Resurrection Summary

1. What is the resurrection?

The resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit with its physical body. Resurrection is one of the unconditional features of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is also the crowning aspect, and one of the concluding aspects, of the second estate.

Elder Hyrum M. Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve provided the following brief explanation:

"Death is the dissolution of the body, and the resurrection is the reanimation of the body; yea the actual and literal reuniting of the Spirit with the body." 3

2. To whom does the resurrection apply?

The resurrection applies to every person who has ever lived or will ever live on this earth, without exception. Even those who become sons of perdition in the flesh will be resurrected (see 1 Corinthians 15:22; Alma 11:44).

President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth president of the Church in this dispensation, has stated: "Every creature that is born in the image of God will be resurrected from the dead. . . . Just as sure as we go down into the grave, through the transgression of our first parents, by whom death came into the world, so sure will we be resurrected from the dead by the power of Jesus Christ. It matters not whether we have done well or ill, whether we have been intelligent or ignorant, or whether we have been bondsmen or slaves or freemen, all men will be raised from the dead." 4

3. Is the resurrection infinite?

Yes. The scriptures and the teachings of the prophets, seers, and revelators are very clear on this matter.

Jacob mentions the need for an infinite atonement in the book of 2 Nephi: "It must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption" (2 Nephi 9:7).

Amulek testifies in the book of Alma, "There can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world" (Alma 34:12).

4. Does this mean that every spirit that has had a physical body must be resurrected, whether it is the spirit of a person or the spirit of an animal, a fish, an insect, or a plant?

Yes. The resurrection even applies to the earth itself (see D&C 88:17-18, 25-26) and to everything that has ever lived on this earth. Some leaders of the Church have suggested that the resurrection of Jesus Christ also applies to everything that has ever lived on any of the earths created by Jesus Christ.

Joseph Fielding Smith stated: "The Savior is not going to save only mankind. Everything God has created must be restored, . . . everything the Lord has created. . . . Everything that has life [was] created in the image of its spirit, and is a living soul, and therefore entitled to the resurrection." 5

The Lord states in section 29 of the Doctrine and Covenants that "all things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea . . . for it is the workmanship of mine hand" (D&C 29:24-25).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie has taught: "Just as the creative [power] and [the] redemptive powers of Christ extend to the earth and all things thereon, as also to the infinite expanse of worlds in immensity, so the power of the resurrection is universal in scope. Man, the earth, and all life thereon will come forth in the resurrection. And the resurrection applies to and is going on in other worlds and other galaxies." 6

5. By what power or means is the resurrection accomplished?

By the power of God the Father and of his Son Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 6:14 we read: "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his own power."

President John Taylor made this clear in his book Mediation and Atonement:

"The Son hath life inherent in Himself, even as the Father hath life in Himself, He having received this power from the Father. Also, . . . He had power in Himself to lay down this body, and also to take it up again; and in this respect He differed from others. . . . Hence . . . He . . . becomes the means of the resurrection of all men from the dead." 7

6. What is the role of Jesus Christ so far as the resurrection is concerned?

Jesus Christ, as the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh, inherited power over physical death. And as the Son of mortal Mary, he had the capacity to die.

Jesus declared: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father" (John 10:17-18).

7. What is the role of our individual spirits in regard to our own resurrections?

Our spirits will be empowered by the gift of Jesus Christ to help bring forth our bodies out of the grave.

Note the following statements from some of the presidents of the Church in this dispensation. First let me quote two statements by President Joseph F. Smith:

"[As] Jesus, the Only Begotten of the Father . . . had power to lay down his life and take it up again, . . . we too, in his name and through his redeeming blood, will have power in due time to resurrect these our bodies after they shall have been committed to the earth." 8

"What is the body without the spirit? It is lifeless clay. What is it that affects this lifeless clay? It is the spirit, [and the spirit] will redeem these tabernacles and bring them forth out of the graves." 9

The following is an observation by President Spencer W. Kimball: "There will be a literal resurrection, when this live and conscious spirit will return . . . to take up its reconstructed and resurrected body." 10

According to Brigham Young, the resurrection is an ordinance of the priesthood, which by definition is the power to act in the name of Jesus Christ. Thus another person who has already been resurrected will give us the power that will enable us to be resurrected.

