Gospel Essentials: What Happens When I Die

Gospel Essentials: What Happens When I......... Die?

hile death can be an uncomfortable subject for humans to contemplate, ultimately, the message of how death is, was, and will be affected by Jesus, becomes central to our study of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. While much of the world subscribes to a notion that 'the good go to heaven, and anyone who didn't know about Jesus,….well, …umm….burns', we will learn that the restored gospel offers hope for the sinner--true hope-- as revealed in the image of our God who is fair and loving.

The true message of life and death is one of the most beautiful and compelling aspects of the gospel of Jesus.

Ultimately, the eternal purpose of Jesus Christ was to alter the outcome of death for human beings.

1. What is death? In the temporal sense? In the spiritual sense? The following definitions will be supported by later scripture:

Temporal Death: Separation of the (our) spirit from our body or flesh.

· Alma 8:99 Now there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death;

· Alma 9:29 Then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death: yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness;

· Alma 9:40 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man, in which he might repent;

· Alma 19:89 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness;

Spiritual Death: separation of the spirit from God.

· Alma 19:90 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal; that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord; therefore it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death;

(Ultimately, our temporal body will die. Our souls can never die. Our souls' life and destination is the purpose of our discussion)

2. What does death have to do with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, or in other words, how Jesus died for our sins?

· 91 Therefore as they had been carnal, sensual and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.

· 92 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside,) as soon as they were dead, their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.

· 93 And now there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state which man had brought upon himself, because of his own disobedience;

· 94 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only, on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.

· 97 And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

· Alma 19:105 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead: and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God;

3. Why is this important?

· Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

· Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

(The atonement of Christ created the way where the original destiny of death can be reversed. Had the sacrifice of Jesus not occurred, we would've died and been subject to Satan.)

4. Who has had a 'life after death' experience? (trick question) While few may have had a 'near death' experience, we are all living the 'first death', a spiritual separation from God--our temporal life in this world is like a 'life after death experience'.

· DC 28:11a Wherefore, it came to pass, that the Devil tempted Adam and he partook the forbidden fruit, and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the Devil, because he yielded unto temptation;

· 11b wherefore, I the Lord God caused that he should be cast out from the garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression: wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death, which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say, Depart ye cursed.

· 11c wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death, which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say, Depart ye cursed.

· DC 28:12a But, behold, I say unto you, that I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death, until I, the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and redemption through faith on the name of mine only begotten Son;

· DC 28:12c that by his natural death, he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe, and they that believed not, unto eternal damnation;

· 2 Nephi 6:36 And it shall come to pass, that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel;

5. Second Spiritual Death. When is it? What is the state of those who suffer the Second death? Who does this apply to?

· Alma 9:28 And now behold I say unto you, then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; 29 Then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death: yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness;

· Alma 9:52 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness;

· Alma 9:59 Yea, according to his word in the last provocation, as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.

· Alma 10:30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.

· Alma 9:46 But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto man that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment; even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end.

· DC 63:5b wherefore, I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the unbelieving, and all liars, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

· DC 76:4 4a Thus saith the Lord, concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves, through the power of the Devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth, and defy my power; …… they are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say it had been better for them never to have been born… 4c for they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the Devil and his angels, in eternity, concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come;… 4d having denied the Holy Spirit, after having received it, and having denied the only begotten Son of the Father; having crucified him unto themselves, and put him to an open shame:……4e these are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the Devil and his angels, and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath;

6. The plan is to save our spirit, not our temporal body.

· Alma 19:89 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness; 90 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal; that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord; therefore it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death;

· I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

7. What happens if there wasn't an atonement? (i.e. the whole purpose of Jesus coming and dying on the cross for our sins)

· Alma 9:42 Now if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead;

· Mosiah 8:53 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.

· Alma 19:92 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside,) as soon as they were dead, their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord. 93 And now there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state which man had brought upon himself, because of his own disobedience;

· 2 Nephi 6:20 For behold, if the flesh should rise no more, our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. 21 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself;

8. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, what IS GOING to happen?

· Mormon 1:72 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God, when the trump shall sound;

· Mormon 4:72 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God, when the trump shall sound;

· Mormon 4:73 And they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death;

· II Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel;

· I Corinthians 15:21 for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

· I Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy, death, shall be destroyed.

9. What is the 'sting of death?' referred to in scripture?

· I Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin…

· Mosiah 8:57 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them: thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

· Alma 9:21 Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell; and Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works.

(The "sting", is now eliminated through Christ. The grave can not bind us when we die because through Christ we can come back into the presence of God. Without Christ, we would've been 'stung', or in other words, our sin would have kept us from God for eternity. Also, the term 'bands of death' refer similarly.)

10. Who does the atonement cover?

Those who repent

Alma 13: 46 And since man had fallen, he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atoneth for their sins, through faith and repentance, etc.:

Alma 16:216 This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

Alma 16:217 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Those who have Ignorantly Sinned

Mosiah 1: 107 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died, not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

2 Nephi 6:51 Wherefore he hath given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment;

52 And where there is no punishment, there is no condemnation;

53 And where there is no condemnation, the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement:

54 For they are delivered by the power of him: for the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment;

55 And they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

56 But wo unto him that has the law given; yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation; for awful is his state!

