THE RESURRECTION

Job 14:14, “If a man die, shall he live again?”

This question of life after death, the resurrection, is a crucial subject of scripture.

The Book of Mormon answers Job’s question, 2 Nephi 9:22 – And he (Christ) suffereth this (the pains of every living creature) that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.

The most significant event in recorded history is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was such a great event not even his apostles, who knew him so well, weren’t able to grasp the concept fully. They did not understand what happened when it happened. In fact, millions had died before this day and none had risen from the grave until this first Easter morning.

When Jesus was resurrected, meaning after his premortal spirit which gave life to his mortal body from birth until death, reentered his body, meaning his spirit and that same body reunited to never be separated again arose as a mortal soul. We as members of His church believe that Christ’s resurrection not only was for him but also overcame death for all mankind living before and after him. The keys of the resurrection, which Christ possesses, allowed Him to complete His earthly mission by being resurrected, which Jesus was set apart and ordained to do.

The manner in which Christ died on the cross after much rejection, betrayal, and suffering many “appalling indignities,” is widely accepted by both believers and nonbelievers. However, the fact (and a fact it is) that he gave up his life voluntarily with the purpose of overcoming death for all mankind through the resurrection is not so widely accepted. Christ taught again and again that, “I lay down my life… that I might take it again.”

“Surely the Lord understood the end from the beginning, and it was perfectly understood in the councils in the heavens before the world was made, that Jesus Christ was to come into this world to die and thus repair a broken law and again restore life to mankind, that they might have it more abundantly.

Moreover, he taught them that all power, both in heaven and in earth, had been given unto him through his obedience to his Father and through the resurrection which he had received” (Joseph Fielding Smith).

President Howard W. Hunter said, “The doctrine of the Resurrection is the single most fundamental and crucial doctrine in the Christian religion. It cannot be overemphasized, nor can it be disregarded.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said referring to the resurrection that, “It adds meaning to our doctrine, motivation to our behavior, and hope for our future.”

Elder Eyring once said that if we understood the resurrection and immortality we would be more moral as a people (paraphrased).

Elder Russell M. Nelson said, “This great priesthood power of resurrection is vested in the Lord of this world.” “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18)

A universal resurrection which provides all of us an opportunity to receive exaltation due to our Saviors great sacrifice is enough reason to be eternally grateful.

President Marion G. Romney once stated about Jesus Christ’s ministry that, “Having thus taken upon himself mortality, having suffered in Gethsemane for the sins of all men, and having given his life on the cross, there remained for him but to break the bonds of death – the…last requirement – to complete his earthly mission as Redeemer. That the whole of his moral life moved toward this consummation, he had repeatedly taught. It was foreshadowed in his statement about laying down his life and taking it up again. To the sorrowing Martha he had said, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25); and to the Jews, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

Even the crucifiers had heard the teachings of Jesus’ resurrection and being feared by it they requested to Pilate to have the tomb watched over for fear of the Lord’s disciples stealing his body and saying he has risen from the dead. To the guards astonishment they watched the angel descend from heaven and roll open Jesus’ tomb. Then five times on the Sunday after his death he revealed himself and then many more times after that did he show himself unto the people in both the old and new world.

When Thomas first saw the risen Lord, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29)

How blessed are we for believing without seeing that Jesus is the Christ?

After his resurrection Jesus ministered for 40 days to his disciples. Then after he blessed them in Bethany they saw him “carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:53). He then visited the Nephites. God the Father introduced his son to them as he did when he introduced him to Joseph Smith. They too saw him and all were given an opportunity, like his disciples in Jerusalem, to go forth and feel the nail prints in his hands, in his feet and the print in his side. Christ has also shown himself in our day. Like previously mentioned the Lord revealed himself to Joseph Smith and to others who have given latter-day testimony that Jesus is the Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior, that he lives and has a body of flesh and bone.

“Jesus alone could make the required infinite atonement because, being the only sinless person who has ever lived upon the earth, he had a sinless life to offer and because he, being the Son of God, had power over life and death. No one could have taken his life had he not been willing to give it… It was, therefore, through acts of infinite love and mercy that he vicariously paid the debt of the broken law and satisfied the demands of justice,” President Marion G. Romney.

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” Joseph Smith.

This tells us how important the Saviors Resurrection is to “the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death” taught in 2 Nephi 11:5.

Understanding the importance of the resurrection in our Fathers plan helps us understand why the Apostle Paul taught, “If there be no resurrection of the dead, then… is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Cor. 15:13-14). The question is much bigger than just our temple work being in vain if there is no resurrection but that our entire works and faith are in vain without it. Our works, our faith and our temples are an example of testimony of true faith in the resurrection.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ allows all of us to be resurrected. The resurrection of other souls soon followed that of Christ’s. The New Testament says that, “many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” (Matthew 27:52-53).

