Is Hell a Part of LDS Doctrine ??? (Kingdom, salvation, soul)

[nutshell]

Originally Posted by FFH

Good standard answer, which I agree with, my question is, could a person be redeemed from hell and inherit a higher degree of glory other than the Telestial ???

Been wondering about this lately for some reason. How far down does God's grace reach. Can a person who has been condemned to hell ever inherit the highest degree of the Celesital kingdom in the next life, assuming he/she turned from all his/her forgivable sins, or do only the son's of perdition go there permanently. Will others spend temporary time there but later be redeemed to inherit the Terrestrial or Celestial kingdom, not just the Telestial kingdom?

If now is the time for men to prepare to meet God, I don't see how that might happen.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by Scotty

More thoughts...

I once heard an LDS educator teach that "Hell" is God's "alternative school". Even the most evil of men (excluding the sons of perdition) will learn to love through the process of hell. He explained that God prepares hell, not Satan. God designed it as a learning place, a very painful learning experience, but one that teaches even those with the hardest of hearts to love. This makes sense to me.

Wow, exactly my train of thought, except for the son's of perdition part, there seems to be no forgiveness for them, as well as the devil and his angels.

Hell seems like it would be a place of cleansing, as fire seems to be a symbol/tool of purification both physically and spiritually.

Do you think some will go there temporarily to be cleansed from sin or to pay a price for their sins, yet be redeemed to inherit not just the Telestial, but possibly the Terrestrial or even the Celestial kingdom?

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by FFH

So explain this scripture then.

Doctrine and Covenants 63: 34
And the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire.

Hell is the opposite end of the spectrum, the highest degree of the Celestial kingdom being the other end of the spectrum. with a huge/massive grey area in between. Those who fall short of the glory of God.

True True True Again, no disagreements here from me. This is standard LDS doctrine which I agree with.

So I can understand why we would not completely agree with the idea of purgatory. Threw that out there to see if I could get some clarification from others. Somehow it seems to fit into God's plan, but we don't know all the details of the next life yet of course.

The purgatory teaching may just be convoluted a bit, from it's original teaching, that's all, but the basic ideas is there, suggesting progression/salvation from sins in the next life, if perhaps we don't get it all together in this life, while in the mortal body.

Purgatory does not suggest progressivion or salvation. When you are in Purgatory you are already going to be saved. Purgatory is the final rush of our sanctification(being made holy so as to enter heaven). We are showered down and our dirt is washed off of us so we can enter heaven. We will suffer in purgatory the fires of temporal punishment but these painful fires are cleansing unlike the fires of Hell which torment.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by nutshell

If now is the time for men to prepare to meet God, I don't see how that might happen.

True, better to "perform our labors" now, rather than later.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Purgatory does not suggest progressivion or salvation. When you are in Purgatory you are already going to be saved. Purgatory is the final rush of our sanctification(being made holy so as to enter heaven). We are showered down and our dirt is washed off of us so we can enter heaven. We will suffer in purgatory the fires of temporal punishment but these painful fires are cleansing unlike the fires of Hell which torment.

A great explanation thanks. I don't think this teaching is too far off from the truth and may prove to be the truth concerning hell and the vast majority who will temporarily exist between hell and heaven, in a place called purgatory in the Catholic faith and Spirit Prison in the LDS faith, who will await their final judgement.

Cleansing fires, verses fires of torment.

Great insight/clarification/distinction.

[Scott C.]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Purgatory does not suggest progressivion or salvation. When you are in Purgatory you are already going to be saved. Purgatory is the final rush of our sanctification(being made holy so as to enter heaven). We are showered down and our dirt is washed off of us so we can enter heaven. We will suffer in purgatory the fires of temporal punishment but these painful fires are cleansing unlike the fires of Hell which torment.

I'm curious, in Catholic doctrine, who goes to purgatory? Do some avoid purgatory and go straight to heaven. I assume yes.

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by Scotty

I'm curious, in Catholic doctrine, who goes to purgatory? Do some avoid purgatory and go straight to heaven. I assume yes.

Yes Some will avoid it. Some will allow the grace of God to sanctify them on this earth completely through suffering. But most of us if we do not go to hell will end up in purgatory for a time to be cleansed. The reason being is that there is no sin or impurity in heaven(Rev21:27) and "most" of us have not been completely sanctified and are still sinning by the end of our life. So there needs to be a purification. We are purified/sanctified by suffering in this life and if we need more to enter heaven we will be purified in the next life in purgatory in its cleansing fires which wwill wash us clean of our old habits and sinful ways and sanctify us so as to enter heaven. Paul speaks about this cleansing fire in (1 Cor 3:15) that we will go through. This purgatorial concept is also alluded ina general sense in Isaiah 6:5-7, and Isaiah 4:4 and Isaiah 1:25-26. Jesus makes a analogy of purgatory and compares it to a prison(Matt 5:24-26) whom no one will get out until they have paid the last penny(are purged or sanctified).

[FFH]

Originally Posted by athanasius

Yes Some will avoid it. Some will allow the grace of God to sanctify them on this earth completely through suffering. But most of us if we do not go to hell will end up in purgatory for a time to be cleansed. The reason being is that there is no sin or impurity in heaven(Rev21:27) and "most" of us have not been completely sanctified and are still sinning by the end of our life. So there needs to be a purification. We are purified/sanctified by suffering in this life and if we need more to enter heaven we will be purified in the next life in purgatory in its cleansing fires which wwill wash us clean of our old habits and sinful ways and sanctify us so as to enter heaven. Paul speaks about this cleansing fire in (1 Cor 3:15) that we will go through. This purgatorial concept is also alluded ina general sense in Isaiah 6:5-7, and Isaiah 4:4 and Isaiah 1:25-26. Jesus makes a analogy of purgatory and compares it to a prison(Matt 5:24-26) whom no one will get out until they have paid the last penny(are purged or sanctified).

Wow, great post, thanks.