What happens to the family after mortality?
One of the greatest gifts we have been given from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is the promise that we can dwell forever with our families. In mortality, we are to be strengthening and developing bonds with our family members because we will have relationships with them forever. Our relationships with our family can bring great joy into our lives. Conversely, when we lose a family member, it can cause great sadness and loss. We can take great comfort in knowing that Heavenly Father has a plan for families.
Mormons believe that life is a test. Mormons believe that we were sent here to gain a body, learn from a mortal experience, and then return home to live with our Heavenly Father. This life is a test. Our commitment and faith in God will be tried and tested. When your time on earth is over, your physical body will die but your spirit and soul live on. The spirit goes to the spirit world where we will continue in our progression. After spending time in the spirit world, our spirits will be resurrected with our bodies. We will then be divided into 3 kingdoms, the celestial kingdom being the highest. Mormonism claims that one must be married in order to enter into the celestial kingdom. After the resurrection, we will live happily with our families because of the good decisions we made on earth. We will continue to procreate into the eternities and expand our eternal family.
Mormons believe that family can live together forever if they are sealed in the Mormon temple. This temple ordinance was introduced by the prophet Joseph Smith.
We are told that if we accept Christ’s atonement and are baptized for the remission of our sins, we can dwell forever with our families. Some might argue that this excludes families who never had the opportunity to hear Christ’s message or have the opportunity to be baptized. God understands that some will not have the opportunity to hear Christ’s message and be baptized here on earth. These people will be taught in the post-mortal world, often referred to by Mormons as spirit paradise. Also, Mormons perform baptisms for the dead to ensure that everyone needing baptism to enter into the Kingdom of God might have the opportunity. God is just and will make sure that everyone has the opportunity to do the things that will allow them to live with their family.
We believe that families are foreordained. Your family was hand-picked especially for you. We have something important to learn from them. They can teach us. We are told not to hold grudges or be unforgiving. Those who are in an abusive family situation are encouraged to get out and seek help. Ultimately, they will be judged by God and placed in a lower kingdom in heaven. Satan knows that the family is essential to God’s plan. Because of its important role in God’s plan, Satan is trying to attack it and ruin families. He doesn’t want to see families sealed. He wants marriages to break apart. He doesn’t want to see happy families living together forever.
Maintaining family relationships can be one of the more challenging things we do in this life. But it is also one of the most important. Parents should focus on raising their children with gospel principles and teach them to love the Lord. We should treat our family members with love and kindness. It is through our family that we will have eternal joy.