People go to spirit prison or spirit paradise when they die. Spirit prison is a place where you can still face temptations and choose evil. In fact, there are even more temptations in spirit prison than there are on earth.
It is possible to learn about Jesus after death (as long as one hasn't already rejected Jesus while on this earth). I meet with spirits who learned about Jesus after they died, and share their stories.
You would think that these meetings could take place at any time of day. But they always have to be before dawn. I thought that was odd (and honestly, at first, I didn't want to get up that early). I prayed and asked God why the meetings had to be before dawn. This poem was His answer.
Before the Dawn
Before the dawn comes time, the souls of men are free
To wander and walk and look about, seeking after Me.
But once the sun does rise, and starts to shine its light,
The powers of darkness grow, and deceive many within their sight.
The spirit world is different from yours, where men see with natural eyes.
Spirits and sprites and creatures abound, full of power to entice.
They pull many away from seeking, like a carnival of sights,
There's so much more to see and do, and explore never-ending vice.
The temptations of men are many, but those of spirits are more.
Instead of limited space, there's an eternal world to explore.
Spirits stuck in prison have unlimited reign
To go wherever they desire, but those places all bring pain.
Once they've chosen Jesus, and learn to seek my Son,
They still must learn discernment, until their work is done.
Then and only then, child, are they truly free
To stop all of their seeking, and remain focused on Me.
The pleasures of the flesh are fleeting, for they cannot long remain,
But those of the spirit are eternal, to your loss or gain.
Remember what you seek, and keep your spirit pure.
This brings eternal happiness, and makes your election sure.
The spirit world is vast. There are spirits all around us on earth, and there are spirits throughout the universe. When you die, and before the final resurrection, we go to paradise, or prison (referred to as spirit prison). Paradise is where the righteous go, and prison is for the unrighteous.
Spirit prison is full of temptations
Spirit prison is the temporary place for those who didn't know about Jesus while on the earth. It's also for those who haven't been baptized by a man with proper Priesthood authority. Those who rejected Jesus while on the earth also go to spirit prison.
In many ways, spirit prison isn't too different from living on earth. Spirits there have to seek for the light, and there are many temptations. (Read this story of one who was lost to the temptations)
From this poem, God tells us that there are even more temptations in the spirit world than there are here on earth. And that these temptations can lead us astray and keep us suffering eternally. We always have a choice. Even in spirit prison, you can choose light and Christ. There are missionaries there who teach the gospel.
We need temple work to escape the never-ending temptations
Once a spirit in prison accepts the gospel, they stay there until their "work" is done, as the poem says. This "work" refers to temple work.
Jesus set the example of being baptized. You must be baptized if you want to be with him again. But the baptism has to be by one with Priesthood authority. You can't just be baptized by anyone.
God's house is a house of order. Things are orderly in heaven. A temple is a house of the Lord. In temples, baptism and other ordinances are performed for the dead by proxy. This means that a living family member can do the work for their dead ancestors. The ancestor can choose to accept it or not.
There are many in spirit prison who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and are waiting for their work to be done. These ordinances give all of God's children the opportunity to be with him again.
Stay focused on Jesus
Once the baptism is performed, the spirit is freed from spirit prison and enters paradise. They still grow in their faith, just like everyone does after baptism. But now they don't have all of the temptations that are in spirit prison.
When you stay focused on Jesus, temptations lose their power. As we seek after him, we find more peace and joy in our lives. The things that once seemed enticing aren't attractive any longer.
Eventually, we make our "calling sure," as the last line says. This refers to our calling and election (see 2 Pet 1:4-11). It means we are assured of being with Jesus and Heavenly Father in eternity.
I know that as we seek after Jesus more and more, the temptations of the world lose their power. They become less and less appealing. I know that it is possible to overcome whatever you are struggling with, if you will just ask Jesus to help you.
Jesus loves you, and wants you to choose him. That's why we are given every opportunity to repent and be baptized, even after death. Always choose to seek after more and more light.
