Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial, And Outer Darkness

[MadHatter]

Celestial Kingdom

The Celestial kingdom is typified by the "glory"or light that radiates from the Sun (D&C 76:70). This realm "excels in all things" because "God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne" (v.92).

D&C 130:

7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

The Earth will become the Celestial Kingdom and become like the Urim and Thummim.

D&C 130:

8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.

9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.

And hence the certain temple ceremony in which you will recieve the key word that unlocks this for you.

D&C 130:

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;

11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

By utilizing the earth and the stone celestial beings will be able to "see as they are seen, and know as they are known."

Mosiah 8:

16 And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. 17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.

3 Degrees within the Celestial Kingdom

D&C 131:

1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];

3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

What are the Minimum Requirements for entering into the lowest degree of the celestial kingdom?

#1: Believe Jesus Christ and have a true testimony.

D&C 76:

51 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—

#3: Be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and be cleansed from all their sins.

D&C 76:

52 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;

D&C 88:

2 Behold, this is pleasing unto your Lord, and the angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the celestial world.

...

18 Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory;

#4: Abide the law of the celestial kingdom, which is the law of Christ and do all of the commandments he has given.

D&C 88:

21 And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.

22 For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.

D&C 78:

7 For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.

#5: Overcome the World by faith.

D&C 76:

53 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.

But this is only for the lowest there are other ordinances which must be done to enter into the middle or highest level within the celestial kingdom.

The 2nd level is that for ministering angels, those who did not abide the New and Everlasting covenant of Eternal Marriage.

D&C 132:

15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world. 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.

[MadHatter]

Joseph Fielding Smith said:

People baptized, and who are not endowed in the temple of the Lord, may enter into the celestial kingdom. But that does not mean that a baptized person is going to get the exaltation in that kingdom. He is not going to pass on to the fullness just by being baptized. He will not pass on to the fullness even after he has been baptized and received an endowment in the temple. He also has to receive the other ordinances. so that he can become, through his faithfulness and obedience, a son of God.

Those who do not abide by the Eternal Covenant but are still worthy of the Celestial kingdom, are recieved into the 2nd level of the Celestial kingdom.

Little scriptural refrence is given regarding the exact nature of the difference between the bottom two tiers, But there is hypothesis that children who die before the age of accountability are recieved into the lowest level of the celestial kingdom.

What Exactly happens in the Celestial Kingdom?

The nature of Exalted beings in the celestial kingdom is:

1) God Makes them "Perfect" through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ

D&C 76:

69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.

2) God gives them all things into thier hands.

D&C 76:

55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—

...

59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

3) God makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.

D&C 76:

95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.

4) They overcome all things.

D&C 76:

60 And they shall overcome all things.

5) They recieve a "fullness of light" (stanza 45).

6) They "hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (stanza 44).

[MadHatter]

Terrestrial Kingdom

This degree of glory is typified by the "glory" or light that radiates from the moon.

D&C 76:

71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fullness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.

Yet it is still an amazing place:

D&C 76:

91 And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion.

The Prophet also added to this that terrestrial inhabitants will possess "more knowledge, and wisdom, and joy" than those in the telestial world, and have greater access to the Lord's "blessings and graces" (stanza 65).

Terrestrial inhabitants will receive "the ministration of the Celestial" sphere and will also have "the presence of the Son" of God.

D&C 76:

77 These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.

...

87 And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial.

Who will obtain the Terrestrial Glory?

1) Those who "died without law"

D&C 76:

72 Behold, these are they who died without law;

Joseph Smith indicates in D&C 76 that this has reference to the "heathen" nations. (stanza 54)

D&C 45

54 And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them.

2) Those who did not receive "the testimony of Jesus in the flesh" but did so in the spirit "prison" when they heard it again (stanza 56).

D&C 76:

73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;

74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.

3) Those who were "not valliant in the testimony of Jesus."

D&C 76:

79 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie believes that this last category includes "those who are lukewarm members of the true church... who have testimonies, but are not true and faithful in all things."

(New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pg. 146)

Spencer W. Kimball also has the same viewpoint. He interpited verse 79 to mean that "many [Latter-day Saints] who have recieved baptism by proper authority, many who have recieved other ordinances, even temple blessings, will not reach the celestial kingdom of glory unless [they] live the commandments and are valliant."

(Conference Report, April 1951, pg 104)

President Charles W. Penrose, said of "the terrestrial kingdom" that "there are several degrees in that one glory"

(CR April 1922, 29-30)

[MadHatter]

Telestial Kingdom

The telesital kingdom is typified by the "glory" or light that radiates from the stars.

D&C 76:

81 And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.

According to Joseph Smith and Sydney Rigdon, that even though the telestial world is the lowest of the three kingdoms of light its glory still "surpasses all understanding."

