Mormon Funeral - Help me understand

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lax16

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Well, technically I attended the wake, not the funeral. I have a couple of questions from the experience:
  1. There was no crying. (except for me). I didn’t attend the funeral and there could have been lots of crying there, which would make sense. (He was recently diagnosed with cancer and died within three weeks. He was fairly young).
  2. It was mentioned to me by another woman there that we will all be resurrected in our youthful bodies someday, filled with health and vitality.
I realized afterward that I do not know LDS teaching on death and heaven.

Do all faithful Mormons go to heaven? Is it a sure thing making it not necessarily a sad event?
What is the LDS teaching regarding our resurrected bodies?

Thanks! This has been on my mind all day.
 
lax16 said:
  1. There was no crying. (except for me). I didn’t attend the funeral and there could have been lots of crying there, which would make sense. (He was recently diagnosed with cancer and died within three weeks. He was fairly young).
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Why cry? It’s not like we’re not going to see him again.
lax16 said:
  1. It was mentioned to me by another woman there that we will all be resurrected in our youthful bodies someday, filled with health and vitality.
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Catholics also believe in a bodily resurrection, correct? I’m not sure your source of confusion.
lax16 said:
I realized afterward that I do not know LDS teaching on death and heaven.

Do all faithful Mormons go to heaven? Is it a sure thing making it not necessarily a sad event?
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The LDS post-mortal theology is more involved than the Heaven/Hell binary. But the short answer is pretty much no one is miserable, and everyone has the most happiness they desire.

Here are some links for more details–
Super basic plan of salvation –https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldso.../36950_the-plan-of-salvation-eng.pdf?lang=eng
More involved–
lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-41-the-postmortal-spirit-world?lang=eng
lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-46-the-final-judgment?lang=eng
lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-47-exaltation?lang=eng
lax16 said:
What is the LDS teaching regarding our resurrected bodies?
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Our bodies are literally physically resurrected. The condition will be youthful, no longer subjected to illness or weakness, complete, stronger, and Perfected.

Another link: lds.org/topics/resurrection?lang=eng
lax16 said:
Thanks! This has been on my mind all day.
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Hopefully I helped.
 
jane_doe said:
Why cry? It’s not like we’re not going to see him again.
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How does one know this? Would everyone in the room get to see him again? Not all children are practicing Mormons and there were a couple of other non-LDS relatives there.
Catholics also believe in a bodily resurrection, correct? I’m not sure your source of confusion.
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It was stated in such a matter-of-fact way it took me by surprise. I’ve never heard Catholics speak about it this way.
The LDS post-mortal theology is more involved than the Heaven/Hell binary. But the short answer is pretty much no one is miserable, and everyone has the most happiness they desire.
Click to expand...
Here are some links for more details–
Super basic plan of salvation –https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldso.../36950_the-plan-of-salvation-eng.pdf?lang=eng
More involved–
lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-41-the-postmortal-spirit-world?lang=eng
lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-46-the-final-judgment?lang=eng
lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-47-exaltation?lang=eng
Click to expand...
Thank you for the links. Will read when I have time later.
Our bodies are literally physically resurrected. The condition will be youthful, no longer subjected to illness or weakness, complete, stronger, and Perfected.
Click to expand...
Another link: lds.org/topics/resurrection?lang=eng
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Hopefully I helped.
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Yes, it helps. I’m still unclear whether heaven is a slam-dunk or not. Perhaps that will be answered in the links you provided.

thanks!
 
lax16 said:
How does one know this? Would everyone in the room get to see him again? Not all children are practicing Mormons and there were a couple of other non-LDS relatives there.
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Is Judas or Cain or anyone like them in the room? Assuming not, then your answer is yes.
lax16 said:
It was stated in such a matter-of-fact way it took me by surprise. I’ve never heard Catholics speak about it this way.
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That surprises me. Why?
 
jane_doe said:
Why cry? It’s not like we’re not going to see him again.
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Why cry? I just can’t understand this, you’re not sad that you won’t see your loved one tomorrow and talk to them, you won’t miss them in this life? That’s cold, way cold. Mormons get all choked up and teary eyed at general conference even the speakers, over stories, but crying because someone will be absent the rest of your mortal life that’s just silly?

