Spiritual necrosis

Physical necrosis

From the Wikipedia entry on necrosis:

Necrosis (from the Greek νέκρωσις “death, the stage of dying, the act of killing” from νεκρός “dead”) is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis.

From the Wikipedia entry on autolysis:

In biology, autolysis, more commonly known as self-digestion, refers to the destruction of a cell through the action of its own enzymes…The term derives from the Greek words αὐτο- (“self”) and λύσις (“splitting”).

In other words, when a living organism undergoes necrosis, the necrotic cells essentially commit suicide.

The treatment for necrosis is debridement. From the Wikipedia entry on debridement:

Debridement is the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.

Unless you cut the necrotic parts off, the necrosis will spread to the surrounding tissues, causing the eventual demise of the entire organism. Again from the Wikipedia entry on necrosis:

Cellular death due to necrosis does not follow the apoptotic signal transduction pathway, but rather various receptors are activated, and result in the loss of cell membrane integrity and an uncontrolled release of products of cell death into the extracellular space.

This initiates in the surrounding tissue an inflammatory response which attracts leukocytes and nearby phagocytes which eliminate the dead cells by phagocytosis. However, microbial damaging substances released by leukocytes would create collateral damage to surrounding tissues. This excess collateral damage inhibits the healing process. Thus, untreated necrosis results in a build-up of decomposing dead tissue and cell debris at or near the site of the cell death. A classic example is gangrene. For this reason, it is often necessary to remove necrotic tissue surgically, a procedure known as debridement.

Spiritual necrosis

Our spirit bodies are composed of individual bits connected to each in an unbreakable bond. Each individual bit glows or shimmers, like individually shining light bulbs. When we commit even one single sin, knowingly disobeying God’s eternal commandments, the sin causes one or more of the individual spirit bits that comprise out spirit body to “wink out” like a light bulb that is turned off, so that it no longer shines. The sin causes the individual spirit bit or bits to commit spiritual suicide (just like its physical counterparts self-destruct in necrosis), which causes the spiritual death of that individual spirit bit.

Whereas the bonds in-between the molecules and atoms that compose our physical body are breakable—and thus necrosis can be treated via debridement of the dead flesh—the bonds of our spirit bodies are unbreakable, which means the dead part cannot be cut off to save the rest of the soul. As a result, just like untreated physical necrosis, which grows and grows until it entirely consumes the entire organism, spiritual necrosis, even if it initially affects only one single spirit bit, will cause all the surrounding spirit bits to likewise go dark because they are inseparably connected to that dead spirit bit and they become affected by its demise by losing all hope and faith and thus likewise dying, so that eventually a shining spirit that has committed just one sin will turn entirely soot black in spiritual death. This is why the scriptures speak of sin as causing death:

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15.)

If spiritual necrosis occurs or remains outside of a probationary state, there is no way to recover an eternal spirit bit from this type of death. Once dead, it stays dead forever and brings all the surrounding spirit bits which are connected to it to their own death, through spiritual suicide, and the process then repeats for the living spirit bits that surround the newly dead bits, in an ever widening sphere of influence, until the entire organism is brought down.

Oneness stops spiritual necrosis

If everyone of a group of shining spirits are shining equally bright and are connected to each other, the darkness that is found outside the kingdom of God cannot overcome them. Being equally bright, each spirit (being next to another spirit) is kept at the same brightness, without any contrast. Otherwise, should two spirits of unequal brightness be brought together and be connected to each other, the spirit that shined the brightest would dim down to the level of the dimmer spirit, just as a dark, dead bit of spirit matter causes a bright bit of spirit matter to switch off if connected to it. It is akin to a heat source that is surrounded by other heat sources of equal hotness. The heat source doesn’t cool because it can’t cool. It can only cool if it is surrounded by cooler temperatures. But as long as the ambient temperature is the very same as the one given off by the heat source, everything remains hot forever.

Therefore God organizes the heavens by grouping like things together and linking them all together in unbreakable bonds so that it becomes impossible for spiritual necrosis to occur. Thus all those who inherit the celestial kingdom shine like the Sun and receive a fulness of that glory, becoming one with each other:

Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. (D&C 88:29.)

