Death is part of the Plan of Salvation

 

Death is an essential part of the plan of salvation. In order to become like our Heavenly Father, we must experience death and receive perfect, resurrected bodies. When we understand that death is part of Heavenly Father’s plan and that Jesus Christ overcame death through His Atonement, we can receive hope and peace when a loved one dies.

Come Follow Me Curriculum, The Plan of Salvation

After my dad died, I really wanted to find out where he was and what he was doing.  I read and studied a lot.  I collected a few stories that helped strengthen my testimony about death as a part of the Plan of Salvation and about how life keeps going after this life on earth.  Here is what I came up with:

My favorite book on the subject is Life Everlasting, by Duane Crowther.  I actually prefer his earlier editions than the latest, but they are all good.  He keeps adding more stories.  Here is a link to his book: Life Everlasting

I also liked this article that was in the Ensign a few years back: The Spirit World: Our Next Home

Here is a good quote from that article:

...the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the Saints should study the purpose of life and death, in fact should study it “more than any other” subject—“study it day and night.” He observed that “if we have any claim on our Heavenly Father for anything, it is for knowledge on this important subject.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 324; italics added.)

I love all of Doctrine and Covenants 138, but especially this verse:

57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

Just today, Elder Russell M. Nelson posted this on facebook:

Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Prior to our birth, we dwelled as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. There we eagerly anticipated the possibility of coming to earth and obtaining a physical body. Knowingly we wanted the risks of mortality, which would allow the exercise of agency and accountability. “This life [was to become] a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God.” But we regarded the returning home as the best part of that long-awaited trip, just as we do now. Before embarking on any journey, we like to have some assurance of a round-trip ticket. Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through—and not around—the doors of death. We were born to die, and we die to live. As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in heaven.

And lastly, here are a couple stories of people that have sent messages back from the spirit world:

 Father Too Busy, told by President David O. Mckay

 A son of Bishop John Wells was killed in Emigration Canyon on a railroad track ... Sister Wells was inconsolable. She mourned during the three days prior to the funeral, received no comfort at the funeral, and was in a rather serious state of mind. One day soon after the funeral services while she was lying on her bed relaxed, still mourning, she says that her son appeared to her and said, "Mother, do not mourn, do not cry. I am all right." He told her that she did not understand how the accident happened and explained that he had given the signal to the engineer to move on, and then made the usual effort to catch the railing on the freight train; but as he attempted to do so his foot caught on a root and he failed to catch the hand rail and his body fell under the train. It was clearly an accident. Now listen! He said that as soon as he realized that he was in another environment he tried to see his father but he couldn't reach him. His father was so busy with the duties in his office he could not respond to his call. Therefore, he had come to his mother. He said to her, "You tell father that all is well with me and I want you not to mourn any more." President McKay made the statement that the point he had in mind was that when we are relaxed -in a private room we are more susceptible to whisperings of the Spirit and that so far as he was concerned, his best thoughts come after he gets up in the morning and is relaxed and thinking about the duties of the day; that impressions come more clearly, as if it were to hear a voice. Those impressions are right. If we are worried about something and upset in our feelings, the inspiration does not come. If we so live that our minds are free from worry and our conscience is clear and our feelings are right toward one another, the operation of the Spirit of the Lord upon our spirit is as real as when we pick up the telephone.

("Prayer," address delivered to seminary and institute faculty, Brigham Young University [Provo, 6 July 1956], pp. 14-16)
Here is another story: 

Experience of A.C Nelson, grandfather of Russell M. Nelson from his book Russell M. Nelson: Father, Surgeon, Apostle, pages 9-11:

A.C. kept a modest journal, and one of his most inspiring entries was the record of a visitation from his father,  Mads Peter Nielsen, who had recently died.  This experience, included verbatim, has blessed the Nelson family:

“On the night of April 6, 1891, I had a strange dream or vision in which I saw and conversed with my father, who died January 27, 1891.  I felt so impressed after it that I desired to write it for my own benefit and the benefit of my family and friends.

“Though some may scorn and laugh at the idea of such a visitation, yet I feel assured that it was real, and it has been and I hope always will be a source of much pleasure and satisfaction to me.  To corroborate my testimony of the possibility of such a visitation I quote the following: ‘Spirits can appear to men when permitted; but not having a fleshy tabernacle can not hide their glory.’  I was in bed when father came in or entered the room; he came and sat on the side of the bed.  I could plainly see my wife and children in bed too.

“When father came to the bed, he first said: ‘Well, my son, being you were not there (at Redmond) when I died, so that I did not get to see you, and as I had a few spare minutes…’  ‘I am very glad to see you, father.  How do you do?’  ‘I am feeling well my son, and have had very much to do since I died.’

“ ‘What have you been doing since you died, father?  Have you seen  (here I mentioned the names of some of our dead friends)?’

“This question he did not answer but looked at me and smiled.

“ ‘My son, I have been traveling together with Apostle Erastus Snow ever since I died; that is, since three days after I died; then I received my commission to preach the Gospel.  You can not imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the Spirit World that have not yet received the Gospel; but many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished.  Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends, who are still living, to administer for them in the Temples.  I have been very busy in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’

“ ‘Will all the spirits believe you, father, when you teach them the Gospel?’  “’No, they will not.’

“ ‘How are you and mother, the boys, Emilie and the girls getting along?’  ‘I am well, father, and when I last heard from Redmond, the folks there were well.’

