1. Death and the Postmortal Chapter 30
Spirit World
Introduction Supporting Statements
“All men know that they must die. And it is
A. Physical death is a universal condition and is
important that we should understand the reasons part of the plan of salvation.
and causes of our exposure to the vicissitudes of life
■ “Every man born into the world will die. It
and of death, and the designs and purposes of God
matters not who he is, nor where he is, whether
in our coming into the world, our sufferings here,
his birth be among the rich and the noble, or
and our departure hence. What is the object of our
among the lowly and poor in the world, his days
coming into existence, then dying and falling away,
are numbered with the Lord, and in due time he
to be here no more? It is but reasonable to suppose
will reach the end” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel
that God would reveal something in reference to the
Doctrine, 428).
matter, and it is a subject we ought to study more
■ “Death is merely a change from one status or
than any other. We ought to study it day and night,
sphere of existence to another. . . .
for the world is ignorant in reference to their true
“. . . This death consists in the separation of the
condition and relation. If we have any claim on our
eternal spirit from the mortal body so that the body
Heavenly Father for anything, it is for knowledge
is left to go back to the dust or element from which
on this important subject” (Joseph Smith, History of
it was created (meaning organized), and the spirit is
the Church, 6:50).
left to sojourn in a world of waiting spirits until the
day of the resurrection. (Rev. 20:13; 2 Ne. 9:10–15.)”
Doctrinal Outline (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 184–85).
■ “There was no death in the earth before the fall
A. Physical death is a universal condition and is of Adam. . . .
part of the plan of salvation. “The gospel teaches us that if Adam and Eve
1. Everyone must eventually die (see Romans 5:12; had not partaken of that fruit of the tree of the
Alma 12:24, 27; 2 Nephi 9:6). knowledge of good and evil, they would have
2. At death the body and the spirit separate for a remained in the Garden of Eden in that same
time (see James 2:26; Ecclesiastes 12:7). condition prevailing before the fall. . . . In regard
3. The Fall of Adam brought death onto this earth to the pre-mortal condition of Adam and the
(see 2 Nephi 2:22–25; Moses 6:48; 1 Corinthians entire earth, Lehi has stated the following:
15:21–22). “‘And now, behold, if Adam had not
4. Through the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus transgressed he would not have fallen, but he
Christ, we will eventually overcome death (see would have remained in the garden of Eden. And
Alma 7:10–12; 11:42; 2 Nephi 9:6, 11; 2 Timothy all things which were created must have remained
1:10; Mormon 9:13). in the same state in which they were after they
5. We need not fear death (see Alma 27:28; D&C were created; and they must have remained
42:46; 101:36). forever, and had no end’ [2 Nephi 2:22]” (Joseph
B. At death our spirits enter the world of spirits to Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:108–9).
■ “We shall turn round and look upon [the valley
await the Resurrection.
of death] and think, when we have crossed it, why
1. At death the spirit returns to a spiritual realm (see
this is the greatest advantage of my whole
Alma 40:11; Ecclesiastes 12:7; 2 Nephi 9:38).
existence, for I have passed from a state of sorrow,
2. The spirits of the righteous enter a state of paradise grief, mourning, woe, misery, pain, anguish and
(see Alma 40:12, 14; 4 Nephi 1:14; Moroni 10:34; disappointment into a state of existence, where I
2 Nephi 9:13).
can enjoy life to the fullest extent as far as that can
3. The spirits of the wicked enter a state of be done without a body. My spirit is set free, I
unhappiness, or misery (see Alma 40:13–14; thirst no more, I want to sleep no more, I hunger
1 Nephi 15:29; D&C 76:103–6).
no more, I tire no more, I run, I walk, I labor, I go,
4. In the postmortal spirit world the gospel is I come, I do this, I do that, whatever is required of
preached to “all the spirits of men” (D&C 138:30; me, nothing like pain or weariness, I am full of
see also 1 Peter 3:18–21; 4:6; D&C 138:28–37). life, full of vigor, and I enjoy the presence of my
heavenly Father” (Brigham Young, in Journal of
Discourses, 17:142).
