mormons... what are the different levels of your heaven?

Question

how many levels are there and does it mean that if i die and go to a lower level than you that you are or were better than me? does god judge who gets to be better than the other in your heaven? and what things get you to the higher levels? and what scripture tells you that there are more than one level of heaven? my bibile does not tell me that i can be in a "higher level" and my bible is the bible.

i have reposted this question to get more insight on the subject

Answer 1

Questions like this almost turn me in to a Mormon apologist.. :)

They take this verse: 1 Corinthians 15:40-42
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead...

They make it a passage on the three degrees of glory. One problem they don't consider is the part where one star differs from another in glory.. That would mean millions of degrees of glory not just three... Jim

Answer 2

You asked this earlier, my answer is still the same...but if you'd like I can elaborate and say that these "levels of heaven" happen only after the final judgment. People who are dying now go to what a lot of Christians call Heaven or Hell, we just call it spirit paradise or spirit prison, but it's basically the same idea.

Okay, did you read D&C 76 yet?

Answer 3

I guess the Apostle Paul isn't in your Bible.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

Answer 4

The Mormon leader and polygamist Joseph Smith stole the three heavens from Emanuel Swedenborg. They call the three levels of heaven celestial, terrestrial and telestial.

Swedenborg more correctly calls the three heaves the celestial, the spiritual and the natural depending on peoples loves. It is by their loves that they are organized and nearer to God or farther away from God.

Also, Swedenborg says the same heavens are divided into two kingdoms or can be considered in two divisions as well as three divisions.

I guess life is just too complicated for Joseph Smith to adequately deal with. After all, being a polygamist warps your brain.

Answer 5

Nice Daisy - I believe this one is just fishing for hurtful comments especially if you have already answered this question once before.

Answer 6

Apparently, you did not read our doctrine well enough,
Here's a few verses, enjoy.

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
(New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:40 - 41)

70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.
71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.
72 Behold, these are they who died without law;
73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.
77 These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.
78 Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.
79 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.
80 And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.
81 And again, we saw the glory of the btelestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.
82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.
83 These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.
84 These are they who are thrust down to hell.
85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.
86 These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial;
87 And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial.
88 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be aministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation.
89 And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding;
90 And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it.
91 And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion.
92 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;
93 Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever.
94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;
95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.
96 And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.
97 And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one.
98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:70 - 98)