April 2005 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

64
• Go up unto Mount Zion and unto the heavenly city of
God (see v. 66).
• Minister to terrestrial and telestial beings (see vv. 87–88).
• Be able to have offspring, or in other words, gain the
right to become eternal parents (see D&C 131:4).
The Lord further revealed the important doctrines of
salvation for the dead and salvation of little children in the
celestial kingdom:
“All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel,
who would have received it if they had been permitted to
tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;
“Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge
of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall
be heirs of that kingdom; . . .
“. . . All children who die before they arrive at the years of
accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven”
(D&C 137:7–8, 10). Except for those whose mental abilities
prevent them from reaching the age of
accountability (see D&C 29:50), the age
of accountability is eight (see D&C 68:25).
We do not know much about who will
inherit two of the three degrees within the
celestial kingdom. However, much has
been said about the highest level in the
celestial kingdom, or exaltation, because
that is where the Father wants all of His children
to live (see Moses 1:39). The Doctrine
and Covenants teaches that temple marriage
is the key to obtaining exaltation:
“In the celestial glory there are three
heavens or degrees;
“And in order to obtain the highest,
a man must enter into this order of the
priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting
covenant of marriage];
on His name.
“And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
“He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his
kingdom; he cannot have an increase” (D&C 131:1–4).
“If a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and
by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto
them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed,
unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this
priesthood; . . . and if [they] abide in my covenant . . .
“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end;
therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting . . .
because they have all power, and the angels are subject
unto them” (D&C 132:19–20).
The Terrestrial Kingdom
The Lord compared terrestrial glory to that of the moon
(see D&C 76:97). It exceeds the telestial in all things (see
v. 91). Those who will inherit this kingdom are those who
experienced one or more of the following circumstances:
• Died without law (see v. 72).
• Were in spirit prison and received a testimony there but
rejected the testimony of Jesus while on the earth (see
vv. 73–74; see also D&C 138:32).
• Were honorable people who allowed
themselves to be blinded by the craftiness
of men (see v. 75).
• Were not valiant in their testimonies
of Jesus (see v. 79).
Among other blessings and limitations,
those who qualify for the terrestrial
kingdom will:
• Come forth in the First Resurrection
after celestial beings are resurrected. 2
• Receive of God’s glory but not His
fulness (see v. 76).
• Enjoy the presence of the Son but not
the fulness of the Father (see v. 77).
Those who will inherit the • Not be able to obtain a crown in the
celestial kingdom must receive kingdom of God (see v. 79).
a testimony of Christ and believe • Be ministered to by celestial beings
(see v. 87).
The Telestial Kingdom
The Lord compared telestial glory to that of the stars
(see D&C 76:81). Those who shall inherit this kingdom are
those who:
LEFT: THE SECOND COMING, BY GRANT ROMNEY CLAWSON; ABOVE RIGHT: PHOTOGRAPHY
BY WELDEN C. ANDERSEN, LONGIN LONCZYNA, CRAIG DIMOND AND JOHN LUKE