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Chapter 12a - The Plan of Salvation: Post-Mortal Life - Part 1

Welcome to the Mormon Mann YouTube channel. I am Kendall, the Mormon Mann.

In this playlist “Joseph Smith and the Bible,” I am challenging over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings, and I am doing it using only the Bible.

In a few of my other videos in this series, I show where Christ is warning all good Christians to beware of false prophets and false teachers.

In several previous videos, we’ve seen that Jesus Christ warns us to beware of false prophets and false teachers. Since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to have a living prophet who speaks with Jesus Christ, this warning becomes very relevant.

Christ gives us a standard to evaluate prophets:

Matthew 7:20 — Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

That is exactly what I am doing here—examining the fruits of Joseph Smith as a prophet!

What Happens After We Die?

Now let’s return to the Plan of Salvation—specifically, Post-Mortal Life.

Where do people go when they die? 

Most Christian traditions teach a simple model:

• The righteous go to heaven

• The wicked go to hell

However, the Bible contains passages that suggest a more detailed picture.

Many Christians believe that heaven—the dwelling place of God the Father and Jesus Christ—is a real, literal location, often called the Kingdom of God.

Jesus taught:

John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So we know:

• Heaven is real

• It is where God resides

• And there are requirements to enter it

Are There Multiple Heavens?

Many Christians believe there is only one heaven and one hell.  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that heaven was a series of different locations that people went to as a reward for their works. 

Here are some of the biblical references that refer to the multiple heaven teachings:

Psalms 33:6

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalms 102:25

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Hebrews 1:10

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Psalms 104:2

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: (Insert cloud picture, slide 9)

Isaiah 40:22

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

Isaiah 55:9

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Joel 2:30

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

And most notably:

2 Corinthians 12: 2

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Here, the apostle Paul saw a third heaven. If there was a third heaven, there must have been a first and second heaven. We will identify these three heavens in these two videos on the Post Mortal Life.

These last eight passages certainly support Joseph Smith’s teaching that there is more than one heaven.

We will now go over these different heavens in detail.

Paradise vs. God’s Presence

In establishing the actual existence of several heavens, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ will be used as an example.  While hanging on the cross, Christ refers to a place where He and the thief hanging next to Him, will be the same day that they die.  Christ tells the thief the following:

Luke 23:42,43

42.and he said unto Jesus, lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 

43. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

A lot of people understand “paradise” as a place in heaven with Heavenly Father or the kingdom of God.  But a deeper look of Christ’s crucifixion reveals something different. 

The day of the crucifixion, Jesus was to be in paradise. 

Three days later, after the crucifixion, early in the morning, Mary went to the sepulcher where they had laid Jesus and Jesus was not there.  Jesus then appeared to Mary and when Mary went to touch Him, He said:

John 20:17

Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

This is critical.

• Jesus said He would be in paradise that same day

• Yet three days later, He had not ascended to the Father

Conclusion:

Paradise is not the same place as the Father’s presence.

So now we have at least:

1. The Kingdom of God (where the Father resides)

2. Paradise (a separate location)

Spirit Prison (Hell)

The Bible introduces another location. Peter talks of Christ going and teaching the spirits in prison.

I Peter 3:18,19

18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit:

19. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Who were these spirits?  The next verse tells us!

1 Peter 3:20

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of god waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water.

Now we know that the disobedient people on the earth at the time of the great flood are some of the ones in the “spirit prison”…which is also known as “hell!” 

But we also learn that Christ included all the dead.

1 Peter 4:6

For for this cause was the gospel 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.

This shows that:

• The dead are conscious

• They can hear the gospel

• They can be taught after death

Isaiah even prophesied of this:

Isaiah 24:21-22

21. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 

22. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

That “visit” was Christ Himself.

Christ Preaches to the Dead

Christ said:

John 5:25

verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John 5:28

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

John 5:29

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Two Spirit Realms: Paradise and Prison

Jesus further clarifies this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus:

Luke 16:19-23

19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 

20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 

21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

This rich man was in hell or what is also called the “spirit prison.” 

As he looked at Lazarus who was in “paradise,” the rich man did not like where he was roasting!  He asks:

Luke 16:24

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

Father Abraham answers the rich man that he request cannot be fulfilled because there is a “great gulf” between the “prison” and “paradise.”

Luke 16:25,26

25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou are tormented. 

26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Once the rich man understood there could be nothing done for himself, he requested that Lazarus, being from the dead, be sent to his brothers so that they would believe in Jesus Christ and not have to suffer the torment in the “spirit prison” or hell.

Luke 16:27,28

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 

28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

Father Abraham’s answer is sore to all who refuse to accept the words of the prophets, both early biblical and latter-day prophets!

Luke 16:29-31

29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 

31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Abraham states very clearly, that if a person does not accept the gospel and teachings of the living prophets, they will not accept the gospel if an angel or a resurrected being from the dead appeared to them. 

Now that we identified the spirits in “paradise” and “spirits in prison” (or hell), we have Christ going and teaching His gospel to the “spirits in prison” and all the dead, which includes the spirits in “paradise.”  All these dead have the opportunity to listen too and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Judgement Day

The next step in the eternities is the “judgment day” where all who have lived on this earth will be judged for their works.  John has the most famous teaching about this “judgment day.”

Rev 20:12,13

12. and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before god; and the books were opened: and 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.

13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

John mentioned here twice, that all the dead will be “judged according to their works.”  

Again, John states that men will be judged according to their works.

Revelations 22:12

And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give everyman according as his work shall be.

