Paradise (Only Mormons Allowed?)

[The Fourth Nephite]

The Subject of Paradise came up today in a discussion of Paradise and Spirit Prison.

Alma 40:12 says that the righteous go to Paradise, which I have always assumed means Mormons and Non-Mormons alike. Then while doing some research at Church to answer questions that came up in the Gospel Essentials class I teach, I came across this:

http://www.lds.org/study/topics/paradise?lang=eng

The first paragraph says Paradise is reserved for the righteous that have been baptized and have remained faithful. Then it says that if those in Spirit Prision accept Christ, repent and receive the ordinacnes of baptism and confirmation, may enter paradise if their temple work has been done.

Does anybody have any sources that back up this statement that they must wait until their temple work is done? For some Spirits, it's going to be a very long wait.

[Eddie]

The Subject of Paradise came up today in a discussion of Paradise and Spirit Prison.

Alma 40:12 says that the righteous go to Paradise, which I have always assumed means Mormons and Non-Mormons alike. Then while doing some research at Church to answer questions that came up in the Gospel Essentials class I teach, I came across this:

http://www.lds.org/study/topics/paradise?lang=eng

The first paragraph says Paradise is reserved for the righteous that have been baptized and have remained faithful. Then it says that if those in Spirit Prision accept Christ, repent and receive the ordinacnes of baptism and confirmation, may enter paradise if their temple work has been done.

Does anybody have any sources that back up this statement that they must wait until their temple work is done? For some Spirits, it's going to be a very long wait.

And my related question...

Do Jewish Holocaust victims like Anne Frank have to keep moving from prison to paradise and back to prison again each time their temple work is done and then is subsequently removed from church records?

[Northwestcoug]

And my related question...

Do Jewish Holocaust victims like Anne Frank have to keep moving from prison to paradise and back to prison again each time their temple work is done and then is subsequently removed from church records?

Not only that, but think of all the Holocaust victims that have been deported back to spirit prison once we took them off our records...

[clackamascoug]

I don't think there'll be such a thing as a "Mormon" in heaven. And, I think Mormon himself would bristle at the thought of anyone being called a Mormon.

[byu71]

The Subject of Paradise came up today in a discussion of Paradise and Spirit Prison.

Alma 40:12 says that the righteous go to Paradise, which I have always assumed means Mormons and Non-Mormons alike. Then while doing some research at Church to answer questions that came up in the Gospel Essentials class I teach, I came across this:

http://www.lds.org/study/topics/paradise?lang=eng

The first paragraph says Paradise is reserved for the righteous that have been baptized and have remained faithful. Then it says that if those in Spirit Prision accept Christ, repent and receive the ordinacnes of baptism and confirmation, may enter paradise if their temple work has been done.

Does anybody have any sources that back up this statement that they must wait until their temple work is done? For some Spirits, it's going to be a very long wait.

Which leads me to wonder if everything contained in lesson manuals are considered "doctrine". Me thinks not.

[The Fourth Nephite]

Basically, the only thing I can conclude when I consider Alma's statement and the paragraph from the Church website, is that only Mormons with temple recomends are righteous.

Also, have Moses and Isaiah had their temple work done? If not, they're in hell.

[The Fourth Nephite]

Which leads me to wonder if everything contained in lesson manuals are considered "doctrine". Me thinks not.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. You'd think they'd proof these things a little better. Even good ol' Bruce R. McConkie (in Mormon Doctrine) wasn't this exclusive.

[Tokolosh]

Then it says that if those in Spirit Prision accept Christ, repent and receive the ordinacnes of baptism and confirmation, may enter paradise if their temple work has been done.

*Tosses the salt over shoulder* Or whatever other action indicates gospel a la Tokolosh is forthcoming.

I don't like the references within our manuals that indicate paradise and prison are physical places, though I recognize the scriptural descriptions lend themselves to that interpretation. I don't think that is correct and it doesn't jibe with "the same sociality that exists here".

It seems to me that paradise or prison refers to the state of our progression or our awareness of what is to come. Not knowing what is next after one discovers there actually is life after death could certainly be a prison of sorts. Having a knowledge of what is to be would be liberating in that sociality.

[creekster]

*Tosses the salt over shoulder* Or whatever other action indicates gospel a la Tokolosh is forthcoming.

I don't like the references within our manuals that indicate paradise and prison are physical places, though I recognize the scriptural descriptions lend themselves to that interpretation. I don't think that is correct and it doesn't jibe with "the same sociality that exists here".

It seems to me that paradise or prison refers to the state of our progression or our awareness of what is to come. Not knowing what is next after one discovers there actually is life after death could certainly be a prison of sorts. Having a knowledge of what is to be would be liberating in that sociality.

D&C 138 makes it sound pretty much like a place.

[Tokolosh]

D&C 138 makes it sound pretty much like a place.

I think there are other scriptural references that more clearly shoot down my thoughts posted above. As I read through 138 I can see it fitting my thoughts just fine. There is nothing about our current sociality that would prevent an "innumerable company... of the just" gathering without those "who had defiled themselves" being drawn to the same gathering. We tend to commune where we are comfortable anyway.

The work of spreading the gospel happens now with the just and unjust living among each other. It could certainly be done in a similar manner in the spirit world.

Also, before Christ's death and His declaration that the bands of death had been broken those in "paradise" in 138 were also referred to as "captive". It seems they too were in prison of sorts until death had officially been defeated.

[creekster]

I think there are other scriptural references that more clearly shoot down my thoughts posted above. As I read through 138 I can see it fitting my thoughts just fine. There is nothing about our current sociality that would prevent an "innumerable company... of the just" gathering without those "who had defiled themselves" being drawn to the same gathering. We tend to commune where we are comfortable anyway.

The work of spreading the gospel happens now with the just and unjust living among each other. It could certainly be done in a similar manner in the spirit world.

Also, before Christ's death and His declaration that the bands of death had been broken those in "paradise" in 138 were also referred to as "captive". It seems they too were in prison of sorts until death had officially been defeated.

Well then choose the other ones to answer. You can interpret 138 that I suppose, but it seems less likely to me especially in light of the scriptures cited there from the NT. But if it works for you it's ok with me.