Alma 40:14 and D&C 138

[mark08]

I have always assumed that if a "good hearted" person dies without hearing the gospel, they wait in spirit prison where the gospel is preached to them. If they accept it, they go to paradise. But in reading Alma 40 today I came upon verse 14 that says the wicked remain in prison until the resurrection. D&C 138 doesn't seem to suggest anything contrary to this. So does this mean that even if a person accepts the gospel in the spirit world, they stay in prison until their resurrection? Or is a "good hearted" person not consigned to prison at all when they die, but instead go to paradise to wait to hear the gospel?

[Traveler]

I have always assumed that if a "good hearted" person dies without hearing the gospel, they wait in spirit prison where the gospel is preached to them. If they accept it, they go to paradise. But in reading Alma 40 today I came upon verse 14 that says the wicked remain in prison until the resurrection. D&C 138 doesn't seem to suggest anything contrary to this. So does this mean that even if a person accepts the gospel in the spirit world, they stay in prison until their resurrection? Or is a "good hearted" person not consigned to prison at all when they die, but instead go to paradise to wait to hear the gospel?

If the wicked are taught by good harted people then they must be in the same place or there is a bridge that can be crossed.

The Traveler

[tubaloth]

So does this mean that even if a person accepts the gospel in the spirit world, they stay in prison until their resurrection?

Not all are going to accept the gospel. Those that don't accept the gospel, or those going to the Telestial Kingdom, have to pay for there own sins. But they are still resurrected. These are put to "Hell" or Outer Darkness for a time as they pay for there sins (pay the price of Telestial Law). Thats what Alma was seeing.

Or is a "good hearted" person not consigned to prison at all when they die, but instead go to paradise to wait to hear the gospel?

Good hearted don't really mater at this first phase. Its really more being converted to the Gospel. If you are converted to the Gospel then Paradise. If you haven't been converted to the Gospel, Spirit prison.

[Hemidakota]

I have always assumed that if a "good hearted" person dies without hearing the gospel, they wait in spirit prison where the gospel is preached to them. If they accept it, they go to paradise.

Correct. They will also have to wait until their proxy temple works is complete also before entering into the 'dark matter' (a veiled Celestial world).

But in reading Alma 40 today I came upon verse 14 that says the wicked remain in prison until the resurrection. D&C 138 doesn't seem to suggest anything contrary to this. So does this mean that even if a person accepts the gospel in the spirit world, they stay in prison until their resurrection? Or is a "good hearted" person not consigned to prison at all when they die, but instead go to paradise to wait to hear the gospel?

As other already stated, these are they who refused to repent and acknowledge the Savior in their own lives. They will remain there until after the millennium is completed before being allowed any form of resurrection, which is the telestial kingdom. There is no need for any temple work for this glory.

For the repented, they will have the opportunity to hear the word and if they accept it and the Savior, they will be allowed to enter into paradise. The key here is a repentance state and the acceptance of the Master as the Christ.

What is Paradise? read the following for a fuller explanation;

Paradise is the abode of the righteous in the world of spirits (see 2 Nephi 9:13; Alma 60:13; Moroni 10:34), a "state of happiness," a place hereafter where the spirits of the faithful "expand in wisdom, where they have respite from all their troubles, and where care and sorrow do not annoy" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 448). Those things which burdened the obedient- the worldly cares and struggles, the vicissitudes of life- are shed with the physical body. Paradise is a place where the spirit is free to think and act with a renewed capacity and with the vigor and enthusiasm that characterized one in one's prime. Though a person does not rest per se from the work associated with the spread of the gospel, at the same time he is delivered from those cares and worries so prevalent in a fallen world and a corrupt body.

One of the most misunderstood biblical passages in Christian history has to do with this word paradise. To the thief on the cross Jesus said: "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:39-43). This account has spawned a host of incorrect perceptions of doctrine, which in turn have resulted in questionable practices on the part of Christians over the centuries, not the least of which is a type of "death- bed repentance," a notion that one can postpone his confession and repentance until the time just before death. Though we must never de-emphasize or denigrate the value of sincere repentance, no matter how late in one's earthly experience (see Matthew 20:1-16)- for the word of the Lord is clear that "he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven" (D&C 1:32)- confession and repentance coerced by the threat of death hardly prepare one's soul for a place hereafter among the sanctified.

In discoursing upon the subject, the Prophet Joseph Smith observed: "I will say something about the spirits in prison. There has been much said by modern divines about the words of Jesus (when on the cross) to the thief, saying, 'This day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 'King James' translators make it out to say paradise. But what is paradise? It is a modern word: it does not answer at all to the original word that Jesus made use of. . . . There is nothing in the original word in Greek from which this was taken that signifies paradise; but it was-This day thou shalt be with me in the world of spirits." In confirming these truths, the Prophet said: "Hades, the Greek or Sheol, the Hebrew, these two significations mean a world of spirits. Hades, Sheol, paradise, spirits in prison, are all one: it is a world of spirits." (Teachings, pp. 309, 310, italics added.) Not discounting in any way, therefore, any feelings of contrition that may have existed in the heart of the thief on the cross, Parley P. Pratt thus explained that this man went into the world of spirits "in a state of ignorance, and sin, being uncultivated, unimproved, and unprepared for salvation. He went there to be taught, and to complete that repentance, which in a dying moment he commenced on earth." (JD 1:9.)

Edited May 10, 2010 by Hemidakota

[rameumptom]

Someone who is wicked will remain in spirit prison until the resurrection. A portion of spirit prison is hell. Those who are wicked, must pay for their sins until they fully repent of those sins.

Those who are good, but have not yet received the gospel will remain there until they've received the gospel and accepted it. D&C 137 shows that Alvin, Joseph Smith's brother, had already accepted the gospel and was worthy of celestial blessings, even though he had yet to be baptized.

[Justice]

If the wicked are taught by good harted people then they must be in the same place or there is a bridge that can be crossed.

The Traveler

Christ bridged this gap between His death and resurrection. He institutes the "missionary effort" from paradise to prison.