Children are covered by the Atonement

· Mosiah 1:114 And even if it were possible that little children could sin, they could not be saved; but I say unto you, they are blessed; 115 For behold as in Adam, or by nature they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins. 117 For behold, he judgeth, and his judgment is just, and the infant perisheth not, that dieth in his infancy;

· Moroni 8: 9 Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.

· 10 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children. 11 Behold I say unto you, that this thing shall ye teach, repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children: and their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.

· 13 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism. 14 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.

· 15 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism, is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.

· 18 Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear; and I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore all children are alike unto me; wherefore I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike, and partakers of salvation.

· 20 Little children can not repent; wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.

· 21 And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.

· 25 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.

· 21 And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.

Those not “Capable” of repentance

· Moroni 8:26 For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, can not repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing.

· Moroni 8:28 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation, and under the curse of a broken law.

11. If our souls can never die, but the scriptures say those souls will be 'destroyed' in the lake of fire, what is the definition of 'death of the soul?' (Hint--how much of the presence of God do they experience?)

· Alma 16:233 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance, even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; 234 Therefore the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

12. Why did this first death come about? What is/was the 'fall' of Adam? What did Adam's fall mean for all mankind?

· Genesis 6:49 And he said unto them, Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death, and we are made partakers of misery and woe.

· Mosiah 8:80 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death, that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. 81 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

· Alma 9:38 Now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and a fallen people 39 And now behold, I say unto you, that if it had been possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at that time, there would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar: for he said, If thou eat, thou shall surely die. 40 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man, in which he might repent;

13. What would've happened if Adam had eaten of the tree of Life after the forbidden fruit?

· Alma 19:83 Now we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit;

· 84 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man, to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.

· 85 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partook of the tree of life, he would have lived for ever, according to the word of God, having no space for repentance;

· 86 Yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.

14. What is probation? Why is this life called a 'probationary state'?

· Alma 9:41 Therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state, which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

· Alma 19:84 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man, to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.

· Mormon 4:94 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.

15. What happens if we waste the days of our probation?

· 1 Nephi 4:52 For the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation;

· 1 Nephi 3:33 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment. 34 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment seat of God; 35 And no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore ye must be cast off for ever.

· 2 Nephi 6:56 But wo unto him that has the law given; yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation; for awful is his state!

16. What did it mean that 'Christ was the first to rise from the dead?'

· Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, (Means that he was the first to receive an immortal body--no one sleeping in graves, but spirits were in paradise or prison.)

17. If my body dies before the Lord's return, will I 'sleep in the grave'?

· DC 85:27c And they who have slept in their graves, shall come forth; for their graves shall be opened, and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven: they are Christ's, the first fruits:

· DC 108:10d And the graves of the saints shall be opened, and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem, and they shall sing the song of the Lamb day and night for ever and ever.

(The reference is to ones body remaining in the grave, not the spirit, which is our conscious part. It is in a state of paradise, prison, or outer darkness. There is no place in which our mind, our consciousness, our soul is ever 'hibernating')

18. OK, so what happens when I finally take my last breath….(i.e. croak, kick the bucket, buy the farm, etc)?

19. Is Peter really the one at the 'pearly gates'? Who do we meet when we finally 'go'?

· Alma 19:43 Behold, it has been made known unto me, by an angel, that 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 taken home to that God who gave them life.

· 2 Nephi 6:81 Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel: and he employeth no servant there:

20. If I haven't followed Christ now in this life, will I want to on my deathbed?

· Alma 16:227 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time, and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

· 228 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God: yea, behold, the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

· 229 And now as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore I beseech of you, that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end;

· 230 For after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness, wherein there can be no labor performed.

· 231 Ye can not say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God.

· 232 Nay, ye can not say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

· 233 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance, even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his;

· 234 Therefore the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

(The goal of this life is to teach our flesh to be subject to the will of God's spirit; this is not accomplished with a one-time, desperate act of grasping at God, motivated by fear, in the final minutes of ones earthly life.)

21. What is paradise? Is this a permanent place, the final resting-place of souls?

· 2 Nephi 6:31 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the bodies of the righteous;

· Alma 19:44 And then shall it come to pass that 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 shall rest from all their troubles, and from all care, and sorrow, etc.

· Alma 19:47 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for, of the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

· Moroni 10:31 (Moroni's farewell) And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

22. What is 'the prison house?' Is this a permanent place, the final resting-place of souls?

· Genesis 7:44 Wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer? But, behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and, behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them, and he whom I have chosen hath pleaded before my face;

· Genesis 7:64 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.

· D&C 76:6c Behold, these are they who died without law; and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; 6d these are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men:

23. What is 'outer darkness'?

· Alma 19:45 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord: for behold they choose evil works, rather than good: therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house;

· Alma 19:46 And these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led captive by the will of the devil.

24. What happens at the final judgement? When is the