Dear Gramps,

In our little Sunday School the question was asked good people go straight to paradise. We have always learned as a gospel doctrine that we have to be ordained and be a member of the Church to go to paradise, but a sister quoted that the villain crucified with Christ was saved with the word we all should remember, that he would be in paradise with Him…… So in this case, although his sins were as dark as the night he was allowed straight to paradise or not?

My wife says that all good people who are justified by their deeds go straight to paradise, this I think, is very doubtful. Although they are just, they still need all the ordinances to obtain the highest kingdom, to my mind or am I wrong? Tell us and explain, if possible in limited space. We have the infobase gospel library, maybe you can direct us to search where to look. As always your brother in the Lord,

Elder Anton, from Antwerp

Dear Elder Anton,

I’ll try to be brief. If you have the Infobase Gospel Library, search the entire library for the word ‘paradise.’ There will be 3089 entries. Scroll down to and click on ”Latter-day Prophets.” You will find 105 entries. If you click on the first of these entries it will reveal the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith on the subject, as quoted below.

“I will say something about the spirits in prison. There has been much said by modern divines about the words of Jesus (when on the cross) to the thief, saying, “This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” King James’ translators make it out to say paradise. But what is paradise? It is a modern word: it does not answer at all to the original word that Jesus made use of. Find the original of the word paradise. You may as easily find a needle in a haymow. Here is a chance for battle, ye learned men. There is nothing in the original word in Greek from which this was taken that signified paradise; but it was-This day thou shalt be with me in the world of spirits; then I will teach you all about it and answer your inquiries. And Peter says he went and preached to the world of spirits (spirits in prison, 1 Peter 3:19), so that they who would receive it could have it answered by proxy by those who live on the earth, etc. (HC 5:424-25.) (Joseph Smith, Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Alma P. Burton, p.127)

Gramps