Heaven: Where the Pain May be Keener than Physical Torture?
Mormonism's teaching on heaven was borne out of the universalistic leanings of Joseph Smith. The brand of universalism that Mormonism promotes today might be called a "quasi-universalism", since not all people go to heaven. Only few people on earth will end up in what is called "outer darkness", the concept in Mormonism that most closely resembles the biblical doctrine of hell.
Mormonism teaches that almost every person who lived on earth will end up in one of three heavenly kingdoms: the Celestial, the Terrestial, or the Telestial. All three kingdoms are described by Mormon literature with positive, glowing language. D&C 76:89 described the bottom Telestial kingdom as that which "surpasses all understanding". Eldred G. Smith, considered the "Patriarch to the Church", affirmed a belief that is still popular today among Mormons1:
"I cannot for a minute conceive the telestial being hell, either, because it is considered a heaven, a glory. The Prophet Joseph Smith told us that if we could get one little glimpse into the telestial glory even, the glory is so great that we would be tempted to commit suicide to get there." (March 10, 1964, BYU Speeches of the Year, 1964, p. 4)
But in addition to alleviating universalistic concerns, the Mormon doctrine of the afterlife also functions to motivate its members to fulfill the requirements of "worthiness" in this life. In the Telestial kingdom one is unable to enjoy fellowship with Jesus Christ or the Father. In the Terrestial kingdom Jesus visits but does not permanently reside. In either of these one is unable to enjoy family like others are in the Celestial kingdom.
Is Regret in Heaven a Torment and Eternal Punishment?
Mormon leaders have used terrifying language when speaking of the torment which comes with regret in the bottom two kingdoms of heaven. Apostle and popular church educator John Widtsoe wrote:
"Now, it may be contended that a judgment, with some degree of salvation for all, encourages the sinner to pursue his dark ways. Not so. However generous the judgment, it is measured by our works. Our punishment will be the heavy regret that we might have received a greater reward, a higher kingdom, had our lives conformed more nearly to truth. Such remorse may yield keener pain than physical torture." (Understandable Religion, p. 89)
While Widtsoe is careful not to call a heavenly kingdom "hell", he is nonetheless certain that there will be a keen regret for lost opportunities:
"Humanity will be grouped according to their works in three main divisions: Celestial (like the sun), Telestial (like the moon), Terrestrial (like the earth). Within each group there will be many gradations and divisions, until from the lowest to the highest in all groups there will be a series of gradually ascending glories. There can be no talk of a hell, except for the few 'sons of Perdition,' but undoubtedly the regret for lost opportunities will be keen among those in the lower degrees of glory." (Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 226)
Joseph Fielding Smith, on the other hand, considers the tormenting regret experienced in the bottom two heavenly kingdoms and concludes "in that sense it will be hell":
"This earth will become a celestial kingdom when it is sanctified. Those who enter the terrestrial kingdom will have to go to some other sphere which will be prepared for them. Those who enter the telestial kingdom, likewise will have to go to some earth which is prepared for them, and there will be another place which is hell where the devil and those who are punished to go with him will dwell. Of course, those who enter the telestial kingdom, and those who enter the terrestrial kingdom will have the eternal punishment which will come to them in knowing that they might, if they had kept the commandments of the Lord, have returned to his presence as his sons and his daughters. This will be a torment to them, and in that sense it will be hell." (Answers to Gospel Questions, v. 2, p. 210)
Christians find this to be nonsense. Allow me to quote at length from pastor John Piper in Life As a Vapor, p. 19-21:
I can’t keep eternity out of my mind. Life is short and eternity is long. Very long. It is a long time to regret a wasted life.
Which raises the question: Is there regret in heaven? Can regret be part of the ever-increasing, unspeakable joy of the age to come, purchased by Jesus Christ (Romans 8:32)? My answer is yes. I am aware of promises like Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” But I don’t think this rules out tears of joy, and it may not rule out regretful joy.
Why do I think this? I do not see how we will be able to worship Christ and sing the song of the Lamb without a clear memory of the glorious, saving work of Jesus Christ and all that it involved. According to Revelation 5:9, the saints will sing “a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.’” But ransomed from what? Will we have forgotten? This song and this memory will make no sense without the memory of sin. And the memory of sin will be hypocritical without the confession that it was our sin that Jesus died for.
It is inconceivable to me that we will remember our sin for what it really was, and the suffering of Christ for what it really was, and not feel regretful joy. The intensity of our joy in grace will be fed by the remembrance of our unworthiness. “He who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47). But this does not mean we should sin so “that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1). The holiest will be the happiest. But it does mean that regret will not ruin heaven. There will be kinds of joys, and complexities of happiness, and combinations of emotions in heaven of which we have never dreamed.
But all this leaves me trembling that I not throw away the one short life that I will look back on for all eternity. Just think of it. You have one life. One very short life. Then an eternity to remember. Does not the suffering in this world seem inexplicable to you? Is not this great, global (and intensely personal) suffering a call to magnify the mercy of Christ by how we respond? Is not suffering a seamless fabric, stretching into eternity for unbelievers? And therefore, are not Christians the only people who can respond with helpful relief to the totality of misery? Unbelievers may relieve some suffering in this vapor’s breath of life on earth. But beyond that they are no help at all.
Shall we not then live our lives—and prepare for heaven—by strategizing in all our vocations, and with all our talents and all our money, to relieve suffering (now and forever) for the glory of Jesus? The twentieth century was the bloodiest and cruelest of all centuries. Man is not getting better. But God will hold us accountable in the age to come not for what others have done. He will call us to account for what blood-bought hope freed us to do for others in the name of Christ. We will give joyful and tearful thanks in that day for the grace that covered our sin and the grace that caused our love.
