Note that this poll assumes there is some sort of afterlife. So atheist should play along, too. You don't have to believe, just speculate what it might be like if there is one.
POLL: What's the Afterlife Like?
- Thread starter What Would Jesus Do?
- Start date
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an optimistic view of the eternal rewards awaiting mankind in the hereafter. Members of the Church believe that there are "many mansions" (John 14:2) and that Christ's Atonement and resurrection will save all mankind from death, and eventually will reclaim from hell all except the sons of perdition (D&C 76:43-44). The saved, however, are not placed into a monolithic state called heaven. In the resurrection of the body, they are assigned to different degrees of glory commensurate with the law they have obeyed. There are three kingdoms of glory: the celestial, the terrestrial, and the telestial. The apostle Paul spoke of three glories, differing from one another as the sun, moon, and stars differ in brilliance. He called the first two glories celestial and terrestrial, but the third is not named in the Bible (1 Cor. 15:40-41; cf. D&C 76:70-81, 96-98.) The word "telestial" is an LDS term, first used by the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in reporting a vision they received on February 16, 1832 (D&C 76; Webster's Third New International Dictionary defines telestial glory as "the lowest of three Mormon degrees or kingdoms of glory attainable in heaven"; see also Celestial Kingdom; Terrestrial Kingdom; Telestial Kingdom).
At the final judgment, all except the devil, his angels, and those who become sons of perdition during mortal life will be assigned to one of the three kingdoms of glory. The devil and his followers will be assigned a kingdom without glory (D&C 76:25-39;88:24, 32-35).
THE CELESTIAL GLORY. The Celestial Kingdom is reserved for those who receive a testimony of Jesus and fully embrace the gospel; that is, they have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, are baptized by immersion by one having authority, receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and endure in righteousness. All who attain this kingdom "shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever" (D&C 76:62).
THE TERRESTRIAL GLORY. The inhabitants of the Terrestrial Kingdom are described as the honorable people of the earth who received a testimony of Jesus but were not sufficiently valiant in that testimony to obey all the principles and ordinances of the gospel (D&C 76:71-80). Also, those of "the heathen nations" who "died without law," who are honorable but who do not accept the fulness of the gospel in the postearthly spirit world, are candidates for the terrestrial glory (D&C 45:54;76:72). In the hereafter, they receive the presence of the Son, but not the fulness of the Father. The glory of the Terrestrial Kingdom differs from the celestial as the light we see from the moon differs from that of the sun in glory.
THE TELESTIAL GLORY. Those who on earth are liars, sorcerers, whoremongers, and adulterers, who receive not the gospel, or the testimony of Jesus, or the prophets, go to the Telestial Kingdom. They are judged unworthy of being resurrected at the second coming of Christ and are given additional time in "hell" to repent and prepare themselves for a later resurrection and placement into a kingdom of lesser glory. During this period, they learn to abide by laws they once rejected. They bow the knee and confess their dependence on Jesus Christ, but they still do not receive the fulness of the gospel. At the end of the Millennium, they are brought out of hell and are resurrected to a telestial glory. There "they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end" (D&C 76:112). However, they do receive "of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial" (verse 86). Though differing in glory from the terrestrial and celestial kingdoms as the light we perceive from the stars differs from that from the moon and the sun, the glory of the Telestial Kingdom still "surpasses all understanding" (verse 89; see D&C 76:81-90, 98-112;88:100-101).
