Repentance In Spirit Prison

[Ahab]

Here is better than there because we are here now and won't be there until later and now is better than later because the sooner we do good things the right way the better.

Repentance is only for the things we do that we should not be doing, ya know, and it's always better to do what we should do than what we should not do and the sooner we do what is good to do the better off we are for doing what is good for us to do.

Ignorance is the only good excuse for not knowing what we should be doing.

[janderich]

My overarching question is why do we put so much effort into missionary work while on earth when it can all be done in the Spirit World? I know the usual answers of "growing the kingdom of God on earth" and so forth that we are taught to say during these lessons in church. Is it easier to repent in this world than in the spirit world? Is that the reason we want everyone to have an opportunity while in mortality? What exactly is the benefit of having the gospel now if we would have accepted it in the spirit world?

The spirit world is not a do-over. If we have set our hearts against the message of the gospel we are not going to get a second chance to obtain the blessings we would have received. Please note the revelation given to Joseph Smith on the matter, "Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom..." (D&C 137:7-9 ). While there may be a number of purposes for teaching the gospel in the spirit world, it is clear that the basis for judging those who have died is according to what they would have received while on the earth. So, if a person did not hear the gospel while on the earth, but would have accepted it, they then will be given the opportunity to accept it in the spirit world and will be judged according to what they would have done if they had accepted it in this mortal realm.

 

To further bring this point home listen to Joseph F. Smith, "Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but lived according to God in the spirit" (D&C 138:32-34, refer also to 1 Peter 4:6). 

 

I see the work as equally important on both sides of the veil. We put much effort in here, we will likewise put much effort in on the other side. The Lord appoints the time and season to every person, we simply do what we can. In the end, all must receive the gospel message.   

Edited August 1, 2015 by janderich

[Bobbieaware]

The spirit world is not a do-over. If we have set our hearts against the message of the gospel we are not going to get a second chance to obtain the blessings we would have received. Please note the revelation given to Joseph Smith on the matter, "Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom..." (D&C 137:7-9 ). While there may be a number of purposes for teaching the gospel in the spirit world, it is clear that the basis for judging those who have died is according to what they would have received while on the earth. So, if a person did not hear the gospel while on the earth, but would have accepted it, they then will be given the opportunity to accept it in the spirit world and will be judged according to what they would have done if they had accepted it in this mortal realm.

 

To further bring this point home listen to Joseph F. Smith, "Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but lived according to God in the spirit" (D&C 138:32-34, refer also to 1 Peter 4:6). 

 

I see the work as equally important on both sides of the veil. We put much effort in here, we will likewise put much effort in on the other side. The Lord appoints the time and season to every person, we simply do what we can. In the end, all must receive the gospel message.

Go back and reread D&C 138. If you are correct, why does the Lord make sure the Gospel message of hope is preached to "ALL" the dead, including the rebellious who rejected the prophets?

[carbon dioxide]

Go back and reread D&C 138. If you are correct, why does the Lord make sure the Gospel message of hope is preached to "ALL" the dead, including the rebellious who rejected the prophets?

God wants to bless all of his children with something even if he can't bless all of them with everything.  A person can reject the prophets in mortal life and accept them and their teachings in the spirit world.  However there is a punishment for rejecting while in mortality and a blessing for receiving it afterwards.  The punishment is denial of Celestial glory.  The reward is a resurrection to a lower kingdom of glory.  The honorable men who were "rebellious" simply for not accepting get the Terrestrial kingdom "Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it." (D&C 76:72-76).  Those that were wicked finally get a Telestial Kingdom.

 

We should not look at the missionary work in the spirit world as just a work to bring those spirits to the Celestial Kingdom.  For many of them, it is a work to bring them to Terrestrial glory. 

 

Edited August 1, 2015 by carbon dioxide

[Bobbieaware]

God wants to bless all of his children with something even if he can't bless all of them with everything. A person can reject the prophets in mortal life and accept them and their teachings in the spirit world. However there is a punishment for rejecting while in mortality and a blessing for receiving it afterwards. The punishment is denial of Celestial glory. The reward is a resurrection to a lower kingdom of glory. The honorable men who were "rebellious" simply for not accepting get the Terrestrial kingdom "Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it." (D&C 76:72-76). Those that were wicked finally get a Telestial Kingdom.

