Chapter 13

While reading 3 Nephi chapter 28 in the Book of Mormon last week, something caught my eye that may mean something, or maybe nothing at all. Near the end of His visit to Bountiful, the Savior asks the 12 disciples what they wish from Him. Most asked to return “speedily” to His kingdom once their days were done on the Earth. Jesus responded by blessing them and granting their request. When they reached 72 years old, they would “come unto me in my kingdom, and with me ye shall find rest”. Sounds to me like a great deal for those men called to do His work. What I want to highlight though, is something specific about His response…”come unto me in my kingdom.” I believe the Lord means what He says and so I would think He used “my kingdom” for a reason.

Next, we have the remaining three disciples being a little more reticent regarding their wish, but of course the Lord knew what they wanted. Just like John the Beloved back in Israel, they wished to remain on the Earth to continue their ministry until Jesus returned again. Jesus’ response? He said, “more blessed are ye…” and then goes on to state that they would be able to see all the doings of the Father. However, at the end of this, He adds, “but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.” Hmmm…not my kingdom like the other nine, but my Father’s kingdom. He then continues to discuss about what it will be like and again references in verse ten His Father’s kingdom. Here is the entire verse: “And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;” During His visit to the Nephites, remember that the Lord questioned why Samuel’s words weren’t included in the records and commanded them to be added, so He was always quite clear in His words and knew exactly what he wanted in the official record. So, it’s safe to say there is a reason for the distinction.

Back to verse 10. A fullness of joy. The same as Jesus has from the Father. They will be even as Jesus is. This is huge! This is not the same blessing the nine received from the Lord with their wish. Why did Jesus distinguish the nine going to His kingdom and the three going to His Father’s? What is the difference between kingdoms? I am aware that those who attain glory of the Terrestrial kingdom will have the presence of the Son, but not the Father. In Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants, it is revealed that the terrestrial world differs from the celestial because it is, “…the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father…” In verse 77, it reads, “These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.” OK, to me that sounds like the same language Jesus uses in 3 Nephi 28 regarding the disciples.

What does this mean? At face value, this tells me that the nine disciples are going to the Terrestrial kingdom and the three to the Celestial. Wait…how can it be that His disciples, the ones he personally called, are not going to the Celestial kingdom? We know that one of the nine was Nephi because he handed down the plates to his son and it mentions his death. So, Nephi, the son of the Nephi who was given the great sealing power of God, did not make it to the top? Yeesh…if these kinds of people didn’t make it, how can I expect to? Unless, of course, there is something I’m missing here. I really don’t believe the Lord says things for no reason. I believe that there is something important to be learned in this account. Could the nine and three be symbolic of how many will make it? Meaning, if you took 12 very righteous people, only a quarter of them will actually attain the highest kingdom.

In my opinion, the vast majority of us will end up in the Telestial kingdom. If I had to guess, I’d say 95% are headed there. Then probably 4-5% to the Terrestrial and the remainder to the Celestial. I honestly think it will be less than 1%. That’s just my guess and I really don’t know for sure, but if I’m wrong, I think I’ll err on the low side. It’s probably a higher % going to the lower kingdoms and a fraction of a percent going to the highest. Maybe I’m too pessimistic, but narrow is the way and straight is the gate and few there be that find it. A quote that has always stuck with me since I was a kid was about Joseph Smith’s teaching (I’m paraphrasing here…) that if you think you’re going to sit on a throne like Abraham and not sacrifice and pay the price like he did, you’ve got another thing coming.

I don’t know the answer yet as to why Jesus promised the nine His kingdom, but offered the three His Father’s. One could assume all translated beings (Elijah, Enoch, etc.) then are promised the Father’s kingdom as well. Seems reasonable to me. Maybe the nine will spend some time in the Terrestrial on their path back to the Father. Maybe they had to endure to the end just like the rest of us and finish out their lives before they could attain that highest kingdom. They were only promised what they could get up to that point. I kind of lean towards they were offered what they had “deserved” up to that point. Once they complete their earthly ministry being valiant in all things and being perfected through the blood of the Lamb, they too would attain their Celestial glory.