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2. Chapter 30
■ “All fear of this death has been removed from death and resurrection, these souls of the wicked
the Latter-day Saints. They have no dread of the are cast out into outer darkness, into the gloomy
temporal death, because they know that as death depression of sheol, into the hades of waiting
came upon them by the transgression of Adam, wicked spirits, into hell. There they suffer the
so by the righteousness of Jesus Christ shall life torments of the damned; there they welter in the
come unto them, and though they die, they shall vengeance of eternal fire; there is found weeping
live again. Possessing this knowledge, they have and wailing and gnashing of teeth; there the fiery
joy even in death, for they know that they shall indignation of the wrath of God is poured out
rise again and shall meet again beyond the grave. upon the wicked. (Alma 40:11–14; D. & C.
They know that the spirit dies not at all; that it 76:103–106.)” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 349).
passes through no change, except the change from ■ “In the justice of the Father, he is going to give
imprisonment in this mortal clay to freedom and to every man the privilege of hearing the gospel.
to the sphere in which it acted before it came to Not one soul shall be overlooked or forgotten. This
this earth” (Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 428). being true, what about the countless thousands
“If we say that early death is a calamity, disaster who have died and never heard of Christ, never
or a tragedy, would it not be saying that mortality had an opportunity of repentance and remission
is preferable to earlier entrance into the spirit of their sins, never met an elder of the Church
world and to eventual salvation and exaltation? If holding the authority? Some of our good Christian
mortality be the perfect state, then death would be neighbors will tell you they are lost forever, that
a frustration but the Gospel teaches us there is no they cannot believe in the grave, for there is no
tragedy in death, but only in sin” (Spencer W. hope beyond.
Kimball, Tragedy or Destiny, Brigham Young “Would that be fair? Would it be just? No! The
University Speeches of the Year [6 Dec. 1955], 3). Lord is going to give to every man the opportunity
B. At death our spirits enter the world of spirits to to hear and to receive eternal life, or a place in his
await the Resurrection. kingdom. We are very fortunate because we have
■ “The spirits of all men, as soon as they depart had that privilege here and have passed from
from this mortal body, whether they are good or death into life.
evil, we are told in the Book of Mormon, are taken “The Lord has so arranged his plan of
home to that God who gave them life, where there redemption that all who have died without this
is a separation, a partial judgment, and the spirits opportunity shall be given it in the spirit world.
of those who are righteous are received into a state There the elders of the Church who have died are
of happiness which is called paradise, a state of rest, proclaiming the gospel to the dead. All those who
a state of peace, where they expand in wisdom, did not have an opportunity here to receive it,
where they have respite from all their troubles, and who there repent and receive the gospel, shall be
where care and sorrow do not annoy. The wicked, heirs of the celestial kingdom of God” (Smith,
on the contrary, have no part nor portion in the Doctrines of Salvation, 2:132).
Spirit of the Lord, and they are cast into outer
darkness, being led captive, because of their own
iniquity, by the evil one. And in this space between
death and the resurrection of the body, the two
classes of souls remain, in happiness or in misery,
until the time which is appointed of God that the
dead shall come forth and be reunited both spirit
and body, and be brought to stand before God, and
be judged according to their works. This is the final
judgment” (Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 448).
■ “Paradise—the abode of righteous spirits, as they
await the day of their resurrection; paradise—a
place of peace and rest where the sorrows and trials
of his life have been shuffled off, and where the
saints continue to prepare for a celestial heaven;
paradise—not the Lord’s eternal kingdom, but a
way station along the course leading to eternal life,
a place where the final preparation is made for that
fulness of joy which comes only when body and
spirit are inseparably connected in immortal glory!”
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4:222).
■ “That part of the spirit world inhabited by
wicked spirits who are awaiting the eventual day
of their resurrection is called hell. Between their
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