The year 2020 is both unprecedented and relentless. For almost one year now, the world has been battling with an invisible enemy – a virus the world has never seen before. With the virus have come all sorts of emotional challenges – harrowing anxiety, uncertainty, and depression, as well as the difficulties of losing jobs, businesses, and loved ones.

As someone who already struggles with health anxiety, dealing with a scary virus did not sit well with me. For months, I had overwhelming anxiety, and felt constantly overpowered by worries of dying, leaving my family, or losing people I love the most. During one of my most trying anxiety attacks, I told the Lord in prayer “I just want this to go away. I don’t want this darkness.”

The answer was quick, the peace was sudden. I heard a voice saying “Endure well, and remember that you are my child.”

The impression did not mention the specific things I needed to do – I already knew that. But I heard an answer that renewed my perspective – I was a child of God.

I am a Child of God — Now What?

What difference does it make to know that we are children of God?

One of the most popular stories in the Book of Mormon is about Nephi breaking his bow while out hunting. (Check out the awesome story here). While his brothers and father expressed dismay (aka, murmured) because of their circumstances, Nephi improvised and asked for help from the Lord through the Liahona.

It’s easy to realize why Nephi did what he did – he knew his identity, and he knew the Lord would help him achieve or overcome difficulties, no matter what.

Can you see how anchoring our faith in our divine identity can pull us through the toughest times?

Knowing Who We Are Reminds Us That We Can Overcome

One of the most profound quotes about divine identity is from French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. He said “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We’re spiritual beings having a human experience.”

We have not been sent here on earth to simply admire the beaches, mountains, and beautiful man-made creations (though, that’s a BIG bonus), we’re also here to enrich our spirits.

There will be challenges, there will be hard times. We might sometimes find ourselves dealing with metaphorical broken bows, like Nephi. But knowing who we are, and having a solid anchor in the belief that we are children of a God with an incomprehensible love for us will remind us that – through His help and our faith – we can overcome the toughest of times.

Knowing Who We Are Helps Us Regain and Retain a Broader Perspective

It’s easy to be caught up in the now. It’s tough NOW. It’s overwhelming NOW. It’s painful NOW.

Understanding what we’re going through in the now is healthy. Acknowledging our challenges is important.

But getting caught up in the now can be stressful.

One of the biggest benefits of realizing our divine identity – that we are sons and daughters of God – is gaining an eternal perspective. Life does not end in this imperfect, sorrow-filled world.

Having an eternal perspective without discounting the challenges of the now is a healthy way to navigate around our trials. Our eternal perspective can bring us peace.

Knowing Who We Are Helps Us Access The Ultimate Source of Peace

One of the most soul-stirring scriptures about God’s love for His children can be found in Matthew 7:11.

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give gifts to those that ask Him?”

It’s a beautiful reminder that the Lord – who is our Heavenly Father – will give the best gifts to us because He knows what we need.

It reminds us that during our most trying times, He is there extending His arms of comfort.

It helps us remember that during times of loss, He is there to fill the void, and to compensate.

It gives us the assurance that no matter how trying these times are, or how elusive hope is, He is there because He is our Father, and He loves us.

Knowing Who We Are Helps Us Understand Trials Better

When we understand that the Lord is our loving parent, it becomes clearer that He gives us trials and challenging times as opportunities to grow.

Wise, loving parents let their kids barrel through tough times, not because they love them less, but because they want their children to become better.

Knowing who we are will not always remove pain and hardship, but it can help us recognize opportunities to learn from our challenges.

Knowing Who We Are Can Give Us Strength to Endure

President Russell M. Nelson shared this beautiful promise: “Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth.”

Understanding divine identity is not a magic pill that will remove the pain of physical ailments, and earthly challenges.

Knowing you’re a child of God won’t immediately take the fear out of a cancer diagnosis.

Knowing you’re a divine being won’t always make losing jobs and opportunities less heavy.

Knowing you’re loved by the Lord won’t automatically transform moments of suffering into moments of bliss.

But knowing who you are will give you that strength to carry on despite the pain, the fear, and the hopelessness.

God’s parental love for us is great. And the challenges He gives us are opportunities for growth, just like parents let their kids fall when they’re learning how to walk.

