Lesson Highlights

• The kingdoms of glory and the testimony of Jesus.
• Perdition.
• The telestial kingdom.
• The terrestrial kingdom.
• The celestial kingdom.

A study of this lesson will help us carefully consider the eternal inheritances in the three kingdoms of glory and encourage us to live in such a way that we will be able to inherit celestial glory and dwell in Heavenly Father’s presence with our families.

Scripture references for study:  D&C 76; 131; 132:19–24; 137
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 20 Handout (PDF format)

Life After Death

1. Throughout the world there are a variety of beliefs regarding the ultimate destiny of man following the death of the physical body. Below are a few statements regarding beliefs on the afterlife. These are not comprehensive, but provide a flavor of the diversity of belief on this vital doctrine.
• Hindu:  "A distinctive feature of Hinduism is belief in the transmigration of souls, or reincarnation. Associated with this belief is the conviction that all living things are part of the same essence. Individuals pass through cycles of birth and death. This means that an individual soul may return many times in human, animal, or even vegetable form. What a person does in the present life will affect the next life. This is the doctrine of karman, the law of cause and effect. The goal of the individual is to escape this cycle, or wheel of birth and rebirth, so that the individual soul, Atman, may eventually become part of the absolute soul, or Brahman." (Compton's Complete Reference Collection, 1998 Edition)
• Buddhism:  "To the follower of the Buddha, life goes on and on in many reincarnations or rebirths. This wheel of rebirth, known as samsara, condemns the individual to the suffering of being alive and striving. Life's goal, according to the Buddha, is to escape from this cycle of rebirth, to stop being born as a suffering individual with selfish cravings and passions. This release is called Nirvana, the highest bliss, the end of the self." (Compton's Complete Reference Collection, 1998 Edition)
• Islam teaches:
• A "belief in Hell where unbelievers and sinners spend eternity. One translation of the Qur'an 98:1-8 states: 'The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn for ever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures.' 'People of the Book' refers to Christians, Jews and Muslims."
• "Muslims who sincerely repent and submit to God return to a state of sinlessness."
• A "belief in Paradise, a place of physical and spiritual pleasure where the sinless go after death." (Religious Tolerance.org - website)
• Judism:  "Traditional Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence. However, because Judaism is primarily focused on life here and now rather than on the afterlife, Judaism does not have much dogma about the afterlife, and leaves a great deal of room for personal opinion. It is possible for an Orthodox Jew to believe that the souls of the righteous dead go to a place similar to the Christian heaven, or that they are reincarnated through many lifetimes, or that they simply wait until the coming of the messiah, when they will be resurrected. Likewise, Orthodox Jews can believe that the souls of the wicked are tormented by demons of their own creation, or that wicked souls are simply destroyed at death, ceasing to exist....

    "The place of spiritual reward for the righteous is often referred to in Hebrew as Gan Eden (GAHN ehy-DEHN) (the Garden of Eden). This is not the same place where Adam and Eve were; it is a place of spiritual perfection. Specific descriptions of it vary widely from one source to another. One source says that the peace that one feels when one experiences Shabbat properly is merely one-sixtieth of the pleasure of the afterlife. Other sources compare the bliss of the afterlife to the joy of sex or the warmth of a sunny day. Ultimately, though, the living can no more understand the nature of this place than the blind can understand color." (Judaism 101- website)
• Christianity in general:  As members of the Church, we are generally familiar with the teachings of other Christian faiths regarding life after death.  Elder LeGrand Richards made the following statement: "One of the greatest errors in the teachings of the Christian religions is the doctrine of one heaven and one hell, so that all who go to heaven share and share alike, and all who fail to go to heaven are sent to hell where they share and share alike.

    "This thought has led many to feel that while their lives may not be all they should be, they are as good as, or better than, the average. Thus they feel that all will be well with them. If this doctrine be true, it is obvious that a line would have to be drawn somewhere, and the closer one came to the line the less would be the difference or distinction between those who would cross the line and enter heaven and those who would not quite qualify, and therefore would be sent to hell. Such a doctrine does not have the motivating and stimulating power to impel or encourage men to do the best they can, but rather to satisfy themselves by doing as well as the average man. Such a doctrine places no value on anything more than average devotion and obedience to the commandments of the Lord, or the development of one's talents and their useful devotion to his service." (A Marvelous Work & A Wonder, p253)
2. As discussed in Lesson 19, we are incredibly blessed in our day to have modern revelation from God about the eternal nature of man and about our eternal possibilities and destiny. The thoughts above represent major religious philosophies believed by literally billions of people throughout the world. What a humbling thing to realize that amongst these billions, we have been so blessed to gain a testimony of the plan of salvation. Such a realization should compel us to share our testimony with those we come in contact with.
3. In Lesson 19 we primarily discussed our life before mortality, mortality and its purposes, and the nature of the soul between death and resurrection. In this lesson we will focus on our ultimate destiny as sons and daughters of God.

