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JOHN - Do the spirits that are waiting to come into this world (i.e. awaiting birth) "mingle" with the spirit beings that have already lived and since returned to the spirit world?I'm inclined to think not... they seem, to me, to be two separate realms.
JOEL - You are probably right. The pre-mortal world might be considered the Celestial kingdom for our heavenly parents where we were created as spirit beings. The scriptures tell us it resides somewhere near a star called Kolob (Abraham 3:1-4)It is from this realm that our spirits come to inhabit our bodies.
When we die we do not go back into the pre-mortal life; we go to the spirit world (D&C 138: 7-16), which somehow occupies the same space as we do here on this planet.
Joseph Smith taught:
"The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious work; hence they are blessed in their departure to the world of spirits." The Prophet then added that "they are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions, and are often pained therewith." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976), p. 326)
Our own future Celestial kingdom will be like God's Celestial kingdom(our pre-mortal world), but it will be made from the planet we live on now when it is changed. (D&C 130:8-10)
Until that happens and before the resurrection we will all reside in the spirit world. When the scriptures say things like, "the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Eccl 12:7); it does not mean that we will literally return to God's own Celestial kingdom (pre-mortal life).
President Brigham Young explained that to speak of the spirit returning to the God means that our spirits "are prepared then to see, hear and understand spiritual things." To go into the "presence" of God is not necessarily to be "placed within a few yards or rods, or within a short distance of his person." (JOD 3:368, JOD 16:365).
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