We should not look at the missionary work in the spirit world as just a work to bring those spirits to the Celestial Kingdom. For many of them, it is a work to bring them to Terrestrial glory.

You are exactly correct! Now you've ruined my little scheme ibecause I wanted to see what janderich had to say without any help from the peanut gallery. Thanks, pal.

Edited August 1, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[Calm]

Better than any extra-scriptural commentaries on this important subject, the scriptures themselves present the doctrines on the salvation of the dead in their purest and most clarifying light

Feel free to write to church curriculum to correct them. They request feedback. It is a continuation of the GP chapter 41 quote originally referenced by filo iirc.

[HappyJackWagon]

God wants to bless all of his children with something even if he can't bless all of them with everything.  A person can reject the prophets in mortal life and accept them and their teachings in the spirit world.  However there is a punishment for rejecting while in mortality and a blessing for receiving it afterwards.  The punishment is denial of Celestial glory.  The reward is a resurrection to a lower kingdom of glory.  The honorable men who were "rebellious" simply for not accepting get the Terrestrial kingdom "Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it." (D&C 76:72-76).  Those that were wicked finally get a Telestial Kingdom.

 

We should not look at the missionary work in the spirit world as just a work to bring those spirits to the Celestial Kingdom.  For many of them, it is a work to bring them to Terrestrial glory. 

 

So there is partial repentance but not full repentance. I hope that every other behavior or attitude that necessitates repentance after this life will receive the fullness of Christ's infinite atonement or we're all hosed.

 

Claiming partial repentance or Christ's inability to redeem us fully with his grace is a false doctrine.

[Bobbieaware]

So there is partial repentance but not full repentance. I hope that every other behavior or attitude that necessitates repentance after this life will receive the fullness of Christ's infinite atonement or we're all hosed.

 

Claiming partial repentance or Christ's inability to redeem us fully with his grace is a false doctrine.

Then where do the three post-resurrection kingdoms of glory fit into your understanding of the plan of salvation? Is the teaching of three degrees of glory also false doctrine? D&C 88 not only speaks plainly of there being three degrees of glory but It also attests to the fact that there will be three general degrees of post-resurrection sanctification (internal glory) that will be obtained by the children or men. One degree of glory corresponding to the brightness of the sun, another to the brightness of the moon, and the last to the much dimmer glory of the stars when compared to the brightness of the sun and moon.

I believe what you are leaving out of your thought process is that all but the sons of perdition will ultimately be forgiven, but not all with have acquired the same intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, spiritual gifts and capacity to love. One of the main reasons being, as per the Lord's warning to Martin Harris in D&C 19, some choose to humble themselves before the Lord that they might be blessed, while others are compelled (impelled might be a better word) to be humble and for that reason loose the greater blessing.

[Bobbieaware]

Feel free to write to church curriculum to correct them. They request feedback. It is a continuation of the GP chapter 41 quote originally referenced by filo iirc.

I should add that the quote is technically correct but it does not present a complete picture. So though correct, the missing information can cause misunderstandings. But there might be sound reasoning behind leaving some of the pertinent information out. The Lord doesn't want sinners to get the idea that they can willfully procrastinate the day of repentance and come away unscathed and still obtain every blessing reserved for the proactively faithful, humble and diligent.

Edited August 1, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[carbon dioxide]

So there is partial repentance but not full repentance. I hope that every other behavior or attitude that necessitates repentance after this life will receive the fullness of Christ's infinite atonement or we're all hosed.

 

Claiming partial repentance or Christ's inability to redeem us fully with his grace is a false doctrine.

If a single woman becomes pregnant and has a baby, she can be forgiven of the act that got her pregnant but she still has to live with the consequences of her decision.  It is no different on this issue.  Otherwise there really is no reason to do missionary work in this life.  There really is no reason for a person not to reject the gospel in this life since they can just repent in the spirit world and be fully forgiven and receive celestial glory in the next.  This would be a good argument for my son not to go on a mission.  What would he really accomplish in the end?

