What do Mormons believe happens to us when you die?

Answer 1

Mormons believe that after death all people will go to either spirit prison or paradise. Those in spirit prison who have not had the chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ will be given that chance. As we can here, they will have the opportunity to accept it or reject it. There are ordinances that must be performed in order for a person to progress in eternity. That is part of the reason that they have temples; to perform the necessary ordinances that are needed for those who have died without hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though those ordinances are performed for the dead, if they reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, those ordinances are null and void. When the final resurrection happens, all people will be given a degree of glory according to their works. Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone made the resurrection possible, but the final judgment will show what a person will deserve.

Answer 2

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) believe that once you die, you will go to one of two places, Paradise or Prison, to await the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. While here, those who did not accept Jesus Christ and salvation while they were alive will have the opportunity to do so.

Following the Millennium and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, all people who ever lived will be resurrected and receive their mortal bodies, which will be perfected of all ailments and handicaps. After this Resurrection comes the Final Judgement. Everyone will be judged by Jesus Christ and receive their eternal reward. A vast majority will be sentenced to one of three Kingdoms Heaven, with a tiny minority being sent to dwell with Satan in a place called "outer darkness" or "perdition". In order to qualify for perdition, one must have known God's power, then defied it and knowingly sided with the Devil.

Which Kingdom of Glory or Kingdom of Heaven you inherit depends on the depth of your conversion. The Three Kingdoms are:

Celestial Kingdom: Only those who have received a testimony of Jesus and been made perfect through his Atonement may enter. They must have received the ordinances of salvation, kept his commandements, and repented of all sin. Those who died without the opportunity to do the above, but who would have done so if given the chance, are also admitted. Children who die before reaching age 8 will also be in the Celestial Kingdom. Those in this kingdom dwell with God the Father and Jesus Christ and will continue to learn and progress throughout eternity.

Terrestrial Kingdom: Contains honorable people who were blinded by the craftiness of men, Christians who were not valiant in the testimony of Jesus, and those who rejected Christ as mortals but accepted him in "paradise" after death. They will have the ability to dwell with Jesus Christ but will never be in the presence of God the Father.

Telestial Kingdom: For individuals who rejected Jesus Christ both in mortality and after death. These will be in "prison" immediately after death, rather than "paradise". They will be given the opportunity to accept Jesus and transfer to "paradise", but if they don't, they will receive the Telestial Kingdom.

You can learn more about these concepts at the "Related Links" below.

Answer 3

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) believe that when a person dies their spirit and body are separated. The body stays on earth, while the spirit goes to one of two places in the 'spirit world' - either spirit paradise or spirit prison (could be compared to heaven and hell in most Christian theologies). Here, the spirits of the dead await the resurrection and final judgement. While in this spirit world, we are still able to make choices and do things which may affect our standing after the final judgement - most importantly, those who were not Christians during mortality may choose to become Christians.

The resurrection of all the spirits in paradise and prison will take place after the second coming of Jesus Christ. The spirits will be rejoined with their bodies, which will be perfected and made immortal. They will then face a final judgement by Jesus and assigned to one of three kingdoms of heaven. Here they may live together with their loved ones, and those in the highest kingdom may continue to learn and progress.

Mormons believe that very few will face eternal damnation - only those who had a sure witness of the Spirit and purposefully denied it will qualify.

Answer 4

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) view death as simply the next step in a line of eternal progression. Death is viewed with hope, as it brings us one step closer to being with God. Most Mormon funerals are filled with hope and faith, rather than sorrow and despair, because Mormons believe that they will be reunited with their close friends and family members after death.

You can read more about what Mormons believe about death at the "Related Links" below.