Mormonism's Plan of Salvation
An Overview of Mormon Beliefs About God's Path for Humankind
Oct 4, 2009
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — whose members are called Latter-day Saints or Mormons — has a very all-encompassing view of God's plan for His children. It includes a pre-mortal existence, as well as a complex theology about the afterlife.
LDS Plan of Salvation Begins with Pre-Earth Life
Mormon beliefs strongly affirm that all people on earth are literal children of God. Before life on earth, everyone lived with their Heavenly Father.
In the pre-mortal life, people didn't have bodies yet; this is one reason for coming to earth, according to Mormon belief.
Mormonism Beliefs on Birth and Mortality
Through birth, it's believed, all of God's spirit children will eventually come to earth and forget their pre-mortal existence. Mormonism says that life on earth serves four primary purposes:
- Gaining a body
- Developing faith in God and Jesus Christ
- Having a family
- Developing Christlike attributes such as forgiveness and charity
Earth life, containing these four ingredients, is believed to prepare people for eternal life.
Death and the Spirit World in the Mormon Plan of Salvation
Mormons define "death" as the separation of the body and the spirit. The body goes into the ground and is dead; the spirit, however, continues to live. Latter-day Saints believe that the spirit goes to a temporary waiting place until they are resurrected to a kingdom of heaven.
The spirit world is believed to be divided into two parts: paradise and prison. Those who have accepted and lived God's word on earth go to paradise. Spirit prison is a place for Mormons who weren't completely dedicated to God, as well as people who have died without knowing about God's word at all. In prison, every soul is taught the gospel and has the opportunity to accept it (see 1 Peter 3: 19, 4: 6.)
Mormon Theology on Resurrection
At Christ's second coming to the earth, Mormons believe that everyone in the spirit world will be resurrected.
Alma 40: 23 in the Book of Mormon says that resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit and body, and that "every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame."
Heaven in the Mormon Religion
Mormons believe that after the resurrection, Jesus Christ will judge and assign every person to a kingdom of heaven. Mormonism teaches that there are three degrees of glory in heaven. Though all are wonderful places, Mormons believe that exaltation (also called eternal progression) is only possible in the highest kingdom.
John 5: 22 teaches, "they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." Mormons believe that damnation is not resignation to a fiery hell, but the state of receiving a lesser kingdom of heaven without exaltation.
Learning about God's plan of salvation as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ is a good overview of Mormonism for anyone interested in LDS beliefs. In addition to a pre-mortal life and earth life, the LDS plan of salvation also includes a spirit world, resurrection, and assignment to a kingdom of heaven after death.
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