Note these words of Brigham Young: "Some person holding the keys of the resurrection, having previously passed through that ordeal, will be delegated to resurrect our bodies, and our spirits will be there and prepared to enter into their bodies." 11

8. Was anyone resurrected before the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

No. Jesus Christ is the "firstfruits" of the resurrection; he then made it possible for others subsequently to be resurrected. No one was resurrected before Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 15:19-23 we read: "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

"But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits."

President Brigham Young said: "Jesus is the first begotten from the dead. . . . He is the Master of the resurrection—the first flesh that lived here after receiving the glory of the resurrection." 12

9. When did the first "general" resurrection occur?

The first general resurrection was at the time Jesus Christ was resurrected.

Evidence that there was a general resurrection immediately after the resurrection of Jesus Christ is made clear in two of our scriptures.

In the book of Matthew in the New Testament we read:

"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" (Matthew 27:52-53).

A second witness of this general resurrection is also contained in the Book of Mormon. Approximately forty years before the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the prophet Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied: "And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many" (Helaman 13:25).

So important was this additional witness of this first general resurrection that when the resurrected Jesus Christ visited with his disciples on the western continent soon after his resurrection, he commanded them to include the fulfillment of this prophecy in their records. Note these words in 3 Nephi:

"Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

"And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.

"And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?

"And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.

"And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded" (3 Nephi 23:9-13).

10. Has there been a general resurrection since the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

No. The next general resurrection will be at the time of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Concerning this next general resurrection, President Joseph Fielding Smith has written: "The Lord has promised that at the time of his Second Advent the graves will be opened, and the just shall come forth to reign with him on the earth for a thousand years." 13

11. Can a righteous person who has passed through the experience of temporal death be resurrected now if it is in keeping with the plan and purpose of our Heavenly Father for that person?

Yes, if it is necessary for a specific person who died after the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be resurrected in order to perform a mission here on earth requiring a physical body, that person might be resurrected.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie has written: "We have no knowledge that the resurrection is going on now or that any persons have been resurrected since the day in which Christ came forth excepting Peter, James, and Moroni, all of whom had special labors to perform in this day which necessitated tangible resurrected bodies." 14

12. What is meant by the terms "first resurrection" and "second resurrection"?

The term "first resurrection" refers to the resurrection of the righteous or just. If a person is resurrected at the first opportunity he has to be resurrected after his death, then he comes forth in the morning of his first resurrection.

The term "second resurrection" refers to the resurrection of the wicked or unjust.

In section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord gave the following explanation of John 5:29:

"Speaking of the resurrection of the dead [they] shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust" (D&C 76:16-17).

Later in that section, in verses 64-65, the Lord speaks of the resurrection of the righteous:

"These are they who shall havepart in the first resurrection.

"These are they who shall comeforth in the resurrection of the just" (D&C 76:64-65; emphasis added).

13. What is the shape, form, or frame of the body when it is resurrected from the dead?

The physical body will be restored to its proper and perfect form or frame (see Alma 11:42-45; 40:23; 41:4), regardless of what might have happened to the physical body at the time of death or after the time of death.

Amulek taught: "The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame. . . . Now, this restoration shall come to all . . . ; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame" (Alma 11:43-44).

14. What is the state or condition of the body when it is resurrected from the dead?

The physical body will come forth from the grave as it is laid down, except that the blood will be replaced by spirit. Immediately after the resurrection, the physical body of an infant or child begins to grow further and the physical body of all resurrected beings begins to develop toward its perfect condition.

