I have been pondering this question all night and again into this morning, so I decided to summarize my thoughts for this entry today. I was impressed with what President Oaks had to say in this recently released video as he explained he was speaking for the First Presidency:
In Alma 11:42 when Amulek is speaking with Zeezrom, he says, “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.” (Emphasis mine).
I don’t know of a more ennobling thought than this - Everyone who ever lived on this planet will one day be raised from the dead. It is a miracle of astounding proportions. ALL really means ALL, without exception. Jesus Christ was willingly crucified in Jerusalem, His body placed in a borrowed tomb, then on the morning of the third day following arose in a glorified body of flesh and bones, opening the way for everyone else thereafter. Think of it! It is a miracle of profound magnitude.
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| "Handle Me and See. . ." |
There were many witnesses of Christ’s resurrected body, among them His ordained Twelve Apostles and others. Even “Doubting Thomas” became a living witness. Add to them the multitudes in the Book of Mormon when the Savior appeared to them and all of them went forward to touch the marks in his hands and wrists. Beyond those living witnesses we have the inspired teachings of the prophets.
I often look at Alma 40 for a complete explanation from this inspired prophet:
Behold, there is a time appointed that ALL shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.
Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case - that there is a time appointed that ALL shall rise from the dead.
Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.
And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?
Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.
Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.
And when the time cometh when ALL shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.
Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection - Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of ALL men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of ALL men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil - for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house - and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.
And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of ALL those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.
Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body, of those from the days of Adam down to the resurrection of Christ.
Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken shall ALL be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say that THEY ALL SHALL COME FORTH; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ.
Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.
But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.
Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.
The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but ALL things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
And now, my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets -
And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.
But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup. (Alma 40:4-26, emphasis mine).
I ponder a lot these days on what my dear companion Patsy is doing as a glorified spirit in a state of happiness known as paradise. I know that’s where she is, but I confess I am clueless as to all that she might be doing for the joy and benefit of others. That was always her inclination in her mortal life, and it is logical to assume she would still be doing it there too. I just can’t articulate the particulars.
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| Wedding Day, 1969 |
Along with all of you in our family, I stood at the side of the casket that held her mortal remains and gazed upon her still and lifeless body, her flesh and bones, but absent her spirit that once inhabited it. I thought of Mary who visited the tomb of Jesus, thinking she was going to anoint His body with precious ointments and spices, and discovered an empty tomb instead. He had taught the disciples of His literal resurrection, surely, but to be confronted with the actual evidence must have been a shocking reality nonetheless. I have found peace, certainly, in the knowledge of the plan of salvation giving me the assurances that all is well with her. It is that peace of knowing that continues to sustain me.
When the holidays like Christmas and Easter come and go each year, I am comforted in their Christ-centered themes. I am so grateful for living prophets among us like President Oaks who remind us of the significance of those calendar days. We have become a Christ-centered Church at last, and now forevermore. The days of “programs” in the past have given way, mercifully, to an unfiltered emphasis on the scriptural documentation of His reality in our lives now, and for that eventuality I am most grateful.
I am forever grateful that the glorious vision of President Joseph F. Smith was canonized as D&C 138. He also pondered the same things I have pondered in the death of his loved ones, as he explains here:
And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;
But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to ALL the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.
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.
Thus was it made known that our Redeemer spent his time during his sojourn in the world of spirits, instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets who had testified of him in the flesh;
That they might carry the message of redemption unto ALL the dead, unto whom he could not go personally, because of their rebellion and transgression, that they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words.
Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of ALL,
And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God.
Abel, the first martyr, was there, and his brother Seth, one of the mighty ones, who was in the express image of his father, Adam.
Noah, who gave warning of the flood; Shem, the great high priest; Abraham, the father of the faithful; Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, the great law-giver of Israel;
And Isaiah, who declared by prophecy that the Redeemer was anointed to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that were bound, were also there.
Moreover, Ezekiel, who was shown in vision the great valley of dry bones, which were to be clothed upon with flesh, to come forth again in the resurrection of the dead, living souls;
Daniel, who foresaw and foretold the establishment of the kingdom of God in the latter days, never again to be destroyed nor given to other people;
Elias, who was with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration;
And Malachi, the prophet who testified of the coming of Elijah - of whom also Moroni spake to the Prophet Joseph Smith, declaring that he should come before the ushering in of the great and dreadful day of the Lord - were also there.
The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers,
Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming.
ALL these and many more, even the prophets who dwelt among the Nephites and testified of the coming of the Son of God, mingled in the vast assembly and waited for their deliverance,
For the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.
These the Lord taught, and gave them power to come forth, after his resurrection from the dead, to enter into his Father’s kingdom, there to be crowned with immortality and eternal life,
And continue thenceforth their labor as had been promised by the Lord, and be partakers of ALL blessings which were held in reserve for them that love him.
The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
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.
Thus was the vision of the redemption of the dead revealed to me, and I bear record, and I know that this record is true, through the blessing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, even so. Amen. (D&C 138:29-60, emphasis mine).
So, we learn that ALL will be given many opportunities to repent, whether in this mortal life or in the spirit world. It is our pleasure and our joy to provide ample opportunities to ALL of them to accept our vicarious offerings in the temples now dotting the expanse of planet Earth. Those vicarious ordinances assure them of every opportunity to advance as we are advancing day by day toward our ultimate destiny of exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.
And that is a JOY to which I eagerly subscribe each time I attend the various temples nearby.
I believe in the literal resurrection of the physical bodies we each possess.
At this Easter season 2025, I am filled with renewed hope in its reality. I envision her looking much as she did on that glorious morning of December 19, 1969, when we made promises to one another that would last for eternity.
I trust in those promises now and forever.
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