Verses from the Book of Mormon, contributed by Carter Hartmann (2021)
The Book of Mormon has been a source of answers and peace for me throughout my life, especially during times of loss. Millions of people across the globe consider the Book of Mormon to be an ancient book of scripture that contains the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as God's plan of happiness for his children which outlines where we came from, why we are here and what happens after death. Its teachings give me perspective on the transition we call death.
A prophet from the Book of Mormon named Alma preaches about where we go immediately after death:
"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. 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." (Alma 40:11-12)
Alma references the resurrection, which he describes in a different part of his book:
"Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death. The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time... Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but everything shall be restored to its perfect frame". (Alma 11: 42-44)
These passages of scripture tell us that as soon as someone passes away, they are "taken home" to a familiar place where they can rest. Alma goes on to tell us that this state of rest is not the end of our existence but that we will be restored into a physically perfect version of our mortal selves. I especially like that the spirits of ALL men are taken home to God, and that the resurrection happens to all people, not just a chosen few. These images of where my loved ones are now and what will become of them offers me comfort. I can trust that they are in "a state of peace" and that when I see them again they will be healed from whatever took them from this life.
A prophet from the Book of Mormon named Alma preaches about where we go immediately after death:
"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. 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." (Alma 40:11-12)
Alma references the resurrection, which he describes in a different part of his book:
"Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death. The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time... Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but everything shall be restored to its perfect frame". (Alma 11: 42-44)
These passages of scripture tell us that as soon as someone passes away, they are "taken home" to a familiar place where they can rest. Alma goes on to tell us that this state of rest is not the end of our existence but that we will be restored into a physically perfect version of our mortal selves. I especially like that the spirits of ALL men are taken home to God, and that the resurrection happens to all people, not just a chosen few. These images of where my loved ones are now and what will become of them offers me comfort. I can trust that they are in "a state of peace" and that when I see them again they will be healed from whatever took them from this life.