The Prophet Joseph Smith made this very clear in his teachings:

"As concerning the resurrection, I will merely say that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young; there will not be 'added unto their stature one cubit,' neither taken from it, . . . having spirit in their bodies, and not blood." 15

This same concept was clearly taught by President John Taylor: "When the resurrection . . . of man shall be consummated, . . . he [will] still be in the same image, and have the same likeness, without variation or change in any of his parts or faculties, except the substitution of spirit for blood." 16

I must confess that when I first came to understand that the body comes forth from the grave as it is laid down with all its physical imperfections, it bothered me somewhat. I knew that eventually the resurrected body would be perfect, but from some of the funeral sermons I had heard, I had falsely assumed that the body would be perfect when it first came out of the grave.

But I must also confess that after studying the inspired teachings of the modern prophets on this subject, and after applying logic and reason, I have now reached the point that I rejoice when I realize my body will come forth from the grave with its imperfections, for then after the resurrection my spirit can help my physical body overcome these defects and deformities. If I lay down a body with scars and imperfections, and yet resurrect a perfect body, who or what has been tampering with my physical body while it has been in the grave and while my spirit has been away from it in the postmortal spirit world?

I have truly now reached a point where I can rejoice in the following words of President Joseph F. Smith:

"What a glorious thought it is, to me at least, . . . that those from whom we have to part here, we will meet again and see as they are. We will meet the same identical being . . . the same form and likeness, . . . even to the wounds in the flesh. Not that a person will always be marred by scars, wounds, deformities, defects or infirmities, for these will be removed in their course, in their proper time, according to the merciful providence of God." 17

Now other inspired statements of the Brethren concerning the resurrection have taken on additional meaning for me.

From President Joseph F. Smith: "The child that was buried in its infancy will come up in the form of the child that it was when it was laid down; then it will begin to develop. From the day of the resurrection, the body will develop until it reaches the full measure of the stature of its spirit, whether it be male or female." 18

From President Joseph Fielding Smith: "The mortal body will not grow in the grave, for that is contrary to nature. So each body will come forth the same stature as when laid in the earth. Children will rise as they were laid away, but after the resurrection their bodies will grow to the full stature of their spirits. Deformities will be erased." 19

15. What are the orders or degrees of the physical matter comprising resurrected bodies?

There are at least three orders of glory, and at least one order not of glory:

1. Celestial glory.

2. Terrestrial glory.

3. Telestial glory.

4. An order "without glory."

However, there may be many degrees within each of these orders. As an example, we know from section 131 of the Doctrine and Covenants that there are three heavens or degrees within the celestial kingdom. It is not known precisely how many other degrees there are in the other "orders" or "kingdoms."

The Savior taught: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

Elder James E. Talmage explained: "The three kingdoms of widely differing glories are organized on an orderly plan of gradation. . . . The telestial kingdom comprises several subdivisions; this is also the case . . . with the celestial; and, by analogy, we conclude that a similar condition prevails in the terrestrial. Thus the innumerable degrees of merit amongst mankind are provided for in an infinity of graded glories." 20

16. What are the attributes or characteristics of people who inherit each of these different degrees?

Doctrine and Covenants 76 supplies us with most of the answers:

1. Celestial glory: "They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, . . . that by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit. . . . These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection. These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just" (D&C 76:51-52, 64-65).

2. Terrestrial glory: "These are they who died without law; . . . the spirits of men kept in prison, . . . who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men of the earth . . . who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus" (D&C 76:72-75, 79).

3. Telestial glory: "These are they who received not the gospel of Christ . . . [but] who deny not the Holy Spirit. These are they who are thrust down to hell [and] . . . who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection. . . . These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie" (D&C 76:82-85, 103).

4. Those "without glory": These are they "who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, . . . [who] deny the truth and defy my power—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; . . . concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come" (D&C 76:31-32, 34-37).

17. Who or what determines the order or degree of the resurrected body an individual receives?

This is largely determined by the individual himself or herself: What laws has the individual obeyed? Over what laws does he or she have power? (see D&C 88:2-4, 15-31).

