RESURRECTION (Teachings of Joseph Smith)

Doctrine of the Resurrection & Eternal Judgment Necessary to Preach Among First Principles of the Gospel — Willard Richards (between circa June 26 & July 2, 1839)

The doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead & Eternal Judgment are necssary to preach among the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 2 July 1839, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 17, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Those Who are Tortured and Do Not Accept Deliverence Obtain a Better Resurrection Sooner than Translated Beings — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

There place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order and a place prepared for such characters, he had in he held in reserve to be ministring angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead. See Heb 11 Chap part of the 35 verse “others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection” Now it was evident, that there was a better resurrection or else God would not have revealed it unto Paul wherein then can it be said a better ressurrection? This distinction is made between the doctrine of the actual ressurrection and the doctrine of translation, the doctrine of translation obtains deliverance from the tortures and sufferings of the body but their existence will prolong as to their labors and toils of the ministry before they can enter into so great a rest and glory, but on the other hand those who were tortured not accepting deliverance received an immediate rest from their labors, See Rev  

I heard a voice from heaven saying blessed are the dead who die in the Lord for from henceforth they do rest from their labors and their works do follow them — They rest from their labors for a long time and yet their work is held in reserve for them, that they are permitted to do the same works after they receive a ressurection for their bodies, but we shall leave this subject and the subject of the terresteal bodies for another time in order to treat upon them more fully

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 7, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Bodies of Resurrected Beings Will Have the Same Stature They Had Before Dying (April 15, 1842)

After Resurrection, Having a Body Enables Us to Have Power over Other Spirits — Franklin D. Richards (May 21, 1843)

As man is liable to enemies there [eternal world] as well as here it is necessary for him to be placed beyond their power in order to be saved. This is done by our taking bodies (keeping our first estate) and having the Power of the Resurrection pass upon us whereby we are enabled to gain the ascendancy over the disembodied spirits

Discourse, 21 May 1843, as Reported by Franklin D. Richards, pp. 18-20, The Joseph Smith Papers.

All Losses Made Up to Individuals at the Resurrection — Willard Richards (April 16, 1843)

. . . all your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection provided you continue faithful, by the vision of the almighty I have seen it. — More painful to me the thought of annihilation than death, if I had no expectation of seeing my mother Brother & Sisters & friends again my heart would burst in a moment & I should go down to my grave.

Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 2 July 1839, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 17, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Hope of Reuniting with Loved Ones in Resurrection Brings Joy to Daily Life — Willard Richards (April 16, 1843)

The expectati[o]n of seeing my friends in the morni[n]g of the resurrection cheers my soul, and make be bear up against the evils of life, it is like their taking a long journey. & on their return we meet them with increased joy.

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 146-147, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Knowledge Revealed from God That Those Who Die Will Be Resurrected — Willard Richards (April 16, 1843)

God has revealed his son from the heavens. & the doctrine of the resurrection also. & we have a knowledge that these we bury here God bring them up again. clothed upon & quickened by the spirit of the great god. & what mattereth it whether we lay them down, or we lay down with them, when we can keep them no longer.

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 146-147, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Honor to Be Buried with the Saints & Rise with Them in the Resurrection — Wilford Woodruff (April 16, 1843)

President J. Smith Addressed the assembly of the saints at the temple of the Lord upon the subject of the saints death burial & resurrection of the saints. He had been requested to preach a funeral sermon by several persons who had died lost friends & he had Just Received information that Elder Lorenzo Barnes had died in England we received this information by a letter from Elder P. P. Pratt. After reading the letter he addressed the assembly in a vary feeling interesting & edefying manner among many other remarks he said he should have been more reconciled to the death of Elder [Lorenzo] barnes Could his bodey have been laid in the grave in Nauvoo or among the Saints, he said he had vary peculiar feelings relative to recieving an honorable burial with his fathers he Considered Nauvoo would be a burying place of the Saints & Should he die he considered it would be a great Blessing to be buried with the saints & esspecially to be buried with his father yes he wanted to lie by the side of his father that when the trump of God should sound & the voice of God should say ye Saints arise that when the tomb should birst he could arise from the grave & first salute his father & say O my father; & his father say O my son!! as they took each other by the hand he wished next to salute his brothers & sisters & then the Saints

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 25, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Buried Bodies of Friends Close to One Another Will Rise in Unison at Resurrection — Wilford Woodruff (April 16, 1843)

