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Question

 

Gramps,

Is a person able to repent after they die and will it allow them to ‘advance’ to a higher degree of glory if they do so?  I understand that they will have to suffer the consequences, but is that the same as repentance.

Greg

 

Answer

 

Dear Greg,

Thank you for asking this question. I must admit, we get a lot of questions with regards to life after death. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone who visits our page, ASK GRAMPS, to please use the search field to look for the topic you’re interested in. More often than not, we’ve either cover the exact topic, or one similar to it, specially if it’s related to life after death.

For example, here are a few quotes from previously answer questions which are closely related to your current question.

Our Heavenly Father, in his multitude of tender mercies, his spirit sons and daughters who have not had the opportunity to learn of his son Jesus Christ, will be taught the principles of the gospel in spirit prison. They will have the opportunity, by proxy, to receive the gospel covenant – to accept or reject – and be judged according to their decisions and choices in this life. The Lord through his infinite knowledge and his perfect plan has made it possible that all of his children will have the opportunity to receive eternal life.

Another good one is what happens to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, after death?

Mormon belief teaches that we are not left alone when we pass through death into the afterlife. Alma says,

 

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection–Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life (Alma 40:11).

That does not mean that we remain in God’s presence. Alma continues–

 

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

 

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil–for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house–and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. (Alma 40:12-13)

One last one that I’d like to share is “Is there opportunity after a person has died for repentance and forgiveness of sin?”

The gospel is indeed preached among the post-mortal spirits. First we go to that great revelation given to President Joseph F. Smith in October 1918 on the redemption of the dead—

 

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18-20.) “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.) (D&C 138:7-10).

 

Here we learn the doctrine that was originally preached by Peter in the New Testament that the Savior preached the gospel to post-mortal spirits. We learn in verses 18-21 that He did not go in person to the wicked—

 

While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful; And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance. But unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised; Neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence, nor look upon his face (D&C 138:18-21)

So, if you search the words “after death” within the Ask Gramps page, you’ll find over 30 pages of diverse answers and I must admit, some of them are quite intriguing in nature.

Feel free to browse through our page and should you have a question not listed please do go ahead and reach out to us.

Kind Regards,

 

 

Gramps

 

 

 

 

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