Kingdoms of Glory

                    Have you ever wondered what was true about heaven and hell?  Do you have a solid foundation of knowledge about the three degrees of glory?  Have you ever pondered questions such as the following:  Where will I go after I am resurrected and judged?  Has God already determined where I will go or does what I do here on earth matter?  Can I go to the highest heaven by simply saying that I believe in Jesus Christ?  What do the scriptures mean when they say people are "damned"?  Is hell a place of never-ending suffering where sinners go?

                    One of my favorite hymns is O My Father (Hymns, no. 292) written by Karen Lynn Davidson with music by A. Laurence Lyon.  This hymn is often sung at funerals because it brings comfort to those who are left behind.  I like it simply because of its beautiful message. 

                    O my Father, thou that dwellest In the high and glorious place,

                    When shall I regain thy presence And again behold thy face?

                    In thy holy habitation, Did my spirit once reside?

                    In my first primeval childhood, Was I nurtured near thy side?

                    For a wise and glorious purpose Thou hast placed me here on earth

                    And withheld the recollection Of my former friends and birth;

                    Yet oft times a secret something Whispered, "You're a stranger here,"

                    And I felt that I had wandered From a more exalted sphere.

                    I had learned to call thee Father, Thru thy Spirit from on high,

                    But, until the key of knowledge Was restored, I knew not why.

                    In the heav'ns are parents single?  No, the thought makes reason stare!

                    Truth is reason; truth eternal Tells me I've a mother there.

                    When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this mortal by,

                    Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high?

                    Then, at length, when I've completed All you sent me forth to do,

                    With your mutual approbation Let me come and dwell with you.

                    Just as there are different levels of righteousness in this life, it makes sense for God to have different "mansions" in heaven [John 14:2] or different places for His resurrected children to dwell.  The Apostle Paul taught that there are three kingdoms of glory in heaven:  "There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:  but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

                    "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars:  for one star differeth from another star in glory.

                    "So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption" (1 Corinthians 15:40-42).

                    In the Joseph Smith Translation of verse 40, Paul also mentions "bodies telestial".  Paul described the differences between the glory of the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom by comparing the celestial to the sun, the terrestrial to the moon, and the telestial to the stars.  By these comparisons we know that the celestial kingdom is the brightest followed by the terrestrial and then the telestial.

                    We are agents unto ourselves (see Doctrine and Covenants 58:27-28) and are responsible for the choices we make.  We will be judged by our thoughts, words, and actions.  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Mosiah 4:30.)  Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated, "Each of you will be judged according to your individual works and the desires of your hearts….  Your eventual placement in the celestial, terrestrial, or telestial kingdom will not be determined by chance.  The Lord has prescribed unchanging requirements for each.  You can know what the scriptures teach and pattern your lives accordingly" (Ensign, Nov. 1993, 35).

                    Some people believe that salvation comes simply by saying that we believe in Jesus Christ.  This is false doctrine.  We must do more than just say we believe in Jesus Christ; we must follow him.  All people, regardless of their level of righteousness, will be saved from death because of the Resurrection of Christ.  However, in order to attain the highest degree of glory in the resurrection, we need to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Moroni 10:32).  We come unto Christ by having faith in him, repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, receiving other saving priesthood ordinances, obeying the commandments, and keeping the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father.  How we live does make a difference.

                    Alma, an ancient American prophet, taught the following about a terrible and tragic war, "And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one" (Book of Mormon, Alma 3:26).

                    When we sin, we prevent our own progress.  When the scriptures say that the wicked are "damned" it means that they have been stopped or held back from blessings they might have received if they had obeyed God's commandments.  Heavenly Father wants to bless us, but He is a just God and as such can only reward us when we obey His commandments.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 82:10.)

                    Hell is not a place of never-ending suffering where sinners are sent.  It is a spirit prison, a place for people who have rejected the gospel and people who have died without a knowledge of the gospel.  The gospel is preached to them there, and those who accept the gospel and repent of their sins will be released and allowed to enter paradise until the Resurrection and Judgment (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:29-34).  Most of those who do not accept the gospel there will have to suffer for their own sins but will eventually be resurrected and go to a kingdom of glory (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:81-85, 98-106).

                    The Prophet Joseph Smith received a more detailed definition of the three kingdoms of glory.  Joseph was with Sidney Rigdon, who later became First Counselor in the First Presidency, when they received a vision in which they saw each of the kingdoms of glory.  They also received a revelation concerning the people who would go to each of the kingdoms.

