It seems reasonable to assume that if we had to keep one estate before we could qualify for the right to come here, and we have to keep this estate before we can become exalted, that perhaps we should know what it means to successfully “keep” an estate.
For all the literal-minded people out there, let me preface this whole article with the statement that the word “estate” as used here has nothing to do with property. I was preparing a lesson on part of the plan of salvation recently and realized I would be talking about the subject of what it means to keep our second estate, now that we have already kept our first estate. It was only then that I recognized that no one had ever defined for me what an estate was, or what it means to “keep” an estate.
What is an estate?
This is more or less a dictionary definition, so please be patient. I will talk about what this means after I describe it so it will make more sense. An estate is a period of time in which certain rules or conditions of life apply. To keep that estate is to comply with or live up to those rules and conditions. I suggest you reread those two sentences several times to try to get a mental picture settled in your head before going on. I keep going back and rereading them just to make sure I still have it right when I talk about it.
Our First Estate
Let’s look at Abraham 3:22 – 23. The Lord is speaking to Abraham about the plan of salvation. He is showing Abraham the premortal spirits He will make His leaders in mortality, and letting Abraham know that he, Abraham, was among those God referred to as “noble and great.”
22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.
We can see from these verses that the Lord had cultivated, and chosen leaders from among His children. They were leaders and great ones even before they came to mortality. The Lord declared of these spirits, “that they were good.” For what it is worth, the term “good” is also what God applies to each of the periods of creation when they are completed. “Good” is a good thing.
Abraham is further told that Jesus (Jehovah) spearheaded the creation of this earth. Note what it says in verse 25, that the purpose of this earth was to “prove” those who were going to live here “to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.”
24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
Here, in verse 26 is where we get the reference to our first estate.
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.
We have only part of a sentence that talks about our first estate. That’s it. But it does tell us that those who keep their first estate will be added upon. The question is, what does that mean? What were the conditions of the first estate that, if kept, would result in being “added upon?”
We are not told directly what the rules or conditions of life were in the premortal world. All we do know is that we lived in the presence of our Father in Heaven, we obeyed His laws, and those who obeyed His laws eventually came to earth to receive a body. Receiving a body and being allowed to continue our spiritual progression is partly how we have been added upon. If you recall, one third of the hosts of heaven were denied this privilege because they rebelled against God and were cast out of heaven. They did not keep their first estate and their progression ended with their expulsion from heaven.
But there is another way in which those who kept their first estate will be added upon. Once we are through with mortality and have been judged, those who kept their first estate, but did not keep their second estate will be assigned to a kingdom of glory. Some will go to the Telestial kingdom, and others will go to the Terrestrial kingdom. As long as you make it to mortality you are guaranteed a kingdom of glory. So being added upon because we kept our first estate guaranteed each of us a resurrected, glorified physical body.
Our second estate
This begs the question then of what it actually means to keep our second estate. Let’s read Abraham 3:26 again.
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.
Where do we go where we will have glory added upon our heads for ever and ever? The only place that will happen is in the highest degree of the Celestial kingdom. The terms for our second estate are found in Abraham 3:25.
25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
Conclusion
We prove that we have kept our second estate by keeping the commandments of God. We are required to get baptized, keep all the commandments of God’s Church, honor His priesthood and His chosen leaders, go to the temple and receive our endowment and get sealed to our spouse. Then, after all of that, we are to endure in the faith until the day God calls us home. If we do that then ours is the promise of an eternal weight of glory. In Doctrine and Covenants 76:5-10 Joseph Smith describes how those who keep their second estate (keep the commandments) will be treated.
5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
7 And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
8 Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
9 And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
10 For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
We have all proven ourselves once when we kept our first estate. Now we just have to keep our second estate and the wonders of eternity will be ours.
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Thank you! I’m preparing a gospel doctrine lesson and totally got stumped on this question! Your article really helped! Thanks!
Becky,
I’m glad it helped, and just as happy that you thought to be so kind as to let me know if was helpful. I don’t get much feedback, so I really appreciate it when readers care enough to say something about what they read. Thanks again!
Thanks, Kelly. I also appreciate your insights.
Jack
Happy to be of help Jack. Let me know if you have any subjects you would like to see an article written on. I’ll be happy to help where I feel I can.