Three degrees of glory: celestial, terrestrial, telestial; spirit world interim
LDS theology presents a distinctive three-tiered afterlife: the celestial kingdom (highest, for the faithful who received gospel ordinances), the terrestrial kingdom (for honorable people who rejected the gospel in mortality), and the telestial kingdom (for the wicked). A spirit world exists as an intermediate state where the dead await the resurrection; missionary work continues there, allowing the dead to accept the gospel. Outer darkness is reserved for sons of perdition — those who had a perfect knowledge of God and willfully rejected him.
Baptism for the dead is practiced in LDS temples on behalf of deceased ancestors who never had the opportunity to accept the gospel in mortality, giving them the chance to accept or reject it in the spirit world. This ordinance is based on 1 Corinthians 15:29 and is a distinctive and major LDS practice.
Key Distinctions
- Intermediate state:
- Spirit World immediately after death — paradise (righteous) or spirit prison (others); missionary work continues
- Immortality type:
- all humans are spirit children of God; immortality guaranteed through resurrection
- Bodily resurrection:
- universal physical resurrection; degrees of glory at judgment
Scripture References
- Doctrine and Covenants 76:70-98
Sources
- Doctrine and Covenants 76
- LDS Gospel Topics: Spirit World
- LDS Articles of Faith