In these times of fear and uncertainty, we can anchor onto something that is sure – that we are divine, that we are sons and daughters of God, and He loves us. Building on the foundation of our divine inheritance can be that light in a long, dark tunnel – the light both you and I truly need these days.

The post 5 Ways Our Divine Identity Can Help Us Find Peace and Happiness appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Holding his hand gently, Chona reminded her dad of his parents and siblings who have passed on before him, that they will welcome him as he reunites with them again. “Don’t be scared, dad. Our separation will be temporary. We will see you again, that’s for sure,” she added with a firm belief of the promise of the Plan of Salvation.

Her dad smiled and went back to sleep.

We all have fears. They come in many forms and degrees in our lives. But the most common and perhaps the fear that terrifies us the most is death.

What happens after we die?

One of the most common reasons why many of us fear death is not knowing what happens next. Fortunately, the Plan of Salvation can give us a clear picture of what happens after we die.

Every one of us will pass beyond this life and cross into the strange territory called death – a state when our body and our spirit separate. When that happens, our physical bodies die but our spirits live on. Our spirits then go to what we call the spirit world. This is where we will get to reunite with our families and friends who have passed on before us.

Are we going to stay in the spirit world forever?

Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. Someday, our bodies and spirits will be reunited again. We will shake off the sleep of death, and we will live again. We’ll look the same, but our bodies will be perfect. Every pain, sickness, and imperfection will be gone. Our bodies will become immortal and will never die again. This is called the Resurrection and it’s made possible by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made 2000 years ago. His atonement and resurrection overcame death. Because of Him, every one of us will be resurrected too. No one is exempt. All of us will live again. All of us who have been and will be born will be resurrected, regardless of the choices that we make.

At the time of resurrection, Jesus, our Savior will judge us individually. This final judgment will be based on our desires, actions, and choices. Only Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know our hearts. They know our individual circumstances and the challenges we face in life. So only They can judge us perfectly. When it’s time for the final judgment, it will be one of mercy, healing, and love. Because of His great love for each of us, God’s ultimate goal is to help all of us return to our heavenly home – the Celestial kingdom.

Whether we will live with God or not depends largely on the choices that we make here on Earth. He has provided commandments as a guide to help us live righteous lives and we have the power to make those choices. We won’t always make the right choices, we will make mistakes sometimes, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be renewed from sins.

The Plan of Salvation can give us hope and change the way we look at death

Knowing about the Plan of Salvation and Resurrection can give us hope and strength to face the challenges we experience here on Earth.  Our knowledge of these things can change the way we look at our trials like physical, mental, and emotional deficiencies, disappointments, and loss, even death. We can find comfort that our challenges are temporary, and we can look forward to that glorious day when our bodies will be resurrected and perfected. And if we live righteously, we get the opportunity to live and dwell with God and with our loved ones forever.

With these profound truths, Chona’s dad passed on peacefully. But even with these truths, it was still hard for her and her family. Her grief and sadness were still immeasurable, but her knowledge of God’s plan helped her understand why death is inevitable. It gave her a firm hope of someday reuniting with her father again.

To live again, to be reunited with those who died before us, and to be free from earthly pain – isn’t this wonderful blessing and plan an undeniable evidence of God’s unimaginable love for us?

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Strength as a Family

I grew up watching my parents grieve. I heard their “could-have-beens” – how if they had been better parents or if they could have done things better, then they would not have lost their little boy. It pained me seeing them go through that, but those times became opportunities for me to comfort them. My siblings and I try our hardest to reassure them that they are good parents. We try to make every moment as a family a happy one. We used to talk about our loss as bleak and sad but as the years rolled along, we have learned to remember the joy we felt at having been given the chance to be the family of that very special child. We have recommitted ourselves time and time again to be good people and to work as a family so we can be worthy to be with him someday.

A Better Knowledge of the Afterlife

Losing my little brother made me ponder more often about death and what happens after. I have even read a lot of literature about the afterlife. However, the most comforting and reliable information does not come from scholastic studies. I have come to understand more about death from the sacred scriptures. Learning from the Word of God gave me comfort and staying power. I have learned that truly, death is not the end of life. It is but a door all of us needs to go through so we can go on to the next chapter of a much grander, continuing of life. My brother is not lost or forgotten. He is just in another state and is waiting for me and my whole family. We can all be together someday through the goodness and mercy of God. Knowing these truths fortified my resolve to go on with life purposefully. All the good that we do here on Earth will not be wasted then, because life goes on. It will go on even after all the pain and sorrow of mortality.