. . . he said it was upon this principle that the ancients were so particular to have an honorable burial with their fathers as in the case of Joseph, before his death he made his kindred promise to carry his bones to the land of Canann & they did so they embalmed his body took it to the land of Canaan & buryed it with his fathers their is a glory in this that many do not comprehend, It is true that in the resurrection the bodies will be caught up to meet the Lord & the Saints will all be brought together though they were scattered upon the face of the whole earth yet they would not as readily salute each other as though they lay down & rose up together from the same bed, To bring it to the understanding it would be upon the same principle as though two who were vary friends indeed should lie down upon the same bed at night locked in each other embrace talking of their love & should awake in the morning together they could immediately renew their conversation of love even while rising from their bed but if they were alone & in seperate apartments they could not as readily salute each other as though they were together He remarked that should he live & have an opportunity of gathering his friends who had died together he intended to do it but if he should not live to do it himself he hoped that some of his friends would.

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, pp. 25-26, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Victory Gained Through Resurrection for the Faithful — Wilford Woodruff (April 16, 1843)

He wished all of the saints to be comforted with the victory they were to gain by the resurrection it is sufficient to encorage the saint to overcome in the midst of evry trial trouble & tribulation though thunders roar & earthquakes bellow, lightnings flash & wars are upon evry hand yet suffer not a joint to tremble nor let not your heart faint for the great Eloheem will deliver you & if not before the resurrection will set you eternally free from all these things from pain sorrow & death.

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, pp. 26-27, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Vision of the Resurrection — Wilford Woodruff (April 16, 1843)

In speaking of the resurrection I would say that God hath shown unto me a vission of the resurrection of the dead & I saw the graves open & the saints as they arose took each other by the hand even before they got open while getting up & great Joy & glory rested upon them.

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 27, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Importance of Being Buried Near Relatives — Wilford Woodruff (April 16, 1843)

Heard pres. J preach on the resurrection shewing the importance of being buried with the saints & their relatives inasmuch as we shall want to see our relatives first & shall rejoice to strike hands with our parents, children &c when rising from the Tomb.

Discourse, 16 April 1843, as Reported by William Clayton, pp. 77-78, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Thought of Being Separated from Loved Ones After Death More Painful than Ceasing to Exist — Martha Jane Knowlton Coray (August 13, 1843)

There is a thought more dreadful than that of total annihilation That is the an thought that we shall never again meet with those we loved here on earth suppose I had some Idea of a resurection and glory beyond the grave which god and angels had secured and yet had not any knowledge intelligence of any Law or any order by which it is to obtained. Well you lose a friend you come up in the resurection hoping to [see] him again but find yourself separated from them to all eternity and become aware of the fact that through ignorance of the principles of the resurection and reunion you will never behold that dear friend nor ever enjoy his society this thought I say of being disappointed in meeting my friend in the resurection is to me more dreadful than of ceasing to suffer by a cessation of being.

Discourse, 13 August 1843–A, as Reported by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, pp. 30-31, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Disappointment of Hopes & Expectations at Resurrection — Times and Seasons (October 9, 1843)

He remarked that the disappointment of hopes and expectations at the resurrection, would be indescribably dreadful.

Discourse, 9 October 1843, as Reported by Times and Seasons, p. 331, The Joseph Smith Papers.

All Spirits, Including Children, Must Rise in Resurrection — Thomas Bullock (May 12, 1844)

all must rise, all must enter eternity — in order for you to receive your children to yourself, you must have a promise, some ordinance some blessing in order to ascend above principalities or else it may be an angel — they must rise just as they died — we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory, the same loveliness in the celestial glory where they all enjoy alike — they differ in stature, in size — the same glorious spirit gives them the likeness of glory and bloom  — the old man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom & beauty  — no man can describe it to you — no man can write it..

Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock, p. 2, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Resurrection Devised to Remove Corruption in Body — George Laub (May 12, 1844)

. . . Blood is the corruptible part of the tabernacles— for the resurrection of the dead is devised to take away coruption and make Man perfect or in the glory which he was created for The body is Sowen in coruption & raised in Incorruption Then we will be able to goe in the presents of god.

Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by George Laub, p. 22, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Resurrected Bodies Dwell in Flaming Fire — Samuel Richards (May 12, 1844)

Subject changed to Resurrection of the Dead. John 14:2^nd “in my Fathers Kingdom are many Kingdoms. I go to prepare a Kingdom for you. that the exaltation that I receive you may receive also.” . . . All resurected bodies dwell in flaming fire, for our God is a consumeing fire.

Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Samuel W. Richards, pp. 74-75, The Joseph Smith Papers.