Hi Gramps,
I was reading your reply to a question about whether or not a person may repent in the spirit world. However, I am still unclear about two things. 1) If a member of the Lord’s Church commits sin and does not repent of it in this life, will he have the opportunity to repent in the spirit world? Death bed repentance does not work, as I recall from reading “The Miracle of Forgiveness”. 2) What happens to those who had the opportunity to join the church, but didn’t? I meet many people on the streets who reject the missionaries and ward missionaries. Will they have the opportunity to repent? Without repentance will not most of them inherit the terrestrial kingdom? Could you please direct me to some sources where I can study more about this
topic?
Daniel, from Kelowna, BC, Canada
Dear Daniel,
I believe that section 138 of the Doctrine & Covenants contains the information that you are seeking. Below is a pertinent excerpt—
And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead. And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel. Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets (Doctrine & Covenants 138:29-32)
So, in the spirit world messengers are sent to preach the gospel to all the spirits of men, including those who had not known the gospel, without a knowledge of the truth, or who had refused the truth when presented to them–in transgression, having rejected the prophets. To understand the results of that preaching and what happens to those who repent and accept the gospel at that point, let me refer you to Section 76 of the Doctrine & Covenants.
Gramps