The Will to Improve Daily

With the knowledge that I can be with my brother again, I am inspired to do all I can to make his life with us worth remembering. There is something inside of me that tells me that I need to be worthy to be with him someday. He died innocent and pure. Because of that, I know I need to live a life that will merit being allowed to be where he is now. I do not have a manual that gives specific steps on how to do this, but in the every day decisions that I make, I know I make the steps that either bring me closer to him or take me farther away. I am grateful for commandments that serve as a guide to base our life choices on. Every time I am faced with situations where I have to choose between right or wrong, I remember my little brother and that he is waiting for me. Losing my little brother left an imprint in my being that helps me make better choices.

A loving Heavenly Father created the family structure. It is the best way to bring children into this world. This is something very special and very sacred. I know He would not allow death to destroy the sacred connections between family members. He wants us to live as families – secured and bonded – throughout life, and even after death. He made a way. He devised a plan for this to happen. Knowing this Plan has provided great comfort and hope after our loss. We feel our baby brother close to us and God has given us an assurance that we will see him again.

You, too, can know of His beautiful plan… Talk to us or visit lds.org to know more.

The post What I Gained After I Lost My Little Brother appeared first on morefaith.ph.

The straight and narrow path is a clear way that the Lord has provided, for us to come back into His presence. The path is not marked by narrow walls or signs pointing where we should go, but by the commandments and guidelines that He has revealed through His prophets—both old and modern.

We are commanded to follow the straight and narrow path, but we are not expected to follow it perfectly, at least in this life, because it is impossible to do so in our mortal state. We are just expected to continue to strive to stay on the path once we’re on it.

To many people staying on the path means remaining faithful despite challenges, obeying the commandments with exactness, adhering to the counsel of prophets and leaders, attending church regularly, paying a full tithe, and reading the scriptures daily, among many other things. To them, it means having a steady commitment to live the gospel of Jesus Christ day by day.

Many people aspire and strive to “stay on the path” this way. Somehow, it has become the standard of living the gospel that we use to judge ourselves and even others, when we each live the gospel a little differently. Sometimes, we even question our faith or commitment to the teachings of the Savior.

However, on our journey along this straight and narrow path, we must recognize that everybody walks it a little differently. Some walk it as soberly as possible—living the gospel almost perfectly. Others stagger unsteadily from side to side but remain on the path. Many people lurch one step forward and two steps backward but stay on the path. Others find a small alley and do a detour only to find themselves tiptoeing their way back on the path. Many lose their way and never come back.

So what’s the point of pointing all these out? It’s a call to perhaps help us understand that every one of us, in our own way, is just trying to stay on the path that will lead us home to our Heavenly Father. And no matter how we do it—staggering, backwards, flaws and all—He is happy with every little step we take to press forward.

God knows that life sometimes sends us hurling in different directions—directions that often rock our faith and challenge our beliefs. He knows our struggles and silent petitions. He knows about the many times that we we’ve stood at the edge of another alley, but we chose to stay on the path. He knows the moments when we were almost at the brink of sin, but we decided to listen to His promptings. He remembers the nights we didn’t feel like praying to Him, but we did anyway. He knows about the times when we felt too ashamed to return to Him, but we swallowed our pride and repented of our sins. He knows how hard we are trying.

So the next time we feel that we are walking the path a little unsteadily, let’s not beat ourselves up thinking that we’re not faithful enough. Because no matter how unsteady we are, we have a steady God who offers His hand to help us get back on our feet again.

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However, it’s a different story now that we’re here on Earth. Each step, each test of faith can make us question and wonder, “What’s next?” “Does this challenge really have something for me?” “Can’t I just know what happens next for me so I’ll have a little more assurance?” Uncertainties seem to be a constant part of our earthly life. They can test our faith and trust to the Lord. But, when we learn to move forward positively, we can grow from these faith-testing experiences. Here are 3 ways we can move forward positively, even during moments of doubts.

