Mormons, I am curious. Before Joseph Smith et al, did anyone make it to the Nth heaven?

Question

(Sorry, I have no idea what you guys call it --- I don't mean that in a mocking way --- I just mean the highest heaven in your theology).

I realize that you guys don't believe in hell, which I confess I think is odd considering how much the Bible talks about it, but since you don't, assume I know that you won't say that anyone went to hell, please. :)

Anyway, did everyone go to the lower heaven levels --- is it only now that y'all have the Mormon church that people get to go to their own planets?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi friend. You have not correctly understood Mormon doctrine. Mormons do believe in hell, but for some reason we call it "outer darkness."

Mormons also believe that those of other faiths can go to heaven, even the "Nth heaven," as you describe it. This doctrine also applies to people who lived before Joseph Smith. We believe that those who do not take the steps to come to God in this life will have the opportunity to do so after death. Thus a non-Mormon can make it to the Celestial Kingdom if he/she tries to follow God in this life according to their best understanding and continues to follow God after death.

If you'd like to further understand the details of what I've said, please visit my web site. Here's some pertinent pages:

http://www.allaboutmormons.com/mormon_beliefs_family_temple.php#TempleWork

http://www.allaboutmormons.com/mormon_beliefs_jesus_christ.php

Answer 2

First, we do believe in hell, just not EVEN close to the way non-LDS Christians believe it.

Second, whom ever God wants will make it into the Celestial Kingdom. He knows the hearts of us all. Yes, I'm sure that there will be many people in the Celestial Kingdom who were never "Mormon". At least, all who die before reaching the age of accountability will be there.

Third, the whole "getting our own planet" thing is really left field. We don't know about that sort of thing, it's just more like a theory based on what we do know. We want to get to the Celestial Kingdom but we don't aspire to "getting our own planet" in any way.

Answer 3

We do believe in heaven and hell, but there is a lot more to it. In the Bible, Paul mentioned one caught up to the third heaven. Here is what we believe about the afterlife in a nutshell. When we die, our spirits are separated from our bodies and go to either to paradise or prison (heaven and hell) to await the resurrection. At some point, all will be resurrected and stand before the judgment bar of God. Here it will determined which of the three degrees of glory you will have for eternity. The highest is the Celestial, where you receive all that the Father hath. It's not just a planet like some people say. For more details see www.mormon.org.

Answer 4

Well Paul wrote about being in the third heaven, or Celestial Kingdom, as we call it. It was not a 'Mormon' invention.

We do not dismiss hell. We just say that for most it is not a permanent condition.

No, I think the idea of a couple being given dominion over a planet and told to populate it can be found somewhere in Genesis. It did not start with us.

2 Corinthians 12:2 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.

1 Corithians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but are grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
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.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Answer 5

Swedenborg-ism wasn't that widespread in Ohio in 1832. the three ranges of glory is chanced on interior the bible and Swedenborg could have touched on it yet Joseph Smith & Sidney Rigdon recieved it in revelation for D&C seventy six in Newell ok. Whitney's top room with a dozen or greater human beings there with them. The sunlight, moon & stars are symbols. After analyzing John 5:29 i think study the headlines of D&C seventy six. Diaries of persons there wrote down how this revelation occurred Sidney ended up like he went by way of a typhoon & Joseph remained calm. Joseph reported " Sidney isn't as used to heavenly visions as he became into" in case you undergo in suggestions Joseph with the 1st visits from Moroni, he too on the initiating became into winded. Spirit penitentiary is present day in a million peter 3:20 Celestial marriage for time & eternity is precisely LDS Lastwork Quinn became into in no way an ordained church historian and is not any longer a member of the church now. invoice F you're basically Ezekiel

Answer 6

This a big question.
Frankly. We don't know. That is stuff that goes on on the other side of the veil.
Before JS and after, all people who died went/go to the spirit world. There they are taught the true gospel of Jesus Christ, if they don't want it they don't have to have it. Like I said we/I don't know for certain. Some people are judged and some people aren't. Yes, some people did make to the Celestial kingdom. People like the ancient prophets...and whoever else God judged to deserve it.
It is complicated and organized, I'm just glad I don't have to manage it and can leave it in the hands of God.
As to getting our own planets...
The Doctrine and Covenants say in Section 132:
"And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant....Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdomes, principalities, and powers, dominions, and heights and depths....
"Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting..."
The real answer is we don't know who goes where. God decides. The kingdoms were always there, Mormonism didn't create them. Check out 1 Corithians 15.

Answer 7

certainly, the apostles of Christ, John the Baptist, the prophets [Elijah, Moses, Noah], Father Adam... to name a few.
We believe the that full gospel of Jesus Christ was restored -- therefore, it was had among the prophets and followers of Christ in the Old and New Testaments [and also among the 'other sheep' of which the Savior spoke].
And we certainly believe in hell -- just not the fire & brimstone. Hell is spiritual death. Hell is a state where one is unable to return to our Father. Hope this clear it up a little, if you have further questions, I accept emails.
Best wishes.

Answer 8

i wont go through scripture supporting the degrees of heaven as people already have, but they would be entitled to it if they were worthy.

kinda like the atonement being applied before christ was born.

Answer 9

Mormons are confused about what the third heaven means. It does not mean the best "heaven". The first heaven referred to the atmosphere around the earth, also called the firmament. The second heaven referred to where the stars are, of course this is now called outer space. The third heaven referred to the abode of God.

Isolde- I have read Genesis many, many times. There is no reference to people populating other planets besides the earth, unless you have found some new way to distort God's word.

Answer 10

mormons only have three heavens the Celestial, telestial and terrestial and outer darkness. Its in there Doctrine and Covenants of I am not mistaken.
Elohim, their God and his wives made it to the Celestial kingdom, but live on a star called Kolob.