"We Are in The Telestial Kingdom"

"We are in the telestial kingdom" was a phrase stated at this last general conference which I would like to elaborate on.

There are 9 verses in scripture using the word telestial and one Joseph Smith Translation (D&C 76, 88 and JST 1 Cor 15:40). There are an additional 33 making reference to that kingdom in these three chapters; there may be more I did not catch. There is another verse in D&C 88:25 stating, "the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom." Out of all 44 of these verses, there is not one that makes any reference to us currently living in the telestial kingdom. So where did this idea come from, is it true, and what does it mean?

This idea that we live in the telestial kingdom comes from the temple. It is a true principle but has been and continues to be largely misunderstood. It implies the world that we live in right now is the telestial kingdom. The incorrect interpretation for this is as follows: The world we live in is a fallen world with many wicked people living in it. They are a fallen people and live according to man-made laws, unjust laws or no laws at all. These people are wicked and they constitute what it means to live in the telestial kingdom. This is the incorrect interpretation of a correct principle. When we take this further, we may easily misinterpret D&C 76 when it refers to the telestial kingdom; and some incorrect opinions form, such as some presented frequently in the book Mormon Doctrine in regards to the telestial kingdom and telestial laws which contradict both those presented in the temple and scripture.

To understand this correct principle properly, we must first consider the audience to which this principle is given. It is given to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These are people who have been baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost to be their constant companion. This principle is not just given to members of the church, it is given to members who are living in obedience to the laws of the gospel and are worthy to enter the temple of the Lord. As worthy members they have the right to that constant companionship. This world, of enjoying the presence of the Holy Ghost, is the world that they live in and it is this world that is said to represent the telestial kingdom. This is the audience to which the principle is given and this is the interpretation that is consistent with scriptural references to the telestial kingdom.

As stated in the Doctrine and Covenants, referring to those who will ultimately reside in the telestial kingdom after the resurrection, "These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit ... [but] who receive ... of the Holy Spirit." (D&C 76:83,86) I interpret this to mean that they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost through vicarious baptism and confirmation before their resurrection. This is easy to accept when we let go of the non-scriptural ideas that the kingdom of God is only the celestial kingdom or that eternal life is only the life had by those who dwell with God the Father. It clears up much that is misunderstood in D&C 76 and the future spotless nature of those who will ultimately go to the telestial kingdom; but also makes it clear that the members of the church on earth today are in fact living a telestial life and are presently in the telestial kingdom of the kingdom of God on earth today.

It follows that those who are not members of the church live is a state of hell (the fallen world) not comparable to the telestial kingdom but comparable to outer darkness. The only difference is that it is not necessarily permanent or absolute because of the nature of our current probationary state. This state allows all who are in the state of hell who have not rejected God to receive the influence of the Spirit and those who have rejected God to change their mind and accept Him. This probationary state allows for the opposite to be true as well; all who are in a state of heaven, or telestial state, can become unclean and not be removed out of that kingdom. All of this will of course be sorted out at the final judgment when final decisions will have been made and the All Just God will have determined states of permanent abode for all.

In summary, we who are members of the church on earth today live in the telestial kingdom. Those who are not members of the church do not live in the telestial kingdom. We are taught (primarily by non-doctrinal sources such as Mormon Doctrine) that everyone on earth lives in a telestial state. This is not true; only those who are faithful members of the church live in a telestial state. We enter the kingdom through baptism onto the "first floor" if you will, into the first kingdom of heaven - the telestial kingdom, and then we progress up and are exalted to higher kingdoms as we commit to and learn to live and abide the laws of those kingdoms.