There is an infinite amount of truth: “...truth abideth and hath no end.” (D&C 88:66) We won’t come to the end of it in this life, no matter how much we acquire.
Though truth is infinite, there is a finite amount of truth associated with each scope. The Lord said: “All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it.” (D&C 93:30) What are these spheres? Each is an extent of relevance defined by the level of trust in God required to obtain that degree of truth. Trust is required because trust is the limiting factor in obedience to God’s instructions and subjection to his experiences, which will be discussed shortly.
By this criteria, three groups emerge. These groups are called “kingdoms” in the scriptures. The bounds of these kingdoms are defined by how much trust in God is required to reconcile one’s life to the instructions given in the context of the given range of awareness. They are each defined by “a law.” In scriptural parlance, those “who cannot abide the law” of a particular kingdom—or do not trust God sufficiently to obey the level of instructions given—“cannot abide” the glory of that kingdom—or can’t endure the content of the awareness associated with those instructions (see D&C 88:22-25).
The law of each kingdom is the correct understanding of good and evil for all elements in the set of approximate truths pertaining to that kingdom. Those “who cannot abide the law of a” particular kingdom “cannot abide” the glory of that kingdom (see D&C 88:22-25). To “abide a law” is to act completely in accordance with the level of light and truth corresponding to that kingdom.
20 There is <u>a</u> law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which <u>all</u> blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is [all things are] predicated. (D&C 130)
This law is the truth, the light, and the word. It is your discrete level of reality awareness and discernment of good and evil. The fullness of this law is the level of light and truth possessed by God:
11 ...the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
12 Which light precedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. (D&C 88)
Law, glory, light, and truth are all intimately tied together. Any time you have one, you have all the others, and any time you lack one, you lack all the others.
Reconciliation to the law of the level of truth you possess sanctifies you, or makes you able to receive the glory pertaining to that kingdom, or all the blessings reaped as a natural consequence of living the truths at that level: “that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.” (D&C 88:34)
There is a range of light and truth corresponding to a given kingdom. There is a minimum and a maximum. Everyone who possesses the minimum amount can dwell in happiness in that kingdom.
While the degree of light and truth in a kingdom exists in a range, the degree of trust required for each kingdom is a fixed amount. A descriptive analog of how this works can be found in how the quantum states of atoms operate. Each atom’s nucleus is orbited by one or more electrons. These electrons can absorb energy. Under a certain fixed threshold of energy, an electron’s orbit will be normal. If it is exposed to a higher band of energy, it will assume a larger orbit. While each atom has different energy bands and orbit sizes, the general behavior is the same: the electron can absorb any amount of energy within a band and still have the same fixed orbit. It is only when the energy passes the threshold that the electron will take the larger orbit, and no orbits exist in between. Interestingly, these thresholds do not occur in even spacing. The radius of each orbit is much larger than the previous one.
To sum up, our trust in God exists at quantum levels (like whole numbers), while our awareness is continuous (like decimal numbers), and greater awareness requires far greater trust in God.
Within each kingdom, there are innumerable “mansions.” The Lord said:
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14)
A mansion is an individual possession, but “mansion” here does not mean a house. Instead, it is a specific set of understanding, comprised of the individual’s experience, understanding, and desires. These inform the individual’s sincere idea of what is true and what is not, which in turn defines the specific glory each individual possesses here and hereafter.
The degree of trust in God that we develop in this life will grant us a “portion” of the glory of that kingdom in this life and enable us to obtain a fullness of that kingdom’s glory after we die (see D&C 88:28-31).
There are those who trust the world more than they trust God. These inherit telestial glory. These are they who never get to the point of listening to God’s voice directly, which begins as the voice of the conscience. They ignore that voice, and instead find some hireling to preach religion to them. They do not listen to people who actually possess and preach God’s word (see D&C 76:99-101). These trust the world and their carnal pleasures more than they trust God. They lie, they cheat, they steal, they commit adultery and sexual deviance (see D&C 76:103-106).
There are those who trust themselves more than they trust God. These inherit terrestrial glory. They trust God enough to follow his voice, but not enough to tenaciously seek more than what they have. They learn the voice of the Spirit, and they obey it, but they are content and satisfied with what they have. They don’t trust God enough to believe there must be more than what they have. They are honorable, but not valiant. They obtain some of God’s glory, but do not open their eyes fully (see D&C 76:75-79).
There are those who trust God fully. These inherit celestial glory. There is nothing that can happen to these people that would cause them to doubt God. There is nothing that God can ask them that they would not obey. There is no limit to their seeking more light and truth, and no limit in their obedience. They are just men made perfect—just, because they reconcile themselves completely to what God teaches them, and perfect because God teaches them all things.
You’ll notice that these degrees of trust are not evenly spaced. Celestial trust is much much greater than terrestrial trust, which is much much greater than telestial trust. If we were to place these on a continuum, the spacing between these levels would not be even.