Joseph Fielding Smith said, “In the resurrection there will be different kinds of bodies; they will not all be alike. The body a man receives will determine his place hereafter. There will be celestial bodies, terrestrial bodies, and telestial bodies, and these bodies will differ as distinctly as do bodies here, for example, all the different races that exist.”

“Bodies will be quickened according to the kingdom which they are judged worthy to enter”

“In modern revelation given to the Church, the Lord has made known more in relation to this glorious event. There shall be at least two classes which shall have the privilege of the resurrection at this time: First, those who "shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever"; and second, honorable men, those who belong to the terrestrial kingdom as well as those of the celestial kingdom.”

The Doctrine and Covenants, section 88:95-104, teaches us the order of the resurrection which is from the most righteous to the most wicked.

There is a resurrection for the just and a resurrection for the unjust.

The first resurrection, which is for the just, is a celestial resurrection for those that will be receiving celestial bodies and will be receiving the celestial kingdom. This occurs during the morning of the first resurrection which of course began after Christ’s resurrection and includes all of the saints from Adam to Christ, from Christ to the second coming, and those that have not yet passed will receive theirs during the millennium.

Joseph Fielding Smith said, “Some will gain celestial bodies with all the powers of exaltation and eternal increase. These bodies will shine like the sun as our Savior's does, as described by John. Those who enter the terrestrial kingdom will have terrestrial bodies, and they will not shine like the sun, but they will be more glorious than the bodies of those who receive the telestial glory.”

“In both of these kingdoms there will be changes in the bodies and limitations. They will not have the power of increase, neither the power nor nature to live as husbands and wives, for this will be denied them and they cannot increase.”

“Those who receive the exaltation in the celestial kingdom will have the "continuation of the seeds forever." They will live in the family relationship. In the terrestrial and in the telestial kingdoms there will be no marriage. Those who enter there will remain "separately and singly" forever.”

“Some of the functions in the celestial body will not appear in the terrestrial body, neither in the telestial body, and the power of procreation will be removed. I take it that men and women will, in these kingdoms, be just what the so-called Christian world expects us all to be-neither man nor woman, merely immortal beings having received the resurrection.”

Following this resurrection is the Terrestrial Resurrection, which also is for the just. It is also called the afternoon of the first resurrection which will occur sometime during the millennium.

Referring to the terrestrial resurrection Joseph Smith said, “But blessed also are they that will have part in the second resurrection, for they will be brought forth to enjoy a kingdom that is more glorious than the sectarian world ever dreamed of.”

Joseph Fielding Smith said, “Following this great event, and after the Lord and the righteous that are caught up to meet him have descended upon the earth, there will come to pass another resurrection. This may be considered as a part of the first, although it comes later. In this resurrection will come forth those of the terrestrial order, who were not worthy to be caught up to meet him, but who are worthy to come forth to enjoy the millennial reign.”

“This other class, which will also have right to the first resurrection, are those who are not members of the Church of the Firstborn, but who have led honorable lives, although they refused to accept the fullness of the gospel.”

“Also in this class will be numbered those who died without law and hence are not under condemnation for a violation of the commandments of the Lord.”

Next comes the resurrection of the unjust and first to come during this resurrection are those who will inherit telestial bodies and the telestial kingdom. This will take place after the millennium.

Joseph Fielding Smith said, “All liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers and all who love and make a lie, shall not receive the resurrection at this time, but for a thousand years shall be thrust down into hell where they shall suffer the wrath of God until they pay the price of their sinning, if it is possible, by the things which they shall suffer.”

“And these are the rest of the dead; and they live not again until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth.”

Last and very least are the sons of perdition who each will receive a resurrected body after everyone else.

Why does the plan call for a resurrection? The answer to this, along with much of the following doctrine on the resurrection, comes from the teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith’s Doctrines of Salvation.

“A great many people believe that the mortal body has served its purpose in this life and will not come forth from the dead, but that the spirit rises to dwell with God. Then why did Jesus Christ come into the world to die?”

“Was it because the plan that the Father had arranged in the beginning had been frustrated, or destroyed, through the fall of man?”

“Adam had a body before death came upon him, and his fall was a part of the great plan of man's salvation. Mortality, and consequently death, is due to the fall, and Jesus Christ came into the world to make reparation and to give man, through the resurrection, immortality and eternal life. “

“In the Book of Mormon we are informed that man partakes of mortality that he may obtain experiences that could not come to him in any other way and that through his obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is based on the infinite sacrifice of the Son of God, he may obtain salvation and exaltation in the presence of the Father and the Son.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., edited by Bruce R. McConkie, 2:, p.268)

SPIRITUAL BODIES IN THE RESURRECTION

“In the resurrection from the dead, the bodies which were laid down natural bodies shall come forth spiritual bodies. That is to say, in mortality the life of the body is in the blood, but the body when raised to immortality shall be quickened by the spirit and not the blood. Hence, it becomes spiritual, but it will be composed of flesh and bones, just as the body of Jesus was, who is the prototype.”