Then we have Peter and Paul teaching that man would be judged by his works:

1 Peter 1:17

And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.

Romans 14:10

But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Then, we have Jesus Christ declaring:

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Is God Just? What About Those Who Never Heard Christ?

This raises an important question:

What about the billions of people who never had the chance to hear the gospel?

Is it fair that they would be condemned?

Good News! Our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are just!

They have in their plan that these people will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ!

John 5:25

verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

John 5:28

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

John 5:29

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Joseph Smith is the first Christian leader who taught that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are just Gods!

The Problem: The Baptism Requirement

But there’s a challenge:

If all the dead will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in the “spirit paradise or prison,” and accept the gospel, how can they receive salvation, or a place in the “kingdom of God,” if they have not been baptized by “the water and the spirit?” Remember Christ’s rule?

John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

So how can the dead receive baptism?

God the Father and Jesus Christ, being just Gods, did provide a way for these people to receive the gospel in the “spirit paradise” and the “spirit prison” and still receive the ordinance of baptism by water and by the spirit. 

Isaiah also prophesied of the prisoners in prison will be freed.

Isaiah 42:6,7

6. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 

7. To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah taught that it would be the Lord God, Jesus Christ that would go to the “spirit prison” and proclaim liberty, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the captives and actually open the prison to those who are bound.

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

A Commandment to “Be Perfect”

As we will learn in Chapter 13 – The Plan of Salvation – The Mortal Life, we are all sent here to become perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Our Ancestors Cannot Obtain Perfection without Us

Paul taught:

Hebrews 11:40

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Malachi prophesied of Elijah being sent to the earth for a specific reason:

Malachi 4:5,6

5. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 

6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their father, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Elijah actually visited the Prophet Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836 and gave him the authority and power to provide the ordinances of salvation that will give these spirits in “paradise” and “prison” that never have had the saving ordinance of baptism. 

This visit occurred in the Kirtland temple and is recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C).

D&C 110:13-16

13. After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: 

14. Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

15. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

16. Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

One of the several ordinances “restored” to the earth by Elijah is the saving ordinance of “baptism for the dead.” 

In the sacred Houses of the Lord, or temples, baptisms are performed by proxy, using the name of the deceased person. 

The prophet Joseph Smith taught that a person in the “spirit paradise” or “spirit prison” who accepted the gospel there, could accept the proxy baptism from earth and receive the saving ordinance of baptism and the blessings that come with it.

This “baptism for the dead” ordinance was in effect during the time of the apostles, otherwise Paul, would have never used this ordinance as an example in his letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:29

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?  Why are they then baptized for the dead?

A Just and Merciful Plan

Today, there are over 300 temples providing baptisms in the names of the dead, who while on the earth, may not have had the opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Now the “spirits in prison” have this opportunity to receive the salvation that Christ promised them. 

This perfect plan certainly sheds light on how Christ is the “Lord both of the dead and living.”

Romans 14:9

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

This plan to offer salvation to those who have already died and may never have had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their savior reveals the “just” God that the Bible teaches. 

This plan also offers:

• Justice (everyone gets a fair chance)

• Mercy (salvation is extended to all)

• Hope (for our ancestors and loved ones) 

Paul understood this “hope” as being the saving temple ordinances when he wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Genealogy

It is this “hope” and “knowledge” for our ancestors that the latter-day prophets since Joseph Smith have put so much money and effort into the collection of birth, marriage, death, and other historical records. 

The prophet Joseph Smith taught that once our ancestors have accepted the gospel in the “spirit prison” and their “saving ordinances” are completed in the temples here on earth, the ancestor may join in the salvation of Christ and even move from the “spirit prison” into the “spirit paradise.” 

The Prophet Joseph Smith stated:

…Every man that has been baptized and belongs to the kingdom has a right to be baptized for those who have gone before; and as soon as the law of the Gospel is obeyed here by their friends who act as proxy for them, the Lord has administrators there to set them free.[1]

I want to give a few examples of how this salvation for the dead works. We have Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to the poor. She was such a wonderful person.

We have persons like Billy Graham who dedicated his life to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have Confuses in the orient who was a great teacher and leader.

All of these leaders were not baptized by the proper authority and under Christ’s commandment, therefore, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

But God is a Just God! Through Christ’s teaching His gospel to the dead in paradise and the spirit prison, who have accepted the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ can be baptized by proxy in our Latter-day Saint temples and thus be eligible for the Kingdom of God!

So, to dispel what a lot of other Christian religions tell about our church…that only Mormons can get to heaven…many millions of good people who have lived here on earth and never heard of Jesus Christ will make it into heaven.

Yes, we will have Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Buddhists, Muslims and many other denominations in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yes, we will have many good people who have never heard of Jesus Christ, in the Kingdom of Heaven…even those who only had the sun to worship!

Now that is a just God!

It is this “hope” that our ancestors may be released from the “spirit prison” or the “bonds of hell” when the LDS membership researches the names of their ancestors and takes those names into the temples and performs these sacred ordinances. 

Doing genealogy work for our ancestors is explained in more detail in Chapter 13: The Mortal Life.

Closing

This ends the first half of Chapter 12 – The Plan of Salvation – Post Mortal Life - Part 1.

In Part 2, I will be introducing:

• The Degrees of Glory

• Final Judgement Outcomes

• Eternal Rewards

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If I made sense for multiple heavens in this video, please press the “Like” button below.

Thank you for joining me. Have a great rest of your day, or morning, or night!

I hope to see you in my next video.

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[1] Documentary History of the Church, Volume VI, pages 365-366.