The Spirit World
Heber C. Kimball (Quorum of
the Twelve) quoting
Jedediah M. Grant:
“He also spoke of the buildings
he saw there, remarking that the Lord gave Solomon wisdom and poured gold and
silver into his hands that he might display his skill and ability, and said
that the temple erected by Solomon was much inferior to the most ordinary
buildings he saw in the spirit world.”
“In regard to gardens, says
Brother Grant, ‘I have seen good gardens on this earth, but I never saw any to
compare with those that were there. I saw flowers of numerous kinds, and some
with from fifty to a hundred different colored flowers growing upon one
stalk.’”
“After speaking of the gardens
and the beauty of everything there, Brother Grant said that he felt extremely
sorrowful at having to leave so beautiful a place….” (Journal of Discourses, 4:136).
Melvin J. Ballard (Quorum of the Twelve)
“A man may receive the priesthood
and all its privileges and blessings, but until he learns to overcome the
flesh, his temper, his tongue, his disposition to indulge in the things God has
forbidden, he cannot come into the celestial kingdom of God—he must overcome
either in this life or in the life to come. But this life is the time in which
men are to repent. Do not let any of us imagine that we can go down to the
grave not having overcome the corruptions of the flesh and then lose in the
grave all our sins and evil tendencies. They will be with us. They will be with
the spirit when separated from the body.”
“It is my judgment that any man
or woman can do more to conform to the laws of God in one year in this life
than they could in ten years when they are dead. The spirit only can repent and
change, and then the battle has to go forward with the flesh afterwards. It is
much easier to overcome and serve the Lord when both flesh and spirit are
combined as one. This is the time when men are more pliable and susceptible.
When clay is pliable, it is much easier to change than when it gets hard and
sets.”
“This life is the time to repent.
That is why I presume it will take a thousand years after the first
resurrection until the last group will be prepared to come forth. It will take
them a thousand years to do what it would have taken, but three score years and
ten to accomplish in this life” ("The Three Degrees of Glory," Sermons
and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, p.234-261).
President Brigham Young
“Go to the time when the Gospel
came to the earth in the days of Joseph, take the wicked that have opposed this
people and persecuted them to the death, and they are sent to hell. Where
are they? They are in the spirit world, and are just as busy as they
possibly can be to do everything they can against the Prophet and the Apostles,
against Jesus and his kingdom. They are just as wicked and malicious in
their actions against the cause of truth, as they were while on the earth in
their fleshly tabernacles” (Journal of Discourses, 3:370).
