Doctrine: After His death and before His resurrection Jesus Christ went to the spirit world.
Read: 2 Nephi 24:1 - 24:32
Verses 1-5 give at least four promises of the Lord. What does it mean to you that Jesus uses every moment of His existence to serve others?
Spencer J. Condie taught:
“The facts of Jesus’ death and Resurrection are hailed by those of Christian denominations as fundamental tenets. However, what Jesus’ immortal spirit did after His death and before His Resurrection is a mystery to all but the Latter-day Saints. And the significance of what He did during those hours provides the doctrinal foundation for building temples across the earth. Furthermore, a testimony of what He did can greatly console those who mourn the death of a loved one” (“The Savior’s Visit to the Spirit World,”Ensign, July 2003, 32).
In Luke 23:39–43 Jesus speaks of paradise. Joseph Smith further clarified “This day thou shalt be with me in the world of spirits” [in History of the Church, 5:424–25]. And more is given in 1 Peter 4:6.
Why do you believe Jesus needed to visit the spirits of those who had died?
Joseph F. Smith also saw in vision "the Savior’s visit to the spirits of the dead while His body was in the tomb" in Doctrine and Covenants 138.