“40...There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead... “
(1 Corinthians 15)
Heaven
by Robert Rosskopf
The LDS or Mormon concept of a multi-tiered heaven is unique in the Christian world, but not without foundation in the Holy Scriptures. According to several revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith, those who abide a higher law will inherit a higher degree of glory, and that heaven is actually divided into three separate kingdoms.
Mankind has a variety of societies throughout the Earth with varying numbers of laws and varying degrees of freedom. The more righteous a people are, the less they need a multitude of laws to restrict their freedom. The more wicked a society is, the more they need the rule of law to dictate their behaviour and the consequences of breaking those laws. Heaven is the same way, in that those who abide a higher law, will have greater freedom. Those who are willing to abide by God's perfect law, will be able to live in God's society, which is found in the Celestial Kingdom, the highest of God's kingdoms. It has the most freedom because those who go there have lost all desire to sin. The scriptures found in the New Testament that talk of heaven, are only enough to whet ones appetite, but they clearly show that heaven is more complex than a one-size-fits-all reward for good behaviour.
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:19)
"In my fathers house are many mansions..."
(John 14:2)
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.”
(2 Corinthians 12:2)
We are fortunate to have modern prophets through which the Lord can reveal a larger portion of his word. God has truly poured out his spirit upon mankind in these latter days.