Welcome to Study Faith with AI, where we use the power of AI to help you explore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I'm Meg Jensen.

And I'm Paul Carter,

and we're Google AIs. Whether you're a lifelong member or just starting to learn about the Church, we're here to dive deep into its history, beliefs, and culture.

So, if you're ready to learn, you're in the right place.

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What happens after we die? It's uh it's the question that's kind of echoed through human history, hasn't it?

It really has. Everyone wonders.

And today on the deep dive, we're tackling a particularly detailed and well unique answer. The Mormon concept of the afterlife.

Yeah. And it's not just, you know, a simple heaven or hell choice.

Right. We're diving into a whole spectrum of eternal possibilities.

Exactly. And our goal isn't just to sort of outline these beliefs, but really to understand how they developed historically. and um the fascinating questions they bring up about eternity.

So, what are we drawing on for this?

Well, foundational texts like Doctrine and Covenants sections 76 and 132 naturally, but also insights from BYU's religious studies center, some scripture central videos, and even an academic thesis to really get into the weeds.

Okay, sounds comprehensive. So, our mission is to understand the revelations, the different afterlife states, and maybe grapple with some of the challenges these ideas present.

That's the plan. So, where does this really intricate view of eternity begin to take shape?

Let's start right at the beginning with what's often called the vision of the degrees of glory. That's in Doctrine and Covenant Section 76.

This revelation came to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. It was February 16th, 1832 in Hiram, Ohio at the Johnson home. What actually sparked this huge vision?

It's pretty interesting. They were actually in the middle of translating the Bible, specifically the Gospel of John.

Okay.

And they hit this one verse, John 5:29, you know, the one talking about the resurrection of the just and the unjust. That seemed to be the trigger.

So, that verse got them thinking.

Yeah. Joseph Smith had apparently been pondering how maybe some truths about salvation had been lost from the Bible over time. The idea of just one heaven didn't quite sit right with him, especially compared to a God who rewards people based on their actions.

Right. The two resurrections idea must have seemed significant.

Exactly. It opened up this whole line of questioning for them. And Sidney Rigdon's action is important, too. While our academic source mentions his testimony, he said this vision was completely counter to everything he'd been taught before.

Wow. So, it really felt like something new, something revealed.

Precisely. It underscores just how groundbreaking it felt to them. The Scripture Central video we looked at calls it a grand panoptic vision that kind of unfolded from pondering that verse.

A grand panoptic vision. Okay.

Yeah. And some early accounts even suggest the initial understanding focused on something called the Church of the First Born like a specific group within the Church itself.

Huh. So they're translating, they hit this verse, they ponder, and boom, this massive vision unfolds. What did they actually see in it?

Well, it seems to come in stages, distinct parts. The first part, uh, that's verses 19 to 24. It's a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ,

the Godhead,

Right? And the emphasis is really on them hearing this witness, this testimony that Jesus is the creator and the savior. And crucially, it also revealed that inhabitants of like tons of other worlds are also God's sons and daughters.

Okay, that immediately broadens the whole picture, doesn't it? Multiple worlds, all one big divine family.

Definitely, it's a huge perspective shift right off the bat.

So, what comes next in the vision?

The second part, verses 25- 49, gets into the fall of Lucifer or Satan and the fate of those who become what are called Sons of Perdition.

Sons of Perdition. What does it take to reach that state? It sounds serious.

It is. And the vision is quite specific. It's not just about being generally wicked. It's about deliberately, knowingly rejecting the Holy Ghost after you've received its power,

Okay?

And denying Jesus Christ when you have a full understanding, a sure knowledge of who he is. Essentially crucifying Christ anew for yourself.

That scripture central analysis we saw really pointed out how much space the vision gives to this group. Even though it's understood to be, you know, pretty rare.

Exactly. It seems to highlight the incredible weight of agency that even this extreme choice is possible. Joseph Smith later talked about this, connecting it to some apostates who knew God personally but still chose to deny Christ

and their fate.

The vision describes it as outer darkness associated with the second death which means a spiritual separation from God's presence. And it says they won't be redeemed in the due time of the Lord. It's presented as a final state.

Wow, that's a pretty stark contrast. So after seeing this lowest possible state, the vision moves upwards, right? towards glory.

Yes. It then describes the different levels or degrees of glory

starting with the highest, the Celestial Kingdom.

Okay. The Celestial. What's that like? Who goes there?