                    According to their revelation, those who will inherit telestial glory are those who 1) reject the gospel of Jesus Christ,

2) reject the testimony of Jesus Christ, and 3) are liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and whoremongers (Doctrine and Covenants 76:81-83, 98-103).

                    Those who will inherit terrestrial glory are those who 1) reject the gospel in this life but receive it in the spirit world,

2) are honorable but are blinded by the craftiness of men, and 3) are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 76:71-80).

                    Those who will inherit celestial glory are those who 1) receive the testimony of Jesus Christ, 2) are baptized by one with priesthood authority, 3) keep the commandments, 4) receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, 5) overcome the world by faith, and

6) are made perfect through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 76:50-70). 

There are two other groups of people who will inherit celestial glory; they are 1) those who die without a knowledge of the gospel but "would have received it with all their hearts" (Doctrine and Covenants 137:7-10) and 2) those who die before they arrive at the years of accountability" [age 8 years] (Doctrine and Covenants 137:10).

No one but Jesus Christ will ever live a perfect life.  Since the rest of us cannot be perfect on our own, we must be "made perfect."  "These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.

"These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:69-70).

So how can we be made perfect in order to be worthy to dwell with God in the celestial kingdom?  The ancient American prophet Nephi taught the following to his people, "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 25:23).

When the Prophet Joseph Smith was asked about the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he listed thirteen Articles of Faith.  The third one states, "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" (Pearl of Great Price, The Articles of Faith 1:3).

We can be made perfect only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  As we do all we can to follow the Savior, working diligently to keep the commandments and to live pure lives, we come closer to Him and become more like Him.  When we sin, we can repent sincerely and be forgiven.  Because Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself, we can be made clean, pure, and worthy to dwell in the celestial kingdom.

The Apostle Paul taught, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

We know that a great multitude of Heavenly Father's children will dwell in the celestial kingdom.  John the Revelator described his vision of the exalted sons and daughters of God in Revelation 7:9-10.

In order to receive exaltation in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, we must be sealed to our spouse in the temple.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4.)  Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles made the following statement:  
"Those who have met the highest requirements for this kingdom, including faithfulness to covenants made in a temple of God and marriage for eternity, will be exalted to the godlike state referred to as the `fulness' of the Father or eternal life (D&C 76:56, 94; see also D&C 131; 132:19-20)….  Eternal life is family life with a loving Father in Heaven and with our progenitors [ancestors] and our posterity" (Ensign, May 1995, 86-87).

                    Marriage in the temple is not a guarantee of exaltation in the celestial kingdom.  Those married in the temple should strive to be exalted together in the celestial kingdom by continually growing in their love for each other and for the Lord.

                    Heavenly Father loves all his children and will give them the greatest reward that they have prepared to receive through their obedience and faith in Jesus Christ.  According to Doctrine and Covenants 76:89, the glory of the telestial "surpasses all understanding" and is a place of indescribable glory.

                    Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, "Each of you will be judged according to your individual works and the desires of your hearts….  Your eventual placement in the celestial, terrestrial, or telestial kingdom will not be determined by chance.  The Lord has prescribed unchanging requirements for each.  You can know what the scriptures teach and pattern your lives accordingly" (Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 35).

I know that Heavenly Father has prepared great things for us.  I am so very grateful for His plan of salvation and for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I know that as we keep the commandments of God, repent of our sins, and are true to our covenants, we can be "made perfect through Jesus" and inherit a place in the celestial kingdom.  I know that the kingdom of glory we will receive after we are resurrected depends upon our obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.  I know that the blessings of the celestial kingdom are wonderful beyond anything I can imagine.  I long ago set my goal as exaltation in the highest level of the celestial kingdom, where I can experience a fulness of happiness.  I encourage all of you to strive for exaltation in the celestial kingdom by keeping the commandments and exercising faith in Jesus Christ.

                                       

Last Judgment

                    I had the opportunity in recent weeks to study the Revelation of John in the New Testament.  I found the book to be very interesting.  John, the writer of this book, was an Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and he came from a culture that used symbolism extensively in its language and literature.  Many people have difficulty understanding the symbolism in John's writing, and the book of Revelation can seem strange and confusing if we interpret the images literally.  We can find the book easier to understand if we remember that many of the images are symbolic and represent people, things, or concepts with which we are already familiar. 

                    Six hundred years before the time of Jesus Christ and His Apostles, an ancient American prophet named Nephi also had a vision where an angel gave him a "tour" through history and showed him many of the same things that John saw.  After showing Nephi some of these things, the angel told Nephi:  "Look!

