He confirmed that those in paradise were baptized and faithful members of the Church from Old Testament times by referring to them as “saints” and describing them as being “faithful in the testimony of Jesus,” performing priesthood ordinances like animal sacrifice, and having been persecuted for taking upon themselves “their Redeemer’s name” presumably through baptism (D&C 138:12-13). In it, he saw that there were “an innumerable company of the spirits of the just” in paradise and that they “were gathered together in one place” separate from those in spirit prison (D&C 138:12, 20-23). Smith learned much about paradise in his remarkable vision (D&C 138). 111, see also Doctrines of Salvation 2:230). Because the term “righteous” can sometimes be used in a vague way, Church teachings have clarified that paradise is “reserved for those who have been baptized and who have remained faithful” (Paradise, True to the Faith p. Baptized and faithful members of the Church rest in paradise knowing they will be saved in the celestial kingdom.Īlma explained that “the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness which is called paradise … where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care and sorrow” (Alma 40:12). In fact, President Brigham Young taught the spirit world “is on this earth” (Discourses of Brigham Young p. Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us” (Ensign, June 1971). President Ezra Taft Benson explained, “Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. Although there is a veil between us and them, they are still aware of us just as we are still aware of them. As the Prophet Joseph Smith explained, “the spirits of the just … are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions, and are often pained therewith” (Teachings, p. The doctrine of “same spirit” (Alma 34:34) also implies that our loved ones continue to care about and pray for us in the spirit world. Although people can still change in the spirit world, we would expect that change of heart to take some time there, just as it does here. As a result, we should not assume that everyone automatically and immediately decides to repent and join the Church after they die. ![]() Although we lose our bodies, nothing fundamentally changes about who we are when we die. It is a transition into a new life as a spirit. When we understand this doctrine, it becomes clear that death is merely a doorway. Because we continue with the “same spirit” we can be confident that we maintain the same character, the same attitudes, and the same beliefs when we pass on to the next life. He taught that “when ye are brought to that awful crisis … that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in the eternal world” (Alma 34:34). The Book of Mormon prophet Amulek explained an important principle that responds to many of these types of questions. Some wonder if our loved ones still think about us in the spirit world or if they have drastically changed their attitudes about the Church now that they have died. We continue our lives in the spirit world with the same spirit, attitudes, and beliefs that we had in mortality. Smith, who was privileged to see the spirit world in vision, described it saying, “I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great … in the great world of the spirits of the dead” (D&C 138:11, 57). As a result, premortal spirits who have not yet been born and angels who have already been resurrected are not in the spirit world. This means that the only way into the spirit world is death and the only way out is through the resurrection. Apparently, Alma is using the phrase “taken home” in a loose sense to describe our return to a spirit existence.Īs Alma explained, the spirit world is a place of waiting “between death and the resurrection” (Alma 40:11). Cannon confirmed this by explaining that Alma “does not intend to convey the idea that are immediately ushered into the personal presence of God” (President George Q. However, Alma later clarifies that it is not until the resurrection that we are “brought to stand before God and be judged” (Alma 40:21). The phrase “taken home to … God” sometimes causes confusion and has led some to assume that we see God and are judged when we die. ![]() In other words, they are taken to the spirit world. And now, concerning this space of time … Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life” (Alma 40:9,11). The Book of Mormon prophet Alma explained, “there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection.
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