“ ‘Father, can you see us at all times, and do you know what we are doing?’  ‘No, my son, I cannot.  I have something else to do.  I cannot go when and where I please.  There is just as much, and much more, order here in the Spirit world than in the other world.  I have been assigned work and that must be performed.’

“ ‘We intend to go to the Temple and get sealed to you as soon as my school is closed.  I have talked with the girls about it and they want to be sealed to you.’  ‘That, my son, is partly what I came to see you about.  We will yet make a family and live throughout Eternity.’

“ ‘How do you feel at all times, father?’  ‘I feel splendid, and enjoy my labors; still, I must admit that at times I get a little lonesome to see my family; but it is only a short time till we will again see each other.’

“  ‘O, father, how glad I am that you died in full faith in the Gospel, and in full fellowship in the Church.’  ‘Well, my son, your father always did know since he joined the Church that the Gospel was true, and you know that I always taught it to you, when you were a small boy.  I got a little stubborn, but who is there of us that has not been a little cross and naughty at times.  The short time that I was cross does not amount to 15 minutes in comparison to Eternity.  I was punished for it.  But it is all right.  My son, you take care that you do not get that way.’

“ ‘Father, is it natural to die?  Or does it seem natural?  Was there not a time when your spirit was in such a pain that it could not realize what was going on or taking place?’  ‘No, my son, there was not such a time.  It is just as natural to die, as it is to be born, or for you to pass out of that door (he pointed at the door).  When I had told the folks that I could not last long, it turned dark and I could not see anything for a few minutes.  Then, the first thing I could see was a number of spirits in the Spirit world.  Then, I told the folks that I must go.  The paper you gave me, my son, is dated wrong, but it makes no particular difference; correct records are kept here.’

“ ‘Father, is the Gospel as taught by this church true?’  ‘My son, do you see that picture’ (pointing to a picture of the First Presidency of the Church hanging on the wall)?  ‘Yes, I see it.’  ‘Well, just as sure as you see that picture, just so sure is the Gospel true.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ has within it the power of saving every man and woman that will obey it, and in no other way can they ever obtain a salvation in the Kingdom of God.  My son, always cling to the Gospel.  Be humble, be prayerful, be submissive to the Priesthood, be true, be faithful to the covenants you have made with God.  Never do anything that will displease God.  O, what a blessing is the Gospel:  My son, be a good boy.’

“ ‘Good bye.’

“I then saw him leave the room.  He was neatly dressed in a suit of light gray clothes, which I had never seen him wear when alive.”

A.C. Nelson’s record of this visitation has had a profound impact upon his grandchildren, and, on occasion, Elder Nelson quoted excerpts at funerals of various family members. 

And here is another one:

 One of the most beautiful stories in our heritage, an experience of President Heber J. Grant’s, bears witness that a testimony about the right relationship between life, death, and the spirit world can comfort us in times of sorrow, help us understand God’s purposes, and teach us the true nature of our existence. President Grant writes:

“I have been blessed with only two sons. One of them died at five years of age and the other at seven. My last son died of a hip disease. I had built great hopes that he would live to spread the Gospel at home and abroad and be an honor to me. About an hour before he died I had a dream that his mother, who was dead, came for him, and that she brought with her a messenger, and she told this messenger to take the boy while I was asleep; and in the dream I thought I awoke and I seized my son and fought for him and finally succeeded in getting him away from the messenger who had come to take him, and in so doing I dreamed that I stumbled and fell upon him.

“I dreamed that I fell upon his sore hip, and the terrible cries and anguish of the child drove me nearly wild. I could not stand it and I jumped up and ran out of the house so as not to hear his distress. I dreamed that after running out of the house I met Brother Joseph E. Taylor and told him of these things.

“He said: ‘Well, Heber, do you know what I would do if my wife came for one of her children—I would not struggle for that child; I would not oppose her taking that child away. If a mother who had been faithful had passed beyond the veil, she would know of the suffering and the anguish her child may have to suffer; she would know whether that child might go through life as a cripple and whether it would be better or wiser for that child to be relieved from the torture of life; and when you stop to think, Brother Grant, that the mother of that boy went down into the shadow of death to give him life, she is the one who ought to have the right to take him or keep him.’

“I said, ‘I believe you are right, Brother Taylor, and if she comes again, she shall have the boy without any protest on my part.’

“After coming to that conclusion, I was awakened by my brother, B. F. Grant, who was staying that night with us, helping to watch over the sick boy. He called me into the room and told me that my child was dying. I went in the front room and sat down. There was a vacant chair between me and my wife who is now living, and I felt the presence of that boy’s deceased mother, sitting in that chair. I did not tell anybody what I felt, but I turned to my living wife and said: ‘Do you feel anything strange?’ She said: ‘Yes, I feel assured that Heber’s mother is sitting between us, waiting to take him away.’

“Now, I am naturally, I believe, a sympathetic man. I was raised as an only child, with all the affection that a mother could lavish upon a boy. I believe that I am naturally affectionate and sympathetic and that I shed tears for my friends—tears of joy for their success and tears of sorrow for their misfortunes. But I sat by the deathbed of my little boy and saw him die, without shedding a tear. My living wife, my brother, and I, upon that occasion experienced a sweet, peaceful, and heavenly influence in my home, as great as I have ever experienced in my life.” (Improvement Era, June 1940, pp. 330, 383.) Taken from the article, The Spirit World: Our Next Home, Jan. 1997 Ensign