Verses 50 to 70 cover this. It's for those who accepted the testimony of Jesus, believed, got baptized, kept the commandments. Basically, those who fully embrace the gospel covenant.

And within that kingdom, there is another distinction.

Yes. This group called the Church of the First Born. They're described as becoming priests and kings who receive the absolute fullness of God's glory.

I remember the poetic version of the vision adds some powerful imagery here.

Oh, absolutely. It talks about them becoming gods, even sons of the Lord, inheriting everything, life or of death, things down or to come,

becoming eternity's heirs and even saviors,

right? It paints this picture of immense potential, this core Mormon belief that humans can progress to become like God. Heavenly Father wanting to essentially give away his power to those who qualify.

That's a really unique idea compared to many traditional views. So that's the pinnacle, the Celestial Kingdom. What about those who maybe lived good, honorable lives but didn't fully accept the gospel here.

That brings us to the next kingdom described the Terrestrial Kingdom verses 71 through 80.

Terrestrial. Okay.

This is described as the place for those who didn't receive the testimony of Jesus in this life but did accept it afterwards like in the spirit world.

Ah so they get a chance later on.

Exactly. And it also includes uh honorable people, good people who were maybe blinded by the craftiness of men as the scripture says during their mortal lives.

So people of integrity perhaps but without the same level of gospel understanding or opportunity while they were alive.

That seems to be the idea. Good people but not valiant in the testimony of Jesus here on earth.

Got it. And then there's one more kingdom.

Yes. The Telestial Kingdom. That's verses 81 through 113. This is for those who didn't receive the gospel or the testimony of Jesus either in this life or in the spirit world:liars, sorcerers, adulterers, whoreongers, those who reveled in wickedness.

So, this covers a broad range of people who rejected Christ's message.

It does. And interestingly, the vision even mentions that this kingdom is divided into groups suggesting, you know, different levels even within the Telestial based perhaps on the degree of their choices.

But even for the Telestial Kingdom, the vision says they receive a glory, right? It's not portrayed as like traditional hellfire for most.

That's a really crucial point. The vision emphasizes that even the Telestial glory surpasses our mortal understanding. So D&C 76 paints this picture. Three kingdoms of glory, Celestial, terrestrial, Telestial, each differing in glory like the sun, moon, and stars. And then separate from all that, outer darkness for the Sons of Perdition.

This must have been revolutionary for the early saints. A huge shift from just heaven or hell.

Absolutely. Our sources really stress that it offered a much more, um, nuanced view of God's justice and mercy. It gave comfort that most people would inherit some degree of glory.

And it really centered everything on having a testimony of Jesus Christ.

Definitely. And it became effectively the first widely published testimony from Joseph Smith about the nature of God, Christ, and the whole plan of salvation that the early members could access.

Okay. So, Section 76 lays out the destinations, the degrees of glory. How does Doctrine and Covenant section 132 build on this? It came later, right?

Yes. Section 132 was formally recorded on July 12th, 1843. Although the principles particularly eternal marriage and even plural marriage were apparently known and practiced to some extent before that

and its connection to the afterlife.

It introduces what's called the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. And it directly links this covenant to achieving the fullness of God's glory which we talked about being in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.

So this specific type of marriage covenant is presented as necessary for that highest glory.

That's what verses four-six state quite clearly entering into and importantly abiding by this covenant is essential to inherit that top level of the Celestial Kingdom.

And it also introduces the sealing power.

Exactly. The idea that priesthood authority given by God can perform ordinances on earth, specifically marriage in this context, and have them be sealed or made valid eternally in heaven. Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.

This sealing power is fundamental to the whole Mormon idea of eternal families, isn't it? That relationships aren't just till death do his part. Precisely. While Section 132 itself focuses heavily on the marriage covenant, the doctrine that developed from it teaches that eternal marriage performed by this sealing authority is the key to exaltation and the continuation of family units forever.

And there's this concept of eternal increase tied to it as well.

Yes, that refers to the potential to continue having spirit children in the resurrection which is understood to be a blessing reserved for those sealed in eternal marriage by the proper authority. Those not sealed in this way um they don't continue that procreative process after death.

So Section 132 adds this crucial layer about eternal relationships and family structure onto the framework of glories from Section 76. Marriage becomes an eternal principle,

Right? It really elevated the concept of marriage

and it's become, you know, a profound source of hope for members. This promise of being with family forever.

