Eternal Life

To live with God and become like Him

You have divine potential and destiny as a daughter or son of heavenly parents. When you recognize your eternal identity, you can see that God wants you to prepare for the life to come. Because Jesus Christ overcame death, we will each be resurrected and gain immortality in the next life. But Heavenly Father has even more in store for those who seek to follow Jesus Christ, repent, and make and keep covenants with Him. God the Father makes it possible for His children to become like Him and live again in His presence (see Mosiah 2:41). This is what the scriptures call “exaltation” and “eternal life.” Eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts of God and is the very purpose of the plan of salvation (see Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Everything God does is to prepare His children to obtain eternal life (see Moses 1:39).

What Is Eternal Life?

To obtain eternal life is to gain salvation, the blessings of eternal family, and exaltation, which is “the highest state of happiness and glory.” Through God’s love and grace, all His children will be resurrected after they die and enjoy immortality (see Moroni 7:41). Eternal life goes beyond immortality and includes inheriting the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, continuing in an eternal family, and being like God and living in His presence. Eternal life is the greatest gift we can receive from God (see Romans 6:23; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7).

Topic overview: Eternal Life

Related gospel study guides: Plan of Salvation, Salvation, Temples, Covenants and Ordinances, Family

Section 1

God’s Plan Will Help You Gain Exaltation and Eternal Life

Have you ever felt that you might never qualify for exaltation? All of us are far from perfect in our efforts to follow Jesus Christ. Yet Heavenly Father was aware that our mortal experience would include challenges and discouragement. The New Testament teaches us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We can trust that Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation and exaltation really does work because He sent Jesus Christ to become our Savior and Redeemer. We do not and cannot earn the gift of eternal life on our own. We need Jesus Christ, and through our faith in Him, repentance, and efforts to make and keep covenants, we prepare ourselves to receive exaltation (see Doctrine and Covenants 59:23; Moses 6:59–60).

As God’s children, we have the capacity and opportunity to progress and become like Him (see Matthew 5:48; 2 Peter 1:2–4; 1 John 3:1–2). Heavenly Father promises that we can someday become “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) and receive all that God the Father has (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:36–38). The gift of eternal life includes the blessing of living in God’s presence and continuing as families (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4).

Things to think about

Listen to or read the lyrics to “Press Forward, Saints.” Record your feelings as you do so. Does eternal life seem more attainable than you thought? Read 2 Nephi 31:20. What does it mean to press forward with “a perfect brightness of hope”?

Activity for learning with others

Make a list of circumstances where delaying or procrastinating would bring undesired results. Read Alma 34:32–34 together, and discuss the truths that help us understand why we should not delay or procrastinate our repentance. Why is this life the time to prepare for the next life?

Learn more

2 Nephi 31:17–20; Doctrine and Covenants 130:1–2
Russell M. Nelson, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 7–10
Jeffrey R. Holland, “Fear Not: Believe Only!,” Liahona, May 2022, 34–36
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2011), 1–8
Randall K. Bennett, “Choose Eternal Life,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 98–100
Gospel Topics Essays, “Becoming Like God,” Gospel Library

Section 2

God Has Prepared Different Kingdoms of Glory for His Children

Jesus taught that there are different rewards in the next life: “In my Father’s house are many mansions” (see John 14:2–3). The Prophet Joseph Smith saw a vision of the three degrees, or kingdoms, of glory in heaven (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–98). These are the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms. Each of these is made possible to us through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:40–43). Joseph learned that the kingdom we will someday inherit depends on the degree to which we choose to follow Jesus Christ. The celestial kingdom is the highest glory and the place where God dwells (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:62). The gospel of Jesus Christ outlines a path designed to help us prepare for and receive the glory of the celestial kingdom.

Things to think about

In 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw a vision of the kingdoms of glory (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–24): the celestial kingdom (see verses 50–70, 92–96), the terrestrial kingdom (see verses 71–80, 91, 97), and the telestial kingdom (see verses 81–90, 98–106, 109–112). What can we learn about Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ from the fact that they have prepared different kingdoms of glory?

Activity for learning with others

Invite members of your group to review the brief article “Kingdoms of Glory” in Topics and Questions. Talk together about some of the differences between the kingdoms. How do our desires and efforts to follow Jesus Christ in this life affect our eternal reward?

Learn more

1 Corinthians 15:40–42; 3 Nephi 15:9–10; Doctrine and Covenants 59:23; 88:15–28; 137
Russell M. Nelson, “Come, Follow Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 88–91
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2011), 217–25
Church History Topics, “The Vision (D&C 76),” Gospel Library

Other Resources about Eternal Life