Spiritual Death

Spiritual death is to be "cut off from the presence of the Lord," the phrase used repeatedly in the scriptures to define the term (2 Ne. 9:6; Alma 42:9; Hel. 14:16). Being cut off from the Lord's presence can mean being separated from God himself or being alienated from God's ways through a sinful lifestyle (to "die as to things pertaining unto righteousness"; Alma 12:16, 32; 40:26).

Two Types of Spiritual Death

There are two ways we are cut off or separated from the presence of the Lord, and this distinction sometimes causes confusion. The Guide to the Scriptures makes this distinction by defining spiritual death as "separation from God and his influences." In other words, separation from either Heavenly Father or the Holy Ghost can be called "spiritual death." Book of Mormon prophets use the labels "temporal" and "spiritual" when delineating these two types of separation:

Our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord. (Alma 42:7)

The resurrection ... redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. (Hel. 14:16)

In other words, being cut off from Heavenly Father's presence is called a "temporal separation," and being cut off from the Holy Ghost's presence is called a "spiritual separation." The temporal separation (from Heavenly Father) is sometimes called the first spiritual death, or the first death (2 Ne. 9:15; Alma 11:45; 12:36; Hel. 14:16; D&C 29:41). The spiritual separation (from the Holy Ghost) is sometimes called the second spiritual death, or the second death (Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8; Jacob 3:11; Alma 12:16, 32; 13:30; Hel. 14:18-19; D&C 63:17; 76:37). This terminology may have been chosen because it refers to the sequence in which the two deaths occur in every individual's life.

It is important to understand the definition, cause, and resolution of both types of spiritual death, as well as the conditions that must be met for the resolution to occur. It is also important to understand which type of separation is necessary and which is not.

Temporal Separation

Definition

The temporal separation refers to being separated from Heavenly Father in a physical way, in the literal sense that he is up in heaven while we are down on earth. For example, before the Fall, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God the Father face to face; they were able to be in his physical presence. After the Fall, they experienced a temporal separation in that the earth fell and they were no longer in his literal presence; they could speak to him, but "they saw him not" (Moses 5:4).

Cause

This temporal separation is caused by the fall of Adam and affects every descendant of Adam, including little children who have not reached the age of accountability. That is, every descendant of Adam is born into a world that is apart from God the Father's heavenly dwelling place. Even the Savior Jesus Christ experienced this temporal separation when he left heaven and came to earth; this was partly a result of his being a descendant of Adam.

Resolution

The temporal separation is overcome when all people return to God's presence for the Judgment. This return would not be possible without the atonement: "Because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged"; "the atonement ... bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged" (2 Ne. 2:10; Alma 42:23). At that point, they are in God's physical presence again, and the temporal aspect of spiritual death is overcome.

The Savior was the first person to overcome the temporal separation. This occurred when he ascended into heaven after his resurrection. The magnitude of this event---a member of the human race rising to the dwelling place of God, rather than remaining in the spirit world apart from God---is emphasized by ancient prophets because it was so singular and unprecedented. Abinadi prophesied not only of Christ's Resurrection, but also of his Ascension, and both events are treated as important doctrines by other prophets like Alma and Nephi son of Nephi.

Conditions

Because the temporal separation is imposed by Adam's Fall, involuntarily, its effects are overcome unconditionally. Samuel the Lamanite teaches that everyone overcomes this first spiritual death, no matter what choices they make in life, when he says "[Christ] redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; ... Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord" (Hel. 14:16--17). Gerald N. Lund emphasizes the importance of this point:

To make coming back into the presence of God (overcoming spiritual death) conditional, when our separation from him was originally caused by the fall of Adam, would mean we do suffer punishment for Adam’s transgression, and such is not the case. . . . Not only does Christ’s redemption bring about resurrection for all without condition, but it also brings all men to the judgment bar where they are brought into the presence of God to stand before him to be judged. If we are brought back into the presence of God, then spiritual death, or our separation from God, is overcome at that point. What does a man have to do to have this happen? Absolutely nothing. It, too, is unconditional. Thus both effects of the fall of Adam are automatically redeemed by the Savior.

Necessity of

The temporal separation is absolutely necessary for our eternal growth and progress to become like God. We must leave the Father's presence in order to be thoroughly tested. This is why Alma tells his son that "it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness" (Alma 42:8).

Spiritual Separation

Definition

The spiritual separation refers to being separated from the Holy Ghost in a spiritual way, in the figurative sense that, since the Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, separation from the Holy Ghost is separation from God. For example, before we sin, we can freely have the Holy Ghost's influence. After we sin, the Holy Ghost withdraws and we are cut off from the Spirit, or "cut off ... spiritually ... from the presence of the Lord."

Cause

This spiritual separation is caused by individual sins---while the first separation is caused by the Fall, "the second is our own disobedience." The spiritual separation only affects those who sin, thus excluding little children who have not reached the age of accountability.

Resolution

The spiritual separation is overcome to the extent that a person returns to and dwells in God's spiritual presence. We regain the Holy Spirit's presence in degrees as we repent and keep the commandments, but the greatest single step in this return happens through baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Adam was the first to learn about and overcome the spiritual separation by receiving this ordinance:

Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water. And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man. (Moses 6:64--65)

When we are baptized and confirmed, we enter a covenant that can potentially bind us to the Holy Ghost and allow us to enjoy his presence constantly. This ordinance and covenant are the means of overcoming spiritual death.