Edited August 1, 2015 by carbon dioxide

[janderich]

You are exactly correct! Now you've ruined my little scheme ibecause I wanted to see what janderich had to say without any help from the peanut gallery. Thanks, pal.

I agree with Carbon Dioxide. But I would add that the judgement we receive will be based on what we would have received had we clearly understood and been given the opportunity in the flesh. In the spirit world preaching does not change the kingdom a person will receive at the resurrection. Such matters were already determined at death. However, preaching the gospel in the spirit world does allow those, before they are resurrected, to reach their potential and "live according to God in the spirit".  

[PeterPear]

If a single woman becomes pregnant and has a baby, she can be forgiven of the act that got her pregnant but she still has to live with the consequences of her decision.  It is no different on this issue.  Otherwise there really is no reason to do missionary work in this life.  There really is no reason for a person not to reject the gospel in this life since they can just repent in the spirit world and be fully forgiven and receive celestial glory in the next.  This would be a good argument for my son not to go on a mission.  What would he really accomplish in the end?

 

You are very very wrong.

The Keys of the Priesthood reside with mortals. The priesthood ordinances for both living and dead are performed by mortal beings, the organization of the Priesthood Keys is called a "Church."

The Dead in the Spirit World would not be able to repent unless they accepted Priesthood Ordinance performed for them by worthy repentant mortals on this Earth.

 

If your son got a single woman pregnant he too has to live with the consequences - such as not going on a mission.

 

If your son is worthy to go on a mission, what he would accomplish is through his preaching the Holy Spirit would convince people to repent of their sins, come unto Christ and do His work.

 

It's called "MAGNIFYING" the Lord's Work.

[carbon dioxide]

You are very very wrong.

The Keys of the Priesthood reside with mortals. The priesthood ordinances for both living and dead are performed by mortal beings, the organization of the Priesthood Keys is called a "Church."

The Dead in the Spirit World would not be able to repent unless they accepted Priesthood Ordinance performed for them by worthy repentant mortals on this Earth.

 

If your son got a single woman pregnant he too has to live with the consequences - such as not going on a mission.

 

If your son is worthy to go on a mission, what he would accomplish is through his preaching the Holy Spirit would convince people to repent of their sins, come unto Christ and do His work.

 

It's called "MAGNIFYING" the Lord's Work.

The only part I disagree with is "You are very very wrong."  I agree with everything else.  I was just saying there is a consequence for people who hear the gospel and reject it.  They can't reject the gospel, die, repent and accept the gospel in the spirit world and everything is ok.  There is no consequence for them rejected the gospel while they were alive. Even if they can repent fully, there is a consequence for the decision to reject the invitation to be baptized while alive.  God is just.  God is not going to reward someone who accepted the gospel the same as someone who rejected and later accepted in the spirit world.  How would that be just to the person who accepted?

[PeterPear]

The only part I disagree with is "You are very very wrong."  I agree with everything else.  I was just saying there is a consequence for people who hear the gospel and reject it.  They can't reject the gospel, die, repent and accept the gospel in the spirit world and everything is ok.  There is no consequence for them rejected the gospel while they were alive. Even if they can repent fully, there is a consequence for the decision to reject the invitation to be baptized while alive.  God is just.  God is not going to reward someone who accepted the gospel the same as someone who rejected and later accepted in the spirit world.  How would that be just to the person who accepted?

 

Read D&C 138:32

 

32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or [died] in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

 

If you want to reject the Mercy of The Lord, then be unmerciful in your thinking.

Ever heard of the parable of the workers who were all paid the same - no matter the hour they started working in the Lord's vineyard?

Edited August 1, 2015 by PeterPear

[Avatar4321]

Have you asked the Lord?

[janderich]

Read D&C 138:32

 

32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or [died] in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

 

If you want to reject the Mercy of The Lord, then be unmerciful in your thinking.

Ever heard of the parable of the workers who were all paid the same - no matter the hour they started working in the Lord's vineyard?

Please note that there are not second chances in the spirit world. Yes we can repent, but our kingdom is determined at the end of this mortal life. D&C 138:32 does not contradict this. People who die in transgression will hear the message of the gospel and repent but they cannot change the glory by which their body will be quickened because they will not have their body. 

