Kingdom of God
See this page in the original 1992 publication.
Kingdom of God: In Heaven
Author: PACE, GEORGE W.
The kingdom of God in heaven is the place where God lives. It is a Celestial Kingdom, organized under "the divinely ordained system of government and dominion in all matters, temporal and spiritual" (JC, p. 789). It is a purposeful state of existence, composed of intellectual and physical effort. It is a place of perfect order, eternal progression, everlasting family, and a fulness of joy.
The Savior taught his disciples to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven,…Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:9-10). The kingdom of God is set up on the earth to prepare for the kingdom of God in heaven (D&C 65:5-6). The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that this earth shall be "sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory,…that bodies who are of the Celestial Kingdom may possess it forever and ever" (D&C 88:17-20). When this occurs, this glorified celestial earth will become the kingdom of heaven for the Saints who have lived upon it, and then shall the meek and the righteous inherit it (Matt. 5:5; D&C 88:25-26;130:9; TPJS, p. 181).
The purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to help prepare its members to live forever in the kingdom of God in heaven. GEORGE W. PACE
Kingdom of God: On Earth
Author: PACE, GEORGE W.
The kingdom of God on earth exists wherever the priesthood of God is (TPJS, pp. 271-74). At present it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church was established by divine authority to prepare its members to live forever in the Celestial Kingdom or kingdom of God in heaven. Its nature is ecclesiastical and nonpolitical. It "asserts no claim to temporal rule over nations; its scepter of power is that of the Holy Priesthood, to be used in the preaching of the gospel and in administering its ordinances for the salvation of mankind living and dead" (JC, p. 788).
The kingdom of God on the earth is the stone, spoken of by Daniel, that in the latter days would roll forth to fill the earth and never be destroyed (Dan. 2:34-45). It is the kingdom that the Savior prayed would come (Matt. 6:10), and he taught us to pray in like manner. In the meridian of time Jesus set up the kingdom of God on earth, called and ordained apostles and prophets, bestowed the necessary priesthood authority (Matt. 16:19; John 15:16), and charged them with the responsibilities of the Church. After an apostasy removed that priesthood from earth, the authority to reestablish the kingdom of God on the earth was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith by heavenly messengers (see Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ). Through Joseph Smith the Lord said: The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth…. Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth. Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come [D&C 65:2, 5-6]. GEORGE W. PACE
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