Remember How The Lord Fulfilled Promises In Your Life

Developing faith that the Lord is true to His promises is one of the best ways to overcome moments of uncertainty. Gratitude is the key to recognizing the Lord’s guiding hand during our trying moments. President Henry B. Eyring has said, “With our Father’s help, all of us can choose to feel more gratitude. We can ask Him to help us see our blessings more clearly, whatever our circumstances.”

When challenging times test your faith, remember the moments when the Lord was true to His promises. Remember the times when miracles happened because you trusted in the Lord.

Understand Why Moments of Uncertainty Are Necessary

Just like wise earthly parents, our Father in Heaven knows there are opportunities for growth and understanding that only come through patience. If our Father in Heaven always relieved us of challenging moments, we would never truly understand the joy that comes with answered prayers.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf pointed it out so well:

“Every one of us is called to wait in our own way. We wait for answers to prayers. We wait for things which at the time may appear so right and so good to us that we can’t possibly imagine why Heavenly Father would delay the answer.

I learned that God’s promises are not always fulfilled as quickly as or in the way we might hope; they come according to His timing and in His ways. Looking back, I know for sure that the promises of the Lord, if perhaps not always swift, are always certain.

Without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.”

Moments that test our patience may be frustrating, but we have to remember that it is also an essential part of the plan.

Remember Who You Are

One of the greatest things we can do when moments of uncertainty wear down our souls is to remember our divine identity – we are sons and daughters of God whose love we cannot begin to comprehend. Imagine this – if our earthly parents always want the best for us, what more can our perfect Father in Heaven want for us than to have peace and happiness in this life?

In Jeremiah 29:11 are words of comfort from Jehovah: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

You and I are children of God. Remember He wants the best for us. When challenging times come like huge waves, you can always ask help from the Parent who knows it all.

Let’s face it – moments of uncertainty are not easy to overcome. However, when we remember who we are, when we practice patience, and when we hold tight to our testimony that the Lord is true to His promises, we can endure.

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Unfortunately, there are moments in mortality when we forget the plan – when hard times strike, when sickness overcomes and when death finally takes its toll. In the trying events in life, may we remember what mortality is and why we need to experience it all – the good times and, especially, those that test us so we can stop and find our bearings.

Mortality is Essential for Us to Have a Physical Body

Can you imagine yourself without your body? You would exist but wouldn’t be able to feel pain, pleasure, sorrow, joy, or any other of the roller coaster of emotions. Try imagining not being able to control anything you saw because you couldn’t touch them. I tried putting myself in that exact situation and I was dumbfounded. I asked myself, is this why Heavenly Father wanted us to have physical bodies? So we can feel how he feels?

If we contemplate the gift of having a physical body, we should be grateful we came to mortality, because it is the only way we can gain one. There is so much good we can do in this world because we are capable of movement and action. We also have a whole new level of agency because what we can conceive mentally, we can do physically. We can become creators. We can do a lot of things with our hands, we can create songs with our voices and we make so many things! This includes being pro-creators with God in bringing His spirit sons and daughters into this world through birth, giving them physical bodies in the process. It is simply glorious!

Mortality is a Prerequisite Learning Program

This life is a time to gain experience we could never have in any other way. Everything that happens to us in this mortal existence teaches us principles and lessons that make us stronger and wiser. Exhilarating triumphs teach us that we are capable of joy and happiness, while problems and trials teach us patience, endurance and dependence on God Almighty. Were it not for this chance to be on Earth, we would never have the opportunities needed to empathize with others. We would miss the chance to “mourn with those that mourn” and learn to feel compassion as the Savior does. All the Christlike attributes needed for us to be worthy and near our Heavenly Father are learned and practiced while we are living in this state. We will never be able pass to the eternities and be exalted like our Father in Heaven if we fail to gain ample experience in this life.

Mortality is Temporary

No one lives forever. That is the definition of being mortal beings. This is because mortality is but a passing moment. It is said that time is the currency of life, that mortal beings are the only ones who measure time because in the eternities there is no need of it. But if you look at things with an eternal perspective, we are not mortal beings. We are eternal beings given a mortal experience. With that, we measure time because this mortal experience has a limit. So no matter what happens, it is how we spend that currency that matters most. This understanding creates a sense of importance and urgency within us. The feeling that our time is limited changes how we see things and ultimately how we do things. Because mortality is temporary, let us make the most of every second spent. Make our life story more meaningful and beautiful.

