Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-07-08
WHAT TIM DEAD MAY ATTAIN.


The NEWS IL IN receipt Of Tho fol-
lowing communication from Mr.
Alfred Peterson, Of Independence,
Missouri:
In tho article. "Reponthnce In tho
Spirit World" In tho NEws OF Juno 18Th,
tie claim Is made that all mankind who
have died without foptntlng ~ the sins
committed In this mortal state, Will havo
an opportunity to repent In tho spirit
world, with he exception u those who
have committed tho objectionable sin,
whether they Ainncd through stubborn
ness, Ignorance or other reasons.
What / want to know Is who her or
not they, by ropentlng in the spirit
world, viii receive tho same degree OF
glory In tho celestial kingdom ~ those
who repent and 1.-Two froo from all sin In
this worIdg or will they attain any DO.
greo oi the celestial glory ut aliG
The Impression givon by thu article TO-
iorfed 10 N that they Will receive the
same degree ~ glory.
! an not speaking Of children who
have died, or Of those who would have
received aud ohuyed tho Gospel, tho
celestial law, had they lived ca hear u.
For m ! understand h those oh ain the
celestial glory through tho aionomOni u
Christ An answer viii greatly obligo.
For the Information OF the Inquirer
We will suggosi, In relation 10 the sub.
lect Of the last paragraph u bis letter,
that there h II distinction between
children who have dioi before reach.
ing the age Of accountability aud those
persons who have arrived nj that age
previous to passing from mortality. In
the case Of the fjrmet no require.
ments arc made Tor admission to the
celestial kingdom; they are free from
sin, aud Inherit the glory. The latter
are, however. In different situation.
One further condition IL required
OF them NJ qualification for celestial
glory 20 stated by MI. Peterson, /. O.,
that they would have received the
Gospel had they lived to hear II.
This requirement dlscloses NJ the basis
upon which they attain the desired
blessing that they render obedience to
the Gospel. The fact that they did
not have this opportunity IN mortality
does not initiate against them; nor
does It relieve them u the obligation
TO receive the GOSPEL when they DO |
hear Il, which Ia their case mus. be- In |
the spirit world. While Ia the ile.h
they became accountable 10 Gospel |
law, and the acc, INABILITY remains
with them; therefore It Is essential |
that they obey the Gospel, the uuda.
mental principles Of which are faith, |
repentance, remission of sin, ani the
guidance Of the Holy Ghost. Those
who would have received the Gospel |
in mortality Ind they lived to hear II |
cerlsinly will not reject II In the spirit |
world, for ouly by compliance with its
conditions can they receive it, bene. |
iiis. They WILDE Judged as men VINO !
have become accountable Ia the llr.b, !
aud not gs children who are unac.
counlable.
Regarding the impression Of which
our correspondent spoaks, u careful,
examination Of the article In question
fails to discover any reference 10 the
degree Of glory that may be- attained
by those who accept the Gospel Ia the
spirit world. The only subJeot under
consideration was whether " not the
Gospel Of Christ gave an opportunity
OF repentance to those who hal passed
beyond the vail. 1t was shown from
tho Scriptures that not only was this
opportunity afforded 20 those who. had
they heard the Gospel Ia the flesh
would have received 1t, hut alsJ to
some VINO had heard Il In this lie and
rejected lt-thuso who were di..
obedieut Ia the days If Noob.
Even this does not imply TIM,
all "iho sins committed In this
mortal state" may be Ivprut,d of ia
the spirit word, as tl.rs muy BE-
oncuses II . nature where rtsti,utuu
In essenIiaI 10 pDriect repentance. ItI
the tine for ,his ieromI "lhp day
OF grac," has been "slnued away
then the only tl,ruativo il to met
the penalty Tor violation OF the law
Tue question: pr,pouuied 10y Mr..
Peterson may be answere thu,
There are in the sp,rI, world two
olasses OF beings for whom obedience
TO the Gospel Is necessary 10 order that
they might enter the kingdom OF God
and psrtake Of any degree II glor,; on
those who hod not tine privilege OF obey.
Ing the Gospel in the flesh, but would
have received IL had they lived TO hear
It, and ~ thoss who rejected the Cos
pol in tue flesh or would have
done so had they heard IT,