A Vision of the Kingdoms of Glory

1. Section 76, the revelation on the kingdoms of glory, is one of the most important latter-day revelations regarding the eternal destiny of man. This revelation has provided us with information that helps us better understand our destiny as eternal beings and gives added insight and meaning to our earthly existence.
2. Section 76 was not revealed until February 1832, almost two years of the Church was organized. The Book of Mormon provided additional insight into life after death, but not did expound on the wide scope of eternal life as revealed in Section 76.
• Those that keep the commandments will be received into heaven and dwell with God in never ending happiness (Mosiah 2:41).
• The great pit (hell) is for those led away by the devil (1 Nephi 14:3)
• Men to be judged by their works and to be resurrected to everlasting life or eternal damnation (3 Nephi 26:4-5).
• It is by grace that we are saved after all that we can do (2 Nephi 25:23).
• Alma gives a discourse on the state of the soul between death and the resurrection. Men to be received into paradise or outer darkness (spirit prison). This is a state of happiness or misery where the souls of men dwell until the final judgment (Alma 40).
• Mormon teaches that little children do not need baptism, but are made alive in Christ (Moroni 8).
3. Historical Background:
• A conference was held in Amherst, Ohio on January 25, 1832. At this conference the Prophet was sustained as President of the High Priesthood.
• After returning from the conference Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon continued the retranslation of the Bible. At this time the Prophet was living in the home of John Johnson, about 30 miles southeast of Kirtland. The Prophet wrote: "From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term 'Heaven,' as intended for the Saints' eternal home must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating St. John's Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision." (HC 1:245)
• An account of this revelation as recorded by Philo Dibble:
• "The vision which is recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants was given at the house of 'Father Johnson,' in Hyrum [sic], Ohio, and during the time that Joseph and Sidney were in the spirit and saw the heavens open, there were other men in the room, perhaps twelve, among whom I was one during a part of the time-probably two-thirds of the time, -I saw the glory and felt the power, but did not see the vision.

    "The events and conversation, while they were seeing what is written (and many things were seen and related that are not written,) I will relate as minutely as is necessary.
    "Joseph would, at intervals, say: 'What do I see?' as one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, 'I see the same.' Presently Sidney would say 'what do I see?' and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, 'I see the same.'
    "This manner of conversation was repeated at short intervals to the end of the vision, and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision.
    "Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, 'Sidney is not used to it as I am'." (quoted in Studies In Scripture, 1:280)
• President Joseph Fielding Smith: "Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants in its sublimity and clearness in relation to the eternal destiny of the human family, has not been surpassed. It should be treasured by all members of the Church as a priceless heritage. It should strengthen their faith and be to them an incentive to seek the exaltation promised to all who are just and true. So plain and simple are its teachings that none should stumble or misunderstand." (Church History & Modern Revelation, 2:50)
4. "For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.  Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations." (D&C 76:5-8)
• The Lord has promised great wisdom and knowledge to those who serve him. Section 76 is only a peek at what we can receive if we are faithful and true to every commandment. Elder Orson Pratt:  "We can only go about so far with our natural sight; but there is a faculty in every man and woman which is now sleeping in a dormant state; and as soon as it is touched by the Spirit of the Lord, we shall be enabled to see a new world of things as it were, mysteries will be opened up, and we will perceive naturally as if they were written, and in this way we shall be able to learn very rapidly indeed. If we want a knowledge of this world or of ourselves, when our spirits were born, or if we desire to know things that took place before the foundations of the world were laid or the nucleus was formed, when the sons of God shouted for joy, if we desired to know these things it would only be necessary for the Spirit of the Lord to touch the vision of our minds and light up our understanding, and we could gaze upon things past for thousands of generations of worlds before the earth was made, and we could see the succession of worlds that have been and were in existence long before this earth was formed; we could see the ordeals through which they had passed, see them brought into existence and passing through their several changes and finally become glorified celestial mansions in the presence of God." (JD, 19:178)
• Joseph Smith stated in May 1843 regarding this revelation: "I could explain a hundred fold more that I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them." (TPJS, p304)
• Without question, there is much yet to be learned when we are spiritually prepared. Section 76 is like the windows on a great department store. The windows give us just a hint of what is inside the store. Likewise, Section 76 gives us just a peek into the grand eternal plan
5. According to Section 76, Joseph and Sidney had been working on the inspired retranslation of the Bible, in particular John 5:29, where it talks about the resurrection.
• "And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about. And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness; And saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D&C 76:19-24)
• To know that God lives, that we are his children, and to know that the Son of God has fulfilled his mission, gives us a comforting assurance about our eternal nature and destiny. This knowledge motivates us to live worthwhile lives, to keep the commandments, and to serve God with all our might, mind, and strength.

