Looks like others have given some good answers before I could get back to you, Birdmonster. If you’re interested in finding out more about the teachings of the LDS Church, you can go to www.mormon.org which is designed as an information site for people who would like to learn what the Church teaches.
And, ooops, I screwed up. Take every time I wrote “Telestial” in the last post and replace it with “Terrestial” and vice versa.
CalMeacham: I was raised Catholic, what with the Latin masses & such, and, once, while altar-boying (no lude jokes please, it was actually rather pleasant), I asked a priest if non-Catholics went to hell. He informed me that those who did not believe in Jesus were sent there. It soured me pretty bad, considering my best friend was–and still is–a Jew. I know this may be the opinion of only one priest, but these things stick with you. So, I should have been more clear: it wasn’t exactly rejecting Catholicism that made you hellbound, it was rejecting Christ. I’m not sure if this is official doctrine, but it is certainly what I was told. I’m unsure if Protestant sects espouse this belief either. Those who feel like answering will continue to receive credit as Theology tutors.
Re: my LDS afterlife questions: Much obliged. Y’all laid it out well for me.
I was also an alter-boy and then born-again christian. It really bothered me that those who did not believe in Jesus would not go to Heaven. Also, it really bothers me that those who never had the opportunity to hear of Jesus could not go to Heaven. It isn’t their fault. The LDS faith is more along my line of reasoning. God loves us all so he would want to make our after-life as pleasant as possible, even if we were a bad person. Only those who deny God with perfect knowledge of him will be cast to “hell”, or outer darkness.
I’m a former “active” mormon…I was brought up in a devout home, served an LDS mission in Korea, came home and decided that it just wasnt something I really wanted to have in my life…no hard feelings, just doesnt do it for me. Regardless, I know my mormon theology fairly well.
My younger brother is getting married in the temple next week. While most of my family will be there for the temple ceremony, I wont be able to attend - I dont have a temple recommend any longer and am no longer part of the church. Much like what has been stated above, the temple sealing ceremony is indeed short.
As for the “levels” of heaven, what has been stated above is pretty on the money.
In the celestial kingdom, people that have received the proper ordinances (baptism, temple ordinances, etc) will be able to go there. People in the celestial kingdom will bask in the presence of heavenly father and jesus. the highest ‘state’ of the celestial kingdom is reserved for those who are married in the temple (and them only), and they will be endowed with the “creative” powers of god and will be able to create worlds and children without number, in the same capacity as god - mormons believe truly that god will give unto them all that he has, this case being his creative powers. People that had no opportunity to receive such ordinances in this life will later have that opportunity while they are in spirit paradise, awaiting judgement, which is why mormons do work in the temple on behalf of those who have already passed away. You may have heard of mormons doing “baptisms for the dead.”
In the Terrestrial kingdom, people will be able to be in the presence of Christ, but not heavenly father.
In the Telestial kingdom, people will receive ministrations from the Holy Ghost, but will be barred from the presence of the Father and Christ. as stated in posts above, this kingdom is for murderers and such. I too have heard it said that if people on earth had even a glimpse of this “lowest” kingdom, they would promptly kill themselves to go there, so wonderful it is.
Outer Darkness is for those who have a perfect knowledge of Christ, The Father, and the holy ghost, and reject it. This would be akin to standing before god and saying “I deny You.” I’ve heard it said that the number of people that will go to outer darkness could be numbered by the fingers of one or two hands. the punishment associated with Outer Darkness is characterized by being cut off totally from the presence from Heavenly Father, Christ, and the Holy Ghost, forever.
Ridiculous. There is such a law. It’s called “trespassing.”
I’m probably a bit younger than you ( don’t remember any Latin Masses), and I don’t know if was actually a change in doctrine or simply a different emphasis, but I was taught that the rejecting that sent you to hell also involved knowledge - that you somehow knew Christ was the son of God and still rejected HIm. Not knowing that Christ existed, or not believing that he was the son of God in itself didn’t make you hell bound.