D&C 76:

89 And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding;

The majority of people on this earth will only achieve this glory.

D&C 76:

109 But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore;

There will also be different levels of light and understanding in this sphere, each person will be different, just as one star's light differs from another's.

D&C 76:

98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world;

Who will be the ones to attain this glory?

1) They did not receive the prophets.

2) They did not receive the testimony of Jesus

3) They did not receive the Gospel

D&C 76:

82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus. ...

101 But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.

Joseph Smith also stated that the inhabitants of the telestial world "went their own way" and "worshipped in darkness." These people may have accepted certain biblical people - like Moses, Peter, and Paul - or even formally joined a religious denomination, but they "never received the [true] gospel of Jesus Christ" (stanzas 70-72)

4) They did not recieve "the Everlasting Covenant"

The Prophet indicates that this is a refrence to "the covenant...which Jacob once had" meaning the Abrahamic covenant (stanza 71)

5) They were horrible sinners.

D&C 76:

103 These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.

Joseph Smith adds upon this that hypocrites, thieves, the mean-spirited, the materialistic, and the proud will share the same fate as the "sinful" and the "wicked" in the lowest kingdom of glory (stanzas 60, 73).

The Prophet Joseph Smith says that those who attain this glory will find themselves burned at the second coming of Christ and will not be allowed to remain on the earth during the Lord's millennial reign.

D&C 76:

104 These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth.

105 These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

D&C 29:

9 For the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe; and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the earth;

D&C 64:

23 Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.

24 For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.

They are put into spirit prison after they die and are not redeemed from the devil until after the resurrection.

D&C 76:

84 These are they who are thrust down to hell.

85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.

...

105 These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

106 These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fullness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work;

Nevertheless they did not deny the Holy Spirit, so they are not confined to Outer Darkness after their resurrection.

D&C 76:

83 These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.

88 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation.

It is stated that they will receive "Of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial" kingdom; they will "receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them."

Those who reside in the Telestial world will become servants of the most High.

But their abilities and opportunities will be considerably limited. fort he rest of eternity they will not be allowed or able to go where God and Christ dwell.

D&C 76:

112 And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that "...One who gains possession of the lowest degree of the telestial glory may ultimately arise to the highest degree of that glory, but no provision has been made for promotion from one glory to another.

[MadHatter]

Outer Darkness

Outer Darkness is an appropriate discription because it is not a kingdom of glory.

D&C 88:

24 And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.

Those who are condemned to outer darkness will remain in a state of filthiness. And will go away into that awful state of endless torment; and their torment will be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascended up forever and ever and has no end.

D&C 88:

35 That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.

2 Nephi 9:

16 And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.

Alma 12:

17 Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them according to his will.

Alma 34:

35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

There will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

D&C101

91 Even in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

Just as you have to work towards the celestial kingdom, same applies to outer darkness. You must become a Son of Perdition to be condemned here. What are the requirements of becoming a Son of Perdition?

1) Know God's power and be made a partaker of it.

2) Allow themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome.

3) Defy God's power.

4) Deny the truth.

D&C 76:

Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—

5) Deny the Holy Spirit after they have recieved it.

6) Deny the Atonement of Jesus Christ

35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.

7) Deny the Son after the Father has revealed Him.

D&C 76:

43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.

President George Q. Cannon taught:

A man must have attained to considerable knowledge about god and eternal things before he is in a condition where he can commit the unpardonable sin...There are comparatively few who get this far. A man must have sufficient knowledge to make him a god in order to be a devil.

Brigham Young taught the same thing. He asked,

How much does it take to prepare a man, or woman, or any being, to become angels to the devil, to suffer with him to all eternity? Just as much as it does to to prepare a man to go into the celestial kingdom, into the presence of the Father and the Son, and to be made an hier to His Kingdom, and all His glory, and be crowned with the crowns of glory, imortality, and eternal lives.

Charles W. Penrose made the same connection (Conference Report, October 1914; and April 1917)

Elder Orson F. Whitney, Abraham H. Cannon, and James E. Talmage, all concurred with similar statements. Wilford woodruff also concurred on separate occasions.

References:

Gospel Themes and Saturday Night Thoughts by Orson F. Whitney, Deseret New Press 1914 and 1921 respectively.

Abraham H. Cannon Journal 29th November 1893, Harold B. Lee Library, BYU Special Collections.

Journal of Discourses 22:208, 2:301

[Elphaba]

The 2nd level is that for ministering angels, those who did not abide the New and Everlasting covenant of Eternal Marriage.

Hi Mad,

I think I read everything, and it was interesting as there were things I wasn't aware of before. I do have a question about the above quote. It's my understanding that people who are not married/sealed on earth will still have a chance to do so in the CK. Therefore they won't be ministering angels, and will be eligible for the highest level of the kingdom. Do you disagree?

