Do People in the Spirit World Automatically Know the Truth?

I would like to quickly address a wonderful question that Emily asked me last week about the Plan of Salvation. I have adapted and added to her original question.

Wouldn’t the spirits in the Spirit World automatically know the truthfulness of the Gospel as preached by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?  Wouldn’t the requirement for faith be suspended?  Isn’t that unfair, that they get a freebie and we must just believe?

Not necessarily.

      1.       A deceased spirit finding themselves in the Spirit World would not necessarily prove the truthfulness of Christianity, any other religion, or even the existence of God.  It would only disprove the concept of eternal oblivion—the idea that one’s consciousness permanently ceases upon death.  Faith would still be required to believe in God and his Restored Church.

      2.     Christ is not in the Spirit World.  Christ is with the Father in Heaven, not in the Spirit World; therefore, those investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would still be required to exercise faith both in His existence and in His divinity and Atonement.  Furthermore, they would have to exercise faith that He came to the Spirit World between his death and resurrection; instituted his Church in that World; called and ordained leaders, ministers, and missionaries; and that those claiming to be His chosen representatives in that World are indeed those He called during the Harrowing of Hell.

      3.     Agency still exists in the Spirit World.  Just as there are missionaries for Christ going around preaching the Gospel, there are likely antichrists, atheists, and other religious teachers going around spreading false doctrines.  Those in the Spirit World exercise faith when they choose to listen to the teachings of Christ’s Gospel over other teachings.

      4.      People are stubborn.  People’s personalities do not change when they die.  Alma taught “that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world” (Alma 34:34).  If someone was stubborn and resisted the truth in this life, there is some probability that they will resist the truth in the next life.  That being said, we should never discount the power of the Gospel to soften hearts and change people.  I testify that it does.  Through hope, prayer, and the power of the Word many who rejected the Gospel in life will accept it in death!