slhw4@cc.usu.edu (Jason Hunsaker) (04/06/91)
Number 2 of 2 postings (The following is from the student manual "Doctrines of the Gospel" for Religion 231 and 232 prepared by the Church Educational System and published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the sake of brevity, I have omitted the Introduction, and the Supporting Statements.) Chapter 33 (pp.90) Kingdoms of Glory and Perdition Doctrinal Outline A. There are three kingdoms, of degrees, of glory, which are compared to the sun, the moon, and the stars. See 1 Corinthians 15:40-42; Doctrine and Covenants 76:96-98. B. The Lord has prescribed requirements for eternal life in the celestial kingdom. 1. We must receive the testimony of Jesus, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and keep the commandments (see D&C 76:51-52). 2. We must overcome all things by faith and be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (see D&C 76:53, 60). 3. We must comply with the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (see D&C 131:1-3). C. Great opportunities and rewards have been promised to those who inherit the celestial kingdom. 1. The celestial kingdom is a kingdom of resplendent glory (see D&C 137:1-4). 2. Faithful members of the Church will come forth in the morning of the first resurrection and receive a glorified, celestial body (see D&C 76:64-65; 88:28-29). 3. Those who inherit the celestial kingdom will dwell in the presence of God and Christ forever (see D&C 76:62). 4. Those in the celestial kingdom will minister to the inhabitants of the terrestrial kingdom (see D&C 76:86-87). 5. Those who inherit exaltation, the highest degree in the celestial kingdom, will become kings and priests unto God and members of the Church of the Firstborn (see D&C 76:54-57). 6. Through the Atonement and their own faithfulness, those who obtain exaltation become gods (see D&C 76:58; 132:19-20). 7. Exalted beings receive all things that the Father has (see D&C 76:55, 59; 89:38). D. The Lord has described those who will inherit the terrestrial kingdom. 1. Those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom are described as honorable people who, either in this world or in the spirit world, receive the testimony of Jesus but are not valiant in that testimony (see D&C 76:71-79). 2. Among those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom will be people who died without the law, spirits kept in prison, and some members of the Church who were not sufficiently valiant (see D&C 76:72-75, 79). 3. Those who rejected the prophets in this life and then accept the gospel in the spirit world will inherit the terrestrial kingdom (see D&C 76:73-74; 138:32). E. The Lord has told us some of the conditions in the terrestrial kingdom. 1. The inhabitants of the terrestrial kingdom will enjoy the presence of the Son but not the fulness of the Father (see D&C 76:77). 2. Those in the terrestrial kingdom will minister to those in the telestial kingdom (see D&C 76:81, 86). 3. The terrestrial kingdom exceeds the glory, power, might, and dominion of the telestial kingdom (see D&C 76:9). 4. Those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom will come forth in the first resurrection after those who inherit the celestial kingdom have been resurrected (see D&C 88:99; 45:54). F. The Lord Has described those who will inherit the telestial kingdom. 1. Those who profess to follow Christ or the prophets but willfully reject the gospel, the testimony of Jesus, the prophets, and the everlasting covenant will inherit the telestial kingdom (see D&C 76:99-101). 2. The inhabitants of the telestial kingdom will include those who were murderers, liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and whoremongers--in general, the wicked people of the earth (see D&C 76:103; Revelation 22:15). These inhabitants of the telestial kingdom will have become clean through their suffering so that they can abide telestial glory. 3. The inhabitants of the telestial kingdom will be as innumerable as the stars (see D&C 76:109). G. The Lord has outlined the conditions and limitations of the telestial kingdom. 1. The inhabitants of the telestial kingdom will suffer the wrath of God and be cast into hell until the end of the Millennium (see D&C 76:84, 104-106; 2 Nephi 28:15). 2. Those in the telestial kingdom will receive the Holy Ghost through the ministration of those in the terrestrial kingdom (see D&C 76:86, 88). 3. Telestial glory surpasses all human understanding (see D&C 76:89). 4. Those obedient to telestial laws will be resurrected with telestial bodies in the second, or last resurrection (see D&C 76:85; 88:31; Mosiah 15:26). 5. Those in the telestial kingdom will be servants of God, "but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end" (see D&C 76:112). H. The scriptures explain who the sons of perdition are and what their fate will be. 1. Satan and the one-third of the hosts of heaven who followed him became sons of perdition (see D&C 76:25-30; 29:36-38; Revelation 12:7-9; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6). 2. Those who in mortality have known the power of God, been made partakers of it, and then later denied the truth and defied God's power will also be sons of perdition (see D&C 76:31-32). 3. Those who deny the Holy Ghost after having received it and crucify the Savior unto themselves will have no forgiveness and will be sons of perdition (see D&C 76:34-36; Matthew 12:31-32). 4. Sons of perdition will suffer the wrath of God and partake of the second death (see D&C 76:33, 37-38). 5. Those who become sons of perdition in mortality will be resurrected but will not be redeemed in a kingdom of glory (see D&C 76:38-39, 43-44; 88:24, 32). 6. Only those who become sons of perdition will be able to comprehend the magnitude of the misery of those who inherit such a state (see D&C 76:44-48). Supporting Statements ... H. The Scriptures explain who the sons of perdition are and what their fate will be. "All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. 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 that 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 to be an enemy. . . ." (Joseph Smith, _History of the Church,_ 6:314.)