A God of Mercy Loves Us

In Doctrine and Covenants section 137 the Lord clarifies who will qualify to dwell with him in the celestial kingdom, which is the highest degree of heaven. He declares that, "All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts."

It was also made known to Joseph Smith in this revelation that all children who die before they reach the age of accountability are also saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. How comforting it is to know that little children, like my granddaughter Ella, who died in her infancy, will be welcomed, not rejected, into the celestial kingdom. This revelation opens the door of savlation to all.

How merciful! How great the wisdom and the love! Think of all those who have died never knowing about Jesus Christ. Through this revelation the Lord proves once again He loves all his children, not just those few who were fortunate to be baptized.

This revelation was extraordinary! It drastically changed the way members of the early church viewed salvation. Suddenly the celestial kingdom in heaven became more real, more beautiful, and much more populated. It still stands in stark contrast to what many Christian faiths believe today. Many teach that unless you are baptized in this life, you are damned with the gates of heaven continually shut before you. The Lord proclaims otherwise.

D&C section 137 also reveals that we will be judged according to our thoughts and actions. The Lord refers to them as our "works." This goes back to the instruction He gave during his mortal ministry. The first and great commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. And the second commandment is like unto it, we are to love our neighbor as our self. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. It's that simple. If we truly love God, we keep His commandments and treat his children with love and respect. This is the gospel of Christ, to live our lives with compassion, love, tolerance, and continual service to all. The bottom line is how we treat each other...especially family members.