Celestial Kingdom
The Celestial Kingdom is the highest of three heavens or heavenly kingdoms. It is thought to be the "third heaven" referred to by the Apostle Paul in the King James Version of 2 Corinthians 12:2 and it is said by Latter-day Saints to correspond to the "celestial bodies" and "glory of the sun" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41.
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 ordinances and covenants during their mortal lives.[1] It will also be the residence of those individuals that accepted and received the ordinances and covenants in the post-mortal spirit world.[2] All children who die before the age of eight automatically inherit the celestial kingdom.[3] The celestial kingdom will also be the permanent residence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.[4]
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."[5] This white stone will become a Urim and Thummim (or seer stone) to the recipient.[6]
Degrees within the celestial kingdom
Joseph Smith taught that the celestial kingdom itself is subdivided into three "heavens or degrees".[7] Only those individuals who are sealed in celestial marriage to a spouse in a temple while alive (or after death by proxy) will be permitted to enter into the highest degree of celestial kingdom.[8] These individuals will eventually become "exalted"[9] and will be permitted to live "the kind of life God lives".[10]
Location of the celestial kingdom
Joseph Smith taught that the earth will also receive a celestial glory.[11] 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.[12]- ↑ 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 ordinances "we cannot obtain celestial thrones."
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 137:5-9.
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 137:10.
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 76:62.
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 130:11.
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 130:10.
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 131:1.
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 131:2-4.
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ LDS Church, “Chapter 47: Exaltation”, Gospel Principles, 301.
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Doctrine and Covenants 88:14-26