[Bobbieaware]

I agree with Carbon Dioxide. But I would add that the judgement we receive will be based on what we would have received had we clearly understood and been given the opportunity in the flesh. In the spirit world preaching does not change the kingdom a person will receive at the resurrection. Such matters were already determined at death. However, preaching the gospel in the spirit world does allow those, before they are resurrected, to reach their potential and "live according to God in the spirit".

If the judgement of all men takes place at the time of death. why does the Gospel being preached to the dead cause them to be judged according to men in the flesh (I.e. judged as if they are still living in the flesh) but live according to God in the spirit (live according to the principles of the gospel in the world of departed spirits). Isn't it more in keeping with the principles of divine justice and free agency to allow men to make up their own minds as to what kind of salvation they will obtain rather than having God prejudge them? Heck, why bother with a prolonged test in mortality at all if God already knows who is and who is not going to obtain celestial glory, and by that foreknowledge decree and unalterable judgement of success or failure? The idea that our fate is determined at the time of death, based upon God knowing if we would or wiould not have been valiant in the Gospel, even before a great many have even had a real chance to prove their worthiness, smacks of predestination along the lines of Calvinism. Just asking...

Edited August 2, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[filovirus]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm trying to internalize how it all fits together. Just got back from our Ward Campout so I haven't kept up on the thread.

[janderich]

If the judgement of all men takes place at the time of death. why does the Gospel being preached to the dead cause them to be judged according to men in the flesh (I.e. judged as if they are still living in the flesh) but live according to God in the spirit (live according to the principles of the gospel in the world of departed spirits). Isn't it more in keeping with the principles of divine justice and free agency to allow men to make up their own minds as to what kind of salvation they will obtain rather than having God prejudge them? Heck, why bother with a prolonged test in mortality at all if God already knows who is and who is not going to obtain celestial glory, and by that foreknowledge decree and unalterable judgement of success or failure? The idea that our fate is determined at the time of death, based upon God knowing if we would or wiould not have been valiant in the Gospel, even before a great many have even had a real chance to prove their worthiness, smacks of predestination along the lines of Calvinism. Just asking...

Full judgement does not take place at the time of death because those who have not heard the gospel must hear it and accept the ordinances. But the time to make up ones mind about living the gospel is here and now, in this life. The plan did not change because Joseph introduced vicarious ordinances. This life has always been the time to accept the gospel and the next life has always been about offering opportunities not provided in this life. 

 

I don't think it's worth while to start guessing about the foreknowledge of God. But I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming because God foreknows what will occur that we are predestined and it doesn't matter what choice we make here and now. 

[Storm Rider]

Full judgement does not take place at the time of death because those who have not heard the gospel must hear it and accept the ordinances. But the time to make up ones mind about living the gospel is here and now, in this life. The plan did not change because Joseph introduced vicarious ordinances. This life has always been the time to accept the gospel and the next life has always been about offering opportunities not provided in this life. 

 

I don't think it's worth while to start guessing about the foreknowledge of God. But I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming because God foreknows what will occur that we are predestined and it doesn't matter what choice we make here and now. 

 

I don't think so or maybe it is an issue of semantics.  We each have been given degrees of truth in this life; how we accept and live those truths is what has an impact on our eternal salvation.  We have been promised that each child of God will have the opportunity to hear, accept or reject the gospel, and receive all the ordinances of salvation. 

 

I am convinced that those who live valiantly living the principles of truth, yet never have heard of Jesus Christ and his gospel may obtain the Celestial Kingdom just like a person who has heard, accepted and received the ordinances of salvation in this life and lived valiantly will receive the Celestial Kingdom.  It has far more to do with what we do with what we have been given. 

 

Judgment is for all and how we have lived by the truths we have heard, accepted, and lived.

[carbon dioxide]

Read D&C 138:32

 

32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or [died] in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

 

If you want to reject the Mercy of The Lord, then be unmerciful in your thinking.

Ever heard of the parable of the workers who were all paid the same - no matter the hour they started working in the Lord's vineyard?

Some people will not have the gospel preached to them in prison.  Those who leave the Church will not have the gospel preached to them.  They had their chance and blew it.  For those who rejected the prophets, the may have the gospel preached to them but their reward or eternal destiny will be different than those who did not reject the prophets. 