Rather than the punitive pains of the hellish heavens of Mormonism, God's word, the Bible, promises a rock-solid future for Christians free of any eternal punishment and full of ever-increasing joy. Any memory of past sins or failures brought to mind in heaven will not be a "torment" or an "eternal punishment", but rather an occasion for remembering the God who freely forgave our sins, who sent his only begotten son to pay the penalty for our transgressions. This will cause super-abounding joy and tearful thanks and overflowing worship to the God who saved us. Mormonism has, on the other hand, taught that those in the Telestial kingdom will have paid for their own sins in spirit prison, a temporary hell which serves as a place of purging before entrance into heaven. Orson F. Whitney preached:
"But those who reject the Gospel altogether and are besotted and crimestained---what of them? It is written that they will be thrust down to hell; even the murderer, the liar, the sorcerer, and the whoremonger. They will, in short, be damned. But they will only be damned to the extent justified by their sins. Even for them there is hope, after they have 'paid the uttermost farthing.' They will be punished, as all men must be, for neglect of duty, for transgression of the laws of God; but after they have been punished sufficiently, they will be brought forth and saved in a glory of which the stars in heaven are typical." ("The Three Great Teachers", May 8, 1898; Brian H. Stuy, ed., Collected Discourses 1886-1898, v. 5)
Are there Many "Mansions" Where God the Father and Jesus Christ Do Not Reside?
Mormons often appeal to the phrase "many mansions in my Father's house" in John 14:2 as proof that there will be three kingdoms in heaven. Since Mormon theology holds that neither the Father nor Jesus Christ will abide in or even visit the Telestial kingdom, and that only Jesus will visit the Terrestial kingdom, the passage is effectively used to teach that not all "mansions" in the Father's house will be in the presence of the Father or the Son. Apostle Stephen L. Richards said,
"Through a latter-day revelation came the information that there are stations and gradations of position in the future life as in this life, and naturally there are places of preference. These various stations are referred to in the revelation as being kingdoms or degrees of glory, and their exposition serves to amplify and clarify the Savior's reference to the 'many mansions' in his Father's house, and other scriptural passages. By exaltation is meant the attainment of the highest station, the most preferential position in the future world of varying kingdoms and glories. The highest plane or kingdom is called celestial, and it is in the celestial kingdom that the highest aspirations of the Christian are realized." (Conference Report, April 1945, First Day—Morning Meeting, p. 30)
Speaking of John 14:2, William J. Critchlow, Jr., said,
"The Prophet Joseph Smith called them 'kingdoms.' In which of these kingdoms or subdivisions thereof did he go to prepare a place for you? Describe your mansion, if you can."
A closer look at the passage shows that it has been tragically turned upsidedown:
"'Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms [KJV: mansions]. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.' Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.'" (John 14:1-7, English Standard Version)
Look again at what Jesus said. If he prepares a place (or a "mansion" or a "room") for you, he will "come again and will take you to [himself], that where [he is] you may be also." Instead of intending to frighten his disciples with the prospect of abiding in a place where Jesus never even visits, Jesus encourages them with an assurance of a future with him. There is simply no reason to assume that there are rooms or mansions in the house of the Father which the Son does not prepare.
For Every Kingdom There is a King
The Bible only speaks of one heavenly kingdom and one heavenly King, Jesus Christ, to whom the Father has given all authority and power and judgment.
As a final note, I have some questions: Could someone ever be happy in heaven without God the Father and Jesus? Why does Mormonism even attempt to paint a positive picture of the bottom two kingdoms of heaven if their permanent presence cannot be enjoyed? How does this not reflect poorly upon Mormonism's view of God?
Notes
1. On this common belief Robert Millet and Kent P. Jackson write,
"Regarding 'surpasses all understanding': A rather common notion in connection with this verse is that Joseph Smith had taught that if we knew what the telestial kingdom was like, we would commit suicide to get there. What the Prophet said was not in reference to the telestial kingdom, but to life 'behind the veil,' which may mean a number of things.The Prophet's statement (Charles Walker quoting Wilford Woodruff quoting Joseph Smith) is as follows:
"Br. Woodruff spoke. . . . He refered to a saying of Joseph Smith which he heard him utter (like this) That if the People knew what was behind the vail, they would try by every means to commit suicide that they might get there, but the Lord in his wisdom had implanted the fear of death in every person that they might cling to life and thus accomplish the designs of their creator. (Diary of Charles Lowell Walker, ed. by A. Karl Larson and Katherine M. Larson [Logan, Ut.: Utah State University Press, 1980], vol. 1, pp. 465-66.)" (Robert L. Millet and Kent P. Jackson, eds., Studies in Scripture, Vol. 1: The Doctrine and Covenants, pp. 305-8)
Truman G. Madsen writes on the belief as well:
"Many of us have heard the statement made---and ascribed to either Joseph Smith or Brigham Young---to the effect that if a person could see the glory of the telestial kingdom he would commit suicide to get there. If only we could get the fundamental doctrines across to Church members as rapidly as we get across rumors, everyone would be saved. Am I saying that's a rumor? Well, I am saying this, that over a period of many years I have combed everything Joseph Smith said and wrote, and I can't find it. Hugh Nibley has done the same with Brigham Young's words, and he can't find it. It is hard to prove a negative, of course. What I can say is that we have found a statement from Joseph via Wilford Woodruff that says something else that is close, and I suspect it is the origin of the alleged statement (see Diary of Charles C. Walker, August 1837, in Church Historical Department). Elder Woodruff said the Prophet taught this, roughly: that if we could see what is beyond the veil we couldn't stand to stay here in mortality for five minutes. And I suggest from the context that he was not talking about the telestial kingdom. He was talking about what it was like to be in the presence of God and the family." (The Radiant Life, p. 91)