How do Mormons think they are going to heaven?

Answer 1

LDS (Mormon) scripture, via the 'Doctrine and Covenants' [D & C], teaches that there are 4 major divisions of people; most concerning this entry will be found in D&C section 76:

Sons of perdition, for whom there is no forgiveness - not in this world, nor in the world to come, go into Outer darkness and remain with Satan and his angels for all eternity. These are they who have denied the Holy Ghost wherein they have assented unto Jesus Christ's death. As members of His Church, after having received the wonderful Gift of the Holy Ghost, they have then turned against that same Holy Spirit and actively fought against God, against the Holy Ghost and all that is holy and righteous.

The next lowest level - referred to as "telestial" - are those who have lived murderous, adulterous lives - thieves, liers, whoremongers, and those who make lies and love trouble, etc. These will go down to hell with Satan for at least 1000 years before redemption. They will eventually go into a kingdom of lower glory, but "not until they have paid the uttermost senine" in hell with Satan and all the hosts of hell for their evil ways. "There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth" - hell fire, basically. After they have been delivered up to the buffetings of the devil, they shall be 'redeemed' to the lowest of kingdoms - the telestial. But they will always have in mind what could have been had they lived honest, moral lives.

The next general level is called, the Terrestrial Kingdom.

These were good, honest people, but were not perfected through faithfulness to the Covenants of God available in His holy temple. They were misled by various 'ideas and the craftiness of men', even religious ideas, into accepting something less than what God truly had in mind - the Father's Kingdom.

The Highest Kingdom of God are those who rightly live in Heaven, and enjoy the presence of the Father, as well as of the Son and the Holy Ghost.

These are they who were valiant and noble in following the teachings of Jesus and in receiving and being faithful to the highest covenants Man can make with God.

This is a Kingdom of sealed families. Its highest level, which Mormons call, "Exaltation" or Eternal Life, is God's life. These are they who continue to procreate into the Eternities and who live and create as gods in their own right and who live together with their families forever.

They believe that we should try to learn as much as we can and be the best people that we can learn to be, so that we can go to the highest level (the Celestial Kingdom), where we can be with our families forever.

But not everyone will be saved in Heaven for Matthew 7:21 states, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." The verse clearly commands people to follow God's will and clearly states that not everyone will enter Heaven, or what Latter-Day Saints ["Mormons"] often call, the Celestial Kingdom. Entering Heaven depends on your religious beliefs and your obedience to do the right, making solemn covenants before God. Most religions believe that only those of their religion will go to heaven. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe that almost everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, will eventually be 'saved' from death and hell, but the wicked must pay the uttermost senine in hell first.

Mormons believe that eternal hell or 'perdition' is reserved only for those who knowingly denied salvation through Jesus Christ after having received it, committing the 'unpardonable sin' - blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (see Matthew 12:31). Essentially, Mormons believe that only apostate Mormons are eligible to live in hell Forever: all others will be saved eventually, from the eternal grasps of Satan, though only the righteous - faithful to their temple covenants - will live with God, the Father eternally.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, we believe heaven to be the condition of living in the presence of God, and hell to be the condition of living outside God's influence.

Specifically, we believe there are divisions that occur after death. The first, which happens between death and the final judgment, is the division between Spirit Paradise, and Spirit Prison. People in the former are faithful, baptised members of Christ's church. They spend this period doing God's work, which includes teaching the gospel to people in Spirit Prison who have never had the opportunity to know Christ while on earth.

We also believe that people are set free from that prison as they come to know the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they accept the baptisms performed vicariously on their behalf in temples by people on earth.

The second division occurs at the final judgment, when individuals are assigned a heavenly kingdom based on their actions while on earth. Those who lived Godly lives, and who lived up to their baptismal covenants, are assigned to the kingdom that permits them to live eternally in the presence of God. Those who lived corrupt lives and knowingly rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ are assigned to the lowest kingdom, which place is a great deal like life on earth. In the middle kingdom are those who were neither particularly Godly, nor particularly evil. There's one last place, to which only a handful of individuals are assigned, called outer darkness, which is reserved for those who openly rejected God after having known Him face to face, after having received a sure knowledge and turning against God anyway.

