Book of Life
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) believes in two books of life: a book of life for each individual son and daughter of God and the book of life kept by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:7).
The book of life kept for each individual is the complete record of the person’s life on earth: all of his or her thoughts, words, and actions are recorded into his or her book of life so that God has a full record at the day of judgment.
The second book of life is one wherein the Lord records the names and actions of those who are righteous and faithful. A person’s presence in this book has to do with his or her obedience in keeping the Lord’s commandments while in mortality. Only Jesus Christ has the power to add or blot names from this book (see Revelation 22:19).
The book of life is talked about in both the Bible and in the Book of Mormon (the book of scripture complementary to the Bible and unique to the Church of Jesus Christ) (see Alma 5:57). The concept of mortal actions being recorded in heaven is recorded as early in ancient scripture as Exodus (Exodus 32:32–33). The book of Revelation spends a great deal of time exploring the book of life, telling about the books of life for individuals (an account of one’s personal life) and the Savior’s book of life with the names and deeds of the righteous. Only those whose names are recorded in the Savior’s book of life will be granted exaltation in the very presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
The Doctrine and Covenants (a collection of modern revelations of the Church of Jesus Christ) emphasizes the power of God on earth by stating that “whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:8), indicating that there are powers that can connect earth and heaven. Latter-day Saints believe one of the most essential of these powers is the “sealing power,” whereby marriage is made eternal. For eternal ordinances to be sealed in the Lord’s book of life, they must be sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise (the Holy Ghost acting to confirm to God the righteous acts of God’s sons and daughters).
