we all
will be resurrected, however, does not mean that we all will return to
the kingdom of heaven.(9) If we fail to keep the Lord’s commandments,
we will not be permitted to live with Him.(10) Christ taught
that we will go to different places (11) after the resurrection,
(12)
depending on how well we have kept his commandments.
28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.
29. And shall come forth; they that have done good,
unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28,29)
Some might wonder, "what about the wicked people,
where will they go?" The answer is discussed in the next topic...
WHERE DO WE GO AFTER WE ARE RESURRECTED?
We will all be resurrected to varying degrees of glory,
depending on our individual faith
and obedience to the Lord’s commandments.
After you are resurrected, you will go before God to be judged according to your
works and the desires of your heart.
As we keep the commandments of God, we will be rewarded
(13) according
to our faith and obedience. Our rewards will be different (14) according to the differences in our obedience to those commandments.
A great blessing would be living together forever as a family in joy and
peace.(15)
THE DEGREES OF GLORY
After you
are judged, you will live in a state of glory. Because everyone's works
and desires vary, heaven included different kingdoms, or degrees of glory.
(9)
Celestial kingdom. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reside in
the celestial kingdom. If you live according to the gospel of Jesus Christ
and are cleansed from sin by the Atonement, you will receive a place in this,
the highest kingdom. You will live in God's presence and know complete
joy.
Terrestrial kingdom. People who refuse to accept the gospel of
Jesus Christ but who live honorable lives will receive a place in the
terrestrial kingdom.
Telestial kingdom. Those who continue in their sins and do not
repent will receive a place in the telestial kingdom.
|
I am a child of God,
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I'll live with Him once more. |
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday. (13) |
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