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 Where do the judged go after the
partial judgment to wait until the resurrection, second
coming, and final judgment? True Christian theology describes
the afterlife as more of a continuum rather than a finality,
which makes far more sense given the place of the final
judgment long after death. For this reason there is a need to
dispel any notion that after one dies they can go to heaven.
Where they go may seem like heaven compared to their earthly
existence, but it is still not the heaven in a traditional
sense. The consequences stemming from the partial judgment
lead to entrance into a spiritual existence somewhere between
death and the resurrection.
A Place of Waiting and Progression as Spirits
The theology of the afterlife, before the traditional view of
heaven, is known as the spirit world. The spirit world is a
place where our spirits will exist after death and before the
resurrection. Many in the spirit world will wait, learn, work,
and rest from their labors on the earth, while others will
suffer in their waiting. In the spirit world, we prepare for
our resurrection when our spirits will unite with our mortal
bodies to be judged and given a place in the eternities among
the three levels of heaven or outer darkness—all of which are
explained in other sections of the website and Sword Series™
essays available from the Foundation for Christian Studies.
Our spirits are able to progress in the spirit world in the
same shape and form as humans (only in a spirit form),
including the same attitudes, thought patterns, desires, and
appetites as we had on earth. If we die with a certain
attitude towards righteousness or wickedness, we will have
that same attitude in the spirit world—nothing magical changes
as a result of physical death.
A common question asked is what form will spirits have in the
spirit world? The answer is given by the prophet Joseph F.
Smith, who taught that all spirits are in adult form, having
been in adult form before their mortal existence, and being in
an adult form after their death—regardless of how old they are
at death (Gospel Doctrine, 455). It’s important that Christian
doctrine define the physical nature of spirits. This
description concurs with those of many people who have seen
visions of ancestors and loved ones who passed on to the
spirit world.
There are Two Main Divisions in the Spirit World
The spirit world is divided into two main parts, with one of
those parts being subdivided into two parts—a total of three
parts, or divisions. The prophet Alma defined Paradise as one
part, and the spirit prison as another, which agrees with
similar definitions offered by Luke and Peter from the Bible.
After partial judgment, spirits who die with a degree of
purity, having been obedient to the commandments of the Lord
and the will of God on earth, will go to Paradise (Luke
23:43). Those who die with a lesser degree of purity and
obedience will go to the spirit prison (1 Pet. 3:19). There is
a separation between the righteous and wicked in Paradise and
the Spirit Prison (Luke 16:26); however, as spirits progress
and learn gospel principles they may move from one state to
another.
Paradise
Paradise is described as being a place where righteous spirits
are able to find rest from their earthly trials (Rev. 14:13).
This rest includes the opportunity to be engaged in service to
the Lord. This vision of service was seen by way of revelation
through the prophet Joseph F. Smith. He records having seen
Jesus Christ, after his death, appointing individuals in
Paradise to “carry the light of the gospel to them that were
in darkness, even to all the spirits of men” (D&C 138:30).
Spirit Prison, including Temporary Hell
“Spirit prison” is a term used by the Apostle Peter in his
first epistle. He wrote of Jesus after his burial: “By which
also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (1 Peter
3:19). These spirits in prison have not received the gospel
for one reason or another and therefore remain subject to
temptation. All those in the spirit prison retain their moral
agency (free will) to choose good and evil. They are taught
and guided by those in Paradise. If they accept the gospel and
the ordinances performed for them in the holy temples on
earth, they can depart from the spirit prison to enter
Paradise.
The spirit prison is divided between those who have not yet
received the gospel and those who rejected the gospel while
living on the earth. Those who rejected the gospel are in a
state of suffering “in a condition known as hell” (Gospel
Principles, 292), which is really a temporary hell before the
resurrection. These individuals in hell are unable to
experience the mercy of Jesus Christ, having separated
themselves according to their own moral agency. Their time in
hell will be temporary, as outlined in Acts 2:27: “Because
thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.” Following this period of
suffering, these individuals will take part in the second
resurrection and be allowed entrance into the telestial
kingdom, the least of the kingdoms of God following the final
judgment. The telestial kingdom is sometimes referred to as
the lowest level of heaven.
The Church Operates in the Spirit World
From the time that Jesus descended into the spirit prison
until the present day, the Church of Christ operates in the
spirit world. The teachings of the prophet Wilford Woodruff
testify to this fact: “The same Priesthood exists on the other
side of the veil. … Every Apostle, every Seventy, every Elder,
etc., who has died in the faith as soon as he passes to the
other side of the veil, enters into the work of the ministry”
(Journal of Discourses, 22:333–34).
Families Exist in the Spirit World
Likewise families are organized in the spirit world. Jedediah
M. Grant, a counselor in the First Presidency under Brigham
Young, was said to have seen a vision of the spirit world. He
described this to Heber C. Kimball, who wrote: “He said that
the people he there saw were organized in family capacities.
…” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 4:135–36).
The Location of the Spirit World
The location of the Spirit World is physically the same realm
as that in which we live in today. Referring to the spirits of
righteous people who have died and entered into the spirit
world, the prophet Joseph Smith said they “are not far from
us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and
motions, and are often pained therewith” (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, 326). On this matter the prophet Ezra
Taft Benson said, “Sometimes the veil between this life and
the life beyond becomes very thin. Our loved ones who have
passed on are not far from us” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Life Is
Eternal,” Ensign, Jun 1971, 32), while President Brigham Young
left little ambiguity when he commented, “Where is the spirit
world? It is right here” (Discourses of Brigham Young, 376).
The Christian doctrine of the spirit world occupying an
earthly realm is exceptionally illuminating and fits with the
physical nature of spirits. Furthermore, this assertion is
completely consistent with scripture and the numerous
sightings of spirits over the centuries. If God should decide
that someone should see a particular spirit for one reason or
another (an ancestor, for example), he, the creator of all,
certainly has the power to enable a living person to see the
spirit form of one who has died. This soundly explains the
visions of many over the centuries, who have seen spirits of
the dead.
Conclusion
The organization of the spirit world explains a great deal
about the gospel of Jesus Christ and encourages us to be
righteous and worthy on earth so that we are prepared for our
work in the afterlife. This teaching about the spirit world is
a powerful motivator in this world.
The doctrine of the spirit world more fully concurs with what
Christ did after his death and before his resurrection
according to scripture. There is work to do in spirit prison
and many souls are needed to carry it out.
These fantastic and enlightening doctrines are a wonderful
example the restored gospel in its fullness on earth. It
provides wealth of scripturally sound and divinely inspired
doctrine on the spirit world. This doctrine not only gives
valuable insights about the afterlife—it provides spiritual
motivation for living a Christ-centered life on earth, driven
by the love of God and our neighbor. It offers much more than
the fear of hell to move us toward eternal life in the
eternities.
An important note: Christian doctrine teaches that un-baptized
children under the age of eight go directly to the celestial
kingdom when they die (see the website section and Sword
Series™ essay on baptism). This is contrary to the false
doctrine that un-baptized souls go to a state in which they
rely on our prayers and God’s mercy and judgment for
admittance into heaven. The Christian doctrine of going
directly to the celestial kingdom demonstrates more mercy and
justice for children who are unfortunate enough to meet this
fate in mortality.
Doctrinal
Study: Life
After Death: The Spirit World
Download the
Sword Series™ essay on the Spirit World |