TANGIBLE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL BODIES

“After the resurrection from the dead our bodies will be spiritual bodies, but they will be bodies that are tangible, bodies that have been purified, but they will nevertheless be bodies of flesh and bones. They will not be blood bodies. They will no longer be quickened by blood but quickened by the spirit which is eternal, and they shall become immortal and shall never die.”

BLOOD BODIES AND SPIRITUAL BODIES COMPARED

“But with the body brought forth in the resurrection, which is the immortal body, that is not the case. In it blood does not exist, but the spirit is the life giving power. Hence, they are no longer bodies quickened by blood but bodies quickened by spirit, and hence they are spiritual bodies, but tangible bodies of flesh and bones, just as was the body of the Son of God. Now this is the doctrine of the Lord and Savior of the world.”

RESURRECTION IN INCORRUPTION

In the book of Alma 11:42-45 it states, “Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death. The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.”

Alma 41:13 teaches that the resurrection is a restoration that brings back either our carnal or righteous natures that we have developed. “The meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish--good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.”

Amulek taught, “That same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.” (Alma 34:34)

Joseph Fielding Smith taught that corruption means to be here in mortality in this world of change.

“This mortal body shall eventually, through the resurrection, become an incorruptible body, not subject to the changes our body experiences in this life, not subject to disease and decay.”

Elder Oaks taught that, “Resurrection and immortality affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality, how we live our mortal lives, and how we relate to those around us. The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love, such things as the physical, mental, or emotional deficiencies we bring with us at birth or acquire during mortal life. Because of the resurrection, we know that these mortal deficiencies are only temporary!”

NATURE OF HEALING POWER OF RESURRECTION

“Bodies will come up, of course, as they were laid down, but will be restored to their proper, perfect frame immediately. Old people will not look old when they come forth from the grave. Scars will be removed. No one will be bent or wrinkled. These changes will come naturally, of course, but almost instantly.”

“Because there is no growth in the grave, infants and children do not grow in the grave, but when they come forth, they will come forth with the same body and in the same size in which the body was when it was laid away. After the resurrection the body will grow until it has reached the full stature of manhood or womanhood. Deformities and the like will be corrected, if not immediately at the time of the uniting of the spirit and body, so soon thereafter that it will make no difference. We may be sure that every man will receive his body in its perfect frame in the resurrection.”

WILL MOTHERS HAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN ETERNITY?

"Will mothers have their children in eternity?" Yes! Yes! Mothers, you shall have your children; for they shall have eternal life, for their debt is paid. There is no damnation awaiting them, for they are in the spirit. But as the child dies, so shall it rise from the dead, and be forever living in the learning of God. It will never grow [in the grave]; it will still be the child, in the same precise form [when it rises] as it appeared before it died out of its mother's arms, but possessing all the intelligence of a God. Children dwell in the mansions of glory and exercise power, but appear in the same form as when on earth. Eternity is full of thrones, upon which dwell thousands of children, reigning on thrones of glory, with not one cubit added to their stature.” (HC 6:316.)

RESURRECTED BODIES PASS THROUGH SOLID OBJECTS

Resurrected bodies have control over the elements.

“Why should it appear any more impossible for a resurrected being to pass through solid objects than for a spirit, for a spirit is also matter?”

“Just how resurrected beings do it, we do not know, but that it has been done we do know, for the Savior and others have done it.”

A RESURRECTION OF LIFE AND OF DAMNATION

Repentance is crucial in avoiding the “resurrection of damnation.”

“The resurrection shall come to all men, for they are not responsible for death. The Lord will not punish them for Adam's transgression. Therefore, he took upon him the sins of all mankind and redeemed every creature from death and granted unto each one of us a resurrection, but not eternal life, not salvation, not an existence in the presence of his Father in the celestial kingdom. That comes through faithfulness, through diligence, through perseverance on our part and through our belief and acceptance and our keeping of the commandments of the Lord.” (Joseph Fielding Smith)

“The redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance” (D&C 18:11-12).

The doctrine of the resurrection is there for us to not only know what happens after this life but to help us understand that we must repent and be worthy of obtaining a celestial body to come forth in the first resurrection so that we may obtain the amazing gift of exaltation. We must learn to obey the Lords commandments.

President James E. Faust taught that, “True disciples are those who go beyond simply believing. They act out their belief.” Said the savior, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). Disciples follow the Divine Master. Their actions speak in symphonic harmony with their beliefs. They know who they are. They know what God expects of them. They mirror inner peace and certainty concerning the mission and resurrection of Christ. They hunger and thirst after righteousness. They know they are here on the earth for a purpose. They understand life after death. They believe that the transcendent event in the ministry of the Christ was the Atonement, culminating in the Resurrection.”

“For as in Adam all men die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).

“The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy.” Joseph Smith.

D&C 76:22, “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”

“…blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29)

“He is risen; he is not here.” (Mark 16:6)