But we also have to acknowledge as our sources point out the introduction of plural marriage within this same revelation. caused immense controversy and difficulty, particularly in the early Church.

Definitely a complex piece of history and doctrine. Let's dig a bit deeper into exaltation itself. We know it's the highest state, but what does that mean in Mormon theology?

Exaltation, as the religious studies materials explain it, is essentially eternal life in the absolute fullest sense. It's the kind of life God lives.

The kind of life God lives.

Yeah. Possessing his glory, his perfection, knowledge, wisdom, even his creative power. The ultimate goal is becoming like Heavenly Father.

That's that's a huge idea. What are the blessings promised to those who reach exaltation?

Well, D&C 76 puts it simply, all things are theirs. That means living in God's presence in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom as part of an eternal family, inheriting all that he has. Moses 1:39 reinforces this. God's whole work in glory is bringing about our immortality and eternal life, meaning exaltation.

So, it's not just being near God, it's actually progressing to become like him. That sounds like it requires a lot. What are the requirements?

It's definitely presented as a path requiring total commitment. Our sources list the essential ordinances.

Baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost via confirmation for men receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, the temple endowment

and eternal marriage as we just discussed from D&C 132,

Right? But it's not just about checking off ordinance boxes. There's a huge emphasis on how you live your life,

on righteous living.

Absolutely. Loving God, loving your neighbor, keeping the commandments, repenting when you mess up. Serving others, doing temple work for ancestors, participating in Church, strengthening your family, personal prayer, scripture study,

following prophetic counsel, listening to the Holy Ghost.

Exactly. It's a whole way of life and it's ongoing. This idea of enduring to the end,

Right? That phrase comes up a lot.

It does. President Joseph Fielding Smith quoted in our materials talked about needing to continue in God, living his truth consistently. This lifelong commitment is what leads to that fullness of truth associated with exaltation. And again, Section 132 specifically links eternal marriage to that highest degree within the Celestial Kingdom.

Okay, that clarifies the ultimate potential exaltation. Now, let's shift to the other end, the concept of hell and Mormonism. It seems different from traditional views.

It is different in some key ways. First, you have the Sons of Perdition, which we already touched on from D&C 76. That's understood as a permanent state, outer darkness, being cut off from God because of that very specific higher rebellion against no truth. It's called the second death.

But that's seen as a very small group, right? What about others who don't achieve exaltation? Is it eternal torment for them?

Generally, no. That's where the Book of Mormon adds another layer, as our BYU sources mentioned, talks about a temporary state after death called Spirit Prison. Sometimes referred to as the sleep of hell.

Spirit Prison.

Yeah. A state of spiritual captivity or suffering for those who didn't repent fully in mortality. But, and this is key, the doctrine teaches that escape from Spirit Prison is possible through faith in Christ, repentance, and learning that happens in the spirit world. People can progress.

So even for those who weren't fully righteous here, there's still a path forward, a chance for eventual glory.

That's the dominant understanding. Yes. Then you have outer darkness itself, the permanent abode of Satan and his angels and the Sons of Perdition. So the overall view isn't one of endless fire and brimstone for most people who fall short. It's more about the natural consequences of rejecting God's light and love and being placed in a kingdom appropriate to your choices and desires.

And everyone is ultimately judged according to their works.

Yes. After the resurrection, there's a judgment where everyone is assigned to the place they prepared themselves for through their actions and the desires of their hearts.

This whole framework, it's incredibly detailed, but it also seems to open the door to some tricky questions, some complications. Let's talk about the complications of heaven first.

Well, right away you see that getting to the very highest level isn't just about being a good person. There are these specific doctrines, these requirements that um they introduce complexities. They definitely raise some questions.

And a really big one that keeps coming up is polygamy, right?

Absolutely.

Alyssa Grenfell talks about this the idea that men sealed in an eternal marriage, which is a key temple thing

essential for exaltation. Yeah.

They expect to potentially become like polygamous gods ruling planets with multiple wives

forever.

And this isn't just fringe stuff. It's rooted in their scripture. Like Doctrine and Covenants 132. Grenfell points out, and she's right, that someone like Brigham Young really saw polygamy as well, necessary for men to reach that godhood level.

Yeah, Nemo the Mormon mentioned that too, that the very top tier basically requires it, even for current leaders in the afterlife, thinking about their sealings to wives who've passed away.

But this is where it gets really complex and honestly pretty tough when you think about the people involved.

You mean the impact on families?

