Do non-mormons go to hell

[Hemidakota]

[My opinion and does not constitute doctrine by the church]

Perhaps to our observational mortal visual wavelength of vision; there is a separation on what we can observe through our own eyes [Damnation, Telestial beings, Terrestrial Beings, and Celestial Beings]. I do believe that separation is actually spelled out in Abraham facsimile when it describes how light is passed from Kolob to the Earth by a factor of 4. As I believe that the damnation state is below our visual wavelength as to view it. I will say, that our bodies have at least a three layered dimension as you stated, 1] mortal shell, 2] spirit shell, and 3] intelligence.

Worlds I do believe are observable from where we stand when we view other galaxies [exception of the center core ring]. If you look very close at the core of our own galaxy from where we are presently located; you will find that there is a separation of worlds by states as identified by the prophets. I do believe when the Earth receives the Terrestrial glory, it will abide with those worlds that reside in that state or sphere that surrounds the center. Also to note, what is missing from this world and was taken by GOD, was the Garden, City of Zion, City of Salem, and other that are not written or privy to our current day revelation. This earth will grow in size as it receives back that was taken.

Now assuming everything starts from a fixed center point or place within the universe, and the process of building is outwards, the standing theory or assumption would be the inner ring of our Galaxy is the location where Celestial worlds and those who received that glory will abide. You will also notice, the distinction of brightness and colorization of glorified worlds [known as Stars to man] for each state from the outer edge to the center of this known galaxy or others close by.

Now, if I am wrong, I do know I will be corrected.....LOL

[Islander]

Originally Posted by Solus

I know very little about the LDS Church. Do you believe that non-mormons go to hell?

Another very interesting topic. We must always remember that when it comes to interpreting what the OT and NT say we MUST consider translation as a significant factor. The word HELL was used for the Hebrew word SHEOL and the Greek words HADES, GEENNA and TARTAROO in the KJV. The problem arises when different translations translate the same word in different ways.

For practical purposes we have to make two distinctions. One word translated "hell" commonly refers to the lake of fire and brimstone. That is the spa designed for the devil and his minions, those who denied the Christ, the Holy Ghost and the testimony of the martyrs and the apostles.

The other translation that appears frequently is the one "grave." Now this appears to be figurative speech. Or a place of enclosure, prison, a place from where there is no escape or further hope of life/existence. This is what we equate to be "separate from God" after the resurrection. In darkness and away from His light and presence, spiritual death.

In both contexts; ANYONE can end up there. It is a personal failure and a willful act to end up in hell, whatever the description of it is.

I hope it helps.

[Solus]

I go to a fundamentalist church (not by choice). At my church it is believed that only christians go to heaven (they do not include mormons as christians, I however do). My belief is that we will be judged on what we did. The gospels seem to support this belief (the exception being John). So basically I believe that the particular religion doesn't matter as long as you live a moral life and do your best to be a good person.

By the way, have any of you visited the crosswalk forums? If not I encourageyou to do so, there are a lot of misconceptions about LDS that I think need to be cleared up.

[Islander]

Originally Posted by Solus

I go to a fundamentalist church (not by choice). At my church it is believed that only christians go to heaven (they do not include mormons as christians, I however do). My belief is that we will be judged on what we did. The gospels seem to support this belief (the exception being John). So basically I believe that the particular religion doesn't matter as long as you live a moral life and do your best to be a good person.

By the way, have any of you visited the crosswalk forums? If not I encourageyou to do so, there are a lot of misconceptions about LDS that I think need to be cleared up.

The essential truths of the Gospel are available to every one to seek and to discern. You must rely on the truths as revealed to you by the Spirit rather than on what you are being "told" to believe.

[skalenfehl]

I love the 10th chapter of Acts. We can learn so much about the common man, faith, the power of fasting and praying and the visitation of angels. One important lesson that Peter learned, is that God is no respecter of persons. God accepts all who believe in Him. So it doesn't matter what religion we belong to or what our background is, we all have an equal opportunity to find the truth and be blessed because the faith of a man from one religion can be just as great as the faith of a man from another religion. Cornelius' experience reminds me of Enos' mighty prayer or Alma's continual fasting and praying for a testimony. I recommend everyone read Acts 10. pay attention to the acts and qualities of Cornelius in relation to his background. Note also how long he fasted and prayed. Those in the present company who believed then were baptized. Cornelius had found the truth. He asked and received, not doubting.

Ask and receive, not doubting!

[puf_the_majic_dragon]

Originally Posted by skalenfehl

I agree to the extent that Christ will visit and minister to those in the Terrestrial Kingdom, but not the Telestial Kingdom. The Holy Ghost will visit and minister to those in all three kingdoms. I have yet to learn from any official source that we can progress from a lower kingdom to a higher after we are judged. This is our only probation here on earth. For this reason we have been warned by prophets since the time of Adam that this is the time to prepare to meet God. Those in a lower kingdom could not abide the glory, brightness or intelligence (light) of those in a higher kingdom. From my studies, each kingdom except the Celestial has a ceiling of progress. Only in the Celestial Kingdom can we progress indefinitely and have eternal increase.

It stands to reason that those in a higher kingdom could abide a lower kingdom. I find it interesting, though, that Father in Heaven will not visit the Terrestrial nor will Christ visit the Telestial, assuming I understand correct doctrine.

I think part of the reason that Christ won't take any (or many?) field trips to lower kingdoms is, as you say, the people in those kingdoms couldn't stand the light and glory of such a visitor; it'd almost seem mean, like a rich guy visiting a slum and shaking hands and then just walking away.

[siouxz72]

Originally Posted by Solus

I know very little about the LDS Church. Do you believe that non-mormons go to hell?

