As a witness and a revealer of Christ, Joseph Smith had much to say about the Resurrection.
For example, when asked about what the fundamental principle of the Mormon Church was, he succinctly wrote:
“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” (“Chapter 3: Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer of the World,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 45–56.)
That is quite an interesting response, considering how many things there are that Mormons believe and do. Behind all of the white-shirted missionaries, the glorious temples, the humanitarian work, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the large families, is Christ’s empty tomb. This empty tomb is the motivating factor for all that Mormons do.
Since this is the key doctrine, Joseph Smith went into detail explaining the nature of the Resurrection. We rely upon both his teachings and the scriptures he revealed to understand his perspective.
The best source of information on the Resurrection comes from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This is a book of scripture comparable to the Bible, and contains teachings that clarify its doctrines.
One of the prophets in the Book of Mormon explained and defined the Resurrection this way:
“Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.”
“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.”
“Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.”
“Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.” (Alma 11:42-45)
These four verses explain that:
• All people will resurrect, both wicked and righteous, male and female.
• We will get the same body back. There is no reincarnation.
• We will resurrect with a “prefect frame,” or the correct version of our body. That is, if we have deformities, they will be removed.
• Our bodies will never die again, nor will they get sick, ill, or “see corruption.”
• There is a judgment associated with the resurrection.
Indeed, Joseph Smith had seen the Resurrection in vision. Being a prophet, you would expect that. He would need to have all the facts in order to be a competent witness.
Speaking at a funeral, Joseph Smith taught:
“I will tell you what I want. If tomorrow I shall be called to lie in yonder tomb, in the morning of the resurrection let me strike hands with my father, and cry, ‘My father,’ and he will say, ‘My son, my son,’ as soon as the rock rends and before we come out of our graves.”
“And may we contemplate these things so? Yes, if we learn how to live and how to die. When we lie down we contemplate how we may rise in the morning; and it is pleasing for friends to lie down together, locked in the arms of love, to sleep and wake in each other’s embrace and renew their conversation.”
“Would you think it strange if I relate what I have seen in vision in relation to this interesting theme? Those who have died in Jesus Christ may expect to enter into all that fruition of joy when they come forth, which they possessed or anticipated here.”
“So plain was the vision, that I actually saw men, before they had ascended from the tomb, as though they were getting up slowly. They took each other by the hand and said to each other, ‘My father, my son, my mother, my daughter, my brother, my sister.’ And when the voice calls for the dead to arise, suppose I am laid by the side of my father, what would be the first joy of my heart? To meet my father, my mother, my brother, my sister; and when they are by my side, I embrace them and they me. …”
“More painful to me are the thoughts of annihilation than death. If I have no expectation of seeing my father, mother, brothers, sisters and friends again, my heart would burst in a moment, and I should go down to my grave. The expectation of seeing my friends in the morning of the resurrection cheers my soul and makes me bear up against the evils of life. It is like their taking a long journey, and on their return we meet them with increased joy. …”
“To Marcellus Bates [a Church member whose wife had died] let me administer comfort. You shall soon have the company of your companion in a world of glory, and the friends of Brother Barnes and all the Saints who are mourning. This has been a warning voice to us all to be sober and diligent and lay aside mirth, vanity and folly, and to be prepared to die tomorrow.” (“Chapter 14: Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 171–81.)
What impresses me about this vision is, first, that it actually happened. “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). God is a god of transparency and openness.
The second thing that impressed me is how personal it is. He refers to his anticipated feelings for being with his family again. When he was martyred at age thirty-eight, his father and older bother were dead, plus half of his children had died in childbirth. This hope was real. It was grounded in real pain, but also in a real conviction that Christ had actually risen.
For Joseph Smith the Resurrection was a spice that added zest to his family and friendship. Whatever happened—death, disease, separation—Joseph Smith could take it in stride knowing that in the end Christ would win out. In the ultimate sense there are no obstacles to joy.
At another time Joseph Smith tried to describe what he saw, what the resurrected people would look like. He fumbled for words, but used expressions such as “loveliness,” “glorious,” “glory and bloom.” He also spoke of “the old man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom and beauty.” He finally gave in to exasperation and confessed, “No man can describe it to you—no man can write it.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 368.)
Of course we wish he could have said more. But then again words kept failing him, so the silence creates that much more excitement.
Both of my grandmothers are dead. So are two of my uncles. Then add to this tally my classmates, friends, acquaintances, and just the people I have rubbed shoulders with in this life. So many people I know have gone on. As I think about it, there is an ever increasing crowd of dead people who know me, care for me, and love me. I hope that when the Resurrection actually happens, that I will be ready for them. It will be a great big family reunion.
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