New Testament Witness of Kingdoms of Glory - The Sower

The New Testament has very little direct reference to understanding the organization of the Kingdom of God the way that it has since been revealed to Joseph Smith. But now that we know more about how the Kingdom of God is organized, we can look back and understand more clearly what was meant by Jesus.

Matthew 13 has seven parables that are both instructive as individual parables and, in their proper order, relating to the future of when the parables were given. Here I will only focus on the first parable and how it refers to the Kingdom of God in connection with what has been revealed to Joseph Smith regarding our understanding of the kingdoms within the Kingdom.

We know that the parable of the sower has a direct reference to the Kingdom of God because Jesus states that this is the purpose of telling parables in Matthew 13:10-11. The sower is a parable, which means it has hidden meanings that may not be apparent initially. From Joseph Smith we learn that after the resurrection, which includes judgement, the final state of the soul is that the saints will live in heaven and the sons of perdition will live in hell, often referred to as outer darkness. The saints, who go to heaven, will be part of the Kingdom of God which is organized into three levels or kingdoms, telestial, terrestrial, and celestial, and the celestial, which is the top, is interpreted to be further divided into three levels of degrees. When we look at the parable of the sower after understanding the organization that God has in His kingdom, it becomes clear and more instructive.

Eternal Damnation (Post Resurrection Outer Darkness)
The parable starts by referring to those who do not make it into the kingdom. "Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up." Jesus teaches us, "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." The person who persists in this state up to the resurrection will become as those who will not be forgiven and will receive eternal damnation. To understand this state better, please refer to my blog post No Forgiveness in This World or The Next.

Eternal Salvation (Post Resurrection Kingdom of God)
The rest of the parable refers to those who do make it into the kingdom. But not everyone embraces the gospel as quickly or as well as our Perfect Example. Yet because of Him we are given the ability to repent. One of the most gracious aspects of the atonement of Jesus Christ is our ability to repent after this life and before our resurrection. Many people represented in this parable are those who in this life did not bear fruit but because of the infinite mercy of God are still able to become saints.

Kingdom of God: Telestial Kingdom
The parable continues by referring to those who will be the least in the kingdom. "Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away." Jesus teaches us, "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." I am convince that God will remind these people of the joy that they felt until, like the prodigal son, they repent and receive the Holy Ghost.

Kingdom of God: Terrestrial Kingdom
The parable continues by referring to those who last much longer at doing good and living well. "And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them." Jesus teaches us, "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." This description fits extremely well that described of those who receive terrestrial glory in D&C 76, "These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men ... [or] who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus."

Kingdom of God: Celestial Kingdom
The parable finishes by referring to those who bear fruit. "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." Jesus teaches us, "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." It is completely fitting that those who bear fruit are like the servant with many talents who the Lord says, "Well done, thou good and faithful [or we could say fruitful] servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." In D&C 131 it states, "In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees." This matches the interpretation that those who remain fruitful make it into the celestial kingdom.