Exactly. Radio Free Mormon really digs into the pain this has caused particularly for second wives for their kids. Elder Oaks who himself is sealed to two women.

His first wife passed away. Yeah.

Right. He shared stories in General Conference like about a woman marrying a widower or the kids from the first marriage worrying about their eternal family. It's heavy stuff

and the answers given. They often seem to boil down to trust the Lord, don't they? Which maybe doesn't fully address the real anxieties people have about what that eternal family actually looks like

precisely. It leaves a lot hanging and you see commentators like Zelf on the Shelf in that Nemo video really questioning the implications for women in an eternal polygamous setup.

So it creates this tension, doesn't it, between the ideal of eternal families and the specific structure that causes worry? Now how can you have total joy if the setup itself is problematic for some?

That's the core question. I think it complicates that picture of perfect eternal happiness.

Okay, let's shift slightly. What about the role of women, specifically Heavenly Mother or maybe mothers.

Ah yes, the doctrine is that we have heavenly parents, father and mother or possibly mothers. Alyssa Grenfell kind of jokes maybe one couldn't handle producing all the spirit children.

Yeah. Yeah.

But even though she or they are fundamental to our existence, there's this, um, restriction. You're generally discouraged from praying to Heavenly Mother or even talking much about her,

which as Grenfell notes feels like a bit of a paradox if you're looking for a stronger divine feminine. Right.

Definitely. Then you get to the resurrection itself.

Oh yeah. The order of things.

The teaching is that men are resurrected first and then they call forth their wives using their temple names.

Grenfell mentioned this too and how it leads to some frankly uncomfortable jokes among some men about like withholding resurrection if they were mad at their wife.

Yeah. Not exactly a picture of Celestial harmony, is it? Using resurrection as leverage.

No. And at Zelf on the Shelf brought up the worry that women not married in this life might end up as what? Servants, ministering angels, or even assigned as plural wives later.

So, it circles back to those questions about equality and agency for women in the afterlife. The path seems less clearly defined maybe than for men aiming for that godhood status.

It does feel like there are some gaps in the explanation there,

which leads us to another concept, something President Nelson talked about, this idea of a potentially sad heaven.

Sad heaven because not everyone makes it to the top.

Exactly. His talk in April 2019 really stressed that exaltation is based on individual qualification. He spoke about the potential for real sorrow in the afterlife if family members don't reach that highest kingdom.

But didn't other leaders offer a bit more comfort? I remember Radio Free Mormon contrasting Nelson with Oaks and Eyring.

Right. Oaks and Eyring have talked about things being more wonderful than you can imagine and being sealed in a family forever. But the catch, as Radio Free Mormon points out, is that it might not be your original family unit you're sealed into eventually.

Uh so there's the ideal of your family forever, but the reality might be individual worthiness trumps that specific unit.

That seems to be the tension. Can you really have a fullness of joy, as they call it, if the people you love most aren't there with you in the same place doing the same things?

It's a painful thought for people that potential for family is being split up eternally.

Definitely. And speaking of who qualifies, what about LGBTQ plus members.

Yeah, that's another really difficult area.

The teaching seems to be that if someone identifies as gay but lives according to Church standards, they'll be resurrected uh essentially fixed without the sin of homosexuality, as it's sometimes phrased.

But that doesn't really address the core desire many faithful LGBTQ plus members have for temple marriage, for that eternal sealing, which isn't possible for them under current doctrine.

No, it doesn't. They're in this tough spot trying to be faithful but excluded from what's taught as the ultimate family structure in the afterlife.

Okay, let's talk about family members who leave the Church or become less active. There seem to be different views on their eternal fate, right?

Very different actually. President Nelson's view, at least as Radio Free Mormon interprets it, sounds quite strict, maybe limited hope. If you had a chance at the gospel in this life and didn't take it,

which seems to clash a bit with baptisms for the dead, doesn't it? The whole point of that is giving people a chance in the spirit. world.

Exactly. It creates this theological puzzle. You've got the emphasis on personal accountability now, but also this whole system of proxy work for people later. Where's the balance?

And historically, it wasn't always presented this way.

Well, Radio Free Mormon contrasts Nelson with older leaders like Orson F. Whitney and James E. Faust. They seem to offer more hope talking about the faithfulness of parents, maybe pulling their posterity through like with tentacles of divine providence.

Tentacles of divine providence. Providence. Wow, that's an image.