Mortality is Overcome by the Atonement of the Son of God

Living on Earth also means we will, sooner or later, succumb to death and leave this world behind. This life, after all, is a package deal. We came here with the knowledge that we will eventually leave. Picking up one end of the stick will always mean we get the other end also. But because of the Savior’s Great Atoning Sacrifice, death is only a bridge to eternity. Death is but a separation. Our physical bodies are left on the ground, while our eternal spirits go to a place where we will wait for the resurrection. The Savior of the world has overcome the sting of death and with that knowledge, we can have the hope of immortality. As we live with the faith that we will someday regain our physical bodies in their perfect form, let us continue to live our lives so that we may glorify our God.

The gift of mortality is something we should be grateful for. The dictionary defines mortality as the state of being subject to death – such a bleak and gloomy definition. There will be times in our lives when that is exactly how we feel – bleak and gloomy. The Atonement changes that definition. As we look to God and find our bearings, we will better understand why we are here and we will know what to do with the time we have been given. May this mortal existence give us the necessary experience we need to qualify for the Lord’s presence in the eternities to come and may we all find purpose in our day-to-day life so that when our time on Earth comes to an end, it will be a day of accomplishment and sweet parting.

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And just as sweet as the victory over death is the chance to live a life that is happy and free from the burden of sin. The Atonement of the Savior affords forgiveness to everyone who is willing to repent and come unto Him. It offers a sense of freedom from the shackles of sin that come from breaking the commandments of the Lord.

We Can Be Forgiven

The weight we carry because of our mistakes can be unloaded. Jesus Christ has paid the price of justice and is offering mercy to all. This is the very essence of Easter – new beginnings. As we embrace what the Atonement can do for us, we will enjoy the freedom it gives us from sin. But to access the full blessings of His sacrifice, we must be willing to do what is required of us – faith, repentance and obedience to all of His commandments.

We Can Forgive Others

The suffering endured by Jesus Christ gives us the assurance that we will not suffer the way He did. That applies to all of God’s children all over the world. We can rest assured that whatever harm or pain inflicted on us by others has already been paid for. That is why we are required to forgive everyone. It is our duty to forgive because the price has already been paid. This is truly a relief for all who are burdened with grief because of others’ actions.

We Can Forgive Ourselves

Sometimes the one who is hardest for us to forgive is ourselves. We may be frustrated because we have goals we haven’t met. We may fall short of our expectations of ourselves. These feelings of inadequacy are stumbling blocks to personal progression. The Savior invited us to “be perfect” even as He is. We must remember that the sweet gift of forgiveness is available to all – especially to ourselves. We can continue to work on becoming the person we want to become because of the Atonement of the Son of God.

As we celebrate Easter, let us see beyond the Easter Bunny or the egg hunts. Let us find joy in the Savior and express gratitude for His Atonement. May we spread the light and hope the Atonement brings into our lives and to the lives of those around us. Let us offer the healing balm of forgiveness not only to those who may have wronged us, but to our aching souls as well.

The Savior died for us. But that is not the good news. On the third day, He arose victor over the enemy who is death. Because He lives, we can fully live our lives. Because He gave His life, we can claim ours.

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Our lives do not begin at birth and do not end at death. Before we came to Earth, our spirits lived with our Father in heaven. Then we came to Earth, obtained physical bodies and were given the freedom to make our own choices. Then comes death, about which Ecclesiastes says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.” This scripture passage helps us understand that death is not some tragedy that happens without any reason at all. Death is a passage that we all have to go through to return to our Heavenly Father. No one is exempt, not even Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

So where do we go after death? In the Book of Alma, we learn that “the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body…whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life” and “that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise.” During this state, we remain as spirits. This state is the space between death and the resurrection.

The resurrection is the time when our spirits and bodies will be reunited and never separate again. Resurrection is when the body and the spirit “shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.” It is a free gift to all through Christ who gave up His life and overcame death that all men may live. Just like how Jesus rose again from the dead, so shall we during the resurrection. After the resurrection will come our judgment—a time when we will be judged on our works here on Earth. This judgement will determine where we will dwell in His Kingdom.

