Celestial kingdom
Summary
Highest kingdom of glory in the afterlife; symbolically represented by the sun. According to a vision dated 16 February 1832, inheritors of the celestial kingdom “are they who received the testimony of Jesus, & believed on his name, & were baptized,” “receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands,” and “overcome by faith.” Those so qualified “dwell in the presence of God & his Christ forever & ever.” Teachings published in June 1832 explained that the celestial kingdom is “where God, and Christ is, and where they will be for eternity.” A revelation dated 22 June 1834 stated that Zion could be built only upon the “principles of the law of the Celestial Kingdom.” The account of a vision dated 21 January 1836 declared that all who had died without “knowledge of this gospel” could “be heirs of the celestial kingdom” if they would have received the gospel had they “been permitted to tarry.” In May 1843, additional teachings and revelation clarified that the celestial kingdom itself consists of “three heavens or degrees” and explained that to enter into the highest degree and receive exaltation, one must enter into “an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity.” Those who did so would “be Gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.” See also “” and “.”
Links
- History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]
- Appendix 5, Document 1. Blessing to Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, between circa 15 and 28 September 1835
- Blessing from Joseph Smith Sr., 9 December 1834
- Blessing to Willard Snow, 1 March 1835
- Discourse, 12 November 1835
- Discourse, [5 January 1841], as Reported by Unknown Scribe–A
- Discourse, [5 January 1841], as Reported by Unknown Scribe–B
- Journal, 1835–1836
- Letter to Edward Partridge, 5 December 1833
- Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 January 1833
- Letter to the Church, circa March 1834
- Letter to the Church, circa February 1834
- Letterbook 1
- Minutes, 17 August 1835
- Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 1 March 1835
- Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book
- Prayer, 23 October 1835
- Record of the Twelve, 14 February–28 August 1835
- Revelation Book 2
- Revelation, 1 March 1832 [D&C 78]
- Revelation, 16–17 December 1833 [D&C 101]
- Revelation, 22 June 1834 [D&C 105]
- Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]
- Revelation, 27–28 December 1832 [D&C 88:1–126]
- Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836
- Revelations printed in The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832–June 1833
- Vision, 16 February 1832 [D&C 76]
- Visions, 21 January 1836 [D&C 137]