In the words of my dear old daddy..... Only if they don't repent!!

just the same as regular mormons

[tubaloth]

what about Christians who were not Mormons? Which kingdom do they go to?

I’m not here to offend anybody, just speaking what we in the LDS church believe.
To add what I was talking about with different kingdoms we need to do what is required for that kingdom. Really to gain access to the Celestial Kingdom, we need to live a Celestial Law (or obey the commandments of the Celestial law). As the scriptures teach:

(Doctrine and Covenants 88:36-39.)
36 All kingdoms have a law given;
37 And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.
38 And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.
39 All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified.

Next we need to move over to one other subject about Priesthood and God’s power. We believe that things need to be preformed by the proper priesthood power. We could go off and try to discuss about the priesthood (How does one get it? And so forth) but for the LDS church believes we have the priesthood power, to perform the works in his Name.

So, back to your question. We don’t believe that just anybody is going to make it to “heaven” we believe they have to do what is required (by the proper authority). Either that happens in this life, or they are taught the Gospel in the next. Either way they well have to obey the Law (commandments).

If they choose not to do this, then they would go to a lower kingdom. Which one I don’t know because we are speaking in pretty general terms.

And also what about people that have heard of Christianity and decided it was false yet still lived what could be considered a morally good life?

To the LDS this doesn’t really matter if we are talking about general Christian teachings (Christ died for us and atonement). Sense we believe everybody needs the chance to hear the gospel, these that reject the idea of Christian would have the chance to hear it again. If they again choose not to go a long with it, then they would be judged according. But more there sins wouldn’t be washed away through Christ, and probably would end up going to one of the lower kingdoms (most likely the Telestial kingdom)

But we do believe we are judged according to our works. And judged by the amount of Truth we follwed in our life. (truth about God, about his plan for us and so forth).

[tubaloth]

As far as someone from say the Terrestial kingdom being able to progress into the Celestial kingdom, I've heard both sides of the story, but the general LDS culture suggests that this is not possible. My personal opinion is the opposite, that everyone (except sons of perdition) can progress eternally but for those in lower kingdoms it takes longer. A quick search on LDS.org doesn't elaborate, however I'm open to any revelatory references on the subject.

Section 76:112 seems pretty clear on the subject, at least for those in the Telestial Kingdom.
This is how Elder McConkie put it:

Heresy five: There are those who say that there is progression from one kingdom to another in the eternal worlds or that lower kingdoms eventually progress to where higher kingdoms once were.
This belief lulls men into a state of carnal security. It causes them to say, "God is so merciful; surely he will save us all eventually; if we do not gain the celestial kingdom now, eventually we will; so why worry?" It lets people live a life of sin here and now with the hope that they will be saved eventually.
The true doctrine is that all men will be resurrected, but they will come forth in the resurrection with different kinds of bodies--some celestial, others terrestrial, others telestial, and some with bodies incapable of standing any degree of glory. The body we receive in the resurrection determines the glory we receive in the kingdoms that are prepared.
Of those in the telestial world it is written: "And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end" (D&C 76:112).
Of those who had the opportunity to enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage in this life and who did not do it, the revelation says:
Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven; which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.
For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever. [D&C 132:16­17]
They neither progress from one kingdom to another, nor does a lower kingdom ever get where a higher kingdom once was. Whatever eternal progression there is, it is within a sphere.

[tubaloth]

13 January 1867, speaking as president of the Church in the Tabernacle, Brigham Young stated, "According to [some men's] theory, God can progress no further in knowledge and power, but the God that I serve is progressing eternally, and so are his children." Journal of Discourses 11:286.

This is kind of a tricky quote. Is God Progressing! Yes. Does he progress in Knowledge in Power NO! If he was, we couldn’t have perfect Faith in Him!
Again back to Elder McConkie.

Heresy one: There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

This is false--utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it. It grows out of a wholly twisted and incorrect view of the King Follett Sermon and of what is meant by eternal progression.

God progresses in the sense that his kingdoms increase and his dominions multiply--not in the sense that he learns new truths and discovers new laws. God is not a student. He is not a laboratory technician. He is not postulating new theories on the basis of past experiences. He has indeed graduated to that state of exaltation that consists of knowing all things and having all power.

Eternal progression consists of living the kind of life God lives and of increasing in kingdoms and dominions everlastingly. Why anyone should suppose that an infinite and eternal being who has presided in our universe for almost 2,555,000,000 years, who made the sidereal heavens, whose creations are more numerous than the particles of the earth, and who is aware of the fall of every sparrow--why anyone would suppose that such a being has more to learn and new truths to discover in the laboratories of eternity is totally beyond my comprehension.

Will he one day learn something that will destroy the plan of salvation and turn man and the universe into an uncreated nothingness? Will he discover a better plan of salvation than the one he has already given to men in worlds without number?

Joseph Smith also taught in the Lectures on Faith "that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation." These he named as--

1. The idea that he actually exists;

2. A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes; and

3. An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to the divine will.

The attributes of God are given as knowledge, faith or power, justice, judgment, mercy, and truth. The perfections of God are named as "the perfections which belong to all of the attributes of his nature," which is to say that God possesses and has all knowledge, all faith or power, all justice, all judgment, all mercy, and all truth. He is indeed the very embodiment and personification and source of all these attributes. Does anyone suppose that God can be more honest than he already is? Neither need any suppose there are truths he does not know or knowledge he does not possess.

Thus Joseph Smith taught, and these are his words:

Without the knowledge of all things, God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures; for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him. [As quoted by Bruce R. McConkie in Mormon Doctrine (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), p.264]

If God is just dabbling with a few truths he has already chanced to learn or experimenting with a few facts he has already discovered, we have no idea as to the real end and purpose of creation.