And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one. (D&C 76:96.)

Likewise, all those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom shine like the moon and receive a fulness of that glory, becoming one with each other:

And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. (D&C 88:30.)

And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one. (D&C 76:97.)

This partitioning of kingdoms and glories is necessary in order that each group retains its respective glow without any dimming effects from dimmer beings or from the blackness of outer darkness.

Whereas all the celestial kingdoms are one glory and equal, and all terrestrial kingdoms are likewise one glory and equal, in the case of the telestial kingdoms, each kingdom twinkles in glory like a tiny star in the nighttime sky, but the individual telestial kingdoms vary in intensity, so that all those that pertain to a specific telestial kingdom will be of one particular glory, receiving a fulness of that glory, and will be equal to each other, while those that pertain to a different telestial kingdom will be of a different glory intensity, and will be equal to all those who pertain to that same telestial kingdom:

And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. (D&C 88:31.)

And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world; for these are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas. (D&C 76:98-99.)

The celestial kingdom is patterned after our eternal God and Father, who is of one glory, thus all celestial kingdoms have the same glory, that of the Sun, there being only one Sun. The terrestrial kingdom is patterned after the earthly example and teachings of the Son of God, who is of one glory, and thus all terrestrial kingdoms have the same glory, even that of the Moon, there being only one Moon. But the telestial kingdoms are patterned after all the various mortal teachers that people follow, hence each particular telestial kingdom being slightly different than the others, and thus the telestial kingdom is given the glory of the stars, of which there is an infinite number.

Again, everything must be grouped with like things, otherwise the spiritual necrosis effect takes place and the higher order things fall downward to the level of lower order things:

For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things. (D&C 88:40.)

Spiritual necrosis is a contagion

If any one of these many spirits making up any of these various kingdoms somehow gets a case of spiritual necrosis, not only will his or her spirit body eventually die a spiritual death, but because the inhabitants of these kingdoms are connected to each other, as one, the spiritual necrosis will spread like a plague through those connections to the other inhabitants of the kingdom, thereby destroying all things of that pertain to it. Nevertheless, the connection is absolutely necessary, for without it, spiritual necrosis will likewise spread throughout, for no unconnected spirit can remain bright while surrounded by outer darkness or dimmer beings. Only the connection to other saved people of like glory allow the spiritual flames in these people to shine forever. So the connection stops the plague, but should the plague break out, the connection is what allows the plague to destroy all things.

Although the atonement and resurrection of Christ has power to re-ignite the dead spirit bits during the second estate—upon faith, repentance and the other gospel works—the bits will go dark again regardless, unless they are connected to the other saved spirits, hence God having to gather all things, both in heaven and on earth, in one:

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10.)

This stops the spread of the dreaded disease. But it only works if the people who are made one are cleaned every whit from their sins, so that every part of their spirit body shines and they are spotless.

Connecting spirits of unequal glories causes spiritual necrosis

And Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works. Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned. For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence. But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance. (Alma 12:12-15.)

I suppose that the saying in the church that “the wicked would be more miserable dwelling with God in heaven than with the devil in outer darkness” is derived from the above scripture, yet the same can be said about any intermingling of glories. A telestial spirit enjoys “eternal felicity” (D&C 77:3) as long as it dwells in the telestial kingdom among other telestial spirits, but if you have it dwell in the terrestrial kingdom among terrestrials, or in the celestial kingdom among celestials, its comparative dimness instantly fills it with shame so that it becomes miserable forever and spiritual necrosis ensues, which brings the telestial spirit, and all that is connected to it, down to destruction. The same goes for a terrestrial dwelling among celestials. In a sea of brilliant white, the single black spot gets all the attention, or as the case may be, the dimmer off-white spirit gets all the attention, which immediately brings about shame, hopelessness, misery and the instantaneous onset of spiritual necrosis. Thus no one of a lower glory can go up to a higher glory:

And heard the voice of the Lord saying: These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever; for they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared; and they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. (D&C 76:110-112.)

Nevertheless, those of a higher glory can go to a kingdom of a lower glory, but only for a temporary visit:

These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial; and the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial. And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation. (D&C 76:86-88.)