It is. But then there's this counternarrative stressing individual choice, even citing an unpublished Joseph Smith sermon. That sounds more like the current focus on personal worthiness.

So, the implication now maybe is that temple sealings aren't quite the safety net they were once thought to be.

That seems to be the concern Radio Free Mormon raises. If it's all about your individual performance in this life, does that diminish the power of the sealing? Could it counterintuitively lead to family is being torn apart eternally,

which is the exact opposite of the promise. Sobering stuff. And just quickly circling back that idea of ruling planets and creating Celestial babies. It's out there.

It is. It adds another layer to this already complex picture of the Celestial Kingdom. So yeah, lots of challenges, questions about fairness, equality, happiness, family. It's a lot.

It really is. Another interesting question is about identity. Will we still be us in the afterlife? How much carries over?

That's a great question. The scriptures do offer some reassurance. They talk about the same sociality that exists among us here continuing there just coupled with eternal glory.

Same sociality. So our relationships, our personalities,

it suggests a continuity of self. Yes. Our core identity, our relationships, the things that make us who we are seem to persist but in a perfected glorified state. How exactly our earthly experiences shape that eternal identity isn't fully spelled out though. Joseph Smith himself said he could explain a hundredfold more. more about the vision if people were ready.

So, even with all this revelation, there are still other mysteries, things we don't fully grasp yet about heaven.

Absolutely. The plan is vast.

Okay. So, we've wrestled with heaven. Let's flip the coin and look at the Mormon ideas about hell, which also seems complicated.

It's definitely not simple.

And the first thing that jumps out is just the sheer scale. If only active templeworthy Mormons get to the top heaven, what about well, almost everyone else?

That's a huge point. The basic framework suggests that the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom is primarily for those who embrace Mormonism. So yeah, the vast majority of humanity, those without Mormon baptism, initially end up in what's called Spirit Prison.

But Grenfell mentioned proxy baptisms could help there.

Yes, there's that possibility. People in Spirit Prison can potentially accept ordinances done for them by proxy in temples, but still the starting point for most people is outside that highest glory.

So what is Spirit Prison? Is it like fire and brimstone?

Not exactly. The academic article we looked at clarifies that Spirit Prison, especially in the Book of Mormon view, is more like a temporary state, a waiting place. It's distinct from the ultimate final hell, which is called outer darkness.

Outer darkness. That sounds more like traditional hell. Who goes there?

That's reserved for a very specific group, the Sons of Perdition. These are beings who had a perfect knowledge denied the Holy Ghost.

It's considered the ultimate betrayal.

So, very few people end up there.

According to the doctrine Grenfell mentions, yes, very few who lived on earth. It's often linked to those who knew Christ personally and then utterly rejected him or perhaps those spirits who followed Satan way back in the premortal life.

Nemo the Mormon pointed out that this definition seems so narrow it might exclude even someone like Hitler.

That's the implication. Yes, it's a very specific kind of rebellion against revealed light.

Okay, so if outer darkness is super exclusive, what about the other destinations? You mentioned the levels of heaven earlier. Are there levels of not quite outer darkness?

Yes. There are three main kingdoms of glory described. Below the Celestial, you have the Telestial Kingdom. It's likened to the glory of the stars. Grenfell mentioned a former apostle suggesting maybe most adults end up here.

Most adults. Wow. Even though it's the lowest kingdom,

it's seen as the place for those who were deliberately wicked, rejected the gospel, committed serious sins. But even it is described as having a glory beyond our current understanding. Still, it's a kingdom of glory.

And the middle one,

the Terrestrial Kingdom, glory like the moon. This is generally understood as the place for good, honorable people who maybe weren't Mormon or didn't accept the full gospel.

But the key thing for both Telestial and Terrestrial, according to Grenfell,

is separation from family in that ultimate sealed sense. And critically, no more progression towards godhood that stops outside the Celestial Kingdom. And that's where the TK Smoothie idea comes in,

right? That somewhat jarring concept mentioned in the Grenfell video. The idea that reproductive ability is removed in the Celestial Kingdom, signifying a fundamentally different kind of eternal existence.

Definitely distinctive, but you mentioned Spirit Prison might be temporary. Does the article suggest people can get out of these lower states?

The Book of Mormon perspective highlighted in the article definitely emphasizes hope. It talks about people being able to awake from the sleep of hell, to shake off the chains through Christ's Atonement, repentance, spiritual rebirth. Think of Alma's experience.

