Table of contents:
Who decides who will go to which kingdom? and what type of resurrected body they will have?. 2
How is the resurrection made possible?. 2
Where does the body go after death while it is awaiting its resurrection?. 2
What happens in the spirit world while one is awaiting their resurrection?. 2
What are the conditions of translated beings? And who has been “translated?”. 3
Will the resurrection be instantaneous during the millennium? At what age?. 3
Who will judge an individual for their resurrections? What criteria?. 3
Are all resurrected bodies the same? Are all raised to the same glory in the resurrection?. 3
Are all resurrected to a Kingdom of glory?. 3
Who administers the various Kingdoms of Glory?. 4
What types of people will be assigned to the various kingdoms?. 4
Once a person is assigned a kingdom, can they advance to a higher kingdom?. 4
When is The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust and who are included?. 4
When are the morning, afternoon and evening of the First resurrection and who are included?. 5
When are the First and the last Resurrections and who is included?. 5
What abilities and attributes will those with resurrected bodies have?. 5
In addition to mankind, will plants, animals, and even the earth itself be resurrected?. 5
Where will the “resurrected” earth be placed after it is “celestialized?. 5
What is the resurrection?
The Resurrection is the joining of the body and the spirit, never again to be separated. A resurrected person is no longer subject to disease nor death.
Who decides who will go to which kingdom? and what type of resurrected body they will have?
Jesus Christ is the Great Judge. (Alma 11:44)
God the Father delegated the keys of judgement to His Son, Jesus Christ. ref
What happens in the resurrection to those who are not capable of committing sin (little children, mentally diminished individuals)?
Little children who die before the age of accountability (age 8) and those with diminished capacities (age 8) ?? will automatically qualify for celestial resurrection and the celestial kingdom.
What happens to those who did not have the opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ while they lived on earth?
When an individual dies, their spirit departs from the body and goes to a world of spirits awaiting their resurrection. In that world, they have their freedom of choice and will have the opportunity to hear and accept the teachings of Jesus Christ.
How is the resurrection made possible?
Christ provided the opportunity for all to be resurrected (Alma 40:2-3; 1 Cor 15:21-23)
Where does the body go after death while it is awaiting its resurrection?
To the Spirit world.
What happens in the spirit world while one is awaiting their resurrection?
Brigham Young recounted, “Father Smith [Joseph Smith Sr.] and Carlos [Smith] and Brother [Edward] Partridge, yes, and every other good Saint, are just as busy in the spirit world as you and I are here. They can see us, but we cannot see them unless our eyes were opened. What are they doing there? They are preaching, preaching all the time, and preparing the way for us to hasten our work in building temples here and elsewhere.” (Ref: Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p 378).
Who will be resurrected?
All individuals who have ever lived or who will yet live on the earth will be resurrected. (see 1 Cor 15:22)
What are the conditions of translated beings? And who has been “translated?”
Some individuals are given a state of “translation” in which their bodies are not subject to death but will eventually be resurrected.
- Moses (1500 BC) did not die but was “carried into heaven.” He was translated and did not go to the spirit world but was eventually resurrected at the first coming of Christ.
- Elijah (850 BC), did not die but was “carried away in a whirlwind.” He was translated and eventually
- John the Revelator did not die (96 AD) but was translated and continues to minister to men on the earth. He appeared to Joseph Smith in 1929 and assisted Peter & James in the restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood
- The Three Nephites (abt 33 AD) continue to minister to men on the earth and will eventually be resurrected.
Will the resurrection be instantaneous during the millennium? At what age?
During the millennium, there will be no death as we know it. People will live in harmony. They will eat, drink and wear clothing as we do now. (Brigham Young, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 333) When people have lived to an old age, they will be changed from mortality to an immortal condition instantaneously (“in the twinkling of an eye,”). There will be both celestial and terrestrial resurrected beings on the earth at the same time.
What is the “age of a tree?”
The age of a tree is that age at which people “die” in the millennium, that is they are changed from mortality to immortality. It’s called the “age of a tree” and is defined as one hundred years old (D&C 63:50-51).
Who will judge an individual for their resurrections? What criteria?
At the time of a person’s resurrection, they will be judged according to their works and have a bright recollection of their guilt (Alma 11:41, 43)
Criteria
- works
- thoughts
- intents of heart
Are all resurrected bodies the same? Are all raised to the same glory in the resurrection?
No, they are resurrected with different bodies and abilities according to their righteousness. (1 Cor. 15:39-42; D&C 76)
Are all resurrected to a Kingdom of glory?
No, only the Celestial, Terrestrial and Telestial souls will be assigned to a Kingdom of Glory. Sons of Perdition are assigned to “outer darkness” which is a kingdom of glory
Are these kingdoms administered to by laws?
Yes, every one, for “unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.” (D&C 88:38)
Who administers the various Kingdoms of Glory?
Celestial is administered by God the Father
Terrestrial is administered by Jesus with assistance from Celestial beings
Telestial is administered by the Holy Ghost
What types of people will be assigned to the various kingdoms?