Behold, I will liken these kingdoms unto a man having a field, and he sent forth his servants into the field to dig in the field. And he said unto the first: Go ye and labor in the field, and in the first hour I will come unto you, and ye shall behold the joy of my countenance. And he said unto the second: Go ye also into the field, and in the second hour I will visit you with the joy of my countenance. And also unto the third, saying: I will visit you; and unto the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth. And the lord of the field went unto the first in the first hour, and tarried with him all that hour, and he was made glad with the light of the countenance of his lord. And then he withdrew from the first that he might visit the second also, and the third, and the fourth, and so on unto the twelfth. And thus they all received the light of the countenance of their lord, every man in his hour, and in his time, and in his season—beginning at the first, and so on unto the last, and from the last unto the first, and from the first unto the last; every man in his own order, until his hour was finished, even according as his lord had commanded him, that his lord might be glorified in him, and he in his lord, that they all might be glorified. Therefore, unto this parable I will liken all these kingdoms, and the inhabitants thereof—every kingdom in its hour, and in its time, and in its season, even according to the decree which God hath made. (D&C 88:51-61.)

Should the visit become a permanent stay, spiritual necrosis would ensue. Just as a shining spirit, if set in the midst of darkness, can be overcome by the darkness and wink out, so it can be overcome by too much light.* If you set a low intensity light next to a high intensity light, the brighter light drowns out the dimmer light, so that it now appears dark in comparison. Lower glories, then, would experience instantaneous shame (darkness) if they went up to dwell with higher glories. Or, to put it in the vernacular of the scriptures, lower glories cannot abide the higher glories:

And the redemption of the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it. Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; for after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; that bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified.

And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom. For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.

And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.

And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. (D&C 88:17-24.)

The reason why it is permissible for a higher glory to come down and temporarily visit a lower glory is because the lower glory spirits are a multitude of dimmer spirits all connected to each other, whereas the visiting higher glory dignitary is just one very bright spirit, and so the lower glory spirits draw power from the entirety of the lower glory group, allowing them to abide a temporary visit, making it joyful and not miserable.

Thus any permanent intermingling between the glories, in which a brighter glory comes down to dwell with dimmer glories, or a dimmer glory goes up to dwell with brighter glories, invariably leads to misery and spiritual necrosis of the dimmer glories, followed by misery and spiritual necrosis of the higher glories, because once you become one, you “mourn with those that mourn” (Mosiah 18:9), so that the whole connected society becomes miserable forever. Everyone in the whole connected heavens, then, must be perfectly happy, otherwise they all become perfectly miserable. So God keeps all dissimilar groups separated from each other and any visits of a higher glory to a lower glory are of a temporary nature only; and as for the wicked, they are altogether removed from existence, so that they never existed, making it impossible for any of the saved people to mourn over them, for you cannot mourn over what never existed. All of this locks in our eternal felicity.

No unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven

Some people think it’s kind of harsh that God won’t allow sinners into His kingdom at the last day. Those who are filthy still, their very spirits having ceased shining and winked out of existence, like tiny light bulbs turned off, so that they will appear covered in soot—and yet there is no soot on them, but their very souls are black—such people will be cut off from the group of saved people and will be tossed like filthy rags into the garbage heap that lies outside the kingdom, to be burned in eternal fire, just as the leprous people during the time of Moses had to live outside the camp. Why must this be so? It sounds harsh, but it’s yet another saving measure. God must protect the saved souls from the highly infectious nature of spiritual necrosis. Should these contagious people be allowed in, it would prove the entire destruction of the heavens. As the atonement of Christ has no more power to re-ignite their spirits, for the second estate is now over, the only other measure to take is the one of last resort. Therefore they get debrided.

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* The destroyer, being constrained by his gospel covenants, will not be able to destroy the bodies of the wicked by physically slaying them in his anger like he used to do during his pre-mortal existence, but this will not deter him. He will merely use light and truth as his weapon and destroy their spirits by spiritually drowning them in more light than they can handle:

Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation. (D&C 93:31-32.)

For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation. (D&C 82:3.)

Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. (Mosiah 8:13.)

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