Why Celestial Is Better

One message of the vision recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76 is that God will give us all the glory we are willing to receive. Jesus saves all of God’s children except a very few, who fully turn their backs on God and refuse to receive anything from Him at all.

But another message is that not all of the “mansions” we might inherit are of equal value. The three levels of glory described in the revelation—celestial, terrestrial, and telestial—are organized into a distinct hierarchy, with the celestial glory clearly surpassing the terrestrial, which in turn exceeds the telestial. (See Doctrine and Covenants 76:91-92.)

So when President Russell M. Nelson says, “How and where and with whom do you want to live forever? You get to choose” (“Think Celestial!” General Conference, October 2023), that comes with an asterisk. We get to choose, but not all of those choices are equally good. For example, “if we unwisely choose to live telestial laws now, we are choosing to be resurrected with a telestial body. We are choosing not to live with our families forever.” You can choose your ultimate state, but not all of those states are equally joyful, empowering, and rewarding.

Similarly, after President Dallin H. Oaks testified that “all of God’s children will inherit a kingdom of glory whose laws they can comfortably ‘abide,'” he declared that the purpose of the Church is to “prepare God’s children for salvation in the celestial glory” (“Kingdoms of Glory,” General Conference, October 2023).

Let’s look at some of the characteristics of the three levels of glory in order to understand why God wants to give us a celestial glory, and why we should want to receive it:

Category	Celestial	Terrestrial	Telestial
Qualifications	Receive the testimony of Jesus Believe on His name Washed and cleansed by baptism Receive the Holy Ghost Overcome by faith Just men and women who are made perfect by Christ (v. 51-53, 69)	Die without law Receive not the testimony of Jesus until later Honorable yet blinded by others (v. 72-75)	Receive not the gospel of Christ, nor the testimony of Jesus, nor the prophets, nor the everlasting covenant Follow various earthly influencers Liars and adulterers (v. 82, 101-103)
Environment and Associations	Dwell in the presence of God the Father and Christ Live in Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all Surrounded by angels, part of the “general assembly and church of Enoch and of the Firstborn” (v. 54, 62, 66-67, 92)	Presence of the Son but not the fulness of the Father Celestial beings minister to them (v. 77, 87)	Receive not of God’s fulness but of the Holy Spirit Not gathered with the saints in the church of the Firstborn Angels / terrestrial people minister to them Innumerable as the stars Servants of the Most High, but where God and Christ are, they cannot come (v. 86, 88, 102, 109, 112)
Powers / Limitations	The Father gives them all things Priests and kings Receive God’s fulness and His glory They are gods, even the sons and daughters of God All things are theirs, and they overcome all things Equal in power, and in might, and in dominion (55-60, 95)	Receive of God’s glory but not of His fulness Obtain not the crown over the kingdom of God (v. 76, 79)	Receive not of God’s fulness Suffer the wrath of God and the vengeance of eternal fire Receive their own dominion according to their works (v. 86, 104-106, 111)

A few observations:

1. Celestial people are more admirable. Christ makes them perfect because they choose to follow Him. Other people delay, lose focus, and are manipulated. They are untrustworthy and unfaithful: not the kind of people we respect or want to emulate.
2. Celestial people live in God’s presence within a holy community. Non-celestial people receive ministering visitors but don’t participate in that community.
3. God gives celestial people “all things.” He holds nothing back from them. Non-celestial people don’t receive God’s fulness. They receive limited dominions appropriate to their works.

Ultimately, celestial people will have more agency. Lehi pleaded with his sons to use their God-given agency in a way that would increase, not decrease their future freedom:

I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

2 Nephi 2:28-29

Alma taught that we are our “own judges, whether to do good or to do evil” (Alma 41:7). Jesus taught that “with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged” (3 Nephi 14:2; Matthew 7:2). One way to interpret both statements is that the decisions we make today are leading us toward our ultimate destiny. If we are striving to live a “celestial law,” we are preparing ourselves to receive a “celestial glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:22).

God honors our agency, and He wants to bless us. “I, the Lord … delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5, italics added). Our happiness and growth makes Him happy. We should always remember that even though we are free to make our own choices, God knows better than us which choices will expand our happiness and liberty, and He will help us make those choices if we are willing to be guided by Him.

Today, I will choose a celestial life. I will strive to make decisions consistent with the Savior’s description of celestial glory—following God’s instructions, enjoying positive relationships, ministering to others, and striving for holiness. I will remember that God not only honors my agency but can also help me use it in a way that increases my joy and freedom.