Spirit Body
Encyclopedia
A spirit body is the organization of the spiritual element, made into the spiritual form of man, which according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was made in the same likeness (shape and form) of God the Father
. This likeness (shape and form) apparently gave rise to the phrase and meaning of, "like father like son," which means the son is in the likeness of the father, which provides meaning to the claim that humanity was made in the likeness of God.
When a spirit body enters into the mortal body and framework through the process of mortal birth, a temporary joining occurs, creating what is called a "soul." Upon mortal death, the spirit body of a person leaves the mortal body and returns to the spiritual realm to await the resurrection
. The resurrection is where God raises the mortal body the spirit personage had lost in mortal death, and converts the mortal body from flesh, bone and blood, into immortal bodies of flesh and bone, then rejoins the two, never to be separated again. This is the meaning of the scripture "...It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:" (see "incorrupt") (1 Corinthians 15
:42 - King James / see First Epistle to the Corinthians
)
Generally, people in the world have commonly used the word "soul
" to denote this spirit body.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all things created for this Earth, including humanity, had a pre-existence or pre-mortal origin. This means that each person, animal, insect, plant and the earth itself, was first made in the spiritual realm in the same form in which they exist on this mortal earth.
This doctrine of pre-mortal existence
, the manner of how mankind existed before entering mortality, is one of the important doctrines of the Church, and is believed to support the existence of separate and distinct personages as seen within their doctrine of the Godhead (Mormonism)
. To begin to understand this teaching, an explanation of "spiritual element" is required.
Joseph Smith, Jr. (founder and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) taught that there is no such thing as "immaterial (incorporeal
) matter," that all spirit is matter, which is spiritual element. The difference is that spirit matter is far more fine and pure than the gross form of it here in mortality. It is not possible to see spirit matter from our mortal perspective. This spirit matter always existed and is co-eternal with God
. It is this spiritual matter that makes the Holy Ghost. This spiritual matter is also called "intelligence
" or the "light of truth." God the Father organized the "intelligence" to make personages or "spirit children," which includes Jesus Christ. (This shows to support the general belief of Christians that all humanity are all brothers and sisters.)
God the Father
God the Father is a gendered title given to God in many monotheistic religions, particularly patriarchal, Abrahamic ones. In Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, life-giver, law-giver, and protector...
. This likeness (shape and form) apparently gave rise to the phrase and meaning of, "like father like son," which means the son is in the likeness of the father, which provides meaning to the claim that humanity was made in the likeness of God.
When a spirit body enters into the mortal body and framework through the process of mortal birth, a temporary joining occurs, creating what is called a "soul." Upon mortal death, the spirit body of a person leaves the mortal body and returns to the spiritual realm to await the resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
. The resurrection is where God raises the mortal body the spirit personage had lost in mortal death, and converts the mortal body from flesh, bone and blood, into immortal bodies of flesh and bone, then rejoins the two, never to be separated again. This is the meaning of the scripture "...It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:" (see "incorrupt") (1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians: 15 is the fifteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians by Paul the Apostle. The first eleven verses are the earliest account of the Resurrection appearances of Jesus in the New Testament. The rest of the chapter stresses the primacy of the resurrection for Christianity...
:42 - King James / see First Epistle to the Corinthians
First Epistle to the Corinthians
The first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Corinthians, often referred to as First Corinthians , is the seventh book of the New Testament of the Bible...
)
Generally, people in the world have commonly used the word "soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
" to denote this spirit body.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all things created for this Earth, including humanity, had a pre-existence or pre-mortal origin. This means that each person, animal, insect, plant and the earth itself, was first made in the spiritual realm in the same form in which they exist on this mortal earth.
This doctrine of pre-mortal existence
Pre-existence
Pre-existence , beforelife, or pre-mortal existence refers to the belief that each individual human soul existed before conception, and at conception one of these pre-existent souls enters, or is placed by God, in the body...
, the manner of how mankind existed before entering mortality, is one of the important doctrines of the Church, and is believed to support the existence of separate and distinct personages as seen within their doctrine of the Godhead (Mormonism)
Godhead (Mormonism)
In the Mormonism represented by most of Mormon communities , God means Elohim , whereas Godhead means a council of three distinct gods: Elohim, Jehovah , and the Holy Spirit...
. To begin to understand this teaching, an explanation of "spiritual element" is required.
Joseph Smith, Jr. (founder and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) taught that there is no such thing as "immaterial (incorporeal
Incorporeal
Incorporeal or uncarnate means without the nature of a body or substance . The idea of incorporeality refers to the notion that there is an incorporeal realm of existence, or "place", that is distinct from the corporeal or material universe. Incorporeal beings or objects are not made out of matter...
) matter," that all spirit is matter, which is spiritual element. The difference is that spirit matter is far more fine and pure than the gross form of it here in mortality. It is not possible to see spirit matter from our mortal perspective. This spirit matter always existed and is co-eternal with God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. It is this spiritual matter that makes the Holy Ghost. This spiritual matter is also called "intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
" or the "light of truth." God the Father organized the "intelligence" to make personages or "spirit children," which includes Jesus Christ. (This shows to support the general belief of Christians that all humanity are all brothers and sisters.)