Being reunited with family members after death is part of every Christians’ belief but they still cry because they will miss them here.
 
zaffiroborant said:
Why cry? I just can’t understand this, you’re not sad that you won’t see your loved one tomorrow and talk to them, you won’t miss them in this life? That’s cold, way cold. Mormons get all choked up and teary eyed at general conference even the speakers, over stories, but crying because someone will be absent the rest of your mortal life that’s just silly?
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I did not say it was silly, nor do I think that.
 
jane_doe said:
Is Judas or Cain or anyone like them in the room? Assuming not, then your answer is yes.
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I’m assuming you are asking if they have committed a public sin, such as murder?

I won’t go in to details here, but there is definitely some well known issues going on.

And of course, I certainly don’t know their heart.
That surprises me. Why?
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I was surprised that it was stated in such a matter of fact way at a wake. Yes, it is our hope and we want it for everyone. Catholics don’t know anything for sure as we don’t know the state of anyone’s soul.
 
lax16 said:
I’m assuming you are asking if they have committed a public sin, such as murder?
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No. I am referring to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, Mark 3:28-30.
lax16 said:
I was surprised that it was stated in such a matter of fact way at a wake. Yes, it is our hope and we want it for everyone. Catholics don’t know anything for sure as we don’t know the state of anyone’s soul.
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So do Hell-bound people not get resurrected in Catholic beliefs?
 
jane_doe can correct me if I’m off base but Mormons believe the family stays together for eternity. As it sounds like your friend (and let me add my condolences) is unmarried, they would be reunited with their parents. I may be oversimplifying. Mormons also believe we existed as spirit beings prior to being born so I guess its viewed more as a return. At least that’s my understanding.

To jane_doe, I think part of the disconnect is, as lax16 expressed, I guess there is a little more uncertainty as to which family members we will be joining. I struggle with this mightily myself and I have balled like a baby at some funerals.
 
The absence of crying comes as a surprise to me because there is so much of it on fast and testimony sundays. :confused:
 
Lax,
I am sorry for your loss.

About 10 years ago I went to my Catholic grandmother’s funeral.
The priest shared a story he claimed to have heard from a Protestant minster.
He spoke about a conversation with a baby in the womb. The baby was warm, comfortable, and happy. But after hanging out for a little over 9 months there was coming a day of great fear. It would involve physical pressure and pain. It would abruptly eject the baby from this warm and comfortable place. The baby (in this story given adult/adolescent comprehension) was quite fearful of this impending day. But the priest who was counseling the baby didn’t dream of telling it to not go, don’t do it, it will not be worth it. Why? Because this Catholic priest like all in the room had been born and while there was pain and fear and even trials of life, none of us would counsel this baby not to do it.
If we were speaking to my grandmother from heaven, we would acknowledge the pain and fear she felt, but would attempt to communicate how such is a natural and wonderful progression not something to be feared.

As I tell my son when I attempt to console him, I am sorry for your loss. I have little idea if what I shared is of any value. If not, I apologize. I will pray for you and your friend.
Charity, TOm
 
lax16 said:
Well, technically I attended the wake, not the funeral. I have a couple of questions from the experience:
  1. There was no crying. (except for me). I didn’t attend the funeral and there could have been lots of crying there, which would make sense. (He was recently diagnosed with cancer and died within three weeks. He was fairly young).
  2. It was mentioned to me by another woman there that we will all be resurrected in our youthful bodies someday, filled with health and vitality.
I realized afterward that I do not know LDS teaching on death and heaven.

Do all faithful Mormons go to heaven? Is it a sure thing making it not necessarily a sad event?
What is the LDS teaching regarding our resurrected bodies?

Thanks! This has been on my mind all day.
Click to expand...
I know!! That is how Mormon funerals are. Like it’s a sign of super faith to not cry at a funeral or something.
  1. The Mormon afterlife isn’t much different than this life. People still repent. Can deny Mormon teachings. Perform missionary duties. Etc.
  2. Every Mormon funeral is a missionary opportunity. You were being proselytized.
Everyone but a very few go to some level of heaven, in Mormon teaching.
 
ajcstr said:
You would be VERY confused at an Italian funeral.
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Why do they not cry at funerals and wakes? I would think there would be both laughter and tears like I’ve seen at every funeral and wake I’ve attended.
 
ajcstr said:
jane_doe can correct me if I’m off base but Mormons believe the family stays together for eternity. As it sounds like your friend (and let me add my condolences) is unmarried, they would be reunited with their parents. I may be oversimplifying.
Click to expand...
Your understanding on this is pretty correct.
ajcstr said:
Mormons also believe we existed as spirit beings prior to being born so I guess its viewed more as a return.
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This part is incorrect. Yes, LDS believe that we existed as spirits prior to birth, but death is not a return to that, but rather to greater things.
 
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