That's the nutshell version of Mormon belief about heaven.

Answer 3

Hell, like Heaven and God, is a construct of man and does not actually exist. All of the gods humans have worshiped in the past are now considered myth, there is no reason to believe that any "modern" gods, heavens or hells exist.

so no, Mormons wont go to hell, they will simply die like the rest of us.

and now the Non-atheistic approach...

Mormons serve God (the God of Abraham), the same as members of any other Christian, Jewish or Muslim Faith. According to the Commandments as prescribed in the Old Testament, Mormons in general, like the majority of all members of other religions, keep the commandments and are not likely to go to hell as individuals.

From the LDS(Mormon) Perspective. Hell is not the place of fire and brimstone where a soul is eternally tormented, however the LDS belief is of "Outer Darkeness" which place is outside of Gods Glory, cut off from the light of Christ. To me that would qulify as eternal torment. Once we die we are sent to Spirit paradise, or spirit prison, here we must wait for the resurrection (occurring at the second coming of christ for most of us), Those who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived righteously upon the earth (during mortality) go to spirit paradise but those who lived wickedly, denied the gospel, or who never had the chance to hear the gospel during their earthly life will go to spirit prison.

Many spirits (people) in paradise will be called as missionaries and will enter spirit prison to teach those who never had the opportunity to hear the gospel while upon earth. Those in prison still have their agency and, if they accept the gospel, will be allowed to enter paradise.Those who rejected the gospel (while upon the earth) after having it preached to them will not have this opportunity. They will live in a state of hell until the resurrection. Because they rejected Christ, they will have to pay, in full, for their own sins.

Everyone will be resurrected and have eternal life, reguardless of the life they lead on earth. Those who accept Christ and Keep his commandments and repent will be forgiven their sins and receive the highest degree of glory whereas those who reject christ lie sinful lives and do not repent will make a full atonement for their own sins and receive the lowest degree of glory after resurrection.

Answer 4

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe in a nearly universal salvation - that is, almost everyone will go to heaven, all through the mercy and grace of God. One thing that sets Mormons apart from nearly every other religion is their belief that there are different levels of heaven, and that God will reward people based on the depth of their conversion to the Gospel of Christ in this life and the afterlife prior to the final judgement (which will take place after the Second Coming of Christ).

The highest level of heaven, the Celestial Kingdom, will contain those who "recieved the testimony of Jesus" and have been "made perfect through Jesus" (D&C 76*). Those who "died without a knowledge of the gospel, who would have recieved it" and all children who die prior to age 8 are also admitted into the Celestial Kingdom. (Mormons believe that all people will have the opportunity to accept Christ, whether in this life or the next). Here, we will live eternally with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ as glorified resurrected beings and have the opportunity to progress in knowledge forever. Most Mormons agree that the Celestial Kingdom will be the most populated of the three kingdoms of heaven.

The middle level of heaven, the Terrestrial Kingdom, is for those who recieved the Gospel of Jesus Christ but were "not valiant in the testimony". It will also include those who refused Jesus during their mortal life but later accepted him in the afterlife. Those in the Terrestrial Kingdom may "recieve the presence of the Son" (Jesus Christ) but not of God the Father. (D&C 76*)

The lowest level of heaven, the Telestial Kingdom, is for those who would not recieve the gospel of Christ - that is, they were given the opportunity to accept Jesus' saving grace and refused. They will spend a time in a "Spirit Prison" before being rewarded a place in the Telestial Kingdom, which is not hell, but is a heaven without the presence of the Father or Son.

Eternal damnation in hell (or 'Outer Darkness') is reserved only for those who intentionally "deny the truth and defy God's power" after having "been made partakers thereof." (D&C 76*)

*You can read D&C 76 at scriptures.lds.org*

Answer 5

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe that after death, our spirits leave our bodies and arrive in either 'spirit paradise' or heaven (for the righteous) or 'spirit prison' or hell (for the wicked). Here, we can continue to learn and make decisions that will affect our eternal reward. The righteous followers of Jesus Christ will have the opportunity to teach the gospel to the wicked in 'spirit prison', and those in prison will have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ.

