The Resurrection of the Dead 

Resurrection is the culminating fulfilment and crowning achievement of the Atonement.

The purpose of the atonement is to teach us the principles that help to enlighten us to our core. Our spirits are changed and sanctified through this new and previously hidden (correct) understanding of the atonement and how and why it works. Only when we have learned and begun to apply it correctly can we be resurrected into a celestial state. A state of peace, unity and Love. The culminating effects and reason then for the atonement, is to become changed in such a deep and fundamental way as to have become, in our spirits, a celestial being who is now ready to be resurrected.

The purpose of the atonement is to make us at one with God and with each other. Jesus Christ teaches us the concepts that change us to our very souls so that we can be at one. Our spirits are changed and sanctified through a correct understanding of the atonement and how and why it works. The atonement begins to change us when we are converted and become Terrestrial people walking the path that leads to eternal life. It is not completed until we have become perfected as Celestial beings. Because ONLY when we have been changed to have at least a portion of that state which is to be ONE as Christ and God are One, can we be resurrected into a celestial state. A state of peace, unity and Love. The focal point of the atonement then is to become changed in such a way as to have become, in our spirits, a celestial being.

That being said, the atonement also brings about the resurrection of the dead to complete the plan of happiness, for without resurrection it is impossible to obtain the fullness of joy.

“For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.” – D&C 93:33-34

“Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy.” – D&C 138:17

If Christ was raised from the dead, then we too will be raised from the dead. But, if Christ was not raised from the dead, then all our faith is in vain.

“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” – 1 Corinthians 15:12-17

There is a great deal of debate regarding what resurrection means. Some people think it means to be born again as a baby, others that we live as spirits and still others believe that we are resurrected to a new perfected mortal body which cannot die. 

Before we can understand what it means to be resurrected, we must first understand the purpose of our probation period, why we die and why we are resurrected.

Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden with the tree of life. They were enabled to live forever in that state without death or resurrection. 

When they fell, God prevented them from living forever and drove them out of the garden and set Cherubim guards and a flaming sword to protect Adam and Eve from the tree of life.

“22 ¶ And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” – Gen. 3:22-24

Why would Adam and Eve need to be protected from the tree of life after they had fallen? When we are resurrected, we live forever anyway, so the goal is to live forever. Why not just let them eat the fruit in their fallen state and live forever?

The prophet Alma taught that because of the fall, all men die and that this death is so that we can have a probationary period or time to repent. Without this death, we would have no probation or period to repent and we would live forever as fallen men.

“For behold, after the Lord God sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence they were taken—yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life—

3 Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit—

4 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.

5 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partaken of the tree of life, he would have lived forever, according to the word of God, having no space for repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.” – Alma 42:2-5

If Adam and Eve were reclaimed from death before having enough time to repent, then the plan of happiness would have been destroyed.

“Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.” – Alma 42:8 

The plan of happiness requires us to die, and we will show you how this physical death allows us to repent or progress and thereby change our eternal state. Everyone except the sons of perdition will be resurrected and live forever. 

“32 They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born;

33 For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;

34 Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come

35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.

36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels—

37 And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power;

38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath.

39 For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.” – D&C 76:35-39

So, the end goal IS to live forever and partake of the fruit of the tree of life, but, just not yet… not until we have had time to repent and therefore change our eternal state. Most people understand that repentance changes our eternal state, but they may not understand how or specifically why without death and resurrection our repentance would not ultimately improve our eternal state.

Let’s look at how death and resurrection allows us to change our eternal state through repentance.