inquiringmind Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 Here on earth, Mormon missionaries seem very patient, but I have a question about the hereafter.Does everyone who has died have the heavens opened to them?Do they only get one visit, and one chance to accept the restored Gospel?If their loved ones here are less than receptive, could that hurt them?
LeSellers Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) Does everyone who has died have the heavens opened to them?Yes. All will receive an equitable opportunity to hear and understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no substantive basis for this assumption, but I do see this chance as being tailored to the person's needs, his experiences in mortality, and his mental and spiritual maturity.Keep in mind that Father and Mother want us all home with Them. "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."Do they only get one visit, and one chance to accept the restored Gospel?We have no definitive information on this matter.I believe, as I said above, that Father wants us home, so I can only accept that he will make every effort to give them more than a reasonable shot at understanding and accepting the Atonement of His Son.If their loved ones here are less than receptive, could that hurt them?We are all judged as individuals. We are exalted as couples and families. This may seem a dichotomy, but the sealing ordinance is a "lap joint", not a "butt joint"; it crosses generations—a man may refuse to accept the Gospel, but his father, or grandfather, will link to the next generation, and no one who wills it will be excluded.Lehi Edited October 27, 2011 by LeSellers
cinepro Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 For all our talk about "faith", I ultimately don't think "faith" will factor in to anyone's salvation. Everyone who has ever lived will at some point have the Plan of Salvation and Atonement explained to them in a way that they will understand it is real, and they will get to choose whether that is something they are interested in. It may happen here on Earth, or in the eternities, but that seems like the only effective way to actually judge people and "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man".
BCSpace Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 I think for the most part, people will still be afflicted by the same stumbling blocks in the afterlife prior to the resurrection. What I'm not sure about is when and if one realizes they are dead. Obviously some have that realization given that they come back as angels to visit people on earth etc.. But if one realizes they are dead, wouldn't that affect the need for faith? "Hey. Someone on earth told me about them Marmons and the preaching of the gospel to the dead and now it's happening to me. It must be true!"
inquiringmind Posted October 27, 2011 Author Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) I think for the most part, people will still be afflicted by the same stumbling blocks in the afterlife prior to the resurrection...So if death opens heaven to them, does that mean that if they don't accept the restored Gospel the first time it's offered, they automatically become sop's?The Mormon missionaries knock on the same door more than once here, and try to help people overcome their stumbling blocks in the flesh, is it just a one time take it or leave it proposition on the other side?P.S. I just found this quote from Joseph Smith.I know the Scriptures and understand them. I said, no man can commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body, nor in this life, until he receives the Holy Ghost but they must do it in this world. (Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith, Section six, 1843-44, pg. 357.)Is that a reliable quote?Does that mean we don't have to worry about any loved ones who died without hearing the restored Gospel, that the worst they can do is the telestial kingdom, and that nothing we do (or fail to do) can keep them from getting there? Edited October 27, 2011 by inquiringmind
TAO Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 inquiringmind, nobody really knows, because we don't know what 'sense of knowledge' we will have when we get there... and I would think the js quote is correct, yeah. I could be wrong though XD.
jo1952 Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 So if death opens heaven to them, does that mean that if they don't accept the restored Gospel the first time it's offered, they automatically become sop's?The Mormon missionaries knock on the same door more than once here, and try to help people overcome their stumbling blocks in the flesh, is it just a one time take it or leave it proposition on the other side?P.S. I just found this quote from Joseph Smith.I know the Scriptures and understand them. I said, no man can commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body, nor in this life, until he receives the Holy Ghost but they must do it in this world. (Teachings of The Prophet Joseph Smith, Section six, 1843-44, pg. 357.)Is that a reliable quote?Does that mean we don't have to worry about any loved ones who died without hearing the restored Gospel, that the worst they can do is the telestial kingdom, and that nothing we do (or fail to do) can keep them from getting there?In the NT there are some verses which explain that a faithful spouse can help to save their wife/husband (though I can't remember where it is...please forgive me, I am half asleep and am too tired and lazy to try to find it). I think the reason this is taught is because after mortal death the spouse will (hopefully) desire to stay with their wife/husband, and so, once they finally have ears to hear, they will gladly accept Christ.Joseph Smith's statement makes sense for a couple of reasons. One is that the Gospel is being preached to the dead. Two is that in the end times the mystery of God will be removed and everyone (including the dead it would seem to me), will all have that sure knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, etc. As I doubt many will then reject or deny Christ, I believe that the denial and rejection would need to be done while in our mortal life. The punishment would then need to be suffered NOT while in the flesh, but while in hell, thus Justice will be served.Also, since I believe that everything that is done in this physical world is a pattern of what happens in the spirit world, I think most likely that the dead will have more than one opportunity to hear the Gospel message; just like we do now.I think the basic difference of what will take place after physical death is that unforgiven sins will need to be paid for after we have died and before we are resurrected. The only possible exception that I am aware of is for the sop who will need to pay after being resurrected. While in our mortal life we can be forgiven of our sins through repentance; in the next estate they must be paid through Justice. Either way, the Atonement covers ALL sins regardless of whether it is through forgiveness in this estate, or through paying the debt in spirit prison/hell in the next estate.Regards,jo
Calm Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/1-cor/7.14?lang=eng#13Verses 12 thru 16. Edited October 27, 2011 by calmoriah
jo1952 Posted October 27, 2011 Posted October 27, 2011 http://lds.org/scrip....14?lang=eng#13Verses 12 thru 16.Thank you, Calmoriah!!!Best regards,jo
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