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. The Church holds that all mankind, except the sons of perdition, will find a place in one of the kingdoms of glory in the hereafter and that they themselves choose the place by the lives they live here on earth and in the post-earthly spirit world. Even the lowest glory surpasses all mortal understanding. Everyone is granted agency (D&C 93:30-32). All have access to the revelatory power of the Light of Christ, which, if followed, will lead them to the truth of the gospel (John 1:1-13; Alma 12:9-11; Moro. 7:14-19; D&C 84:45-48). Everyone will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, either on earth or in the postearthly spirit world, and have ample opportunity to demonstrate the extent of their acceptance (D&C 138; cf. 1 Pet. 4:6). Those who do not have a chance to receive the gospel on this earth, but who would have fully accepted it had they been able to hear it, and who therefore do receive it in the spirit world, are heirs of the Celestial Kingdom of God (D&C 137:7-8). They will accept the saving ordinances performed for them by proxy in a temple on the earth (see Salvation of the Dead). Christ, victorious and gracious, grants to all the desires of their hearts, allowing them to choose their eternal reward according to the law they are willing and able to abide.
At the final judgment, all except the devil, his angels, and those who become sons of perdition during mortal life will be assigned to one of the three kingdoms of glory. The devil and his followers will be assigned a kingdom without glory (D&C 76:25-39;88:24, 32-35).
THE CELESTIAL GLORY. The Celestial Kingdom is reserved for those who receive a testimony of Jesus and fully embrace the gospel; that is, they have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, are baptized by immersion by one having authority, receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and endure in righteousness. All who attain this kingdom "shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever" (D&C 76:62).
THE TERRESTRIAL GLORY. The inhabitants of the Terrestrial Kingdom are described as the honorable people of the earth who received a testimony of Jesus but were not sufficiently valiant in that testimony to obey all the principles and ordinances of the gospel (D&C 76:71-80). Also, those of "the heathen nations" who "died without law," who are honorable but who do not accept the fulness of the gospel in the postearthly spirit world, are candidates for the terrestrial glory (D&C 45:54;76:72). In the hereafter, they receive the presence of the Son, but not the fulness of the Father. The glory of the Terrestrial Kingdom differs from the celestial as the light we see from the moon differs from that of the sun in glory.
THE TELESTIAL GLORY. Those who on earth are liars, sorcerers, whoremongers, and adulterers, who receive not the gospel, or the testimony of Jesus, or the prophets, go to the Telestial Kingdom. They are judged unworthy of being resurrected at the second coming of Christ and are given additional time in "hell" to repent and prepare themselves for a later resurrection and placement into a kingdom of lesser glory. During this period, they learn to abide by laws they once rejected. They bow the knee and confess their dependence on Jesus Christ, but they still do not receive the fulness of the gospel. At the end of the Millennium, they are brought out of hell and are resurrected to a telestial glory. There "they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end" (D&C 76:112). However, they do receive "of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial" (verse 86). Though differing in glory from the terrestrial and celestial kingdoms as the light we perceive from the stars differs from that from the moon and the sun, the glory of the Telestial Kingdom still "surpasses all understanding" (verse 89; see D&C 76:81-90, 98-112;88:100-101).
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. The Church holds that all mankind, except the sons of perdition, will find a place in one of the kingdoms of glory in the hereafter and that they themselves choose the place by the lives they live here on earth and in the post-earthly spirit world. Even the lowest glory surpasses all mortal understanding. Everyone is granted agency (D&C 93:30-32). All have access to the revelatory power of the Light of Christ, which, if followed, will lead them to the truth of the gospel (John 1:1-13; Alma 12:9-11; Moro. 7:14-19; D&C 84:45-48). Everyone will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, either on earth or in the postearthly spirit world, and have ample opportunity to demonstrate the extent of their acceptance (D&C 138; cf. 1 Pet. 4:6). Those who do not have a chance to receive the gospel on this earth, but who would have fully accepted it had they been able to hear it, and who therefore do receive it in the spirit world, are heirs of the Celestial Kingdom of God (D&C 137:7-8). They will accept the saving ordinances performed for them by proxy in a temple on the earth (see Salvation of the Dead). Christ, victorious and gracious, grants to all the desires of their hearts, allowing them to choose their eternal reward according to the law they are willing and able to abide.
