Life after Death
What does the Bible teach about life after death?
After death, all who believe in God's true gospel go to heaven to live eternally with God. Unbelievers — those who have rejected the gift of Jesus' redemption, either outright or with a Jesus-plus theology — go to hell to live eternally with Satan. Our eternal fate is sealed at our physical death.
There are only two destinations after death, heaven and hell. Those who do good will live eternally with God. Those who are evil will be eternally separated from him.
Those "who do good" are believers who have been purified from their sins and covered with Jesus' robe of perfect righteousness. They will be judged according to Jesus' perfect works and are therefore worthy to dwell eternally with God. Those who do evil are those who have rejected God and his gift of salvation.
While heaven is sometimes described as a destination, it is more often referred to as the dwelling of God with his people forever. It will have no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. In contrast to this eternal joy, those who have not been purified from their sins and covered with Jesus' robe of perfect righteousness are evil and deserve eternal separation from God. They will go to the place prepared for the devil and his angels, a place of torment.
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43
What does Mormonism teach about life after death?
Mormonism teaches that all people first go to spirit paradise or spirit prison, based on one’s worthiness. Spirits in these places continue to work towards exaltation. According to Mormonism, anyone who didn’t have a chance to accept Mormonism may do so in the spirit world after physical death.
Mormonism also teaches that there are multiple eternal destinations: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. Only Mormons who are worthy enough during their life on earth will receive the highest destination of the celestial kingdom and become gods with “eternal families.”
Other less faithful Mormons and non-Mormons receive lower destinations in the telestial or terrestrial kingdoms. Mormons believe that only those who reject the church and persecute it go to Outer Darkness, Mormonism’s version of hell.
The spirit world is a place of waiting, working, learning, and, for the righteous, resting from care and sorrow. Our spirits will live there until we are ready for our resurrection.
Gospel Principles, Chapter 41: The Postmortal Spirit World
Why This Matters
What we believe about life after death shapes how we live our lives now. Many of our Mormon friends are working tirelessly to secure a place in the highest level of heaven—the celestial kingdom—hoping to live forever with God and their family. But that hope is always uncertain because it depends on personal worthiness, temple covenants, and obedience to commandments that none can keep perfectly.
However, the Bible doesn’t speak of levels of heaven or eternal families sealed by human effort. It speaks of something far better: eternal life with God as a free gift given to all who trust in Jesus. No second-guessing. No waiting to see if you’ve done enough. Just a promise: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Life after death isn’t about climbing toward godhood. It’s about being welcomed into the presence of the One true God—not because of our performance, but because of Christ’s perfect work for us. That kind of confidence can only come from grace.
When we hold onto this promise, we no longer live in fear of falling short. We can face death with peace, live today with purpose, and point others to the only One who guarantees eternal life—not as a reward to earn but as a relationship to receive.
Scripture References
Ephesians 2:1
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Romans 6:23
Matthew 7:13
2 Peter 3:9
1 Timothy 2:4
Mark 16:15
Revelation 7:9-17
Revelation 21:4
Job 36:28
Genesis 1:14-19
1 Corinthians 12:2
Luke 23:43
Revelation 2:7
Philippians 1:21
Revelation 21:22-23
1 Peter 1:3-5
Summary
Christianity
All who believe in God’s true gospel go to heaven to live eternally with God. Unbelievers go to hell to live eternally with Satan.
Mormonism
A person’s destination after death depends on their work and worthiness on earth.