Death, Physical

Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the

mortal body. The Fall of Adam brought physical death into

the world (see Moses 6:48).

Death is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of

salvation (see 2 Nephi 9:6). In order to become like our

Eternal Father, we must experience death and later receive

perfect, resurrected bodies.

When the physical body dies, the spirit continues to live.

In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous “are received

into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state

of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their

troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:12). A place

called spirit prison is reserved for “those who [have] died in

their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression,

having rejected the prophets” (D&C 138:32). The spirits

in prison are “taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious

baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy

Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of

the gospel that [are] necessary for them to know” (D&C

138:33–34). If they accept the principles of the gospel, repent

of their sins, and accept ordinances performed in their behalf

in temples, they will be welcomed into paradise.

Because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus

Christ, physical death is only temporary: “As in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians

15:22). Everyone will be resurrected, meaning that every person’s

spirit will be reunited with his or her body—“restored

to their proper and perfect frame” and no longer subject to

death (Alma 40:23; see also Alma 11:44–45).

You have probably experienced the pain that comes at

the death of a family member or friend. It is natural to feel

sorrow at such times. In fact, mourning is one of the deepest

expressions of love. The Lord said, “Thou shalt live together

in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them

that die” (D&C 42:45). The only way to take sorrow out of

death is to take love out of life.

Even as you mourn at the death of loved ones, you can

receive comfort in the promise of resurrection and in the

assurance that families can be together forever. You can “see

the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow

because of death and destruction among men, and joy

because of the light of Christ unto life” (Alma 28:14; see also

verses 9–13).

In addition to receiving comfort when loved ones die,

you can be at peace with the knowledge that you will eventually

die. As you live the gospel, you can remember the

Lord’s promise: “Those that die in me shall not taste of death,

for it shall be sweet unto them” (D&C 42:46).

Additional references: Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:51–58; 2 Nephi

9:6–15; Mosiah 16:6–8

See also Atonement of Jesus Christ; Paradise; Plan of Salvation;

Resurrection