Serious question, MormonHawk.... What happens to our HROT Christians who profess to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior but do none of the other things? Are they destined for the Terrestrian or Telestial Glory? Or worse? For example, if they say they have accepted Jesus but are liars or adulterers - which is most of them - are they doomed to be mere servants in a segregated heaven? If they were baptized but not by someone authorized by the Mormon faith, are they stuck, as well?
This seems to be a problem with most afterlife scenarios. Too much bliss would get old. Maybe we get lobotomies so we are like goldfish and don't remember the years of bliss?
Maybe heaven is really like Groundhog Day. If you've been good, you get to pick the best day of your life and relive it on a continual loop. You have no recollection of having lived the day before, so it's new and fresh; but because it's your best day, it's always good.
If you've been really good, maybe you get to pick several of your best days and you cycle through them.
Whereas, if you've been bad, you relive your worst day over and over again.
Hmmm, I think I may have to add this to my boutique religion list.
Maybe but I would be willing to give it try.
Unfortunately, the Mormons do not believe in the divinity of
Christ as the Son of God. They deny the Christian doctrine
of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which is one
essence and yet three separate persons.
Bottom Line: Mormons are not Christians and their belief
of a three tier heaven is baloney.
Christ as the Son of God. They deny the Christian doctrine
of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which is one
essence and yet three separate persons.
Bottom Line: Mormons are not Christians and their belief
of a three tier heaven is baloney.
A world of never ending happiness
U can always see the sun, day or night
So when u call up that shrink in Beverly Hills
U know the one - Dr Everything'll Be Alright
Instead of asking him how much of your time is left
Ask him how much of your mind, baby
'Cuz in this life
Things are much harder than in the afterworld
In this life
You're on your own
U can always see the sun, day or night
So when u call up that shrink in Beverly Hills
U know the one - Dr Everything'll Be Alright
Instead of asking him how much of your time is left
Ask him how much of your mind, baby
'Cuz in this life
Things are much harder than in the afterworld
In this life
You're on your own
Sorry, Lute, I have to say pot, meet kettle. Good to see you're chiming in with your typical hackneyed pro-Christian response.
This but need to include endless cold beer and brats too (with no cholesterol issues).
We believe that everyone will still have the chance to accept Jesus Christ after death, it's just a little tougher to do once you have built up all of your bad habits in this life.
We also believe in baptisms for the dead. So, in theory, everyone will be baptized, but they may not necessarily accept it. But everyone will be given a chance. It's not fair for someone who lives their entire life in a rainforest of the Amazon and never had the opportunity to hear of the Lord to have that held against them.
People who do not live a good life, whether they are baptized by an LDS priesthood holder or not will not be in very good standing. Baptism does not guarantee you anything.
I'm surprised there aren't more votes for Valhalla. I mean isn't that mainly just sitting around drinking and whoring and swapping tall tales?
So what's the difference between someone who never had the chance (your Amazon native) and someone who was exposed to 50 different versions of Christianity and wasn't convinced enough to pick yours?
Actually, that is 100% false. We believe Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and the Son of God. We believe that the Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, along with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is one in purpose with the Father and the Son, but is a separate being.
Both will have the opportunity to learn and accept the gospel after this life.
And both are better off than someone who has made promises (covenants such as baptism, etc) and then didn't try their best to live up to them.
The very easy answer: you need both.
But in all honesty, if you truly have faith, then the works will follow. Different people have different challenges and obstacles in their lives that can make the works more difficult to perform, but they'll at least be trying their best and repenting when they fall short.
However, if you say you have faith but don't even try to live by Christ's example and follow his teachings, you likely either don't have as much faith as you think you do or you have faith in something you have failed to truly educate yourself about.
Hell, yea, heaven is a boy band!
This is exactly the first thing that came to my mind as well
Everyone will get what they want in the afterlife. Christians will go to heaven, while non-believers get what they've always wanted, a world without Christians. It should work out well for everyone I think.
