What was Joseph Smiths view of the afterlife?

Answer 1

Joseph Smith's teachings about the afterlife are an expansion of Christian beliefs - he taught that the afterlife was more than just "heaven or hell".

The Spirit World:

Joseph Smith taught that immediately after death, our immortal spirits are separated from our mortal bodies. Our consciousness - our spirit - moves on to a Spirit World. In this Spirit World, the righteous and the wicked are separated. Those who accepted Jesus and strived to live righteously dwell in a paradise, a place of rest and peace comparable to a traditional heaven. The wicked who did not accept or follow Jesus will live in a spiritual prison. Here in the Spirit World, we will still be able to learn, progress, and make choices that will affect our eternal reward. It is believed that those in paradise are able to visit those in prison and preach to them. Those in prison are able to accept Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, accept a baptism performed in their behalf here on earth, and move to paradise.

The Resurrection:

After the Second Coming of Jesus Christ on earth, a great resurrection will take place. All of those from the Spirit World will have their spirits reunited with their bodies, which will be cleared of mortal disabilities and imperfections. Mormons believe that Jesus performed a complete atonement - meaning that all people will be resurrected and saved from physical death - although the wicked may have to wait longer than the righteous.

Final Judgement and Eternal Reward:

At the time of our resurrection, we will face God in judgement. Here, with a loving Father God as our Judge and a merciful Jesus Christ as our defense, we will stand and receive our eternal reward. The vast majority of God's children will be sent to one of three levels of heaven, based on the desires of their hearts and their faithfulness to God's commandments:

~Those who accepted Jesus Christ and lived faithful to Him, or would have given the opportunity, will go to the highest level, the Celestial Kingdom, where they will live with God the Father and Jesus, with the ability to learn and progress in Their presence eternally.
~Those who accepted Jesus but were not always faithful, as well as those who lived righteous and moral lives but would not accept Jesus, will go to the Terrestrial Kingdom. Here they may receive the presence of Christ but not the Father.

~Those who were not good people and would not accept Jesus will go to the lowest, the Telestial Kingdom. Mormon scripture states that this will be the home of "liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers" (D&C 76:103).

~Mormons believe that very few people will go to hell or "perdition". This is reserved only for those who had a deep and intimate knowledge of the power of God and chose to defy Him.

Family and associations:
Joseph Smith taught that family relationships can be eternal, specifically that husbands and wives who were faithful to their marriage covenant and "sealed" together by priesthood authority will continue their marriage and that parents will be reunited with their deceased children, having the opportunity to rear and nurture those who died young. In heaven "the same sociality that exists among us here will exist among us there." (D&C 130:2) - we will "converse together the same as we do on earth" and greet our loved ones and friends who passed on before. (History of the Church 6:302-316).