LDS, Mormons, Just a question about the levels in Heaven? and non LDS believing famil

I just to see if really how it's goes...and your thoughts about this.
Say a NON LDS mother and daughter, say in a third world country that has not been around the LDS church or perhaps never heard of it...
If the mother and child (say 7 years old) both die at the same time, is this how the LDS, Mormon church "belief" would go?
( The 3 levels you believe in.....)
* Telestial - where unbelievers go
* Terrestrial - for religious people who aren't Mormons and for Mormons who are say just christian not LDS.
* Celestial - for Mormons who have kept ALL of the laws and ordinances of their church. Temple endowed and what you call exhalation is attaining Godhood, (the highest level there) you must be LDS and temple sealed to attain this.
(this is your Church's belief)

*The child would go to the highest degree of glory ,the celestial kingdom, (where God is) Because all children (under the age of 8) are innocent and the belief is that they go here. The LDS church teaches the the age of accountability is "usually" age 8 when all LDS youth are baptized.

AND and the mother would go to say the middle or lower kingdom called the celestial or
terrestrial kingdom.

So the "belief" is the mother would NOT BE with her child in Heaven unless...
AFTER 1 year at least, (that's the minimum time for the dead to have to wait for their temple work to be done)
AND then the Mother would have to convert after death after having her LDS temple work for her by proxy by a living LDS person in a temple. Then she has to accept the work and move up....

Or is she chooses NOT to accept the work she will NOT be in the same level of Heaven as her innocent child. a lower one...Right?


**So in a sense, The LDS church believes that a loving "God" would separate the TWO (mother and young child) at least for one year? After dying together?

I believe I have this correct. right?
(sorry so long just wanted to include the info)

Thoughts about this belief....
Thank you.
Wispy, why is this "stirring up contention??" hum?

Mormons baptize the dead.
So it would depend on if any of those people get baptized posthumously or not..
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/mormon/baptism/

You know what- we are also taught that overall the place that we will be sent to will make us happy beyond belief, the situation you describe might not make one or the other or both happy.So don't trouble yourself with these trivial thoughts, but rather we must all just live secure in the belief that the Heavenly Father will work it out in the eternities. And BTW, you know , it is not very complimentary to you to be stirring up contention on this the very eve Christ was born.

You have the facts pretty close; however, the final judgment will be after the resurrection and second coming of Christ. We do not know exactly how the spirit world will be. We do know that this is the time where those who have not heard the gospel during this life will be given a chance to accept it. Alma chapter 40 explains a bit about this time period. You can also search "Spirit World" on LDS.org to read what interests you about it.

I guess even if the mother and child are separated for a time before being reunited, it is not all that different from the time we spend on earth, separated from our deceased loved ones. When we understand the plan of God, our trials on earth are put in perspective and are easier to bear.

Mormonism is at best a shady business, at worst a dishonest cult

No one ends up in a kingdom anyway until after judgment, except children. They are at an advantage I guess. So its not like its an unfair situation. Had the child been in the same circumstance as the mother, over 8 and unbaptized, they wouldn't necessarily be together anyway. Not until work was done and after judgment and resurrection. There's a time and place for all things to happen.

Im not sure why you say it like that. "that a loving "God" would separate the TWO", as if any loving MOTHER would rather her child be in state of stagnant immobility with her, rather than in a glorious paradise. The fact that God takes the child back (his first) to be in a far exalted state says more about his love than the fact that the mother is still going through the conversion process. The fact is, its not about punishment, its about the fact that even if she COULD immediately go to the CK she couldn't withstand the presence of God. Might as well "bless" her to go live on the sun in a mortal body. God isn't as vindictive as you portray, but he knows what he's doing.

".....not having heard the gospel, ....will at some time be given this opportunity." James t duke

"do not fear that blessings are going to be withheld from you....If in your hearts you feel the gospel is true and would under proper conditions receive these ordinances and sealing blessings in the temple of the Lord, and that is your faith and your hope and your desire, and that does not come to you now, the Lord will make it up, and you shall be blessed, for no blessing shall be withheld." Joseph fielding smith

"if you make yourselves worthy and ready....and have faith in this sacred principle,....the Lord will reward you in due time and no blessing will be denied you." Harold b lee

now while most of these quotes deal with answering the question of those not married entering the kingdoms of heaven, the principal is still sound........the LDS are primarily guided by modern revelation --- which assures us that no worthy person will be denied any blessing in the hereafter.

so do you have this correct? IMHO - nope. and why would one put oneself in the position of second guessing the judgments of God anyway? this is His realm of concern....not ours. we are not in charge of these types of determinations.

no.

The D&C states all those who would have received the gospel had they been permitted to tarry will be heirs of eternal life. D&C 137:7-8. All those who die before the age of accountability will be heirs of eternal life D&C 137:10 and God judges us according to our works according to the desires of our hearts D&C 137:9

God is just and merciful - I put my faith in that.

I think your imaginary people will be just fine.

I think real people will be just fine if the LDS religion is the way to go because the LDS have the "largest heaven" and "smallest hell" of Christian religions. Some other Christian denominations believe both of them would go to hell for not having heard the gospel.

You are correct in some aspects of your outline of the three levels and incorrect in others.

First, all three levels are kingdoms of glory far surpassing any glory or desirability of our current situation. And just about everyone eventually gets a degree of glory (except the "sons of perdition" - who voluntarily reject any degree of glory). In this sense - Mormons believe in "universal salvation."

The lowest level - the Telestial is the place for the evil people of the world who rejected Christ and did not repent. Murderers, thieves, adulterers, the selfish, proud, cruel. All of these people - if they do not repent through Christ (via the Restored Gospel of Mormonism) will be here. This kingdom enjoys the presence of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit), but the other two members of the godhead (Father and Son) are not available to the people here.

The next level is the Terrestrial. This is reserved for good and honorable men and women of the world who nonetheless reject the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ (as held by the LDS Church). This kingdom enjoys the presence of both the Holy Ghost and the Son (Jesus Christ) but not the presence of God the Father.

The top level is the Celestial. This is reserved for the righteous who embrace the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ (as held solely by the LDS Church) and its ordinances. There are said to be further levels of this kingdom as well - but that's an unnecessary level of detail to get into here. This kingdom enjoys the direct presence of all three members of the godhead - Father, Son, and Spirit.

You can only get here by repenting of your sins via baptism and taking the sacrament thereafter (which renews the effects of repentance and your covenants with Christ each week). You also need to embrace the ordinances available in the temple which are meant to implement the process of sanctification in the life of the believer (as described by the apostle Paul). It's not exactly accurate to say you must keep all the commandments to get to the top level - because it is acknowledged in LDS teaching that no one is perfect, and no one manages to successfully keep all the commandments. But we believe that by taking advantage of the Atonement, constant repentance and trying to keep a covenant relationship with God, we can be sanctified anyway and qualify for all blessings.

As to people who die before (or without) receiving the needed ordinances - we perform these ordinances for the dead in our temples. It is our belief that everyone who wishes to accept Christ and repent will have the opportunity to do so - either in this life or the next.