Perdition

1. READ D&C 76:25-29. Vision of Lucifer, son of the morning.
• The heavens wept. Here was a son of great promise who allowed pride to rule. As we know, he convinced a third of the hosts of heaven to follow him (v26).
• "Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about"
(v29)
• WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS VERSE?
• Joseph Smith: "The devil will use his greatest efforts to trap the Saints." (TPJS, p161)
• The Prophet told Heber C. Kimball: "The nearer a person approaches the Lord, a greater power will be manifest by the adversary to prevent the accomplishment of His purposes." (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p131)
2. READ D&C 76:30-38. Vision of the sons of perdition.
• HOW DOES ONE BECOME A SON OF PERDITION?
• Know God's power (v31).
• Have been made partakers thereof (of his power) (v31).
• Have suffered themselves to be overcome (v31).
• Deny the truth (v31).
• Defy God's power (v31).
• Deny the Holy Spirit after having received it (v35).
• Deny the Only Begotten Son (crucify him unto themselves) (v35).
• Joseph Smith: "What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins be an enemy. This is the case with many apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." (TPJS, p358)
• President Spencer W. Kimball: "The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p23)
3. READ D&C 76:44-49. Extent of the suffering of the sons of perdition.
• The end and torment of suffering will only be revealed to those who "are made partakers thereof" (v45-46).
• Joseph Smith: "...their state of destiny was not revealed to man, is not revealed, nor ever shall be revealed, save to those who are made partakers thereof." (HC, 1:355)

The Telestial Kingdom

1. READ D&C 76:81-89, 98-112. Description of those who reside in the telestial glory.
• The term telestial is a uniquely Latter-day Saint term and only appears in Sections 76 and 88. Webster's 3rd New International Dictionary defines "telestial glory" as "the lowest of three Mormon degrees or kingdoms of glory attainable in heaven."
• WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE TELESTIAL KINGDOM?
• Received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus (v82)
• They who deny not the Holy Spirit (v83)
• They who say they are some of one, and some of another--some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses--but received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant (v99-101)
• They who are liars and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie (v103)
2. "And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding" (v89).
• This is a great reward for those who attain this degree of glory, though it is far from what they might have attained.
• President Charles W. Penrose:  "The punishment inflicted will be adequate to the wrongs performed. In one sense the sinner will always suffer its effects. When the debt is paid and justice is satisfied; when obedience is learned through the lessons of sad experience; when the grateful and subdued soul comes forth from the everlasting punishment, thoroughly willing to comply with the laws once rejected; there will be an abiding sense of loss. The fullness of celestial glory in the presence and society of God and the Lamb are beyond the reach of that saved but not perfected soul, forever. The power of increase, wherein are dominion and exaltation and crowns of immeasurable glory, is not for the class of beings who have been thrust down to hell and endured the wrath of God for the period allotted by eternal judgment. . . .

    "Those who were cast down to the depths of their sins, who rejected the gospel of Jesus, who persecuted the Saints, who reveled in iniquity, who committed all manner of transgressions except the unpardonable crime, will also come forth in the Lord's time, through the blood of the Lamb and the ministry of His disciples and their own repentance and willing acceptance of divine law, and enter into the various degrees of glory and power and progress and light, according to their different capacities and adaptabilities. They cannot go up into the society of the Father nor receive of the presence of the Son, but will have ministrations of messengers from the terrestrial world, and have joy beyond all expectations and the conception of uninspired mortal minds. They will all bow the knee to Christ and serve God the Father, and have an eternity of usefulness and happiness in harmony with the higher powers. They receive the telestial glory." (quoted in Studies in Scripture, 1:293-294)
• Unfortunately, the inhabitants of this kingdom will be "as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore" (v109).

The Terrestrial Kingdom

1. READ D&C 76:71-80. Those who inherit the Terrestrial glory.
• WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE TERRESTRIAL KINGDOM?
• Those who died without the law.
• The spirits of men kept in prison, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it (v73-74).
• Honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men (v75).
• Those who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus (v79).
• Elder Melvin J. Ballard: "Now those who died without law, meaning the pagan nations, for lack of faithfulness, for lack of devotion in the former life, are obtaining what they are entitled to. I don't mean to say that all of them will be barred from entrance into the highest glory. Any one of them who repents and complies with the conditions might also obtain celestial glory, but the great bulk of them will only obtain terrestrial glory." (Sermons of Melvin J. Ballard, p251)
• "These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God" (v79).
• President Ezra Taft Benson:  "...not to be valiant in one's testimony is a tragedy of eternal consequence. These are members who know this latter-day work is true, but who fail to endure to the end. Some may even hold temple recommends, but do not magnify their callings in the Church. Without valor, they do not take an affirmative stand for the kingdom of God. Some seek the praise, adulation, and honors of men; others attempt to conceal their sins; and a few criticize those who preside over them." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p392-393)
• A solemn warning to the Saints.

