By Rebecca

What is heaven like? Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon Church by some) understand not only their purpose but also destination in life. The scriptures, prophets, and modern revelation teach about the plan of salvation, kingdoms of glory, and steps required in order to reach heaven. Mormon doctrine says that heaven:

…is first of all the place where God lives and the future home of the saints (Gen. 28:12; Ps. 11:4; Matt. 6:9). It also means the expanse around the earth, as the heavens (Gen. 1:1, 17; Ex. 24:10). It is usually thought of as being “up,” or above the earth (cf. Alma 18:30–32). In the sense of being God’s home and the ultimate place for the faithful, it is clearly distinguished from paradise, which is the temporary abode of the faithful spirits of persons who have lived and died on this earth. [1]

Mormon Doctrine: Plan of Salvation

“Heaven, which is the kingdom of God, is where those who have been obedient to God’s plan of life and salvation go after judgment and the resurrection.” [2] The plan of salvation teaches that we are sons and daughters of God, who can choose to become like Him.

Like other Christians, we believe in a heaven or paradise and a hell following mortal life, but to us that two-part division of the righteous and the wicked is merely temporary, while the spirits of the dead await their resurrections and final judgments. The destinations that follow the final judgments are much more diverse. Our restored knowledge of the separateness of the three members of the Godhead provides a key to help us understand the diversities of resurrected glory. In their final judgment, the children of God will be assigned to a kingdom of glory for which their obedience has qualified them. [3]

Mormon Doctrine: Kingdoms of Glory

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected. After we are resurrected, we will stand before the Lord to be judged according to our desires and actions. Each of us will accordingly receive an eternal dwelling place in a specific kingdom of glory. The Lord taught this principle when He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). [4]

According to the Apostle Paul, the three kingdoms of glory are the Celestial Kingdom, Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Telestial Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15: 40-41). Our goal is to make it to the highest kingdom (Celestial Kingdom), where God and Christ dwell. The scriptures teach us that “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). God wants to bless us with everything He has, and only asks us to prepare ourselves to return to Him.

Mormon Doctrine: Preparing for Heaven

We all have the responsibility of preparing ourselves and others for entrance back into the kingdom of God. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ made it possible for all mankind to be resurrected and to be raised to immortality. Resurrection and immortality are universal gifts from God

… But to be resurrected and immortal is not all that is required for entrance into eternal life in the kingdom of God. Eternal life in the kingdom of God is far beyond his universal gift of immortality and is God’s greatest gift to all mankind; it can only be brought about through obedience to the doctrines and commandments taught by Jesus Christ

… Contrary to what many think, just believing in God and being virtuous and pure are not sufficient to qualify a person for entrance into the kingdom of heaven…Wouldn’t you think it is important to know God the Eternal Father and Jesus Christ if you expect to live with them in the kingdom of heaven? Many feel that they know God and know Jesus Christ, but they fail to keep their commandments. [2]

Everyone is invited to come unto Christ, repent of their mistakes, pray to God, read the scriptures, study the prophets’ words, and keep the commandments. We are not perfect but God knows that and has provided a way for us to return to Him.

The Proof of God’s Eternal Love for Us

Mormon doctrine teaches that God is Love, and that His entire work and glory are to bring about our immortality (ours through the atonement and universal resurrection) and eternal life (which means exaltation) of man (and woman). (See Moses 1:39.)

Some Christians believe that only Christians will go to heaven, and still other Christians believe that only those of their own persuasion will go to heaven. Although Mormons partake of ordinances and progress in their discipleship of Christ in order to qualify for the highest kingdom, there is still a place in heaven for non-believers in Christ, and people of all persuasions will be saved in heaven. This is why in the Book of Mormon it says that “salvation is free” (2 Nephi 2:4).

As mentioned above, paradise and hell are part of the spirit world, wherein people who have died in ignorance and those who have rejected the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ have an opportunity to repent and accept the Savior. Those who refuse the gospel cannot avail themselves of the atonement performed for them by Christ, and thus, they must suffer for their own sins and wait until the end of the millennium to be resurrected. However, after this, most will still be saved in a kingdom of heaven. The lowest kingdom, the telestial, was seen in vision by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. They saw people in the telestial kingdom who had committed grievous sins and rejected Christ. However, they said the glory of the telestial kingdom was beyond description. (Read the account of this vision of the kingdoms of heaven.)

There is a place called “outer darkness” or “perdition,” where the “sons of perdition” (such as Cain and Judas Iscariot have their inheritance). To be cast out to this hell for eternity, one has to commit the unpardonable and unforgiveable sin of “the sin against the holy ghost,” which is to have a perfect witness of Christ, a perfect knowledge, and then to deny Him, “thus crucifying Him anew.” This perfect witness can come only with a personal visit from the Savior, revealing Himself to a person who has been quickened in order to bear His presence. Thus, outer darkness is reserved for fallen prophets, Satan, and his angels.

Heaven is a place of eternal progress, and though people do not move upward from kingdom to kingdom, they do progress in their own sphere. There is service and learning going on all the time throughout eternity, and the wonderful relationships we can form eternally with our loved ones. The Lord wants those to last forever. There are many mansions in heaven, and eternal beings may visit those mansions where they can abide or survive the amount of glory therein. The mansion we inherit will be with those who are like ourselves, where we are most comfortable.

Mormon Doctrine: Finding Heaven on Earth

“[T]emples are the most sacred place on earth-a place where earth and heaven meet and where we feel close to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.” [5] Everyone is invited to study the gospel of Jesus Christ and attend churches. However, only worthy LDS members can enter a Mormon temple (also known as The Lord’s House). Temples may also be considered heaven on earth because of the sacred ordinances performed that unite families forever.

One such “temple ordinance is the sealing ordinance, in which husbands and wives are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents in eternal families. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity.” [6]

Watch a short video about LDS temples:

Additional Resources:

Mormon Beliefs: God’s Plan of Happiness

Where Do People Go When They Die?

Visit your local Mormon church and to learn more.