Death, defining what wasn't before the fall

Instead of reading "no death before the fall," some individuals have been reading "no [fill-in-the-blank-with-your-own-concept] before the fall."  Obviously, if everyone is allowed to arbitrarily choose a different definition of "death," no death before the fall will be difficult to defend.  On the other hand, if we discover that those apostles and prophets who teach "no death before the fall" have also given us a definition of death, the statement will probably be (a) easier to understand, and (b) more difficult to disprove.

This article will set forth a definition of death as given by some of the same sources that teach "no death before the fall."  It will be shown that physical death is a separation of the body and the spirit—the physical or mortal body being separated from the immortal spirit.  Because these definitions involve the immortal spirit, biological analyses of death will likely not fit very well in this context.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism

We will start with the Encyclopedia of Mormonism:

"At death, the spirit and body separate and  ' the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life '  (Alma 40:11; cf. Eccl. 12:7)."  (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1, Death and Dying.)

Guide to the Scriptures

Three years ago, the Church announced a new CD titled The Scriptures: CD-ROM Standard Edition 1.0 which allows computer users to search, print, or copy scriptural texts, study guides, maps, and photos.  ("News of the Church: Scriptures Released on CD-ROM,"  Ensign. Mar. 2002, 76.)

Study aids available on the CD-ROM included a new Guide to the Scriptures (a topical compilation of cross-references and definitions).  Although the Guide is not found in printed editions of the LDS Bible, it is available in the on-line version of the LDS Scriptures along with other Study Helps.

Here is what the Guide to the Scriptures has to say about "Death, Physical":

"The separation of the body and the spirit.  The Fall brought mortality and death to the earth (2 Ne. 2: 22; Moses 6: 48).  The atonement of Jesus Christ conquered death so that everyone will be resurrected (1 Cor. 15: 21-23).  Resurrection is a free gift to all people regardless of whether they have done good or evil in this life (Alma 11: 42-44).  Each person suffers only one physical death since once we are resurrected, our bodies can die no more (Alma 11: 45).

"All flesh shall perish, and man shall turn again unto dust, Job 34: 15.  Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, Ps. 116: 15.  The dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God, Eccl. 12: 7.  By man came death, 1 Cor. 15: 21.  The Savior holds the keys of hell and of death, Rev. 1: 18.  There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, Rev. 21: 4.  Death hath passed upon all men, 2 Ne. 9: 6, 11 (Alma 12: 24).  They never did look upon death with terror, Alma 27: 28.  Alma explained the state of the soul between death and the resurrection, Alma 40: 11.  Those who die in me shall not taste of death, D&C 42: 46.  Those who are not appointed unto death shall be healed, D&C 42: 48.  I will prove you in all things even unto death, D&C 98: 14.  Unto dust shalt thou return, Moses 4: 25.  Adam fell, and by his fall came death, Moses 6: 48."

True to the Faith

True to the Faith is the Church's new doctrinal guidebook aimed at youth, young single adults, and new members.  It is a collection of brief, simple statements on gospel doctrines and principles.  The authoritative nature of this doctrinal guidebook was previously discussed in an article titled "No Death Before the Fall taught in True to the Faith"  (click here).

This is what True to the Faith has to say about "Death, Physical":

"Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the mortal body.  The Fall of Adam brought physical death into the world (see Moses 6:48).

"Death is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation (see 2 Nephi 9:6).  In order to become like our Eternal Father, we must experience death and later receive perfect, resurrected bodies.

"When the physical body dies, the spirit continues to live.  In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous  ' are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow '  (Alma 40:12).  A place called spirit prison is reserved for  ' those who [have] died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets '  (D&C 138:32).  The spirits in prison are  ' taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that [are] necessary for them to know '  (D&C 138:33–34).  If they accept the principles of the gospel, repent of their sins, and accept ordinances performed in their behalf in temples, they will be welcomed into paradise.

"Because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, physical death is only temporary: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).  Everyone will be resurrected, meaning that every person’s spirit will be reunited with his or her body— ' restored to their proper and perfect frame '  and no longer subject to death (Alma 40:23; see also Alma 11:44–45).

"You have probably experienced the pain that comes at the death of a family member or friend.  It is natural to feel sorrow at such times.  In fact, mourning is one of the deepest expressions of love.  The Lord said,  ' Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die '  (D&C 42:45).  The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.

"Even as you mourn at the death of loved ones, you can receive comfort in the promise of resurrection and in the assurance that families can be together forever.  You can  ' see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life '  (Alma 28:14; see also Alma 28:9–13).

"In addition to receiving comfort when loved ones die, you can be at peace with the knowledge that you will eventually die.  As you live the gospel, you can remember the Lord’s promise:  ' Those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them '  (D&C 42:46)."

The LDS Bible Dictionary

The LDS Bible Dictionary is located in the appendix of the 1979 LDS edition of the Bible.  The dictionary is based on the Cambridge University Press Bible Dictionary.  The dictionary's preface informs us that many of the items in the dictionary have been drawn from the best available scholarship of the world and are subject to reevaluation based on new research or on new revelation.  In should be noted as well that the dictionary contains many additions and changes to the Cambridge text which reflect the additional light and knowledge the Lord has revealed in our day.  The dictionary can provide helpful insights to aid in scripture study.  (See Tools for Searching the Scriptures," Aaronic Priesthood 1, chapter 43, p. 154.)

This is what the LDS Bible Dictionary tells us about Death:

"Two kinds of death are spoken of in the scriptures.  One is the death of the body, which is caused by the separation of the body from the spirit; i.e.,  ' The body without the spirit is dead '  (James 2: 26).  The other is spiritual death, which is to die as pertaining to, or to be separated from,righteousness — to be alienated from the things of God (Alma 12: 16, 32; Alma 40: 26).  Both of these deaths were introduced into the world by the fall of Adam.  But death is also the consequence of our own sins.  We make our own spiritual death by our works, our thoughts, and our actions.  As Paul said,  ' The wages of sin is death '  (Rom. 6: 23), and some are  ' dead '  while they  ' liveth '  (1 Tim. 5: 6).

"In explaining these things, Jacob called the physical death, the grave, and spiritual death he called hell.  The atonement of Jesus Christ will bring all persons back into the presence of God to be judged, the body coming forth from the grave and uniting with the spirit released from paradise or from hell (as the case may be).  This will restore all mankind to the presence of God.  This is the same as Paul spoke:  ' For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive '  (1 Cor. 15: 21-23).  Then those who have willfully rebelled against the light and truth of the gospel will suffer again a spiritual death, which is called the second death (Rev. 20: 14; Alma 12: 16-18; Hel. 14: 16-19; D&C 76: 36-37).  Each person suffers only one physical death, since when once resurrected, the body can die no more (Alma 11: 42-45).

"Latter-day revelation teaches that there was no death on this earth for any forms of life before the fall of Adam.  Indeed, death entered the world as a direct result of the fall (2 Ne. 2: 22; Moses 6: 48).

The Living Prophet

President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught, "Each of us is a dual being of spiritual entity and physical entity.  All know of the reality of death when the body dies, and each of us also knows that the spirit lives on as an individual entity and that at some time, under the divine plan made possible by the sacrifice of the Son of God, there will be a reunion of spirit and body."  (Ensign, Mar. 1998, p. 2.)