Alma's story is powerful. Yeah. From pains of a damned soul to joy.

Exactly. So, the idea is that even from Spirit Prison through faith and repentance and accepting those proxy ordinances, you can progress potentially to spirit paradise, which is sort of the waiting area for the Celestial Kingdom.

So, for most, hell isn't necessarily permanent.

For most, these lower states or Spirit Prison are seen as places where learning and repentance can still happen. But again, that ultimate progression, becoming like God, that's reserved for the Celestial Kingdom.

Got it. That distinction is key. Let's circle back quickly to Outer Darkness and the Sons of Perdition. Nemo the Mormon's situation, getting excommunicated for apostasy, made him wonder if he could end up there.

Right? Based on how personal apostasy is sometimes defined within Church discourse, actively fighting against the Church, after knowing its truth, he felt it raised the question for him,

which makes you wonder, is apostasy seen as worse? than other major sins in this eternal framework.

It's a complex theological question, isn't it? How different sins are weighed eternally?

It really is. Are there similar complications or unanswered questions when we look at the concepts of hell or the lower kingdom?

Yes, there are. For instance, the precise nature of the suffering or the condition of the Sons of Perdition and outer darkness isn't really detailed. Maybe it's indescribable. Maybe it's intentionally veiled to emphasize the finality of their choice.

Okay?

And the exact process of how someone awakens from that sleep of hell or progresses out of Spirit Prison after repenting in the spirit world.

The mechanics aren't fully laid out. And then there's the ongoing theological reflection on how God perfectly balances justice and mercy for everyone, especially those who had opportunities to accept the gospel in life but chose not to.

So there's a lot of detail but also significant areas left open to faith and further understanding. Given all this, the intricate doctrines, the historical complexities, the questions. What are people supposed to do with it all? What do our sources suggest for both faithful members and those who might be doubting or struggling?

That's the practical takeaway, isn't it? For those who are generally faithful, the emphasis seems to be on trusting God's overall goodness and wisdom even when you don't have all the answers. Believing that revelation is ongoing

and focusing on personal actions,

Right? Focusing on living righteously, participating in temple ordinances which symbolize these eternal truths, and finding peace in the knowledge that God is both just and merciful. Continuing to study, pray, and seek personal understanding is also encouraged.

And for members who are wrestling with doubts or difficult questions about these things,

the sources, I think, implicitly support acknowledging that these doctrines are complex and that having questions is okay, even healthy. The advice would likely be to seek reliable information, not just, you know, random opinions online.

Engage respectfully.

Yes. Engage in respectful dialogue. Focus us on the core foundational principles of the gospel faith in Christ. Hope, charity, repentance. Those are central regardless of the finer points of afterlife cosmology. And recognize that maybe not every question has a neat tidy answer right now. Personal spiritual experiences often become anchors in those times.

So regardless of where someone is on their faith journey, what are the big principles to hold on to?

I think it boils down to the absolute centrality of God's love and the Atonement of Jesus Christ that It's the engine driving the whole plan. Also understanding the importance of our own agency, our choices, and our accountability for them

and just doing the best we can with the understanding we have.

Exactly. Striving to live according to the light and knowledge you do have seems to be the most important thing for anyone grappling with these big eternal ideas.

Well, as we wrap up this deep dive into the Mormon view of the afterlife, it's clear we've covered a lot. It's this incredibly rich, detailed tapestry, isn't it? Stretching from potential godhood down to outer darkness. All ground founded in those key revelations like D&C 76 and 132. Far more complex than just heaven and hell.

Yeah. The big aha for me looking at it all together is just how intricate and in many ways how merciful the plan is portrayed in these sources. The idea that there's a place, a degree of glory prepared for nearly everyone.

And for you listening, maybe this dive has sparked even more questions, which is perfectly okay. We really hope you'll continue your own exploration, maybe using some of the sources we mentioned today as a jumping off point for your own study and reflection.

And maybe a final thought to leave you with,

consider the implications of that highest potential, the possibility of becoming like God. If that's on the table, what does that inspire you to do or to be right now in your daily life? Or perhaps reflect on the sheer scope of God's love as presented here in designing a plan that aims to give some measure of eternal reward to almost all of his children.

If you find value in this exploration, please like, share, follow, and consider becoming a subscriber. Your contributions help keep these conversations going and allows us to maintain the highest quality production. You can find all the details at studyfaithwithai.com. Thank you for being part of this journey.