The Plan of Salvation
Mormon doctrine centers around the Plan of Salvation, which is God’s plan to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). The plan of salvation represents the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is experienced and lived by mankind. This plan, also called the plan of happiness, plan of mercy, and plan of redemption, teaches us where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. It answers the important questions in life about who we are and what our relation to God is.
We lived before we were born. A book of modern revelation states: “Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;” (Abraham 3:22).
We existed as spirit children of divine parents in Heaven. Everyone knew and worshiped God the Father. During the premortal life we learned and grew in understanding and wisdom. God presented us with a plan through which we would come to earth to gain experience through our trials. Because we would sin, due to our weakness, God provided Jesus Christ as our Savior. Through Him, we can repent of the mistakes we make in this life. Some of God’s children did not want to risk coming to earth, because they knew that some of us would not be able to return to Heaven. Lucifer, one of God’s spirit children, led this rebellion and he and his followers were kicked out of Heaven and became the Devil and his angels. They seek to tempt us from the right path, but God has provided Jesus Christ as the perfect example and teacher, and the Holy Ghost as our guide in this life.
God created this world for us as is recorded in the Bible (Genesis 1-2). He then created our bodies “in [His] image, after [His] likeness” (Genesis 1:26). The first man and woman were Adam and Eve who were placed in the Garden. Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and fell. The Fall according to Mormons, is a positive step. Because of the fall, we live in a world filled with good and evil. We now have the opportunity to learn and grow through our experiences. The Book of Mormon declares:
Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25, pg. 59).
Jesus Christ overcame original sin and all children are born innocent and pure. Because of this, Mormons believe that we will only be punished for our own sins, unless we repent.
Mortality
Mormons believe that when we are born, a veil is placed over our minds that prevents us from remembering what happened in the premortal life (see Isaiah 25:7). This is so that we will be tested according to our faith and our desires for good. The Book of Mormon teaches:
And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death [ … ] which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead (Alma 12:24, pg 239).
This life is a time to learn and grow. We need to learn to distinguish between good and evil and to make wise choices. We must also develop talents and grow in godly attributes like love, faith, charity, hope, patience, endurance, and so on (see 2 Peter 1:2-9). During this time we must also repent of our sins and mistakes and try to do better. Mormons often refer to this as enduring to the end.
We must also perform those ordinances which God has commanded. This includes baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and partaking of the emblems of Christ’s death and resurrection, which Mormons call the sacrament. Other churches refer to this as the Eucharist.
During life we are also expected to marry and raise righteous families and serve others around us. We should share the good news about Jesus Christ with friends and family so that they, too, can rejoice with us.
Death and the Spirit World
Eventually, we will all die, but death is only a step in God’s plan. The Bible teaches us that after death “the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Jesus called this place “paradise” (see Luke 23:43). Many people confuse this with Heaven, but paradise is only a temporary resting place until we are resurrected. The Book of Mormon teaches us:
[T]here is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth (Alma 40:21, pg 309)
The state of righteous, repentant souls is paradise, while the unrighteous, unrepentant souls are in spiritual prison (see 1 Peter 3:19-20). Here, while waiting for the resurrection, the righteous souls teach the Gospel to those who died without hearing about it. Peter taught that the “gospel [was] preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Peter 4:6).
Resurrection and Judgment
After the spirit world, all mankind will be resurrected. This means that their spirits and their bodies will be reunited into a perfect, immortal body that is free of pain, sickness, and deformity. The Bible says:
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Cor 15:23).
The Book of Mormon describes the resurrection by saying that “the soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23, pg 309).
This resurrection is literal and physical. After we are resurrected, we each have a perfect, physical body just as Jesus had when he appeared to His disciples. Jesus told His disciples: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).
After the resurrection, all mankind will be judged according to their deeds. The book of Revelation says:
Another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works (Rev. 20:12).
Only those who have repented of their sins, been baptized by God’s authorized servants, and endured to the end by repenting, serving others, and improving their talents and godly attributes will be saved through Jesus Christ’s atonement.
Three Degrees of Glory
Everybody is different. People are not just good and bad, but rather they differ by degrees of goodness and badness. Because of this, God will reward every person according to the good that they did and the faith and trust they showed in Jesus Christ. People who are valiant and faithful and repent of their sins will receive the highest reward, called eternal life, while those who do not repent and do not have faith in Jesus will receive less glory and will have to suffer in hell for their sins.
These degrees in Heaven are called by Mormons the Three Degrees of Glory. Paul mentions these in 1 Corinthians 15:41-42:
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
The Prophet Joseph Smith revealed more about these degrees. This vision is recorded in Mormon scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants section 76. Mormons call the three degrees, the Celestial, the Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms.
- The Celestial Kingdom
The Celestial Kingdom is the highest glory. It is what is commonly called Heaven. Those who go here are those who accepted Jesus Christ, believed in Him, were baptized and kept His commandments. They repented of all their sins and through their faith they were cleansed from all sin. They inherit eternal life, which Jesus says is to know Him and God (John 17:3). These people receive all glory and can progress and become perfect through Jesus Christ.
In the Celestial Kingdom, families can live together forever. Husbands and wives can remain together forever. They dwell in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The symbol of this kingdom is the glory of the sun
- The Terrestrial Kingdom
The Terrestrial Kingdom is the second degree of glory. This is the final resting place for those who were not valiant in life, but were still good people. These people were just and honorable, but did not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. The symbol of this kingdom is the glory of the moon.
- The Telestial Kingdom
The lowest kingdom is the Telestial Kingdom. This is where those who rejected Jesus and his gospel and did not repent of their sins. The people must suffer for their own sins, because Jesus Christ will not redeem them until the very end, after they have suffered in Hell and spirit prison. Those who go here are liars, murders, and all unrepentant sinners. The symbol of this kingdom is the stars.
- Outer Darkness
Satan and his angels will be thrust into outer darkness, where there is no light or glory from God. A few people, who knowingly reject Jesus Christ and fight against Him, will not receive any glory or salvation from God. They will be cast out into Outer Darkness with Satan. They are called “Sons of Perdition.”