After the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, all will be resurrected and receive a final judgment by Jesus Christ and will be assigned to their final destination. The vast majority of people will be assigned to one of three degrees or levels of heaven. Those who were righteous followers of Jesus Christ will go to the highest, where they will continue to learn and grow and live with God and Jesus Christ and their families for all eternity. Those who accepted Christ but were not always faithful to Him will go to the middle kingdom. Others who did not live righteously or would not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior will go to the lowest kingdom, which will be somewhat like life on earth.

Mormons believe that hell is reserved only for those who had a personal witness of God and then denied Him (apostates).

Check out the "Related Links" below to learn more about what Mormons believe about heaven.

Answer 6

Yes. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe in heaven.

Compared to most other Christian faiths, Mormons have quite liberal views on heaven. Mormons believe that immediately after death, the spirits of all who were righteous followers of Jesus Christ will go to a 'heaven' or 'paradise' to await resurrection. While here, their duty will be to preach to those who were not righteous Christians, who will reside in a 'hell' or 'prison'. Mormons believe that individuals may convert to Christianity and become followers of Jesus Christ after death, and that all people will have the opportunity to accept salvation through Jesus Christ before they recieve a final judgement.

Following the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the spirits of all mankind will be resurrected and will recieve a final judgement and resting place based on their faith and righteousness both during their mortal lives and while residing in the 'paradise' or 'prison'. The vast majority of all people will be assigned to one of three levels of heaven.

-The highest level, the Celestial, will be for those who were faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

-The middle level, the Terrestrial, will be for those who were followers of Jesus Christ but not always faithful to Him. Also for those who were good people but were not Christians.

-The lowest level, the Telestial, will be for those who refused to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mormon scripture says that this level will include "liars, sorcerers, adulterers, whoremongers" and others.

Mormons believe that eternal hell or 'perdition' is reserved only for those who knowingly denied salvation through Jesus Christ after having recieved it, committing the 'unpardonable sin' - blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (see Matthew 12:31). All others will be saved and go to heaven.

Answer 7

Yes, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) do believe in heaven and hell, although their beliefs differ from most mainstream Christians.

Mormons believe that the vast majority of people will go to one of the three levels of heaven. They believe that only those who had a sure faith in God and Jesus Christ and then denied that faith (apostates) will go to hell (which is usually called 'Outer Darkness'). All others will go to some level of heaven. Mormons base their belief in the three levels of heaven on 2 Corinthians 12:2 and 1 Corinthians 15:40, as well as modern teachings of Joseph Smith, which are found in the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church.

You can read from the Doctrine and Covenants about the levels of heaven or learn more from other sources at the "Related Links" below.

Answer 8

According to the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of canonized scripture which contains the revelations to Joseph Smith and subsequent prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church), heaven is divided into three kingdoms or degrees. The highest of these is the Celestial Kingdom. The Celestial Kingdom will contain those who have "received the testimony of Jesus" and been "made perfect through Jesus" (D&C 76) as well as all those "who have died without a knowledge of the gospel, who would have received it" (D&C 137)and "all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability." (age 8) (D&C 137)

It is believed that in order to obtain the Celestial kingdom, one must have repented of their sins, received the ordinances of salvation (i.e. baptism and a temple endowment), and been faithful to the covenants they made in those ordinances. The "saving ordinances" may have been received during mortality or vicariously after death, and it is believed that all people, living and dead, will have the opportunity to accept these ordinances.

The lower kingdoms will be obtained by:

Terrestrial Kingdom: honorable people who were 'blinded by the craftiness of men', church members who were 'not valiant in the testimony of Jesus', those who rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ during mortality but accepted it after death.

Telestial Kingdom: those who rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ

Damnation (also called 'Perdition') is reserved only for those who "knew God's power" and intentionally denied the truth and defied God's power.

You can read more about the qualifications of each kingdom of heaven in Doctrine and Covenants sections 76 and 137 at scriptures.lds.org.

Answer 9

Not at all! Latter Day Saints (more commonly referred to as Mormons) believe that everyone has a chance in the after life to repent and go to Heaven.