President Wilford Woodruff stated: "If a man cannot abide a celestial law, he cannot receive a celestial glory, if a man cannot abide a terrestrial law he cannot receive a terrestrial glory; and if he cannot abide a telestial law he cannot receive a telestial glory, but will have to dwell in a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. This is according to the revelations of God to us." 21

President Joseph F. Smith added: "When we come forth out of the grave, . . . our spirits shall enter into [our physical bodies] again, and they shall become living souls. . . . And then those who have . . . been subject and obedient to the celestial law will . . . be quickened by the celestial glory. And those who have . . . been subject and obedient to the terrestrial law will . . . be quickened by the terrestrial glory. And those who have . . . been subject and obedient to the telestial law, will . . . be quickened by a telestial glory." 22

Elder George Q. Cannon asked a pertinent question and then answered it: "Why is it that there are these differences? Is it because God has chosen some of us for the telestial glory, some of us for the terrestrial glory, and some of us for the celestial glory? No, there is no such predestination as this. We are all born with our free agency; with the power within ourselves, aided by the blessing of God, to attain unto the highest glory. How shall we attain unto the highest glory? There is only one way, and that is by observing the highest laws. . . . The man or woman who expects to attain to the highest glory without obeying these laws, deceives himself or herself. It cannot be done." 23

Concerning resurrected celestial bodies, Elder Melvin J. Ballard wrote: "Those who come forth in the celestial glory with celestial bodies have a body that is more refined. It is different. The very fibre and texture of the celestial body is more pure and holy than a telestial or terrestrial body, and a celestial body alone can endure celestial glory." 24

18. Does an individual person who is now on this earth have agency as to whether or not he or she will be resurrected from the dead?

No. The resurrection is an unconditional aspect of the Atonement. All will be resurrected without exception.

Elder James E. Talmage explained that the gospel "affirms . . . that a Redeemer was provided before the world was . . . [and] that general salvation, in the sense of redemption from the effects of the fall [including the resurrection], comes to all without their seeking it." 25

19. Does an individual who is now on this earth have agency as to the degree or order of resurrected body he or she will receive in the resurrection?

Absolutely yes. The individual definitely has agency to decide which laws he or she will obey and thus will determine which order of resurrected physical body he or she will receive.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie indicated: "By one degree of obedience or another, all men, in this life, develop either celestial, terrestrial, or telestial bodies (or in the case of those destined to be sons of perdition, bodies of a baser sort)." 26

20. Might the resurrection be considered a type of judgment?

Yes. As indicated in the answer to question 15, at the time of the resurrection, each will come forth with a body that is particular to one of the degrees of glory or one without glory. Thus, the resurrection might be considered a type of judgment.

21. Is the resurrection the same as the "final judgment"?

No. The "final judgment" of a person takes place sometime after the resurrection of that person. The final judgment is also a vital part of our Heavenly Father's glorious plan of progression and eternal life.

From a talk given at the BYU Campus Education Week, 16 August 1999.

3. Hyrum M. Smith, in Conference Report, April 1917, 31.

4. Joseph F. Smith, "Discourse by President Joseph F. Smith," Millennial Star, 58 (12 March 1896): 162.

5. Joseph Fielding Smith, Seek Ye Earnestly (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1970), 280.

6. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 642.

7. John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Co., 1882), 146.

8. Joseph F. Smith, in Journal of Discourses, 18:277.

9. Joseph F. Smith, in Journal of Discourses, 25:250.

10. Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 46.

11. Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 9:139.

12. Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 8:260.

13. Doctrines of Salvation, 2:295.

14. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 639.

15. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,199-200.

16. John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, 166.

17. Gospel Doctrine, 23.

18. Ibid., 24.

19. Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols.(Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1953), 2:110.

20. James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976), 83.

21. Wilford Woodruff, in Journal of Discourses, 12:278.

22. Gospel Doctrine, 450-51.

23. George Q. Cannon, in Conference Report, April 1900, 54.

24. Melvin J. Ballard, in Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, comp. Bryant S. Hinckley (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1949), 256.

25. James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1983),29.

26. Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-73), 1:196.

27. Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley(Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997), 552.

28. Ibid., 554.

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