Before spirits of the dead can enter paradise in the postmortal spirit world, they must qualify for celestial glory.¹ At a minimum they must (1) validly receive² the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost,³ if they are accountable,⁴ and (2) they must keep their baptismal covenants⁵ and endure to the end.⁶ Accountable people who are not baptized in this life are damned⁷ and go to spirit prison when they die,⁸ as do people that are baptized but fail to keep their baptismal covenants.⁹

Even though all spirits must qualify for celestial glory to enter paradise,¹⁰ they do not equally qualify.¹¹ Different levels or degrees of glory exist within celestial paradise.¹² John's vision of paradise in Revelation chapter 5 confirms these differences because he saw many angels round about the throne as distinguished from the separate groups of four beasts and 24 Elders.¹³ Since there are three degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom,¹⁴ there must also be three corresponding classifications for the disembodied spirits of people in celestial paradise.¹⁵ The three classifications of spirits in paradise also correlate with the three major classifications of disembodied spirits in prison.¹⁶ These three divisions in spirit prison must also correspond with the three corresponding kingdoms beyond the celestial realm.¹⁷ The three kingdoms beyond the celestial realm include the terrestrial kingdom,¹⁸ the telestial kingdom,¹⁹ and outer darkness.²⁰ Outer darkness is the final hell or kingdom of no glory for sons of perdition.²¹

The disembodied spirits in paradise that qualify for exaltation in the highest degree of celestial glory are those that receive the sealing ordinance and keep their temple covenants.²² They are glorified spirits in paradise²³ who shall come forth as first fruits in the morning of the first resurrection.²⁴ They will become exalted kings, queens,²⁵ and Gods.²⁶ As members of the Church of the Firstborn,²⁷ they will also rule and reign in the house of Israel forever.²⁸ They will be numbered among the 144,000 Servants sealed in their foreheads during the sixth seal and early in the seventh seal as recorded in Revelation chapter 7.²⁹ They will also stand with Jesus Christ on mount Zion in the flesh after their resurrection at the Second Coming as recorded in Revelation 14:1.³⁰

Disembodied spirits in paradise that inherit the two lower degrees of glory in the celestial kingdom are those that are not sealed to a spouse in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage.³¹ They remain separate and single forever.³² They become angels³³ and ministering servants after their celestial resurrection.³⁴ Very little is known about these lower tiers of glory in the celestial kingdom. Logic suggests, however, that resurrected people in the second tier or degree of glory did more in their lives than the minimum requirements imposed on them by their baptismal covenants and receipt of the Holy Ghost.³⁵ Some persuasively suggest that people achieve the second degree of glory because they worthily receive the covenants of the temple endowment, but not the required sealing ordinance.³⁶ The added glory in the second degree may also come to children that are born in the covenant or sealed to their parents.³⁷ Joseph Smith said: "When a seal is put upon the father and mother, it secures their posterity, so that they cannot be lost, but will be saved by virtue of the covenant of their father and mother."³⁸ This assumes, of course, that such children are worthy to be in the celestial kingdom in the first place based on their obedience to celestial law.³⁹