Where Are We Going? After Death

Death

Death is the act of our physical body leaving our spiritual body.  That separation may seem like the end of life for a lot of people.  But as Latter-Day Saints we know that death is only an obstacle that everyone must overcome.  This was not possible without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Since Jesus Christ overcame death in the Spirit World, everyone is entitled to be resurrected.  That Is just a free gift that Heavenly Father has given to us. 


The Spirit World

Many of us know that we go somewhere after death. There are countless near-death experiences and other unexplained medical stories, and humanity has spoken about the topic as far back as we recall in human history. Religions of the world put forth theories, but we needn't look so far. The New Testament talks of many who see visions of a Heaven, who see angels praising God, and so forth.

We can see as far back as the Old Testament that mankind has known about life after death. King David spoke of the afterlife and not remaining in hell, and the writer of Ecclesiastes informs us that the 'returning to God' does in fact take place. From these alone we can gather that we go to a good place or a bad place, depending upon our choices in life. We also see that this is not final - that there is a further judgment.

Our biggest concern is what happens to us. Death is scary. But contrary to our fears, it's not the end.

 Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 Moses 7:57 And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth, and stood on the right hand of God; and the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day.

 Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.


Resurrection

After we die, we will someday get our bodies back. This was one of the purposes of coming to earth in the first place! How terrible it would be to lose it! Many of us fear death because of it's seeming finality. It is final as the end of our mortality, but it doesn't mean we'll be without a body ever again.

Just as the Lord Jesus Christ regained His body before ascending into Heaven, so shall we gain our bodies again, and be just as before. He proved to us that He was real, not only letting them feel the markings from being on the cross, but also showing them by eating as a resurrected being. (see Luke 24:42-43)

This is a promise bestowed upon all, both the just and the unjust. It is in this state that we shall see God, as said Job. It is at that point that we shall stand to be judged.

Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

 Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he alive again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.


Judgment Day

In the end, we will all have to stand to account for what we have done in life. If we have done good, then we will be blessed, and if we have done evil, then we won't.

There are many gifts which God wants to give us. The greatest gift, the highest of all He can give us, is Eternal Life, the greatest blessing that can be given - in which God is willing to give us all that He has.

The Lord offers His priesthood and eternal increase, having families that continue forever.
These blessings come from making and keeping sacred covenants by those who are authorized to act in His name. We make those covenants in His house - in temples, places that have been properly dedicated as houses of God.

Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Abraham 2:11 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.

 Psalms 50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.