LDS Belief:Heaven consists of three kingdoms and people will be assigned to one of these kingdoms based upon their obedience to God’s law. LDS Words (J. Smith)Found in Lesson 18, pages 219-220: “ ‘But,’ says one, ‘I believe in one universal heaven and hell, where all go, and are all alike, and equally miserable or equally happy.’ “What! where all are huddled together—the honorable, virtuous, and murderers, and whoremongers, when it is written that they shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body? Additional Testimony of the Bold Truth:Jesus: |
The Bold Truth:The very Son of God believed in one universal heaven and hell! Jesus taught that there were only two eternal destinations for all peoples of the world. He claimed that Heaven is where God and His eternal family will dwell and Hell will be the domain of Satan, his demons and the wicked. Jesus also grouped all peoples of the world into only two broad categories-the righteous and the wicked. According to the Son of God, you are either righteous, or wicked. Our Savior gave us a very vivid picture of this truth in Matthew 25. On Judgment Day all the nations of the world will be gathered before Him to have their works judged. But even before He begins the Judgment, God’s angels divide everyone into two groups. Those on Jesus’ right are called righteous because they did good to others in need. The wicked on His left are there because they didn’t do good to those in need. Notice that these wicked people aren’t even charged with doing what we humans might call grievous sins like murder or adultery. They are simply accused of committing sins of omission. Jesus condemns them as “cursed”—then sends them into everlasting fire to live eternally with Satan and his angels. This picture certainly shows Jesus’ belief in one universal heaven and hell. It also shows us that Jesus divides the whole world into only two broad categories. Many Mormons have said to me “Heavenly Father is a loving God—He would never send someone into eternal punishment”. But Jesus testified that Heavenly Father will do just that. God has given Jesus the authority to judge the world on Judgment Day. Jesus (not Joseph Smith) determines who is worthy to receive a mansion in the Kingdom of Heaven. To be Righteous a person must have kept God’s law perfectly. Falling short of God’s law, in even one point, makes a person wicked. God does not “grade sins”. Each and every sin is disastrous because it is rebellion against God. Jesus shows that not doing the good things God commands will cause a person to live eternally in hell with Satan. Yes, Heavenly Father is a merciful and loving God and wants every person to live eternally with Him. That’s why He offered His Son as a sacrifice to ensure this could happen when Jesus paid the demands of Justice. Jesus’ shed blood truly covers over the sins of the entire world. All who believe that Jesus kept God’s law perfectly for them, ARE RIGHTEOUS because their sins have been removed. On Judgment Day, God’s angels will gather these true believers to sit at the right hand of Jesus—BEFORE He begins judging anyone’s works. Every believer will receive a reward in God’s celestial glory. |
Eternal ConsequencesPlease don’t reject Heavenly Father’s offer of complete forgiveness through Jesus’ blood. If you do, this means you don’t have faith in what Jesus did for you and you will sit on His left! “Then shall he (Jesus) say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” |
|
Lesson 18: Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities
October 13, 2008 at 6:14 pm (Eternal Families, Forgiveness, Gospel Doctrine, LDS, Latter-day Saints, Mormon Women, Mormonism, Mormons, Relief Society, Uncategorized)
Tags: Beyond the Veil, Celestial Kingdom, Heaven, Hell, Latter-day Prophets, LDS, Lesson 18, Mormons, Mormornism, Priesthood lesson, Relief Society Lesson, Three degrees of Glory
Blog RSS Feed
Comments RSS Feed