What Is Our Eternal Reward?

In this episode of Gospel First, join Joe Cirillo as he navigates the profound concept of everlasting realms, revealing the distinct Latter-day Saint perspective on heaven and hell. Delve into the intricacies of the telestial, terrestrial, and celestial kingdoms, understanding the criteria for entry and the unique characteristics of each realm. Discover the path to celestial glory through the grace of Christ, and explore the boundless possibilities of eternal life in God's presence.

If you were to pass away and face judgment today, which everlasting realm or kingdom do you believe you would enter?        

Before delving into the topic of everlasting kingdoms, it's important to clarify that Latter-day Saints have a distinct belief regarding heaven and hell compared to other religions. We hold the belief in three heavenly kingdoms, three distinct places of honor and glory.

As we covered in the previous lesson, upon our passing, we will find ourselves in either spirit paradise or spirit prison. These could be thought of as a type of temporary heaven and hell. However, it's important to note that these are transitional locations we inhabit while awaiting the eventual resurrection.

The Book of Mormon prophet Alma explained in Alma 40:14 that individuals will remain in the spirit world "until the time of their resurrection." Following this, a judgment will take place, and all individuals (excluding the sons of perdition) will proceed to one of the three levels of heaven.
 
While the concept of three degrees of glory might appear new and revolutionary to most of the Christian community during Joseph Smith's teachings, it is plainly taught in the New Testament. Paul's account in 2 Corinthians 12:2, where he describes being "caught up to the third heaven" in a vision, along with his explanation of "celestial bodies, in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 says: There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:  but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another of the moorn, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory."  Additionally, Jesus Himself in John 14:2, tells us that "in my Father's house are many mansions."

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles summarized it this way:  "Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all spirits blessed by birth [excepting sons of perdition] will ultimately be resurrected ... and inherit kingdoms of glory that are superior to our existence here on earth."  Doctrine and Covenants 76:43 teachs that the Lord "save all the works of his hands."

Let's take a look at what the Lord revealed through Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 76 about who goes to which level of heaven:  the heaven of the telestial, the heaven of the terrestrial, and the heaven of the celestial kingdom.

The Telestial Kingdom:  This is the lowest kingdom of the three kingdoms of heaven.  1 Corinthians 15:40-41 teaches:

The Celestial kingdom is likened to the glory of the sun, while the terrestrial kingdom is likened to the glory of the moon, and the telestial kingdom is likened to the glory of the stars. However, it's important to note that the telestial kingdom, despite these comparisons, retains a stunning and remarkable beauty. In fact, the telestial kingdom's magnificence is so profound that Joseph Smith, upon witnessing it in a vision, expressed in Doctrine and Covenants 76:89 that its glory "exceeds all understanding."

Unfortunately, individuals who attain this kingdom will not have the opportunity to live with God the Father or Jesus Christ. The telestial kingdom is intended for those who, as outlined in 3 Nephi 6:18, “willfully rebel against God” and desire to sin. These are individuals who never embrace Jesus Christ or adhere to His gospel, both in their earthly lives and in the afterlife or spirit world. They are people who on earth “were liars, thieves, murderers, false prophets, adulterers, and those who ridiculed sacred things.”

Doctrine and Covenants 76:85 clarifies that these individuals will not be resurrected “until the last resurrection,” which transpires at the end of the Millennium.  That will be a pretty long time.

What Is the Terrestrial Kingdom Like, and Who Goes There?  This kingdom is compared to that of the moon.  Those people who go here will not be because they are imperfect or have made some mistakes.  They are those who rejected the chance to follow Jesus Christ but still chose to live decent and good lives on earth. 

Doctrine and Covenants 76:75 teaches that they are “honorable” people who weren’t “valiant in the testimony of Jesus.”  This includes members and non members of the church.

President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “Into the terrestrial will go all those who are honorable, who have been morally clean, but who would not receive the gospel.”

Terrestrial individuals had the opportunity during their earthly existence to embrace Christ's teachings and accept His gospel, but for various reasons, they chose not to. It's possible that some were even baptized into the gospel, yet their commitment wavered. These individuals, although of good character, are those who became distracted by the things of the world and blinded by the “craftiness of men,” meaning that they had the chance to follow Jesus Christ here on earth—and rejected it—but then later decided to repent in the spirit world and follow Him.

As outlined in Doctrine and Covenants 76:91, the terrestrial kingdom surpasses the glory, power, might, and dominion of the telestial kingdom, yet it falls short of the celestial kingdom in terms of excellence.

Furthermore, Doctrine and Covenants 76:77 specifies that while Jesus will visit the terrestrial kingdom, it will not be graced by the presence of God the Father.

What is the Celestial Kingdom like, and Who Goes There?   The revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 76, which provides comprehensive insight into the three levels of heaven, spans a total of 119 verses. Yet, the distribution of focus within these verses is notable: 

Only 12 verses pertain to the terrestrial kingdom, 
16 verses delve into the sons of perdition, 
18 verses illuminate the telestial kingdom, and a substantial 
26 verses are dedicated to the celestial kingdom.