Conditions

Because the spiritual separation is caused by individual choices, voluntarily, its effects are only overcome conditionally, on the terms of repentance. The resolution of both spiritual deaths are made possible by the atonement. However, whereas the temporal separation is overcome unconditionally, the spiritual separation is only overcome as we make and keep sacred covenants.

For those who do not exercise faith, repent, get baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, the spiritual separation is not overcome. While they return to God's temporal presence for the Judgment, they reject the Holy Ghost, God's spiritual presence. Thus, they overcome the first spiritual death, but the second spiritual death still has power over them, and they remain cast out of God's presence. This state is often referred to as the second death (Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; Rev. 21:8; Jacob 3:11; Alma 12:16, 32; Alma 13:30; Hel. 14:18-19; D&C 63:17; D&C 76:37).

Necessity of

The spiritual separation is absolutely unnecessary for our eternal growth and progress to become like God. It is synonymous with sin, and sin is never necessary for us to become wiser, stronger, or more like our Heavenly Father in any way, as multiple prophets have attested. That is why Alma tells his son that "it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death" (Alma 42:9).

Comparison of the Two Types

	Temporal separation	Spiritual separation	Source
Description in the scriptures	"Cut off temporally from the presence of the Lord"	"Cut off spiritually from the presence of the Lord"	Alma 42:7; Hel. 14:16
Separation from	Heavenly Father ("God")	The Holy Ghost ("his influences")	Guide to the Scriptures, "Death, Spiritual"
Caused by	Adam's transgression	Our individual sins	True to the Faith, "Death, Spiritual"
Necessity of	Completely necessary (to be tested and to grow)	Completely unnecessary for growth and testing	Alma 42:8--9
Presence symbolized by	The face of God	The voice of God	Gen. 3:8; Deut. 4:12; Enos 1:4, 27; Ether 3:6, 13; D&C 93:1; Moses 5:4
Conditions required to overcome	None	Repentance	Gerald N. Lund, “Salvation: By Grace or by Works?,” Ensign, Apr. 1981, p. 17
Overcome during	The final Judgment	The covenant of baptism	2 Ne. 2:10; Alma 42:23; Moses 6:64--65

Thus, spiritual death can refer to either of two separations. In the scriptures, the Lord's temporal presence is often symbolized by his face, and his spiritual presence is often symbolized by his voice (see Gen. 3:8; Deut. 4:12; Enos 1:4, 27; Ether 3:6, 13; D&C 93:1; Moses 5:4).

The temporal separation, being cut off from Heavenly Father, is caused by Adam's transgression and affects all his posterity unconditionally, even innocent children. Therefore, it is overcome unconditionally by the Atonement when everyone, even sons of perdition, returns to the Father's presence to be judged.

The spiritual separation, being cut off from the Holy Ghost, is caused by individual sins, and affects only those who are accountable and break the commandments. Therefore, it is overcome conditionally by the Atonement only for those who repent.

Symbolism in the Tabernacle

When it is understood that "the face of the Lord" can represent Heavenly Father's presence, while "the voice of the Lord" can represent the Holy Ghost's presence, key principles about overcoming spiritual death can be recognized in the ceremonies that occurred in the ancient tabernacle (this symbolism is also present in modern temples).

The mercy seat, the equivalent of the throne of God where the Lord himself dwelt, was in the Holiest Place (Holy of Holies), the room furthest back in the tabernacle. If a person were standing in that room, he would be able to see God's face since he would be standing directly in the Lord's presence. The next room over, the Holy Place, was separated from the Holiest Place by a veil, a thick curtain. If a person were standing in that room, he would not be able to see God's face, since the veil would block his view of the mercy seat where God sat; however, the person would be able to hear the Lord's voice, since only a curtain lay between them. The next area of the tabernacle was the Courtyard, an open-air enclosure beyond the Holy Place where animals were brought in for sacrifice. If a person were standing in the Courtyard, he would not be able to see God's face, nor would he be able to hear God's voice, since he would now be so far removed and surrounding by the bleating of animals.

Likewise, when we lived in heaven before this life (the Holiest Place), we enjoyed the presence of both Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost (seeing his face and hearing his voice). Mortal probation requires that we pass to the other side of the veil, where we no longer enjoy Heavenly Father's presence (seeing his face). However, if we draw close to God and keep our covenants (stand in Holy Places), we can still enjoy the Holy Ghost's presence (hearing his voice). If we fail to make or keep those sacred covenants, remaining "without God in the world" (out in the Courtyard), we will lose the presence of both Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost (neither seeing his face nor hearing his voice).

In the tabernacle, in order to draw near the mercy seat (the throne where God sat), leaving the Courtyard and entering the Holy Place, a person had to walk past the altar of sacrifice. Again, in order to leave the Holy Place and enter the Holiest Place, he had to walk past the altar of incense. Both altars remind us that in order to draw nearer to the Lord, we must make covenants, sacrificing the sins we hold so dear in order to better hear his voice, or to have the Holy Ghost with us more strongly. As long as we are in earth life, Heavenly Father's presence will always be veiled to us. But in the end, if we have heeded his voice, overcoming the spiritual separation, we will be prepared to cross the veil into the celestial realms where he dwells and see his face, overcoming the temporal separation and enjoying his personal presence forever.