3 Heavens. (Part 1)

In part one here, I am simply laying out what the 3 different heavens are according to LDS beliefes. I will go into detail in part two as to why I believe these are in error and a false Doctrine.


Telestial Kingdom
The telestial kingdom is the lowest of the three degrees of glory, in which the highest or celestial kingdom is compared to the sun, the middle or terrestrial kingdom is compared to the moon, and the lowest or telestial kingdom is compared to the stars. According to the Church's interpretation, the Bible also indicates that these three kingdoms are connected with the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:40-42). Also, "in addition to the degrees of glory, there is a place of no glory, called perdition (or "outer darkness"), reserved for those who commit the unpardonable sin." (Bible Dictionary: Degrees of Glory)

People who will attain the telestial kingdom in the afterlife include those "who received not the gospel of Christ, nor the testimony of Jesus" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:82) as well as "liars, and sorcerors, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:103). These people, who will rise in the second resurrection, must first suffer for their sins in the Spirit Prison (similar to the Catholic concept of Purgatory - see Common Latter-day Saint perceptions) until the Last Judgement, at which time they will be assigned to the telestial kingdom, for they are identified as "heirs of salvation" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:88). However, the telestial kingdom is not unpleasant: "the glory of the telestial...surpasses all understanding" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:89).


Terrestrial Kingdom
The Terrestrial Kingdom is the middle of three "degrees of glory," in which the highest or Celestial Kingdom is compared to the sun, the middle or Terrestrial Kingdom is compared to the moon,[1] and the lowest or Telestial Kingdom is compared to the stars. The terminology is also used in 1 Corinthians 15:40. Also, "in addition to the degrees of glory, there is a place of no glory, called perdition, reserved for those who commit the unpardonable sin." (Bible Dictionary: Degrees of Glory)

Persons who will attain the Terrestrial Kingdom in the afterlife, according to the Church's teachings, include those who lived respectably but "were blinded by the craftiness of men" and "were not valiant in the testimony of Jesus" while on Earth or those who would did not do enough to search out the truth before their death but who have accepted it in the post-mortal realm (this latter doctrine being emphatically rejected by virtually all other Christian polities).

In the Terrestrial Kingdom, God the Father does not come, but Jesus Christ visits, and the Holy Ghost dwells with the inhabitants.


Celestial Kingdom
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".

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.