                    "And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.

                    "And the angel said unto me:  Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

                    "Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been.

                    "And he shall also write concerning the end of the world.

                    "Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew [Bible]; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men.

                    "And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see.

                    "But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them.

                    " And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.

                    "And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel."  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Nephi 14:18-27; italics added.)

                    John was one of the original Apostles of the Savior and was one of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ in his day.  He was banished by the Roman government to Patmos, a small island off the west coast of present-day Turkey, because he bore testimony of Jesus Christ.  While he was on the island, an angel visited John and gave him a revelation.

                    The book of Revelation is written primarily in symbolic language.  Its theme is that "there will be an eventual triumph on this earth of God over the devil; a permanent victory of good over evil, of the saints over their persecutors, of the kingdom of God over the kingdoms of men and of Satan….  The details about the beasts, the wars, the angels, the men, etc., contribute to the development of this theme.  By a little study, the theme can be perceived even if the details are not completely identified" (Bible Dictionary, "Revelation of John," 762).

                    The book of Revelation is divided into sections.  The first three chapters are introductory; they record John's testimony of the truthfulness of the revelation, John's instructions from the Lord, and John's counsel to the seven branches of the Church in Asia.  Chapter 4 records John's vision of heaven, and chapters 5-20 record his vision of the triumphant destiny of God's kingdom.  This vision shows the battles against Satan's kingdom, the destruction of Satan's kingdom, and the final scenes in the world's history.  Chapter 21 contains a vision of the new heaven and new earth - the world in its celestial state (21:1-5).  The book of Revelation concludes with the angel's testimony and additional counsel from the Lord.

                    Chapters 5 and 6 in the Revelation use the symbol of a book that is "sealed with seven seals" 5:1).  According to Doctrine and Covenants 77:6-7, each seal represents a thousand-year period of the earth's temporal existence.  The first five seals are covered in 11 verses, the sixth seal is covered in 14 verses, and the seventh seal is covered in 226 verses.  It is obvious where John put the emphasis because he gave the most attention to the events of our time period and the one to come.  The book of Revelation was written for our day, and our lives will be blessed as we study it and prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

                    Revelation 6 tells us that Satan has fought against the righteous people throughout the history of the earth.  Satan used violence and warfare (6:4, 8) as well as hunger and famine (6:5-6, 8) to gain control over mankind according to Revelation 6:4-11.  He uses those same problems in our day - contention, riots, uprisings, etc.

                    President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:  "That war, so bitter, so intense, has gone on, and it has never ceased.  It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him.  His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict.  They've indulged in lying and deceit.  They've murdered and destroyed and engaged in every other unholy and impure practice to thwart the work of Christ….

                    "[Opposition] has been felt in the undying efforts of many, both within and without the Church, to destroy faith, to belittle, to demean, to bear false witness, to tempt and allure and induce our people to practices inconsistent with the teachings and standards of this work of God….

                    "The war goes on.  It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion.  It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error.  It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity.  We are all involved in it.

                    "We are winning [the war against Satan], and the future never looked brighter" (Ensign, Nov. 1986, 42, 44-45). 

                    We can maintain hope and have a positive outlook as we fight the war against Satan by using the resources given to us.  Some of the resources that can strengthen us against the power of Satan and his followers are prayer, scriptures, the teachings of living prophets, priesthood authority, temples, and association with other God-fearing people who have the same beliefs.

                    In Revelation 8-16, John identified many plagues, wars, and judgments that will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  In Revelation 19, he described the coming of the Lord and symbolized it by a marriage supper (19:7-9).  The bride of the Lamb represents members of The Church of Jesus Christ.  The symbol of the marriage supper, with Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as the bride, suggests that the relationship between the Lord and His Church should be much like an ideal marriage.  In order for us to be invited to his marriage supper, we must be willing to accept the Lord's invitation.

                    Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:  "The elders of Israel are now issuing the invitations to the marriage supper of the Lord; those who believe and obey the gospel thereby accept the invitation and shall sit in due course … at the marriage feast" (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:563-64).

                    The First Resurrection - or the resurrection of the just - will begin at the Savior's Second Coming.  (See Revelation 20:1-4.)  Those who will receive a celestial or terrestrial reward will come forward in this resurrection.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:98-99.)  The Second Resurrection - or the resurrection of the unjust - will not begin until the end of the Millennium.  Those who will receive a Telestial reward and the sons of perdition will come forward in this resurrection.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:100-102.)  Revelation 20:8 tells us that the "unjust" includes the fearful and unbelieving [those without faith in Jesus Christ] and those who are abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.