Celestial Kingdom (sun): Godly people who obey the principles and ordinances of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints either on the earth or in the spirit world; all children who die before the age of 8; those of a diminished capacity who are not accountable for their actions
Terrestrial Kingdom (moon): Goodly people who reject the teachings of Jesus Christ
Telestial Kingdom (stars): Malicious, evil, contemptable people
Sons of Perdition (not a glory): Avid followers of Satan including rebellious pre-mortal spirits who were cast out of heaven; and those who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him (D&C 76:43)
Once a person is assigned a kingdom, can they advance to a higher kingdom?
No, never “worlds without end.” (D&C 76:112). Numerous prophets have repeated this same understanding. For example, Spencer W Kimball said, ““No progression between kingdoms. After a person has been assigned to his place in the kingdom, either in the Telestial, the Terrestrial, or the Celestial, or to his exaltation, he will never advance from his assigned glory to another glory.” (Ref: Edward L. Kimball, ed., The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982), 50.)
Periods of resurrection
1- Christ was the first individual to be resurrected (33 AD). (Matt 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-48, 3 Nephi 11:10-17) and many other references) and is referred to as the “firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor 15:20)
2- Along with Christ, many graves were opened (33 AD) and celestial-bound souls were resurrected.
3- From that mass resurrection to modern days, only a few selected celestial souls have been resurrected and each with a specific mission to accomplish:
Peter and James (Christ’s original apostles) who ordained Joseph Smith to the Melchizedek Priesthood,
Moroni who appeared to Joseph Smith (22 times) and gave him instruction and assistance with the gold plates
4- There will be a mass resurrection of celestial souls when Christ returns to earth for his second coming
5- During the millennium, there will be both celestial and terrestrial souls resurrected, some of which may remain on the earth during that time period.
6- At the end of the millennium, there will be a mass resurrection of telestial souls
7- After all telestial souls are resurrected, the sons of perdition will receive their resurrection.
When is The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust and who are included?
The Just started with Christ himself. At his resurrection there was a large number of celestials also resurrected. Between his resurrection and his second coming there have been a few individuals resurrected (i.e. Moroni). At his second coming there will be another large group of celestials resurrected (D&C 88:97-8; 1 Thess. 14:6)). During the millennium, there will be both celestials and terrestrials resurrected (in the twinkling of an eye).
The Unjust is at the end of the millennium and includes Telestial (D&C 88:101) and Sons of Perdition (D&C 88:102).
When are the morning, afternoon and evening of the First resurrection and who are included?
- The morning: Those being resurrected with celestial bodies, whose destiny it is to inherit a celestial kingdom, will come forth in the morning of the first resurrection and caught up to meet the Lord at his Second Coming (Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p 640)
- The afternoon: The afternoon takes place after our Lord has ushered in the millennium. These individuals will have telestial bodies (Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p 640)
- The evening: xxx
When are the First and the last Resurrections and who is included?
The first commenced with Christ and goes through the completion of the millennium. The Last resurrection is that of unrepentant sinners (Rev 20:5-13) at the end of the millennium, the resurrection of the telestial (who didn’t repent of their sins throughout the millennium and have to answer to the law of justice for their deeds) and sons of perdition.
What abilities and attributes will those with resurrected bodies have?
We only have descriptions of those of a celestial resurrection, whose glory will be like the Sun. Those in the top degree of that kingdom will have the ability to create spiritual offspring.
Spencer W Kimball has said, “Each one of you has it within the realm of his possibility to develop a kingdom over which you will preside as its king and god. You will need to develop yourself and grow in ability and power and worthiness, to govern such a world with all of its people.”
Ref: … The Matter of Marriage” [address delivered at University of Utah Institute of Religion, 22 Oct. 1976], 2).
Have there been other earths that have already been resurrected?
Yes.
Bruce R McConkie has said, “Just as the creative and redemptive powers of Christ extend to the earth and all things thereon, as also to the infinite expanse of worlds in immensity, so the power of the resurrection is universal in scope. Man, the earth, and all life thereon will come forth in the resurrection. And the resurrection applies to and is going on in other worlds and other galaxies.”
(Ref: Mormon Doctrine, Bookcraft, 1966, pp. 65, 642.)
Are there individuals who have go one to their celestial glory prior to the end of our earth’s existence?
- Abraham “hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.” (D&C 132:29-30).
- Isaac and Jacob “they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.” (D&C 132:37
In addition to mankind, will plants, animals, and even the earth itself be resurrected?
Yes. Animals have spirits and will be resurrected (D&C 77).
The earth was “baptized” in the days of Noah, will be “confirmed” with burning at the second coming of Christ, and will be resurrected and be prepared for it’s celestial glory (D&C 88:17-20)
Where will the “resurrected” earth be placed after it is “celestialized?
The celestialized earth will “dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.” (D&C 76:62)
References
-Chapter 32: The Resurrection and the Judgement
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel/chapter-32?lang=eng&adobe_mc_ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofjesuschrist.org%2Fstudy%2Fmanual%2Fdoctrines-of-the-gospel%2Fchapter-32%3Flang%3Deng&adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D494237AA255B8C38-62A1129B29146EEA%7CMCORGID%3D66C5485451E56AAE0A490D45%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1642475253
