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Gramps,
Can or will spirits be able to move from one kingdom in heaven to another to visit family and friends?
Ken, from Troutdale, Oregon

Dear Ken,
Moving from kingdom to another in the eternities following the resurrection would entail moving from one world to another. Those who are not remanded to the realm of Satan for eternity following the resurrection will inherit one of three kingdoms of glory–celestial, terrestrial or telestial. They will come forth in the resurrection with bodies of the nature of the glory that they merit to inherit—

For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body. They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened. Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received (D&C 88:27-32).

After the resurrection, the only family organizations that will exist will be among those who achieve exaltation in the celestial kingdom.

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 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]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase (D&C 131:1-4)

All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, … are of no efficacy, virtue, or force 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).

But your question relates to the circumstance where, let’s say, different members of the same family in mortality inherit different glories in the eternities. Could they go from a world of one glory to that of another to visit one who had been a family member in mortality. I don’t have a problem with resurrected beings traveling from one world to another. We’re actually beginning to do that now in the telestial world that we inhabit. But 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. As Susan Easton Black has explained—

“Moreover, those who are assigned to the lower kingdoms, have so lived, so misused their opportunities, that they could not adapt themselves to the prevailing conditions in the higher kingdoms. Their capacities, by their own acts, have been changed to fit a lower glory. They would not be happy in a higher kingdom. They are unprepared for association with those whose lives have been in accord with God’s truth. As we have made ourselves, so shall our judgment be.” (Susan Easton Black et al., Doctrines for Exaltation: The 1989 Sperry Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants, p.213)

Gramps

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