 

D&C 137:7 "All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God."

 

Does this passage apply to those who died with a knowledge of the gospel and refused to accept it in mortality but accepted it afterwards.  I don't think so.  D&C 76 says that honorable people who rejected gospel in mortality but accept it afterwards will be heirs to the Terrestrial Kingdom.  A person can be honorable and reject the prophets at the same time if they do so in ignorance or being blinded by the philosophies of man.

Edited August 2, 2015 by carbon dioxide

[janderich]

I don't think so or maybe it is an issue of semantics.  We each have been given degrees of truth in this life; how we accept and live those truths is what has an impact on our eternal salvation.  We have been promised that each child of God will have the opportunity to hear, accept or reject the gospel, and receive all the ordinances of salvation. 

 

I am convinced that those who live valiantly living the principles of truth, yet never have heard of Jesus Christ and his gospel may obtain the Celestial Kingdom just like a person who has heard, accepted and received the ordinances of salvation in this life and lived valiantly will receive the Celestial Kingdom.  It has far more to do with what we do with what we have been given. 

 

Judgment is for all and how we have lived by the truths we have heard, accepted, and lived.

I agree with you. In fact, I'm not sure where there is any contradiction between what I have said and what you said.

[Bobbieaware]

Some people will not have the gospel preached to them in prison. Those who leave the Church will not have the gospel preached to them. They had their chance and blew it. For those who rejected the prophets, the may have the gospel preached to them but their reward or eternal destiny will be different than those who did not reject the prophets.

D&C 137:7 "All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God."

Does this passage apply to those who died with a knowledge of the gospel and refused to accept it in mortality but accepted it afterwards. I don't think so. D&C 76 says that honorable people who rejected gospel in mortality but accept it afterwards will be heirs to the Terrestrial Kingdom. A person can be honorable and reject the prophets at the same time if they do so in ignorance or being blinded by the philosophies of man.

Several times in D&C 138, President Smith says the Gospel is taught to "ALL" the dead. So how could those who rebelled against or rejected the Gospel message of the prophets not be included in number of ALL those who will hear the Gospel preached in the spirit world? The text doesn't say "almost all of the dead" or "nearly all of the dead" or "just about everybody except for 'so and so,'" I've had the Gospel preached to me throughout my entire life. Why didn't I hear the message preached just once and that be the end of it?

Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah had the Gospel preached to them by their fathers but they completely rejected that message and went on to live lives of total rebellion against God and his Gospel . Yet sometime after their wholesale rebellion against the Gospel message began, Alma and the sons of Mosiah were visited by a heavenly messenger who again preached the Gospel message to them -- in a manner much like the rebellious who reject the prophets on earth will have the opportunity to once again hear the message of salvation preached to them in the spirit world -- and as a consequence of the words of that heavenly messenger they all came unto Christ and fully repented of their sins.

So here's the big question: If Alma had died during his three days of spiritual agony, before the moment he came unto Christ and begged the Son of Gof to save him, would he be numbered among those whom you say had their chance but "blew it," and thereby lose any opportunity to relearn and accept the Gospel after death? If your answer is yes, then why is the seemingly artificial barrier of death so final and irrevocable when it comes to one having the opportunity to come unto Christ and repent? What is it about death that so drastically alters the ability of men to respond to the gospel message in the spirit world in the same way Alma responded to it while on earth? And I reiterate, why does the text of D&C 138 repeatedly say the Gospel is preached to "ALL" the dead if the Gospel isn't preached to ALL the dead? Why does not the text of 138 make it clear that there are some who will be excluded from the opportunity to hear the saving Gospel message in the world of spirits?

Edited August 3, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[Bobbieaware]

Full judgement does not take place at the time of death because those who have not heard the gospel must hear it and accept the ordinances. But the time to make up ones mind about living the gospel is here and now, in this life. The plan did not change because Joseph introduced vicarious ordinances. This life has always been the time to accept the gospel and the next life has always been about offering opportunities not provided in this life.

I don't think it's worth while to start guessing about the foreknowledge of God. But I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming because God foreknows what will occur that we are predestined and it doesn't matter what choice we make here and now.

