Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Fifteen

The Resurrection

President Dallin H. Oaks, in his first general conference sermon as President of the Church, spoke on why the truth about the resurrection is so important: “I wonder if we fully appreciate the enormous significance of this belief in a literal, universal resurrection. The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life. It affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality. It gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love. It signifies that mortal deficiencies are only temporary! It also gives us the courage to face our own death or that of loved ones—even deaths we might call premature.

“Our belief in the Resurrection also encourages us to fulfill our family responsibilities in mortality. It helps us live together in love in this life in anticipation of joyful reunions and associations in the next” (“Alive In Christ”, General Conference, April 2026).

The resurrection and the judgment are the second and third principles of the Gospel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “The doctrines of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are necessary to preach among the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 4). The first principles….of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance…” (The Pearl of Great Price, The Articles of Faith 1: 4). I have purposely not included references to the first ordinances of the Gospel which are: “Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins” and the “Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Ibid).

Latter-day scriptures, brought forth by Joseph Smith, greatly expands our knowledge of the resurrection and judgment. – Our final judgement includes the kind of body we are resurrected with. A person who inherits the celestial, or terrestrial, or telestial kingdoms will be resurrected with a celestial body, or a terrestrial body, or a telestial body.

When we are resurrected we are also judged – In the resurrection our body becomes immortal and our spirit is judged according to our works and our desires while in our probationary estate. For those who have the gospel in mortality their probation ends at death. For those who did not have the gospel in mortality their probationary estate is extended into the spirit world.

Latter day scripture teaches the doctrines of the resurrection and judgment. After we have had an opportunity to receive and obey the gospel, whether in this life or in the next, we will be resurrected. The following scriptures teach that the type and quality of our resurrection will constitute our judgement.

· “The plan of restoration (the resurrection) is requisite (consistent) with the justice of God for all things to be restored (resurrected) to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite (consistent) and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ that the soul (spirit) of man should be restored to its body…. And it is requisite (consistent) with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works… Therefore, all things shall be restored (resurrected) to their proper order” (Alma 41:2-4), parentheses are mine).

· Jacob taught: “When all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal (resurrected) they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God” (2 Nephi 9:15).

· After our mortal death, life continues in the spirit world where there is a preliminary judgment. In this judgment the righteous go to paradise and are separated from the wicked who go to spirit prison. (See Alma 40:11-15) In this transition from mortality to the spirit world there is an assignment to either paradise or prison. At the resurrection there is a final judgment, and the righteous are given a celestial glory and the others are given a telestial or a terrestrial glory.

· “Obedience to celestial, terrestrial or telestial law prepares us for those respective kingdoms and glories” (Introduction to D&C 88 describing verses 17-31). If we can live celestial law we will be judged worthy of the celestial kingdom, and we will be resurrected with a celestial body. This same principle applies to the terrestrial and telestial kingdom.

· President Joseph F. Smith received a marvelous revelation concerning the post-mortal spirit world which is now canonized as D&C 138. This vision reveals some details of conditions immediately after death and before the resurrection. In this revelation we also learn that righteous people who died before the resurrection of Christ “considered their spirit state before their resurrection as a bondage” (D&C 138, Introduction).

· The Vision, as the revelation canonized as D&C 76 is called, was given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon on February 16, 1832. The Vision is one of the greatest revelations given in our dispensation. It reveals doctrines of the resurrection previously unknown in our day, and it will be the subject of my Lesson next week.

Testimony – It is a marvelous blessing to have the Book of Mormon and other latter day scriptures that teach us about the resurrection, the judgment, and especially the atonement of Christ. These doctrines are among the mysteries of God that were primarily revealed to and taught by prophets. We then gain a testimony of them by the Holy Spirit through study and prayer.

Knowledge of the resurrection, the judgment, and the atonement of Christ has motivated me and many others to greater faith. It give us the desire to be strictly obedient in keeping all God’s commandments.

Released on April 19th. 2026.