To review from the writings of Paul, There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon . . . (1 Corinthians 15: 40-41)
What can we learn about the terrestrial glory from ancient and modern revelation? Quite a bit, actually, if you study it carefully.
First, here is what we can learn from modern day revelation and the theophany given to Joseph Smith and his scribe:
And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the [celestial] . . . even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. (Doctrine and Covenants 76: 71)
This is what Joseph learned about those who would inherit this glory:
- They who died without law(v. 72)
- 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. (v. 73-74)
- They who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. (v. 75)
- They who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God. (v. 79)
- Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun. (v. 78)
Those who inherit this kingdom:
- Receive of His glory, but not of His fullness. (v. 76)
- Receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fullness of the Father. (v. 77)
* We first learn about Christ preaching to the dead from the ancient Apostle Peter. He wrote: For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1Peter 4: 6)
That place is referred to as spirit prison, For the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage. (Doctrine and Covenants 138: 50)
Another latter-day prophet, Joseph F. Smith (son of Joseph Smith's brother, Hyrum) wondered about the brevity of Christ mission to the dead. He learned that Christ called leaders from the righteous dead to preach unto the spirits in prison (see Doctrine and Covenants 138: 25-31.) Joseph F. described his vision in these words:
And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.
Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.
These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,
And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross. (Doctrine and Covenants 138: 31-35)
The mission work for the dead is going on to this day. The prophet Joseph F. wrote about this work:
I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.
The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,
And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation. (Doctrine and Covenants 138: 57-59)
So even though the glory of the moon is not as great as the glory of the sun, it is still a glory far beyond anything we can imagine. It, too, is a kingdom of glory and salvation.
Text copyright Gebara Education April 2013
Picture of sun and moon from www.mi9.com
Picture of moon from www.thefamily.com
Picture of Christ preaching to the dead from www.anchorforthesoul.com
Picture of temple baptism from www.jefflindsay.com
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