One of the most serious misconceptions in Christianity is that when we die in the Lord, with faith in Jesus Christ, our spirits go directly to heaven. This cannot be the case because entrance into heaven cannot happen until after the Final Judgment, and the Final Judgment cannot happen until the Second Coming of Christ. So the question really is: what happens to our souls when we suffer earthly death, before the Final Judgment after the Second Resurrection? Partial Judgment and the Spirit World The prophet Alma taught that there is a “state of the soul between death and the resurrection” (Alma 40:11). This state is in the spirit world where all will await the resurrection in one of three different places within the spirit world. Assignment to one of these three interim states is the result of the partial judgment. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7; See Gospel Principles, 295).

Upon death we will be partially judged and rewarded with either a place in Paradise, a place in the Spirit Prison, or a place in Temporary Hell—all part of the spirit world. This judgment and reward will be based on faith and works. See the website section and Sword Series™ essay on the spirit world.

Death Bed Repentance—A False Doctrine
This then begs the question about what happens to those who repent on their death-bed? About deathbed repentance, the apostle Bruce R McConkie offers the following explanation: “This life is the time that is given for men to repent and prepare to meet God. Those who have opportunity in this life to accept the truth are obligated to take it; otherwise, full salvation will be denied them. Hopes of reward through so-called death-bed repentance are vain” (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie; 1979 Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 631).

The common fallacy of death bed repentance comes from the scripture of the thief who defended Jesus on the cross and that Jesus told him: “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The thief did not repent, and was certainly not offered salvation; but rather the thief was promised a place in paradise, which is a part of the spirit world—a place we will all go before the Second Coming of Christ.  

Doctrinal Study: Life After Death: Partial Judgment

  Download the Sword Series™ essay on Partial Judgment