This distinct emphasis signifies the Lord's intent for us to understand and prioritize the celestial kingdom. Therefore, it's essential for us to center our attention on getting there!

In order to enter the Celestial kingdom, our state must be one of perfection—utterly pure, holy, untainted, and without blemish. This necessity stems from the teaching in Alma 11:37, which emphasizes that  “no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven.”  

You might be thinking, "That sounds unattainable! I might never manage to reach that point, so why bother trying?" You're correct—indeed, if the responsibility solely rested on us to achieve perfection, purity, and holiness, none of us would make it..

Regardless of how many good works we might do, we could never independently meet it.”  While God commands us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48, it's crucial to grasp that attaining perfection isn't a prerequisite for entering heaven; rather, the emphasis is on becoming perfected.

Elder Russell M. Nelson taught that the commandment to be perfect “can only come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord Jesus Christ.”  We need to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.”  Perfection requires Jesus.  It isn’t something we do; it is something that is done to us by the Savior.

Although we can’t qualify ourselves for salvation through our own works, we can qualify ourselves for Christ, and Christ can qualify us for the celestial kingdom.  If we make and keep covenants with Christ, then Christ will perfect us.  This is why Doctrine and Covenants 76 does not explicitly state the requirement of personal perfection for entry into heaven. Instead, it outlines that individuals destined for the celestial kingdom possess the following qualities:

• Receives the testimony of Jesus Christ

• Believed on His name

• Were baptized

• Receive the Holy Spirit

• Overcome by faith

If you presently fulfill these criteria— and it's likely that you do—then you are already on the path toward celestial glory!

Doctrine and Covenants 76:55 teaches that, those who are exalted in the celestial kingdom will be “given all things,” they will become “priests and kings” and receive of God’s “fullness, and of his glory,” “they are gods”, and “all things are theirs”, and they “shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.”  

Aiming for the celestial kingdom should stand as our ultimate objective, and through the grace of Christ, this aspiration is attainable for each one of us.

What Will Life Be Like in the Celestial Kingdom?  Although we do not know exactly what heaven will be like, we do know from Doctrine and Covenants 130:2 that the “same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy.”

So what will we do in the celestial kingdom?  Many mainstream Christian denominations will say that we will worship God by singing and worshiping Him.  That is a faithful thought, but what else will we be doing besides singing and worshiping?  

We believe that God has a grander vision for His children than eternal songs of praise.  We firmly believe that we came to earth to learn to become like our Heavenly Father.  That those who qualify for exaltation will be like God, but they will also enjoy eternal lives, eternal families, and eternal relationships.  They will create, act, and experience continuous growth.  They will progress in glory.  Their eternal life will be an extension of all noble things of earthly life, only coupled with eternal glory. 

In the next life, worshiping God will extend beyond mere music and song. It will encompass our emulation and transformation into godliness through the guidance of Jesus Christ. This, we believe, is the true essence of worshiping God.

Isn't this prospect considerably more exhilarating than the notion of just playing harps and singing?

The Keys to the Celestial Kingdom:  I testify that our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ are so loving, and so merciful, that they will give all of their children an eternal inheritance in a degree of heaven.  We don’t have to settle for the telestial or terrestrial kingdoms though.  If we make and keep sacred covenants with Jesus Christ, He will perfect us so that we can dwell with Him eternally in the celestial kingdom.

I bear witness that our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ are profoundly compassionate and merciful. Their boundless love ensures that each of their children will receive an eternal portion within one of the heavenly kingdoms. Through the three degrees of glory, God extends salvation to every creation of His hands. However, we need not confine ourselves to the telestial or terrestrial kingdoms. By making and keeping sacred covenants with Jesus Christ, we open ourselves to His transformative power, allowing Him to refine and perfect us, and as a result, we may dwell eternally with Him in the celestial kingdom.

In conclusion, President Russel M. Nelson, our living prophet, God's mouthpiece on the earth recently said, "think with the end in mind.  Think Celestial!"

This concludes our lesson in this section of  ACT 3.  The next lesson, in ACT 3, will focus on “What Will We Be like When We’re Resurrected?”

If you have any questions about the gospel, please feel free to leave a message in the comments section below, and don’t forget to subscribe and share so that we can spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ together.

Truth and the Plan: Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Perfection Pending: Russell M. Nelson

Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing: Elder Dale G. Renlund

• Doctrine and Covenants 137:1-2

• Doctrine and Covenants 131:4

• Doctrine and Covenants 76:71-86

• 2 Nephi 28:23

• Mosiah 3:23-25

• John 5:22

• 3 Nephi 28:10

• Matthew 5:48

• 1 Corinthians 15:40-42

• 2 Nephi 31:17-21

• Doctrine and Covenants 14:7

• Doctrine and Covenants 29:43-44

• John 3:16

• John 17:3

• Alma 40:14

• 2 Corinthians 12:2

• John 14:2

• 3 Nephi 6:18

• Doctrine and Covenants 76:51-53

• Doctrine and Covenants 76:55

• Doctrine and Covenants 130:2

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