Spirit World

Mormonism teaches that after death, the spirits of every man and woman returns to place known as the spirit world. Mormons say 'return,' because Mormon doctrine teaches that the soul of man is immortal and existed prior to this earth life in what Mormons call the pre-mortal life. The post-mortal world of spirits, according to the prophet Joseph Smith, is an actual place where the deceased spirits reside and "where they converse together the same as we do on the earth" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 353). According to the Doctrine and Covenants, in heaven, "that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy" (D&C 130:2). Bruce R. McConkie, a former Apostle in the Church said that, "[l]ife and work and activity all continue in the spirit world. Men have the same talents and intelligence there, which they had in this life. They possess the same attitudes, inclinations, and feelings there which they had in this life" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 762). Mormons believe that in the spirit world, men and women can continue to learn and grow.

The post-mortal spirit world is comprised of three conditions of existence: spirit paradise for the righteous who have had temple ordinances and are progressing in learning and preparing for their resurrection, a waiting place that may be called spirit prison for those honorable spirits who await receiving vicarious temple ordinances so they may progress further in knowledge, and a spirit prison of torment for the unrepentant. The spirit prison for those waiting to learn the fulness of the gospel of Christ and receive vicarious ordinances is not a place of torment, but a place where the gospel is taught and there is sociality. Messengers are sent to teach those in spirit prison, and in this way the postmortal spirit world is much like mortality. In a revelation given to Joseph F. Smith, sixth president of the Mormon Church, he saw the following:

[T]he [was] gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.

~D&C 138:32-35

Everyone will have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and accept it, but those who knowingly rejected opportunities to hear the Gospel in this life, will not have a second chance. During the time between Christ's death and resurrection, he organized this missionary effort in the spirit world so that all would have the opportunity to learn and choose the gospel. Spirit paradise, in contrast to spirit prison, is a place where the souls of the righteous can rest from the trials and difficulties of mortal life and continue the work of teaching the gospel.

It is this post-mortal spirit world that the spirits of all mankind await the resurrection and the judgment. When Christ comes again, all will be resurrected, and the spirit world will no longer be needed. People will then be judged according to their works, and will be able to enter the Celestial, Terrestrial or Telestial Kingdoms.