By Robert Hyatt
July 2003
The purpose of this essay is to clarify the
final eternal location of the Saints who receive Celestial Glory. There are
three possibilities that permeate Latter-Day Saint thought.
1. We go back and live with Heavenly Father
on His Planet
2. We ( Each Celestial Couple) eventually receive
their own Planet
3. We live forever on this Earth
Only one is correct. Some believe that we go
back and live with Heavenly Father. We will be in the presence of the Father,
but this does not mean we will live in the same location as the Father. Others
believe each Celestial married couple eventually receive their own planet to
populate with their spiritual posterity. The correct doctrine is that all those
who inherit Celestial Glory will live on our Earth for all eternity. Our work
and heavenly assignments may take us away from the Earth temporally, but our
families will remain on this Earth and no other. We may create Earths without
number for our spiritual posterity to live, but our eternal home is on our
Earth in its Resurrected, Sanctified, Immortal, and Celestial state.
Primary children are taught that we came from
Heavenly Father and will return someday. The children are not taught the
difference between the actual location of the Father vs. the presence of the
Father. Because of this teaching, which continues to be taught, many adults
have never gained a deeper understanding through gospel study of the correct
doctrine. Many Latter-Day Saints believe that the planet on which Heavenly
Father resides is inhabited by only the Father, Heavenly Mother, and their
spiritual posterity. This is not so. A deeper understanding of our future
destiny will shed additional light on who may also co-exist with the Father on
the same planet where He resides.
Let us review some scriptures that show that
the Saints will inherit this Earth forever. We will then see what some previous
Prophets and Apostles have written on the matter. The scripture in Alma that
says that “all the spirits of men, after they die…will return to God..” will
also be addressed.
1. Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the
meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
2. D&C 88:17 -
20 “And the redemption of
the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is
decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it. Therefore, it
must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for
the celestial glory; For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it
shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; That
bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for,
for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they
sanctified.”
3. D&C 130:9 - 11 "This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made
like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who
dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all
kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it;
and this earth will be Christ's. Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation
2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one,
whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known; And
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. The new name is the key word."
4. D&C 103:7 "And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord
their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until the
kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto
the saints, to possess it forever and ever."
5. D&C 56:20 “And their generations shall inherit the earth from generation to generation, forever and ever. And now I make an end of speaking unto you. Even so. Amen.”
Let’s look at some statements of the Brethren:
CELESTIAL DESTINY OF THE EARTH. The earth will be cleansed again. It was once baptized in water. When Christ comes, it will be baptized with fire and the power of the Holy Ghost. At the end of the world the earth will die; it will be dissolved, pass away, and then it will be renewed, or raised with a resurrection. It will receive its resurrection to become a celestial body, so that they of the celestial order may possess it forever and ever. Then it will shine forth as the sun and take its place among the worlds that are redeemed. When this time comes the terrestrial inhabitants will also be taken away and be consigned to another sphere suited to their condition. Then the words of the Savior will be fulfilled, for the meek shall inherit the earth.
MANY CELESTIAL EARTHS. This earth on which we dwell, like
many that have gone before, is destined to become a celestial sphere and the
righteous shall inherit it forever, "For, for this intent was it made
and created," and after it has filled the measure of its mortal creation,
it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father. Like
man, the earth also shall die, but it also shall be quickened again, and
shall abide the power by which it is quickened, to continue throughout eternity
as the celestial abode of man.
5. CELESTIAL EARTH. -- Following the millennium plus "a little season" (D. & C. 29:22-25), the earth will die, be resurrected and become like a "sea of glass" (D. & C. 130:7), attain unto "its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state." (D. & C. 77:1-2.) Then the poor and the meek -- that is, the godfearing and the righteous -- shall inherit the earth; it will become an abiding place for the Father and the Son and celestial beings will possess it forever and ever. (D. & C. 88:14-26, 111.)
Explanation of the statement by Alma in the Book of
Mormon
“…the spirits of all men….taken home to that God who gave
them life..”
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection--Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
To better understand this scripture and it’s context, you must read the scripture that follows it.
Alma 40:12 “And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.”
Alma was talking about the spirits of the righteous saints who go to paradise in the world of spirits, not the Planet on which Heavenly Father resides.
Quotes from the Brethren that give further meaning on
Alma 40:11:
Alma, when he says that "the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body. . .are taken home to that God who gave them life," has the idea doubtless, in his mind that our God is omnipresent--not in His own personality but through His minister, the Holy Spirit. He does not intend to convey the idea that they are immediately ushered into the personal presence of God. He evidently uses that phrase in a qualified sense…. Solomon, makes such a similar statement: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." The same idea is frequently expressed by the Latter-day Saints.
As to the matter of going either to hell or to paradise at
death, Alma gave the following inspired explanation: "Now, concerning the
state of the soul between death and the resurrection -- Behold, it has been
made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they
are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they
be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." When
men die, they do not go immediately into the presence of Deity, but are taken
home to God in a figurative sense, meaning that they step into the unseen realm
of spiritual things and are no longer living as mortal beings.
“…Fellowship of the Father and the Son” explained.
It should be the aim of all who desire to live in the enjoyment of the Spirit of God to try and retain that Spirit in its fulness; for when the Holy Ghost is with us, then God is with us; and when we are in the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, we are in the fellowship of the Father and the Son.
Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ] John -- himself soon to be translated -- is in the same state of fellowship with the Lord which was enjoyed by the three soon-to-be translated Nephite disciples, to whom the Lord said: "Ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one." (3 Ne. 28:10.) Thus, John is here saying: 'Our fellowship is with the Father and the Son; we are one with them; they accept us as friends; and we shall be "equal in power, and in might, and in dominion" (D. & C. 76:95), in that glorious day when we receive of their fulness and grace.' To have fellowship with the Lord in this life is to enjoy the companionship of his Holy Spirit, which makes us one with him; and to have fellowship with him in eternity is to be like him, having that eternal life of which he is the possessor and originator.