                    The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the Millennium, a thousand-year period when Christ will reign personally upon the earth.  According to Revelation 20:1-3, Satan will be bound during the Millennium and will have no power over the hearts of the people because the Lord will reign on the earth and the people will be righteous.  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 1 Nephi 22:26.)  Children will grow up during the Millennium without sin unto salvation.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 45:55, 58.)  We can limit the power of Satan in our lives right now by keeping the commandments of God and being righteous.

                    At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed for a "season" when he will go about the earth and use lies and deceit to recruit people to his army, which will be numbered like the sands of the sea.  Then one last great battle will be fought between the armies of God and the armies of Satan.  (See Revelation 20:7-8; Doctrine and Covenants 88:111-13.)  This battle is sometimes called the battle of Gog and Magog.

                    The result of this great battle will be victory for the armies of God.  Revelation 20:9-11 tells us that fire will come down from heaven and devour the hosts of Satan.  The devil will be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented day and night forever.  Doctrine and Covenants 88:114-15 tells us that Michael - known as Adam on earth - will lead the armies of God and overcome Satan and his armies who will be cast away where they cannot have power over the saints any longer.  Since we already know the result of the final battle, we might as well accept responsibility now to live righteously.

                    President Ezra Taft Benson said:  "Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits.  Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support.  The final outcome is certain - the forces of righteousness will win.  But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle - and how tall we will stand.  Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?"  ("In His Steps," Ensign, Sept. 1988, 2).

                    The final judgment will take place after the last great battle.   "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:  and another book was opened, which is the book of life:  and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

                    "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."  (See Revelation 20:12-13.)

                    Revelation 21:3-7 lists the blessings that come to those who are judged to be righteous:  1) They will dwell in the presence of God (21:3); 2) They will no longer experience death, sorrow, crying, or pain (21:4).  3) They will inherit all things as sons and daughters of God (21:7).  We can gain great strength and comfort as we face difficulties in mortality if we remember the great blessings reserved for the righteous.

                    Revelation 21;10-22:5 describes the celestial glory of the earth and the city in which those who have attained celestial glory will reside.  There will be no temple in the celestial temple because the Father and the Son are the temple.  (See 21:22.)  The purpose of the temple is to bring us closer to God and teach us of His plan.  Temples will no longer be necessary to those who live in God's presence.  In order to be worthy to enter the gates of the eternal city, we must keep the commandments of God and earn the right to the tree of life.  (See Revelation 22:14.)

                    President David O. McKay told of a vision in which he saw a beautiful city, many people dressed in white, and the Savior:  "The city, I understood, was [the Savior's].  It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.

          "But who were they?  As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words:  These Are They Who Have Overcome the World - Who Have Truly Been Born Again!"  (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, 60).

          The New Testament and the book of Revelation ends with a message of great hope.  Prophets like John the Revelator have seen the things that are to come and have told us of the blessings we will receive if we remain righteous and endure to the end.  Because of the testimonies of Nephi, John, and other prophets,  I know that the righteous will triumph at the end of the world.  We can all take courage and hope from this knowledge as we stand against wickedness and seek to overcome the obstacles of this life.

                    For more information about the final judgment,click here.  http://causeofliberty.blogspot.com/2010/12/final-judgment.html

The Final Judgment

We know from various scriptures that we will stand one day before God to be judged. In order to better prepare for this important event, we must understand how the judgment will take place.

The scriptures teach that everyone will be judged according to our works: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12; see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:111; 1 Nephi 15:32; Abraham 3:25-28). Doctrine and Covenants 137:9 teaches that we will also be judged “according to the desire of [our] hearts.” (See also Alma 41:3.)

Judgments are made here on earth as to our worthiness to receive opportunities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first judgment is made when the bishop determines we are worthy to receive the ordinance of baptism. Whenever we are interviewed for priesthood advancement or asked to serve in the Church, we are being judged. Another judgment will take place when we die. According to Alma, when we die our spirits will be assigned to either a state of happiness or a state of misery. (See Alma 40:11-15.)

The prophet Alma told us that we will be judged for our actions as well as for our thoughts and words: “Our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; … and our thoughts will also condemn us” (Alma 12:14).

