I had a discussion with a Muslim acquaintance of mine the other day. Rather, we were going back and forth on Jesus Christ, Muhammed and modern-day prophets. If you know much about Islam you know they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God, nor do they believe there have been any prophets since Muhammed. While I find that a sad state of belief, I feel the need to share the plan of salvation as Latter-day Saints understand it.
Long before the world was formed, we lived with our Father in Heaven, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and all our other brothers and sisters. A plan was laid forth by our Heavenly Father whereby we might have the opportunity to become like Him. There were two who stepped forth to fulfill the plan. One, Jesus Christ, willing to execute the plan in accordance with our Father, and another, Satan, who wished to force all of the Father’s children to return and in exchange for this, wished for all the glory. The Father chose Jesus Christ, which was ratified by all in attendance, to carry forth the plan, whereby all of His children might be returned to Him. A great war took place, as is outlined in Revelations. Jesus Christ, Michael and their followers won this battle and Satan and the one third of the hosts of heaven were forever cast out of the presence of Heavenly Father.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. New Testament, Revelations 12:7-9
During this time in heaven, from the point of our creation to the point of entrance into mortality, we were educated in every manner of good things which would aid us in mortality as well as our eternities. We grew emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, but not physically. We were still spirit children of our Father in Heaven and only through entrance into mortality could we gain a body similar to the Father’s. While His is one of flesh and bone and perfect, ours are bodies of flesh and blood and very imperfect. This time in heaven was known as our First Estate. For all those born into mortality, they have passed their First Estate and are currently in the throes of the Second Estate.
During the Second Estate of our eternal existence, mortality, we must prove ourselves worthy of all the great glory our Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ, hold for us. We were given physical bodies and expected to master them. We have been given the eternal plan of salvation, with the knowledge of who we are, where we came from and where we are going. We have been given the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to guide our journey home. Jesus Christ came from lofty thrones above to mortality in order to pay the price for sin, sorrow, illness, grief and pain that we might be made perfect in Him. Jesus Christ forever broke the bands of death when He rose from the tomb and launched the morning of the First Resurrection.
Upon completion of our Second Estate and the conclusion of the Millennium (the 1,000 years of Christ’s reign on earth), we will each be judged according to the works of our First and Second Estates. From there we will be assigned to the kingdom of glory we earned. What are the kingdoms of glory? Even as we understand the different levels of spirituality and goodness in mortality, we must understand that there will be different degrees of glory in the heavens.
First, we have the telestial kingdom. Doctrine & Covenants 88:21 states:
21 And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.
In other words, those who would not live according to the law of Jesus Christ will inherit the telestial kingdom, which is a kingdom of glory. The people who inhabit this kingdom have not accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ, have refused to live by its principles and precepts (murderers, adulterers, etc.), and have refused the gospel either in mortality or in the spirit world, and therefore, must pay for their sins themselves. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not eligible to these people because of their own choices. The telestial kingdom is the lowest degree of glory and is likened unto the stars in the night sky.
Second, we have the terrestrial kingdom. This kingdom will be inhabited by those who live the lesser portions of the gospel of Jesus Christ, never being baptized by one in authority, never seeking for further light and knowledge, never having received temple ordinances. These are good people who in either this world or in the spirit world, chose to not partake of the greater rewards the Savior offered them. They remained in the religions which suited them and their purposes rather than seeking for greater truth. This kingdom is likened unto the moon which lights up the night sky.
Third, we have the celestial kingdom. This kingdom is the greatest of all that our Father in Heaven has to offer. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote:
“Highest among the kingdoms of glory hereafter is the celestial kingdom. It is the kingdom of God, the glory thereof being typified by the sun in the firmament. The Prophet [Joseph Smith, Jr.] has left us this glorious occurrence that took place in the Kirtland Temple on January 21, 1836:
“The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell. I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of the kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son. I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.” (Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 107)
“An inheritance in this glory kingdom is gained by complete obedience to gospel or celestial law. (D&C 88:16-32.) By entering the gate of repentance and baptism [by one in authority] candidates find themselves on the straight and narrow path leading to the celestial kingdom. By devotion and faithfulness, by enduring to the end in righteousness and obedience, it is then possible to merit a celestial reward.” Mormon Doctrine, p. 117-118
Only adherence to the law or gospel of Jesus Christ, in every aspect, gain a follower of Christ the highest level of the highest kingdom, where Joseph Smith, Jr. said, “[in the resurrection the righteous] shall rise again to dwell in everlasting burnings in immortal glory, not to sorrow, suffer, or die any more; but they shall be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.” (Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 347)
Within each kingdom, growth is possible but it is not possible to progress from one kingdom to the next once judgement has occurred. In the celestial kingdom eternal progression in all things is a truth and right of those who have earned this designation.
Those who have followed Satan after having attained a perfect understanding of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as that one third of the hosts of heaven who followed Satan, will be cast into outer darkness forever and ever, to never harm or torment the followers of Jesus Christ again.
This is a very basic explanation of the plan of salvation and why it can’t quickly be gained in one split second of “saving”. The eternities are far too complex and exacting for that. We must continually seek after all things of good report, patterning our lives after that of Jesus Christ, reaching constantly for the heavens that on that day we stand before our God, we will hear as we are gathered in His loving arms, “Well done by good and faithful servant.”
Note: Again, I would highly recommend Matthew B. Brown’s The Plan of Salvation as an excellent resource for understanding the plan of salvation and all its nuances.