Levels of heaven in LDS theology?

[BluePlastic]

I just want to clear up my own confusion about this, and also to understand it so I might use it in the book I'm writing that has a Mormon character in it.

So, I know that the highest level of heaven, the one you really want to get into, is the Celestial Kingdom. Do you have to be married to go there? (I think I heard that somewhere...)

And, what are the other levels? I'm not that clear on it, and the one site I read that "explained" it, I don't have much confidence in -- there's a lot of misinformation around. :P

[Gwen]

i'm confused.... why are you writing a book with a mormon character that requires that much detailed understanding of the religion if you don't know that much about it?

[Andyman]

<quote>Do you have to be married to go there?<quote>

Thats a really good question I have wanted to know also... I have heard that no u dont need to be married to recieve Celestial Glory. But I have also heard some others say its somewhere in the scriptures (dont know the exact one off the top of my head)... I'll be curious to find out myself..

[BluePlastic]

Originally Posted by Gwen

i'm confused.... why are you writing a book with a mormon character that requires that much detailed understanding of the religion if you don't know that much about it?

I am gathering information and researching, and reading the scriptures and such. I explained a little more in this post from my intro thread

Also, I am one of those writers who likes to know WAY more than I need to about everything about my characters -- I love to research and I'm way too curious So, I might not need this information, but I'll be all bugged if I don't know

[Palerider]

I think you need to read Jeff Lindsey again.....

[BluePlastic]

Originally Posted by Palerider

I think you need to read Jeff Lindsey again.....

Well, actually, I searched on his site and didn't find any page that thoroughly explained it -- but, this has been an edition of "BluePlastic needs to go to Wikipedia before she asks dumb questions, part 1.6," so I'm sorry Next time I ask a question it will not be so silly.

[tubaloth]

Nobody actually answered the question.

So LDS church believes:

There are three Kingdoms of Glory.

Celestial Kingdom, Terriestal Kingdom, and Telestial Kingdom
(Paul compared these to the Sun, Moon, and Stars)

I'm not going to go into detail of who goes where. Really the LDS version of Heaven is the Celestial Kingdom.

Now to add on to that, in the Celestial Kingdom there are three sub degrees. They don't have a name, but I like to call them A, B, and C. (‘A’ being the highest).

What has been revealed is that you DO need to be married, but in the LDS church its call Eternal Marriage, or Celestial Marriage. In the LDS church we believe we are married for eternity. (that Marriage goes into the next life, and that we are sealed together as a family unit).

This is the goal of LDS members, to not only make it to the celestial Kingdom (being baptize) but being Married in the Temple.

[BluePlastic]

Thanks, tubaloth

I did know about the temple marriage and sealing -- and for the character in my book, as long as she keeps her covenants and endures to the end, etc., she will get the benefit of the Celestial Kingdom, since she was sealed in the temple to her husband before he died at the beginning of the book. (They only got to be married for about four months, though. Sad. )

[mnn727]

Have to correct Tubaloths, info -- to reach the Highest Degree -- What (s)he calls "A" and what scripture calls the "Highest Degree" you have to be married eternally

Doctrine and Covenants 131:1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]

[tubaloth]

Originally Posted by mnn727

Have to correct Tubaloths, info -- to reach the Highest Degree -- What (s)he calls "A" and what scripture calls the "Highest Degree" you have to be married eternally

I thought that was implied in the way I explained it, but I guess not.
That was the point of me explaing about Eternal marrage.