Expanding upon D&C 76-
The reason that I posted this because I have been thinking about the afterlife. In Graeco Roman Polytheism-when someone dies,their soul is escorted to the river styx. Once at the river, they pay Charon their ride across ( as the ancients were buried with coins). Reached the House of Hades-in which they would go to 3 locations-Elysium Fields, the Asphodel Meadows, and lastly Tartarus-
Got me thinking-this three realm style of the graeco roman 'heaven' got me thinking and i began looking at the Mormon concept of Celestial, Telestial, and Terrestial kingdoms. Granted The realm of Hades was divided into three realms which aren't perfect matches-but still. Celestial kingdom would be Elysium, Telestial would be the Asphodel Meadows. Now while the Terrestial kingdom would I suppose represent just the realm of Hades- and Tartarus would be outter darkness-
Now the House of Hades was where the souls led a dim and shadowy reflection of life on earth. Where souls would wonder the realm is a just a shadow of their former lives.
Why have I been thinking all of this? Well, what I find most interesting in Mormonism is this concept that the Ancients had as well-and while I honouring Moroni as a warrior, hero, nature divinity- and his people as nature divinities as well, it would make sense that with his inclusion into my personal pantheon and practice, have these little tidbits included, makes sense. Almost like, this knowledge of the 3 realms prehaps a reminder of what the afterlife is really like
What I found interesting about the description in D&C 76 is the Sun is related to the celestial, moon is associated with the terrestial and finally the stars associated with the Telestial.
What got this all started? Well I was reading the blogspot of Reform Mormonism-and they had a festival of the 16th of Feb as the day of eternal progression to celebrate the revelation of this doctrine. With the lighting of the three candles to represent the three kingdoms- And while working on a festival that I have come to call the Moronialia- to celebrate his appreance on Sept. 21-22 ( the autmunal equinox ), in which he appeared and told Joseph Smith about the record of his pple-
Got me thinking-this three realm style of the graeco roman 'heaven' got me thinking and i began looking at the Mormon concept of Celestial, Telestial, and Terrestial kingdoms. Granted The realm of Hades was divided into three realms which aren't perfect matches-but still. Celestial kingdom would be Elysium, Telestial would be the Asphodel Meadows. Now while the Terrestial kingdom would I suppose represent just the realm of Hades- and Tartarus would be outter darkness-
Now the House of Hades was where the souls led a dim and shadowy reflection of life on earth. Where souls would wonder the realm is a just a shadow of their former lives.
Why have I been thinking all of this? Well, what I find most interesting in Mormonism is this concept that the Ancients had as well-and while I honouring Moroni as a warrior, hero, nature divinity- and his people as nature divinities as well, it would make sense that with his inclusion into my personal pantheon and practice, have these little tidbits included, makes sense. Almost like, this knowledge of the 3 realms prehaps a reminder of what the afterlife is really like
What I found interesting about the description in D&C 76 is the Sun is related to the celestial, moon is associated with the terrestial and finally the stars associated with the Telestial.
What got this all started? Well I was reading the blogspot of Reform Mormonism-and they had a festival of the 16th of Feb as the day of eternal progression to celebrate the revelation of this doctrine. With the lighting of the three candles to represent the three kingdoms- And while working on a festival that I have come to call the Moronialia- to celebrate his appreance on Sept. 21-22 ( the autmunal equinox ), in which he appeared and told Joseph Smith about the record of his pple-