• For Latter-day Saints, the mortal existence is seen in the context of a great sweep of history, from a pre-earth life where the spirits of all mankind lived with Heavenly Father to a future life in His presence where continued growth, learning and improving will take place.
• Life on earth is regarded as a probationary state in which men and women are tried and tested — and where they gain experiences obtainable nowhere else.
• Latter-day Saints believe Heavenly Father knew that humans would make mistakes, so He provided a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would take upon Himself the sins of the world. While some of the gifts of the atonement are unconditional (a resurrected body, immortality), men and women are expected to repent of their sins and strive to live more in harmony with the teachings of Christ in order to continue to progress and reach their potential in the next life.
• To members of the Church, physical death on earth is not an end but the beginning of the next step in Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. Nor does death need to be the end of relationships with loved ones. Families can be together forever — not just for this life. Family members who accept the atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred sealing ordinances performed in God’s holy temples.
• Latter-day Saint doctrine teaches that after the resurrection, all will be judged and rewarded for the things done in this life. Those who are worthy to return to the presence of God and Christ become “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) of all that the Father has. They will return to live with Heavenly Father and with their families.
• Those who choose not to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will receive a reward according to what they have done in this life, but they will not enjoy the glory of living in the presence of God.