Knowing that life does not end at death and that there is life after death gives us the eternal perspective that our spirits live on, and that there is more to life than our mortal journey here on Earth. When we come to understand Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation, we become one with the vision of the psalmist, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” It is “precious” because Heavenly Father is delighted to welcome His children home. We also take comfort in knowing that our separation from loved ones due to death is only temporary. And when sealed as a family in the temple by proper authority, our families can be together forever.

Learn more about the Plan of Salvation.

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What God’s plan isn’t: A perfect life

When God planned for us to come to Earth, gain experience and exercise our agency, God did not intend for our lives to be perfect and free of struggles. The world would define the perfect life as having a high paying job or a successful career, financial security, a huge house, an expensive car, the freedom to travel around the world, a stress-free life, and most of all being married or in a happy relationship. This may seem like the dream that most people yearn for, but a perfect life like this would forfeit the very reason we are here—to be tried and tested and to reach our full potential. When we agreed to God’s plan, we knew that opposition and struggles would be necessary to fulfill our purpose here on Earth.

Instead of giving us a perfect life, He has given us the fullness of His gospel, that we may learn wisdom and how to live our lives with joy and gratitude. He has also blessed each of us with a family, be it biological or not, friends, and people we can share our joys and struggles with.

What God’s plan isn’t: A predestined life

The idea that God has carefully mapped our lives here on Earth might be a comforting thought, but this is simply not true. If this were a reality, it would take away our agency to choose, and God would never do that. What happens next in our lives depends on the choices we make and how we respond to our circumstances and the choices of others. Whatever happens in our lives, He is always there to comfort and help us if we reach out to Him in prayer. In some cases, He helps us even if we do not ask Him. The old saying, “If you do your best, God will do the rest,” may seem overused, but He is always there to make up for what we lack after all we can do.

What God’s plan isn’t: Identical experiences for everyone

It is no secret that we are all born with different circumstances and each of us will experience mortal life differently. But each of us will encounter tests of one kind or another—be it physical, mental, emotional, financial or spiritual. God, knowing our strengths and weaknesses, puts us in circumstances where we can best grow and develop. We have different experiences and circumstances to help us learn to love others, regardless of race, status or background, to unite despite our differences, and to not judge others.

God has a plan…and that is the Plan of Salvation—a plan for us to come here to Earth to learn and develop, then return back to Him to become joint heirs with Jesus Christ in heaven. Learn more about what God’s plan is for you.

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Latter-day Saints (also known as ‘Mormons’) believe that Heavenly Father has prepared a Plan of Happiness, which provides the way and the means for all His spirit children to gain salvation and receive eternal life. Every human who has been born on Earth is a child of God, so whether you’re a Mormon or not, you are part of the Plan and it is available to you.

Before our lives on earth, our spirits lived with God. However, in order for us to progress and reach our fullest capacities, it was essential that our spirits obtain physical bodies and exercise our agency—freedom to choose between right and wrong. Thus, the Creation took place.

When Adam and Eve were created, they lived in the Garden of Eden in a state of innocence. In this state, there were no choices and they did not know between good and evil. There was no opposition, sin, sorrow, pain or death, until Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, an event commonly known as the Fall. Because of the Fall, Adam and Eve and their posterity became mortal. The Fall also brought both physical and spiritual death upon all men.

In our mortal and fallen state, we cannot return to the presence of Heavenly Father unless we are redeemed from our sins and transgressions. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the way prepared for us to rise from physical death. And if we repent and choose to follow Jesus Christ, we can also rise from spiritual death and receive eternal life in the presence of God, our Father.

All of us are subject to death. After we die, our spirits enter the postmortal spirit world until the day that our spirits will again reunite with our bodies during the resurrection. We will then stand before God and be judged according to our works here on earth.

Latter-day Saints believe that there are three degrees of glory available through the grace of Christ’s atonement—celestial, terrestrial and telestial where our resurrected bodies will dwell. The glory we will obtain depends on our works while we were here on earth. All except the very few who knowingly and purposefully reject Christ, will be saved in these different levels of heaven, for as Jesus himself said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions,” and Heavenly Father will know the right place for every soul. [John 14:2]

So what does this really mean for us? The Plan of Happiness was prepared for all men to progress, which means that if we are faithful, we can become like Heavenly Father. We are all part of the Plan and our loving Heavenly Father wants us all to come back to His presence.

Learn more about the Plan of Happiness here.

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