Most people depart this mortal life before their calling and election is made sure.¹ However, they are sealed up to eternal life when they die if they are worthy.² Their spirits enter celestial paradise in the spirit world³ to await their resurrection⁴ in the morning of the first resurrection.⁵ Exaltation-worthy saints that die will effectively receive a guarantee of eternal life at the time of their death⁶ because the period of their probation ends at death⁷ and they are no longer susceptible to weaknesses of the flesh.⁸ All people undergo a partial judgment at death.⁹ Those that qualify for exaltation during their mortal lives will be guaranteed that reward during their partial judgment at death.¹⁰

The partial judgment at death will create at least three classes of disembodied spirits in celestial paradise. The first group consists of the spirits of men and women that have been sealed in the temple and enter paradise with their calling and election made sure during their life or at their death.¹¹ They are called the spirits of just men made perfect.¹² They are glorified spirits¹³ that will come forth with exalted bodies in the morning of the first resurrection.¹⁴ Until the time of their resurrection they can appear in glory without a physical body.¹⁵ They minister to mortals on earth¹⁶ who also have their calling and election made sure.¹⁷

The second group in paradise consists of people that are worthy of celestial glory but not exaltation when they die. These are people that have been baptized but are not sealed after first having the opportunity to be sealed in this life.¹⁸ Their disembodied spirits enter celestial paradise, but they enter as ministering servants.¹⁹ They will be resurrected to the celestial kingdom in the afternoon of the first resurrection after the spirits of just men made perfect are resurrected ahead of them in the morning of the first resurrection.²⁰

Finally, the disembodied spirits of the dead that hear and accept the gospel for the first time in spirit prison²¹ can enter paradise after they vicariously receive the ordinance of baptism.²² Their calling and election is also made sure as they enter paradise with the other spirits of just men made perfect.²³ They can also become heirs of salvation, meaning exaltation,²⁴ as they vicariously receive the exalting ordinances of the temple.²⁵