God’s Plan for Us

For us, heaven is living in the presence of God and Jesus forever. The scriptures give us some insight into what it will be like. Jesus declared, “In my Father's house are many mansions” (John 14:2). One of the greatest joys of heaven is that if we are righteous, we can live with our families forever and become “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Of course, we don’t know every detail of what heaven will be like, but ultimately, we believe that it is a place of “never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2:41), which sounds pretty nice.

We have a different view of hell than the images of lava, fire, and pitchforks portrayed in movies. For those who choose not to follow God in life, their spirit will go to a temporary hell when they die. In this case, “hell” refers more to a state of mind than an actual place. Pain will come from regret and sorrow—not from fire and brimstone.

But God and Jesus are infinitely just and merciful. We believe those people who did not have a chance to know Jesus and accept Him in life will have that opportunity after they die. They will be taught His gospel, and if they turn to God, they will have a place in heaven after the Final Judgment.

The Final Judgment happens after Jesus returns to the earth and we are resurrected. Based on our actions and the desires of our hearts, we will experience different “degrees of glory” as described in 1 Corinthians 15:41–42: “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.” Because of the perfect love and understanding of the Savior, everyone will still have a better life than they had on earth, but only those who followed God will be able to live directly in His presence.

It’s okay to be sad. You can be sad and still have faith that God loves you and that things will be okay in the end.

Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about your feelings, such as a grief counselor, a family member, a trusted friend, or a religious leader. Allow them to comfort you, even if they can’t fully understand what you’re going through.

You can also find peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ. God is there and He cares about you and is aware of you. Jesus took upon Himself all suffering so He would know how to help you overcome yours. You can be with loved ones again after death. These teachings don’t take away all of the pain, but they can provide hope and understanding.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

When Latter-day Saints get married, they understand that marriage is meant to last forever. Marriage ceremonies in temples contain the words “for time and all eternity,” not “until death do you part.” But it’s not the words that make eternal marriage possible—it’s the power of God. Children born to couples married in temples are automatically “sealed” to their parents. Families who join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints later in life can also go to the temple to be sealed together.