Smith taught that translated beings remain in the earthly kingdom until they are judged at the Last Judgment, after which they enter the celestial kingdom. [38] I think my point is that the requirements to enter certain realms are probably a bit more complicated than is usually said. Paul is referring to 1. Corinthians 15 on these degrees of glory when he writes: “There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; But the glory of the Celestial is one, and the glory of the earth is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differs from another star in glory. “In the earthly kingdom will go all those who are honorable and have lived a pure virtuous life, but who have not been willing to receive the gospel, but have repented in the spirit world and accepted it as far as it can be given to them. Many of them were blinded by tradition and love of the world and were not able to see the beauty of the gospel. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:287–88.) Elder Oaks recently said that in our official canon of doctrine, we actually know very little about the spirit world and the realms of glory. What we do know is that Heavenly Father is a God of love and kindness and wants us all to be as happy as possible.
Smith also taught that there are only varying degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom (D&C 131:1–4), just as there are varying degrees of glory in the telestial kingdom. He explained, “Just as one star differs from another star in glory, so one differs from another in the telestian world.” [46] In the telestial kingdom, the glory of each person will vary according to his works on earth. [47] Becoming perfect in Jesus Christ does not mean that we never make mistakes. It means repenting and trying to improve a little each day by relying on the Savior and the power of His Atonement to help us change. In doing so, His grace will allow us to advance to the highest level of the celestial kingdom, where we will live eternally with Him, our Heavenly Father, and our families. We will also receive all that Heavenly Father possesses. None of this would be possible without the Savior. So if you strive to follow the Savior and are still worried about reaching the celestial kingdom, all signs point to a resounding “Yes”! You can do it! This is what Heavenly Father wants for all of us! And as President Oaks taught, all of this is possible “because of God`s love for His children and because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, `who glorifies the Father and saves all the works of his hands` [Doctrine and Covenants 76:43].” 4 Worthy of the celestial kingdom is not accomplished by great action. It is the result of a steadfast decision to follow the Savior and rely on the hope and trust that comes from His gospel. 38 And whosoever receives my father receives my father; Therefore, all that my father has will be given to him. The celestial kingdom is a kingdom of radiant glory (see D&C 137:1–4).
“I think it`s very important for us as a people to know what we`re going to do. Are we satisfied with fighting for telestial fame? I have never heard a prayer, especially in the family circle, where the family does not beg God to give them heavenly glory. Telestic glory is not in their minds. Earthly glory may be suitable for honorable pagans who do not have enough faith to believe in the gospel and who do what is necessary to the best of their knowledge; But celestial glory is our goal – I shouldn`t say it is the goal, because sometimes it isn`t, but it`s hope. If an angel entered a family that had just prayed and asked God to lead them into the celestial kingdom and told them that their prayers were useless and that they would never attain celestial glory, what a feeling would arise in the bosoms of that family! How sad and oppressed they would feel! But as I said, while that`s the goal of many, they don`t claim it`s their true goal. Either they misunderstand what duties they must perform to obtain heavenly glory, or they are indeed very blind. The place of the celestial kingdom will be here on earth after the earth changes. His ultimate goal is to be glorified and exalted (Doctrine and Covenants 77:1–2; 130:8–9). The earth becomes an eternal inheritance of those who have lived worthy of celestial glory (Doctrine and Covenants 88:14–26). They shall enjoy the presence of the Father and the Son (D&C 76:62). “Those who died without knowing this gospel, who would have received it if they had been allowed to remain, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, everyone will be resurrected. After our resurrection, we will stand before the Lord to be judged according to our desires and actions.
Each of us will therefore receive an eternal dwelling place in a certain kingdom of glory. The Lord taught this principle when He said, “There are many dwellings in my father`s house” (John 14:2). Those who inherit the earthly kingdom “receive the presence of the Son, but not the fullness of the Father.” [37] [19] You can click here to learn more about the celestial kingdom. Some time ago, my sister had been very angry and said that she was very anxious to come to the celestial kingdom, because if no one wanted to marry her, she would not fulfill this requirement. At the time, I didn`t understand why she thought that, because I didn`t remember ever learning that. Today, however, at the end of the last paragraph, I read, “In other words, temple marriage is a prerequisite for attaining the highest degree of glory.” I continue with an experience I heard from an esteemed employee that I share with their permission. After the death of his beloved wife and the mother of his children, a father remarried. Some adult children vehemently opposed remarriage and sought counsel from a close relative who was a respected Church leader. After hearing the reasons for their objections, which were about conditions and relationships in the spirit world or in the realms of glory after the Last Judgment, this leader said, “You are preoccupied with bad things. You should worry about whether you will arrive at these places. Focus on that. When you get there, everything will be more wonderful than you can imagine.
What a comforting lesson! Trust in the Lord! Those who are in the celestial kingdom serve the inhabitants of the mortal kingdom (see D&C 76:86–87). “. When candidates walk through the door of repentance and baptism, they find themselves on the narrow and narrow path to the celestial kingdom. Through devotion and faithfulness, by persevering to the end in righteousness and obedience, it is then possible to gain a heavenly reward. (2 Nephi 31:17–21.) (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 116.) President Oaks taught that the Church is also there “to help all of God`s children understand their potential and reach their highest destiny. This Church exists to enable the sons and daughters of God to enter and exalt the celestial kingdom. 3 This is done through obedience to the ordinances and covenants of the gospel. Doctrine and Covenants 88 teaches that after a period of purification and purification, the earth will become the celestial kingdom. She is “sanctified by all iniquity, that she may be prepared for heavenly glory” and “crowned with glory, yes, with the presence of God the Father; May the bodies that are of the celestial kingdom possess it forever and ever. The apostle Paul spoke in 1. Corinthians 15:40–42 of the three kingdoms of heaven. The plan of salvation, as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, states that heaven is divided into three distinct kingdoms of glory (each containing “many mansions”).
Latter-day Saints call these celestial realms the “three degrees of glory”: the celestial, the earth kingdom, and the telestial kingdom. In these kingdoms, all men and women, except the sons of perdition who will go into outer darkness (see also hell), will go after being judged and resurrected by God (their spirits are reunited with their then immortal bodies). To enter a kingdom, one must be worthy and keep God`s commandments and ordinances He has prescribed. Since God is the ultimate judge, all men will be judged fairly and will receive the kingdom in which they will be happiest and most comfortable. The Doctrine and Covenants describes that men and women are “sent in their place to enjoy what they are willing to receive” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:32). Many people are sent to the lower realms “because they were not willing to enjoy what they could have received” (D&C 88:32), exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Nevertheless, the three kingdoms are kingdoms of glory, and even the lowest is more glorious than man can now comprehend. A urim and tummim is an instrument provided by God to help a person receive revelation. Not only will the earth itself become a urim and tummim after being purified, but those in the celestial kingdom will receive their own personal urim and tummim.