Thanks,

Elphaba

[MadHatter]

<div class='quotemain'>The 2nd level is that for ministering angels, those who did not abide the New and Everlasting covenant of Eternal Marriage.

Hi Mad,

I think I read everything, and it was interesting as there were things I wasn't aware of before. I do have a question about the above quote. It's my understanding that people who are not married/sealed on earth will still have a chance to do so in the CK. Therefore they won't be ministering angels, and will be eligible for the highest level of the kingdom. Do you disagree?

Thanks,

Elphaba

I have heard mixed reviews on this, I am not exactly sure but i lean towards the scriptures on this because of the bit about "they neither marry nor are given in marriage" when describing the afterlife. It could be in regards to those who had the chances in the marry but refused, and that the people who honestly tried but could not get married for one reason or another. I believe God is merciful on his children and will give them the opportunitites they never had here.

[checkerboy]

<div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotemain'>The 2nd level is that for ministering angels, those who did not abide the New and Everlasting covenant of Eternal Marriage.

Hi Mad,

I think I read everything, and it was interesting as there were things I wasn't aware of before. I do have a question about the above quote. It's my understanding that people who are not married/sealed on earth will still have a chance to do so in the CK. Therefore they won't be ministering angels, and will be eligible for the highest level of the kingdom. Do you disagree?

Thanks,

Elphaba

I have heard mixed reviews on this, I am not exactly sure but i lean towards the scriptures on this because of the bit about "they neither marry nor are given in marriage" when describing the afterlife. It could be in regards to those who had the chances in the marry but refused, and that the people who honestly tried but could not get married for one reason or another. I believe God is merciful on his children and will give them the opportunitites they never had here.

I wonder what will happen to me being as I was married and am soon (or maybe not so soon the way things are going) to be divorced. It wasn't my choice to get divorced. But if I never marry again (oh the horror) what camp will I be in.

Oh wait... I guess it won't matter unless I am already worthy to go to the Celestial Kingdom. I'd better get working on that.

[Palerider]

<div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotemain'>

<div class='quotemain'>The 2nd level is that for ministering angels, those who did not abide the New and Everlasting covenant of Eternal Marriage.

Hi Mad,

I think I read everything, and it was interesting as there were things I wasn't aware of before. I do have a question about the above quote. It's my understanding that people who are not married/sealed on earth will still have a chance to do so in the CK. Therefore they won't be ministering angels, and will be eligible for the highest level of the kingdom. Do you disagree?

Thanks,

Elphaba

I have heard mixed reviews on this, I am not exactly sure but i lean towards the scriptures on this because of the bit about "they neither marry nor are given in marriage" when describing the afterlife. It could be in regards to those who had the chances in the marry but refused, and that the people who honestly tried but could not get married for one reason or another. I believe God is merciful on his children and will give them the opportunitites they never had here.

I wonder what will happen to me being as I was married and am soon (or maybe not so soon the way things are going) to be divorced. It wasn't my choice to get divorced. But if I never marry again (oh the horror) what camp will I be in.

Oh wait... I guess it won't matter unless I am already worthy to go to the Celestial Kingdom. I'd better get working on that.

get to work checkerboy.......LOL!!!!

[mouse152]

One point of contention is the children under eight. My understanding is that they are completely washed clean and inherit the highest degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom -- otherwise we would be like the Catholics condemning them infants and children to hell because of lack of baptism. Where there was no opportunity, there can be no sin.

Also, I don't think you can just assign all the "heathen" etc to the Terrestial kingdom. While D&C 76:72 assigns those who died without the law to the Terrestial, there is also D&C 137:7-10 "Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven." I think that the kingdom for those who die without the law will depend quite highly on how they lived the law they had, their relationship with the god they knew, etc. They have to be such that they would have received the gospel if they had been permitted to tarry -- clearly a judgment only God could make.

IMHO, I think there are many evangelicals who will be with us in the highest kingdom of glory once they have had an honest opportunity to hear the fullness of the gospel. There is much in this life that taints that reception; being raised that this faith is a hideous cult is something awfully hard to forgo and still be honest to God as you believe him.

I'm sorry if I misunderstood anything you said -- if I'm beating a dead horse, just ignore me. I just had to make the clarification about children; it's a schtick of mine.

Thanks.

M

[MadHatter]

Yes, it is a great discussion on this matter.

Children under the age of 8 are saved in the lowest tier of the Celestial Kingdom by default. They are saved because of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Those who died without law will have the opportunity to hear the gospel int he spirit world, but, it will onyl be taught to those who either had no knowledge, or were never taught about the gospel plan on the earth. Those who DID hear the gospel plan here on the earth, but rejected it, will inherit the Terrestrial or Telestial kingdoms. those who rejected the gospel having been taught it will likely not be taught it in spirit prison.

