Beliefs > Question & Answer > Heavenly Kingdom

Question

Is there a Hell? Proxy Baptism for a deceased parent?

Response

In one of your answers you stated that Mormons do believe in a place of outer darkness (hell) where Satan and his followers will live. I have also been told that hell is only a place created in your mind and people make their own hell. I have also been told that all people go to the 1st level of Heaven and are ministered to by missionaries. They are then allowed to move to another level of heaven. If a person is baptised for a deceased person will it change things for the deceased? My father died 4 years ago and he was not LDS but he did believe in God. Does this mean he is in hell or in the 1st level of heaven? If you are not sure where someone is should you go ahead with the baptism? An LDS friend, said he would do this. I am attending church but I have not been baptized. I am learning at this point. You asked if Mormons believe in a place of outer darkness (hell) where Satan and his followers will live. You stated that you had been told that hell is only a place created in your mind and that people make their own hell. We have learned from prophets that there actually is a place called outer darkness, which is where Satan and his followers will live throughout the eternities because of their rebellion against God from the beginning. Regarding the statement that hell is not really a place but only a state of mind, I would say that I suspect that those children of Heavenly Father who once knew His truths and teachings while they lived with Him in the pre-existence and then came to earth and would not follow the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ, they will not be worthy to live with Him through the eternities. They will be assigned a degree of glory where they will feel comfortable, considering the way that they have lived their lives. But, considering that "all things will be brought to their recollection", there will undoubtedly be great sorrow and agony over what might have been had they chosen to live Christ-centered lives while on the earth. You also said that you were told that people go to the first level of heaven and are ministered to by missionaries. They are then allowed to move to another level of heaven. Our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ are fair and loving to everyone. As you know from the missionary discussions that you are having, we believe that when men and women leave this life they will have the same opportunity to hear, understand, and accept the gospel message as those who had it while on the earth. When they accept it or reject it they will then stand before the Lord and be judged according to the things that they knew. If their lives have been righteous and Christ-centered and if they have accepted the gospel in its fullness in every way, they will be exalted to the highest degree of Celestial glory where they will dwell with our Heavenly Father through the eternities. If they have not accepted the gospel by that point they will be assigned a lesser degree of glory. They will still have the opportunity to grow and progress and be visited by the Savior or His messengers throughout the eternities. You asked if a person is baptized for a deceased person, will it change things for the deceased? You then asked about your own father who had died four years ago who was not LDS but did believe in God. You wanted to know if this meant that he was in hell or in the first level of heaven. As you know, one of the purposes for the temples that we have throughout the world is to perform baptisms for those who have passed on. As the scriptures say, a man cannot enter into the kingdom of God without having been "born of the water and of the spirit", meaning being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. In the temple, we perform those ordinances for those who are deceased who have not had the opportunity to accept the gospel here. They will have the opportunity in the spirit world to accept or reject that baptism after they are taught the gospel while they are there. Concerning the place where your father dwells, considering that you said that he "was a good man" I have no doubt that he is now in the spirit world and the gospel is being preached to him along with many others of Heavenly Father’s choice children. Once you have been baptized a member of the church, you will have the privilege of submitting your father’s name to the temple. You may even ask a man who is a member of the church and holds a temple recommend to go there and perform this baptism for and in behalf of your father and you will be able to witness it. I hope this is helpful to you. Sincerely, Donny Osmond See related multimedia presentations

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