|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | The '''Celestial Kingdom''' is the highest of three [[heaven]]s or heavenly kingdoms. It is thought to be the "[[third heaven]]" referred to by the [[Paul of Tarsus|Apostle Paul]] in the [[King James Version]] of [[Second Epistle to the Corinthians|2 Corinthians]] [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_cor/12/2#2 12:2] and it is said by Latter-day Saints to correspond to the "celestial bodies" and "glory of the sun" mentioned in [[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Corinthians]] [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_cor/15/40-41#40 15:40-41].
| + | #REDIRECT [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms]] |
| − | | |
| − | ==Inhabitants of the celestial kingdom==
| |
| − | The celestial kingdom will be the residence of those who have been righteous, accepted the teachings of [[Jesus Christ]], and made and lived up to all of the required [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]] and [[Covenant (Latter Day Saints)|covenants]] during their mortal lives.<ref>Joseph Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith (ed.) (1976). ''[[Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith]]'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) p. 309: "All men who become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ will have to receive the fulness of the ordinances of his kingdom; and those who will not receive all the ordinances will come short of the fulness of that glory"; see also p. 362 where Smith said that without [[Temple (Latter Day Saints)|temple]] ordinances "we cannot obtain celestial thrones."</ref> It will also be the residence of those individuals that accepted and received the ordinances and covenants in the post-mortal [[spirit world]].<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/137/5-9#5 Doctrine and Covenants 137:5-9].</ref> All children who die before the age of eight automatically inherit the celestial kingdom.<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/137/10#10 Doctrine and Covenants 137:10].</ref> The celestial kingdom will also be the permanent residence of [[God the Father]] and [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]].<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/76/62#62 Doctrine and Covenants 76:62].</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | Joseph Smith taught that "a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it."<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/11#11 Doctrine and Covenants 130:11].</ref> This white stone will become a [[Urim and Thummim]] (or [[Seer stone (Latter Day Saints)|seer stone]]) to the recipient.<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/10#10 Doctrine and Covenants 130:10].</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Degrees within the celestial kingdom==
| |
| − | Joseph Smith taught that the celestial kingdom itself is subdivided into three "heavens or degrees".<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/1#1 Doctrine and Covenants 131:1].</ref> Only those individuals who are [[Sealing (Latter Day Saints)|sealed]] in [[celestial marriage]] to a spouse in a [[Temple (Latter Day Saints)|temple]] while alive (or after death by proxy) will be permitted to enter into the highest degree of celestial kingdom.<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/131/2-4#2 Doctrine and Covenants 131:2-4].</ref> These individuals will eventually become "[[Exaltation (Mormonism)|exalted]]"<ref>Joseph Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith (ed.) (1976). ''[[Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith]]'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) p. 348: "It will be a great while after you have [died] before you will have learned [all the principles of exaltation]. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave."</ref> and will be permitted to live "the kind of life God lives".<ref>LDS Church, [http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b3bc55cbf541229058520974e44916a0/?vgnextoid=32c41b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=7eab7befabc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1&contentLocale=0 “Chapter 47: Exaltation”], ''Gospel Principles'', 301.</ref>
| |
| − | | |
| − | ==Location of the celestial kingdom==
| |
| − | Joseph Smith taught that the earth will also receive a celestial glory.<ref>Joseph Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith (ed.) (1976). ''[[Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith]]'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book) p. 181: "This earth will be rolled back into the presence of God, and crowned with celestial glory."</ref> Some Latter-day Saints believe that the earth will be the celestial kingdom, or at least a celestial world within the celestial kingdom for humans who lived on the earth and qualified for the celestial kingdom.<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/88/14-26#14 Doctrine and Covenants 88:14-26]</ref>
| |