Here's where you're making your error -- and because of what's written in the Book of Mormon, which contains "the lesser portion of God's word," it's very understandable you would make this error. You see, in reality, as far as the laws governing God's justice and mercy are concerned, "the day of this life," as spoken by Alma, includes the time we spend after death in the spirit world. The Doctrine and Covenants expands upon the text of the Book of Mormon, letting us know that in the eyes of God the "death of the mortal body" does not take place until there are no longer proxies with bodies on earth who can perform vicarious ordinances in the temple, and this so that the dead might be judged as if they had in very deed submitted themselves to those ordinances while they were yet in the flesh.

This is why though the dead no longer have bodies they are "judged according to men in the flesh," because, in the eyes of God, through the saving efficacy of that proxy temple work, they do accept the Gospel and receive its saving ordinances while "in the flesh." Those who perform temple work for the dead take upon themselves the names of deceased persons, and insofar as the law of God is concerned those deceased persons hear (or rehear) the Gospel message and received its saving ordinances "in the flesh." So long as there are proxies with mortal bodies, and as long as those proxies are performing sacred ordinance work in the temples in behalf of those deceased persons, as far as the demands of God's justice and mercy are concerned, the dead receive the Gospel and its ordinances during "the day of this life," before "the death of the mortal body. This is a great mystery disbelieved by non-LDS Christians, and misunderstood by some Latter-day Saints, but it is verily true.

Edited August 3, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[janderich]

Here's where you're making your error -- and because of what's written in the Book of Mormon, which contains "the lesser portion of God's word," it's very understandable you would make this error. You see, in reality, as far as the laws governing God's justice and mercy are concerned, "the day of this life," as spoken by Alma, includes the time we spend after death in the spirit world. The Doctrine and Covenants expands upon the text of the Book of Mormon, letting us know that in the eyes of God the "death of the mortal body" does not take place until there are no longer proxies with bodies on earth who can perform vicarious ordinances in the temple, and this so that the dead might be judged as if they had in very deed submitted themselves to those ordinances while they were yet in the flesh.

This is why though the dead no longer have bodies they are "judged according to men in the flesh," because, in the eyes of God, through the saving efficacy of that proxy temple work, they do accept the Gospel and receive its saving ordinances while "in the flesh." Those who perform temple work for the dead take upon themselves the names of deceased persons, and insofar as the law of God is concerned those deceased persons hear (or rehear) the Gospel message and received its saving ordinances "in the flesh." So long as there are proxies with mortal bodies, and as long as those proxies are performing sacred ordinance work in the temples in behalf of those deceased persons, as far as the demands of God's justice and mercy are concerned, the dead receive the Gospel and its ordinances during "the day of this life," before "the death of the mortal body. This is a great mystery disbelieved by non-LDS Christians, and misunderstood by some Latter-day Saints, but it is verily true.

I would love to see this verse in the D&C that says, "'death of the mortal body' does not take place until there are no longer proxies with bodies on earth who can perform  vicarious ordinances". Because I have in the past considered what your are saying and do not see it supported.

 

- When Amulek says, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (Alma 34:32). I find it very foolish to assume that the term "this life" means this life and the next life. Where is the scripture or talk from a prophet that changes the meaning of that scripture?  

 

-There is a significant difference between this life and the spirit world. In this life we have a mortal body. Through this body we are tested and tried in ways that we will not be in the spirit world. Clearly the two places are not the same and there is a reason Adam fell and a reason we moved downwards but forwards. 

 

- Elder McConkie was very blunt on this point. He said, "Thus the false and heretical doctrine that people who fail to live the law in this life (having had an opportunity so to do) will have a further chance of salvation in the life to come is a soul-destroying doctrine, a doctrine that lulls its adherents into carnal security and thereby denies them a hope of eternal salvation" (Mormon Doctrine p. 687). 

 

Temple work is not here to give second chances to those who wasted their time while on the earth. It is here to allow those who didn't have a fair first chance to receive the blessings of the gospel. Justice and mercy do extend into the next life. Mercy allows people who did not have a full opportunity to receive ordinances and enter into sacred covenants. And justice limits those who have already had an opportunity, not to be unfairly given kingdoms and glory they did not earn while in this life.