Celestial Kingdom
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The Celestial Kingdom refers to a division of heaven and was coined by the controversial Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg in his 1758 book entitled Heaven and Hell. In Mormonism, it is the highest of three kingdoms of heaven, where God dwells.
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[edit] Within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In Mormonism, the Celestial Kingdom is the highest of what are believed to be three heavens or heavenly kingdoms, or degrees of glory. It is thought to be the "third heaven" referred to in 2 Corinthians 12:2 of the Bible, and it is also thought to correspond to the "celestial bodies" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:40 (King James Version). The Latin word celestial means "heavenly".
Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of of the Latter Day Saint movement, provided a description of the afterlife based primarily upon a vision he reportedly received together with his associate Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832, and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76.
According to Smith and Rigdon, the afterworld consists of three "degrees of glory", called the Celestial Kingdom, the Terrestrial Kingdom (terrestrial meaning "earthly"), and the Telestial Kingdom (the word telestial is a neologism not used in other contexts; see its own article for some possible derivations).
According to this doctrine, only those who attain the Celestial Kingdom will be united with their families in the eternities. It will be the residence of those who have been righteous, accepted the Gospel (Mormonism) and its ordinances and covenants, and lived their lives in harmony with their covenants or received the ordinances and covenants with all their hearts in the spirit world.
“They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given--That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 76:51-53)
Children who die before the age of eight all qualify for the Celestial Kingdom in the afterlife, as well as those who did not have the chance to receive the gospel in this life, but do in the post-mortal spirit world (see Baptism for the dead). Persons who reach maturity and receive full gospel teachings in this life will only be judged by God to be worthy of the Celestial Kingdom if they have received all required ordinances (baptism, endowment, and sealing if they are married), repented of their sins, and endured to the end through retaining their conversion. Some rebellious children of righteous parents may, like Alma the Younger in the Book of Mormon, receive a spiritual awakening in this life or in the spirit world whereby they finally understand and embrace the teachings of their parents and the atonement of Jesus Christ. (Alma 36:5-24)
The Celestial Kingdom is the residence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost dwells there. Those who are worthy to dwell in the Celestial Kingdom will be exalted, and become God-like.
Smith taught that the Earth will receive a celestial glory. Because of this, many Mormons believe that the Earth will be the Celestial Kingdom, or a Celestial World within the Celestial Kingdom, for Humans who lived on the Earth and qualified for Celestial glory.
[edit] References
- The Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 2:5–30; 10:23–25; Alma 12:24–37; 22:12–14; 42; Moses 6:47–62
- "The Merciful Plan of the Great Creator"
Adhemar Damiani, Ensign, Mar. 2004, 8–12 In 2 Nephi, Jacob teaches the basic doctrine of the plan of salvation with great clarity.
- "Teaching Our Children the Plan of Salvation"
Robert England Lee, Ensign, Sept. 2001, 33–39 Parents can present Heavenly Father's "great plan of happiness" in simple yet powerful ways.
- "The Plan of Salvation: A Flight Plan for Life"
Duane B. Gerrard, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 77–78 The plan of salvation . . . comprises all of the laws, ordinances, principles, and doctrines required to complete our mortal journey and progress to a state of exaltation enjoyed by our Father in Heaven.
- "The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness"
Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov. 1996, 73–75 Obedience to the plan is a requisite for full happiness in this life and a continuation of eternal joy beyond the veil.
- "Answers to Life's Questions"
M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1995, 22–24 By focusing on and living the principles of Heavenly Father's plan for our eternal happiness, we can separate ourselves from the wickedness of the world.
- "Sharing Time: The Plan of Salvation Offers Me Peace"
Judy Edwards, Friend, Mar. 1994, 14–15 This is the plan of salvation unto all men (Moses 6:62).
- "The Great Plan of Happiness"
Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72–75 When we understand the plan of salvation, we also understand the purpose and effect of the commandments God has given His children.
- "The Great Plan of the Eternal God"
Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, May 1984, 21–23 One of the great blessings flowing from amplifying, latter-day revelations is the crucial, doctrinal framework known as the marvelous plan of salvation.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76
| Concepts of Heaven | |
|---|---|
| Christian | Kingdom of God | Garden of Eden · Paradise | New Jerusalem | Pearly gates |
| Jewish | Gan Eden | Olam Haba |
| Islamic | Jannah | Houri | Sidrat al-Muntaha |
| Mormon | Celestial Kingdom | Spirit world |
| Ancient Greek | Elysium | Empyrean | Hesperides |
| Celtic | Annwn | Tír na nÓg | Mag Mell |
| Norse | Valhalla | Asgard |
| Indo-European | Paradise | Svarga | Aaru | The Summerland | Myth of Er | Fortunate Isles |
| Related concepts | Nirvana | Millennialism | Utopianism | Golden Age | Arcadia | The guf | Well of souls |
