A while ago there was an interesting exchange of views here initiated by commenter Agellius, who is a Roman Catholic. In his pertinent line of questioning, I think he put his finger on a major point of difference in how mainstream Christians have traditionally regarded Heaven as compared with Mormons.

My impression is that traditional Christians have usually seen Heaven in terms of a static perfection of state – a situation of complete fulfilment in joy, with no shadow of suffering and no unfulfilled desires. To my interpretation, this implies a situation that is essentially unchanging.

Or if there is change, then it would be cyclical: an analogy might be the unending, daily cycle of prayer in a monastery.

From such a perspective the Mormon Heaven seems more like a continuation of mortal life than a transformed Heaven – because in Mormon Heaven there is marriage, families and friends, work to be done, and spiritual progression to be made. All this requires that we continue to have needs in Heaven, desire that we strive to fulfil. On the surface, it doesn’t sound very Heavenly – more like an endless and gruelling job!

This means that Mormon Heaven is not a state of perfection. Why, then, is it Heavenly?

My understanding is that there is perfection in Mormon Heaven – and that is the perfection of love: specifically the perfection of loving relationships.

Perfection in loving relationships does not mean that relationships are static (how could love be static?), but that they are eternally secure and committed. (In the context of love of our Heavenly Parents and of Jesus Christ), the primary Heavenly relationship is marriage – and celestial marriage is eternal, both parties are committed to each other for ever, and are utterly secure in this. And branching-out from the marriage are the other sealed family relationships.

In the Mormon understanding of Heaven, there is suffering, there are unfulfilled desires, there is always work to be done – the state of things is not perfect because life is an evolution, a progression towards full divinity; and if full divinity is achieved then there are new creations, new worlds, new families of spirit children…

So; if traditional Christian Heaven has its earthly analogy in an ideal monastery, or perhaps an ideal Mass or communion service (the Eastern Orthodox say that Divine Liturgy is Heaven on Earth and out of time); then the Mormon earthly analogy for Heaven is the close ‘active’ Mormon family, who are committed and secure in theor mutual love as they negotiate challenges, serve church callings, and engage in open-ended creative ventures.

In a world that is hard work, always changing – often for the worse, and which may be hostile; the family is solid, secure, and their mutual love has glimpses of perfection – even in mortal life.

So although it is not, and is not meant to be, a ‘perfect state’ of total fulfilment without suffering; there is an aspect of Mormon Heaven which is eternal and perfect, and that is marriage and family love.