One of the unique doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that of the three degrees of glory. This doctrine has some significant contrast to the more common heaven and hell dichotomy of many Christian churches.

Lately I have been thinking about this doctrine and how it can be looked at in different ways. Two of the primary ways might be optimistically or pessimistically - or whether the salvation glass is half-empty or half-full.

Glass Half-Empty

Much of my life I have viewed the three degrees of glory in a pessimistic half-empty sort of way. My view was that only the best of the best will be in the celestial kingdom, and that everyone else will be damned to some level. In this way everything below the celestial kingdom might be considered a level of hell for those who inhabit those kingdoms.

This view was expressed by Joseph Smith in some answers to sundry questions thus:

‘Will everybody be damned, but Mormons?’

Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness. (Teachings, p. 119)

Glass Half-Full

Recently my opinions regarding the degrees of glory have started to change to a more optimistic view. This view considers that even the lowest kingdom, the telestial, is salvation. That the people there have been saved from death and hell through the grace of Christ. Those who hold such a view might view the telestial kingdom as a grand place to be. This view has some support in the Doctrine and Covenants:

And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation. And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding. (D&C 76:88-89)

So how do you view the three degrees of glory? As a small group of the elite and elect in the highest portion of the celestial kingdom with everyone else damned at some level below? Or as a nearly universal salvation for all but the sons of perdition with a glory beyond our understanding?