Question
Gramps,
I’ve always wondered this. We teach that the celestial kingdom has three degrees of glory within it. Does that mean the other two kingdoms also have varying degrees of glory?
James
Answer
James,
The concept of three kingdoms or degrees of glory—celestial, terrestrial, and telestial—is distinct to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Celestial Kingdom: This is “the glory in which God and Christ dwell” and the goal to which all members are taught to aspire. To inherit this kingdom, one must not only accept Jesus Christ as Savior and be baptized by proper authority, but also be “true and faithful to their covenants of obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ for the duration of their mortal lives.” Within the celestial kingdom, the most exalted state is reserved for those sealed in eternal marriage covenants, enabling what is called “eternal progression” or the capacity to become as God is.
The Terrestrial Kingdom: Reserved for “the good people of the earth, who nevertheless do not accept the Savior…or who do not comply with the gospel requirements for the celestial kingdom.” It represents a state of peace, glory, and happiness, likened to the earth in its Edenic state. The inhabitants here are described in scripture as “the honorable men of the earth,” and those who were not “valiant in the testimony of Jesus.”
The Telestial Kingdom: This lowest degree is still incomprehensibly glorious, surpassing understanding, as described in Doctrine and Covenants 76:89. The telestial kingdom is inhabited by those who did not accept the gospel or live honorably, but whose sins are ultimately paid for through their own suffering, after which they are resurrected and receive this glory. Remarkably, even here, the light and mercy of Christ are present.
Revelations emphasize the inclusionary power of Christ’s atonement—nearly all will inherit some glory, “how marvelous the love, kindness, and mercy of our Heavenly Father, who saves even the wicked of the earth in a kingdom of glory that surpasses all understanding!”
A common source of curiosity—sometimes, anxiety—among faithful members is whether there are additional “degrees” or sub-levels within the terrestrial or telestial kingdoms, as there are in the celestial kingdom.
Degrees Within the Celestial Kingdom: Doctrine and Covenants 131 clarifies that within the celestial kingdom itself, “there are three heavens or degrees.” The highest is for those who enter into the “new and everlasting covenant of marriage.” Those who do not obtain this “may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase” (D&C 131:4). This “increase” references the capacity for eternal family, progression, and creative power.
Degrees Within the Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms: Here, Joseph Smith and subsequent Church authorities have been more reticent, or perhaps more circumspect. The best thing I can say about that is ‘we don’t know’… it hasn’t been mentioned, so the answer must be no. Still, on the other hand, one could say it hasn’t been mentioned, so we don’t know.” There is no canonical revelation explicitly describing further divisions or “degrees” within the terrestrial or telestial kingdoms. Speculation and folk tradition exist, but official teachings stop short of detailing sub-levels beyond what is found in scripture.
Advancement Between Kingdoms: Another prevailing question asks whether progression from one kingdom to another is possible after the final judgment. As B.H. Roberts articulates, the question remains unanswered by revelation. There is, however, the doctrine that those in higher kingdoms may minister to those in lower ones, suggesting a dynamic relationship among the kingdoms: “those of the higher glory minister to those of a lesser glory…I can conceive of no reason for all this administration of the higher to the lower, unless it be for the purpose of advancing our Father’s children along the lines of eternal progression… But whether or not … they of the lesser glories … may at last emerge … to higher degrees of glory… is not revealed, and any statement made on the subject must partake more or less of the nature of conjecture.”
Some modern Church instructors have echoed similar sentiments: “those of a given glory are not fitted to withstand the conditions of any higher glory, so they cannot go there. However, those of a higher glory can descend to interact with those of a lower glory.” These statements emphasize both the current lack of explicit teaching and the importance of focusing on what is known rather than on speculation.
One of the most beautiful and surprising doctrines is just how glorious each of the three kingdoms is portrayed to be—especially considering that the telestial kingdom, reserved for those who never accepted Christ, is still a place “of glory that surpasses all understanding.”
Resurrected Bodies and Kingdoms: Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:39-42 and D&C 88:27-32 teaches that “there will be different kinds of bodies; they will not all be alike. The body a man receives will determine his place hereafter. There will be celestial bodies, terrestrial bodies, and telestial bodies…” Those who inherit the celestial will have bodies “shine like the sun,” while terrestrial and telestial bodies will be correspondingly glorious, although lesser in degree.
Physical Nature of Heaven: Members are taught that heaven is a physical place, not merely an abstract idea. “The celestial glory is comprised of many, many worlds. That is the glory in which God and Christ dwell. That glory will be the eternal residence for all of those who love God…” The terrestrial kingdom is likened to the peaceful, Edenic environment of the earth “as it was in the Garden of Eden,” while the telestial is like “the glory of the earth in its present state,” with the difference that the “lowest of all kingdoms of glory, nevertheless, is beyond all understanding.”
Degrees of Salvation, Not Just Reward: While all will inherit a degree of glory except the sons of perdition, only those in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom are considered fully saved or “exalted.” There is only one complete and full salvation. Anything except this complete and full salvation is damnation — being damned meaning to be stopped from progression. This doctrine emphasizes why teachings in scriptural texts, such as the Book of Mormon, appear so polarized between “eternal life and perdition/hell.” Once the essential gospel is accepted, further knowledge elaborates without displacing the critical need for full acceptance of Christ and His ordinances.
A natural concern arises when considering families whose members may inherit different glories. Will there be an association among them?
Scripture and Church authorities teach that following the resurrection, “the only family organizations that will exist will be among those who achieve exaltation in the celestial kingdom.” All other covenants and associations not “sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise … are of no efficacy… in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead” (D&C 132:7).
However, “those of a higher glory can descend to interact with those of a lower glory,” and Joseph Smith’s poetic revelations confirm, “the telestial is minister’d to, by ministers from the terrestrial one, as terrestrial is, from the celestial throne; and the great, greater, greatest, seem’s stars, moon, and sun.” The rationale is not only communication, but possibly the “advancing our Father’s children along the lines of eternal progression”—though, as stated, this is left largely in the realm of conjecture.
Gramps