The Celestial Kingdom

1. READ D&C 76:50-53. Those who come forth in the resurrection of the just.
• WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE CELESTIAL GLORY?
• A testimony of Jesus (v51).
• Belief (v51).
• Receive the Holy Ghost (v52).
• Keeping the commandments (v52).
• Overcome by faith - whatever obstacles or trials may be encountered (v53).
• Sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise (v53).
• Elder Bruce R. McConkie:  "The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Spirit promised the saints, or in other words the Holy Ghost. This name-title is used in connection with the sealing and ratifying power of the Holy Ghost, that is, the power given him to ratify and approve the righteous acts of men so that those acts will be binding on earth and in heaven. 'All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations,' must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, if they are to have 'efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead' (D&C 132:7).

    "To seal is to ratify, to justify, or to approve. Thus an act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is one which is ratified by the Holy Ghost; it is one which is approved by the Lord; and the person who has taken the obligation upon himself is justified by the Spirit in the thing he has done. The ratifying seal of approval is put upon an act only if those entering the contract are worthy as a result of personal righteousness to receive the divine approbation. They 'are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true' (D&C 76:53). If they are not just and true and worthy, the ratifying seal is withheld." (Mormon Doctrine, pp361-362)
2. READ D&C 76:54-70. Description of the inheritors of this Kingdom.
•  These are they that shall overcome all things (v60).
3. READ D&C 76:92-96. The Celestial Kingdom.
• "And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion" (v95).
• President Joseph Fielding Smith: "To be 'made equal in power, and in might, and in dominion,' does not mean that all shall advance with equal rapidity and perfection, but that means are given to them as sons of God by which they may obtain this fulness." (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2:58)
• Joseph Smith:  "When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave." (TPJS, p348)
• Elder Orson Pratt:  "The earth will have to pass away the same as our bodies do, and the dust thereof be mingled in a chaotic form. But that same being who organized the earth will again speak, and eternity will again hear his voice, and the materials of our earth will come together again, and when it unites them in one, and forms them into a world, it will be a glorious world, a habitation for immortal beings; for kings and for priests, and for those that have been faithful to the end." (JD, 20:155)
4. "In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase." (D&C 131:1-4)
• This subsequent revelation on the celestial kingdom was given to the Prophet in 1843 at Ramus, Illinois.
• Joseph Smith:  "Except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity, while in this probation, by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood, they will cease to increase when they die; that is, they will not have any children after the resurrection." (HC, 5:391)
• Elder Melvin J. Ballard: "What do we mean by endless or eternal increase? We mean that through the righteousness and faithfulness of men and women who keep the commandments of God they will come forth with celestial bodies, fitted and prepared to enter into their great, high and eternal glory in the celestial kingdom of God; and unto them, through their preparation, there will come children, who will be spirit children." (Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, 1949, pp239-40)
5. President Joseph Fielding Smith:  "Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants … should be treasured by all members of the Church as a priceless  heritage. It should strengthen their faith and be to them an incentive to seek the exaltation promised to all who are just and true" (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:279).
• As we look at the different religious beliefs throughout the world, how grateful we should be that we have been blessed with modern revelation that tells us so much more about the world to come, thus giving us purpose and meaning in life.
   

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on the vision of our afterlife as recorded in D&C 76. How does this knowledge affect your daily life? What can you change to better prepare you for celestial glory?

Resources Used In This Lesson

• A Marvelous Work & A Wonder by LeGrand Richards.
• Church History & Modern Revelation by Joseph Fielding Smith.
• Compton's Complete Reference Collection, 1998 Edition, on CD-ROM.
• History of the Church (HC).
• Journal of Discourses (JD).
• Judaism 101- website.
• Life of Heber C. Kimball by Orson F. Whitney.
• Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie.
• Religious Tolerance.org - website.
• Sermons of Melvin J. Ballard.
• Studies In Scripture, Volume 1, edited by Robert L. Millet and Kent P. Jackson.
• Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.
• Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball.
• Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS).

Next Lesson

Lesson 21:  D&C 29:9–29; 34:5–12; 45:16–75; 88:86–99; 101:22–34; 133