Heaven and Hell

Heaven and Hell.

A good student and brother has written to know where Hell is, and he asks "Are we to understand (as written in Matthew 25:41. 'Depart from me, ye accursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels') that such a place as Hell really exists?" Hell is, evidently, wherever one's mental condition would make it. Without doubt, such a place exists, but where the place is, we are not able to say, as there is no revealed word upon the subject. In this life, however, both Heaven and Hell are upon this earth, and wherever, by our acts, we ourselves make them. It is not a far-fetched guess, either, to say that Heaven for the righteous will be on this earth in the hereafter. (Read Doc. and Cov. 88:17-26.) As to the meaning of "everlasting fire prepared for the devil 19th and his angels," we have a thorough explanation in the section of the Doctrine and Covenants, beginning with the Toth

420 IMPROVEMENT ERA verse and reading to the 12th. From this we understand that everlasting, or eternal, punishment is simply God's punishment, because he is eternal. The punishment will abide forever, but a man will not suffer it forever; and each individual will receive of that punishment in the hereafter as he deserves, but with it he will also receive eternal justice, and there is escape by repentance, before the resurrection and the judgment, even as there is in this world.

Furthermore, we understand Hell, as stated, to be both a place and a state or condition of torment, in which the wicked who have passed away from this life will suffer suspense, remorse, and anguish looking for the indignation of a just God before their resurrection. This condition will continue as long as justice shall demand it, and until the sinner shall repent and turn to God and obey him ; or, on the other hand, choose to obey the devil. Their further destiny will be in conformity with their works and desires, according to the eternal principles of justice and mercy extended by an allwise God. For, if men desire to do evil, and follow that desire,all the day long while in this life, they shall have their reward of evil when the night cometh, both in the spirit world and after the resurrection even as those who do good, shall ;

inherit the Kingdom of God, endless life, and eternal happiness. If, after the resurrection, men still remain evil, having refused to repent, they will be consigned to the dominion of the devil, who has subjected them, which is Hell and damnation. They had mercy extended to them, but would not turn from their evil ways they were warned of their iniquities, but would not ;

depart from them they were commanded to repent, but would ;

not. They chose the evil, and will, therefore, inherit the kingdom of the devil, Hell, or endless misery. And it becomes plain, therefore, that men are their own judges, they stand or fall, are good or evil, as they desire and do good or evil in their hearts and acts —hence, we make Heaven or Hell for ourselves, not only hereafter, but now. The lesson we should learn is that the way of salvation is may walk prepared which leads to Heaven, and we therein, and be saved. To do this, we are asked to repent of our sins, render loving service to God and our fellow men, and obey the gospel, whose author is Jesus Christ, the light and life of the world In and through him alone are men redeemed and saved. In this connection we advise the reading of Alma, chapters

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40 and 41, and Mosiah, chapter 16, where the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints on this subject and on the resurrection, the restoration, and the judgment, are set forth in great practical plainness, applying not only to the future, but to our lives here and now.