We are here on the earth to be tried by faith, not by knoweldge. it is according to our works and our knowledge that we are judged but we are to use faith in making our decisions. thatw as part of the plan.

IT was a huge risk coming to this mortal existence, but one that all of us rejoiced over and gladly accepted to come down and have this opportunity. Even though there was such great risk in it, we still did it ebcause the possible reward was so great. we all knew what we were getting into and we gladly accepted it.

[onyx]

Hey MadHatter!!

What stands out most in your OPs is the amount of work you put into it.

Awesome!!

I really enjoyed reading your work.

You mentioned that you prepared it for another forum.

What sparked your preparation?

Was it in response to questions asked on the other forum?

Did you prepare this for a lesson at church?

Or is it a special interest subject for you??

Onyx

(edited for spelling)

[MadHatter]

Thanks Onyx, Someone did a small description on religiousforums.com in the LDS section, and i accidentally hijacked his thread because I wanted to expound more upon it. It's been of real interest to me lately because my wife has been taking the missionary discussions and set a date for baptism.

[onyx]

Thanks Onyx, Someone did a small description on religiousforums.com in the LDS section, and i accidentally hijacked his thread because I wanted to expound more upon it. It's been of real interest to me lately because my wife has been taking the missionary discussions and set a date for baptism.

Thanks for all of your work.

That is awesome about your wife!!!!

Will you be the one to baptise her??

Onyx

[mouse152]

What kind of redemption is that for a child who never had the option to live beyond eight to be saved in the lowest tier? That is a hell -- to consign a child who had no ability to choose to anything beyond the full measure of what the Father has to offer. I disagree strongly with what you are posting on this. This is not the Mormon Doctrine I have studied and profess.

[mouse152]

Sorry -- I got a little hot but I do feel strongly about this. I don't, however, want to be contentious so I apologize.

If little children only merit the lowest tier, what about forever families? How can we be together if the parents are on the highest and the child is on the lowest, all because she died before 8? And, following the same logic, what then could a baptized 9 year old who dies inherit? He hadn't been married or endowed, so by your teaching he could only merit the lowest tier of the Celestial? Do I understand this right?

[MadHatter]

Sorry -- I got a little hot but I do feel strongly about this. I don't, however, want to be contentious so I apologize.

If little children only merit the lowest tier, what about forever families? How can we be together if the parents are on the highest and the child is on the lowest, all because she died before 8? And, following the same logic, what then could a baptized 9 year old who dies inherit? He hadn't been married or endowed, so by your teaching he could only merit the lowest tier of the Celestial? Do I understand this right?

What happens to a child who dies before it reaches eight years of age?

The Joseph Fielding Smith had a good answer-

Little Children who die before they reach the years of accountability will automatically inherit the celestial kingdom, but not exaltation in that kingdom until they have complied with all the requirements of exaltation.

The crowning glory is marriage and this ordinance would have to be performed in their behalf before they could inherit the fullness of that kingdom. The Lord is just with all his children, and little children who die will not be penalized... simply because they happen to die. The Lord will grant unto these children the privilege of all the sealing blessings which pertain to the exaltation....

All that we need do for children is to have them sealed to their parents. They need no baptism and never will, for our Lord has performed all the work necessary for them....

Boys and girls who die after baptism may have the endowment work done for them in the temple. Children who die in infancy do not have to be endowed. So far as the ordinance of sealing is concerned, this may wait until the millennium.

The following statement is found in an article in the Ensign, June 1981, p36

Precisely what the Lord will require in the form of ordinances, or other requirements, for spirits who died as infants or children on earth in order to receive exaltation has not been revealed. Certain it is that we do not currently endow children who die before accountability nor do we seal them to a spouse. but this does not mean that the blessings of these latter ordinances are unavailable to them.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie asked -

"Will children [who die before the age of accountability] be married and live in the family unit?"

He answered -

"Certainly. There can be no question about this. If they gain... exaltation, it means that they are married and live in the family unit."

- Ensign, April 1977, p5

[MadHatter]

<div class='quotemain'>

Thanks Onyx, Someone did a small description on religiousforums.com in the LDS section, and i accidentally hijacked his thread because I wanted to expound more upon it. It's been of real interest to me lately because my wife has been taking the missionary discussions and set a date for baptism.

Thanks for all of your work.

That is awesome about your wife!!!!

Will you be the one to baptise her??

Onyx

Thank you again, although i cannot take all the credit, the Lord allowed me to find an amazing and wonderfuly insightful book "The Plan of Salvation - Understanding Our Divine Origin and Destiny"

Yes, i will be the one to baptize my wife, February 9th, It's the weekend before my birthday. and just after the time my bishop has said that i would be worthy to.

[MadHatter]

I wonder if anyone would be interested in having this pinned as part of our doctrine?