“S” is for the Spirit World

“…the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. The spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they should rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. The spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord;…shall be cast out into outer darkness.¹”

Most Christian churches agree that when a person dies there is a separation of the physical body and the immortal soul. Most also agree that the physical body remains in the tomb while our spirit returns to our Heavenly Father or goes down to Hell to stay with the devil. Many think that that is the way things remain, ignoring the importance of the Resurrection; but the LDS believe that the resurrection is the reunion of the soul and the physical body to be led before the judgment bar.

So then, what happens to our spirit in the time between the physical death and the resurrection? According to Alma, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, the righteous spirits are taken into a state of happiness, or paradise, whereas the spirits of those who have lived evil lives will be sent into outer darkness, or to a spirit prison, where they will be preached the gospel.²

And so, the spirit world is not our final destination, but it will be decided at the Judgment Day, which immediately follows the resurrection. People who have visited the spirit world have said that life there is very similar to how it is here, without pain and suffering, for those living in Paradise, but there is no idleness: all are employed in some continuing task, or continuing to learn. It is not a place or condition to be feared, but one where peace and joy abide.

¹Alma 40:11,12,13

²1 Peter 3:19; 4:6

 

© April 22, 2015. Mary E. Purpari. All Rights Reserved.