The Resurrection is Governed by Law

The Order of Resurrection: Based on the Law of Obedience

The resurrection is universal. The Atonement of Jesus Christ empowers every class of creation to resurrect on all worlds in this generation. However, the resurrection is not random. The order of resurrection proceeds from higher to lower degrees of glory based on the law of obedience. Therefore, the celestial resurrection comes first, followed by the terrestrial and telestial resurrections. Sons of perdition come forth last. Humans are just one class of creation. After they resurrect, all other classes of creation must also resurrect in descending order of intelligence, including: animals, plants, and worlds of the celestial, terrestrial and telestial kingdoms. The resurrection for all classes of creation on all worlds began on this earth with Jesus Christ because he is the most obedient and intelligent of all creations that he redeems.

Joseph F. Smith taught that eternal blessings are attained through obedience to the principles of the gospel, including “faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins,” adding that without obedience “there can be no order.”

Joseph Fielding McConkie expressed the same principle as it relates to the resurrection when he said: “The order of resurrection is from most righteous to most wicked.” He further explained that each person is called forth in the resurrection according to the law he or she obeys: celestial law results in a celestial resurrection, terrestrial law in a terrestrial resurrection, and so forth. This is consistent with D&C 88:34-38, which teaches that whatever is governed by law is “preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.” Every kingdom has a law, together with prescribed bounds and conditions. The resurrection thereafter proceeds according to divine order that is dictated by the eternal law of obedience.

The Timing of Celestial Resurrection: Based on the Law of Earthly Ordinances

For people to resurrect to the celestial kingdom, they must obey celestial law. This includes obedience to gospel ordinances. Jesus explained this requirement to Nicodemus, saying: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Baptism and confirmation are the gateway ordinances for accountable people to be resurrected to celestial glory. Bruce R. McConkie said, “for accountable persons to receive a celestial inheritance baptism coupled with personal righteousness is essential.” In a similar vein, celestial marriage in the temple (the sealing ordinance) and obedience to the sealing covenants are required for eternal life and exaltation in the highest degree of celestial glory.

All gospel ordinances must be performed on mortals in the flesh because they are earthly ordinances. They belong to mortality. Jesus taught Nicodemus this principle. Baptism requires physical water and a mortal administrator. Those who die without receiving their ordinances as “living ordinances” can accept the gospel in the postmortal spirit world, but the physical ordinances must still be performed for them vicariously by mortals on earth. Until people receive all their required gospel ordinances in conformity with celestial law, they cannot be resurrected. In the resurrection their status is fixed. Thus, if they are missing an ordinance like the sealing ordinance they will resurrect as ministering angels rather than as gods. (D&C 132:7, 17) The law of earthly ordinances helps us understand why temple work for the dead is so central to the plan of salvation.

Thus we see that all people are resurrected through the power of Christ's Atonement, but the glory and timing of resurrection depends on the law a person has obeyed. Learn more about how the law of obedience and law of earthly ordinances affects the order and timing of the resurrection in my podcasts from October 11 and 13, 2026.

October 11, 2026 — Podcast

October 13, 2026 — Podcast