Alma is not the only one to warn us about our words. The Lord said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

We can prepare for the Final Judgment by exercising faith in Jesus Christ. By following Him faithfully and by repenting of all our sins, we can receive forgiveness and become pure and holy so that we are worthy to enter the presence of God. As we become aware of our sins and give away every impure thought, word and action, the Holy Ghost will help us in the purification process. He will change our hearts so that we no longer desire to sin (see Mosiah 5:2). With the help of the Holy Ghost, we will be judged worthy to enter God’s presence.

According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we will be judged from the records being kept on earth and out of the “book of life,” which is kept in heaven (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:6-8).

President Harold B. Lee taught: “Every one of you … must stand before `the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel … and then must … be judged according to the holy judgment of God.’ (II Nephi 9:15.) And according to the vision of John, `The books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’ (Rev. 20:12.) The `books’ spoken of refer to the `records [of your works] which are kept on the earth. … The book of life is the record which is kept in heaven.’ (Doc. And Cov. 128:7.)” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 226-227).

Besides the records kept in books on earth and in heaven, there is another record by which we will be judged. According to the Apostle Paul, we ourselves are a record of our life (see Romans 2:15). There is a complete history of everything we have thought, said, and done stored in our body and mind. President John Taylor taught: “[The individual] tells the story himself, and bears witness against himself. … That record that is written by the man himself in the tablets of his own mind, that record that cannot lie will in that day be unfolded before God and angels, and those who shall sit as judges” (Deseret News, Mar. 8, 1865, 179).

The Final Judgment will be conducted by Jesus Christ and others that He will call to assist in the Judgment. The Apostle John taught that “the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22). The Twelve Apostles who helped Christ in His ministry on earth will judge the twelve tribes of Israel (see Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). Under the direction of the Twelve Apostles, the twelve Nephite disciples will judge the Nephites and Lamanites (see 1 Nephi 12:9-10; Mormon 3:18-19).

At the time of the Final Judgment, we will receive a place for which we have prepared. We learn from the scriptures that there are three kingdoms of glory – the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:20-32).

We prepare for our eternal inheritance by the choices we make in our mortal lives. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 76 that our choices here will determine our eternal inheritance. He described the ways we can live in mortality in order to inherit the kingdom of our choice.

In describing those who will receive the celestial kingdom, the Lord said: “They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized, … that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit.” He also taught that they include those who overcome the world by their faith and who are just and true. The Holy Ghost will seal blessings upon all those who meet these requirements. (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-53.) All those who wish to inherit the highest degree of the celestial kingdom and to become gods must also be married for eternity in the temple (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4). All those who are judged worthy to inherit the celestial kingdom will have the opportunity to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all eternity (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:62).

Because He loves all of His children, Heavenly Father has revealed the way by which all of us can inherit a place in the highest degree of celestial glory. Through the work done in our temples, everyone who has ever lived on earth can enjoy an equal opportunity to receive the fullness of the gospel and the ordinances of salvation.

The Lord described those who will receive the terrestrial kingdom as those who rejected the gospel on earth but afterward received it in the spirit world. These are the honorable people on earth who were blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ by the craftiness of men. These people also include those who received the gospel and a testimony of Jesus but were not valiant. The people who inherit the terrestrial kingdom will be visited by Jesus Christ but not by our Heavenly Father. (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:73-79.)

The Lord described those who will receive the telestial kingdom as those who did not receive the gospel or the testimony of Jesus either on earth or in the spirit world. They will suffer for their own sins in hell until they are resurrected after the Millennium. “These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.” These people are as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sand on the seashore. They will be visited by the Holy Ghost but not by the Father or the Son. (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:81-88, 103-6, 109.)

Those who will be cast into outer darkness include those who had testimonies of Jesus through the Holy Ghost and knew the power of the Lord but gave away their agency to Satan. They denied the truth and defied the power of the Lord. There is no forgiveness for them, for they denied the Holy Spirit after having received it. They will not have a kingdom of glory. Because they chose to follow Satan, they will spend eternity in darkness, torment, and misery with Satan and his followers. (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:28-35, 44-48.)

We face judgment day every day by the way we speak, think, and act. We live our lives by the laws of whatever kingdom we wish to inherit. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the law of the celestial kingdom. God has revealed every priesthood ordinance that is required for our progression. Once we have entered the waters of baptism and made a covenant to live Christlike lives, we are on the path to the celestial kingdom. If we are faithful and keep all the covenants we make with God, we are worthy to hear Him say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world” (Matthew 25:34).