Many Mansions

Mainstream Christianity teaches that the afterlife is conceptualized as either heaven or hell. Life is a test, that is either pass or fail.  If a person accepts Christ as their Savior, they will be saved independent of behavior.  Although, accepting Christ will tend to manifest itself in good behavior, salvation itself is not contingent on any moral behavior or good works.  

The Church of Jesus Christ also conceptualizes the afterlife as a heaven and hell, but according to 1 Cor 15, Latter-day Saint heaven is divided into degrees, glories, kingdoms, mansions, or rewards.  Some charge that the Mormon heaven is exclusive.  But in reality, there is no religion has a more inclusiveness conception of heaven than does the true Church of Jesus Christ. 

The Bible is clear, that the first steps to accepting Christ involves a bending of the knee, a softening of the heart, and a confession with the lips that Jesus is the Christ.  According to scripture, anyone who bends the knee and accepts Christ will be saved in a degree of heaven. However, the Bible foretells that one day, every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.  Therefore, except the sons of perdition who willingly reject any portion of God's salvation, all the family of Adam can be saved.  

However, we shouldn't make the mistake of Corianton in the Book of Mormon.  Corianton, a son of Alma the Younger, misunderstood the idea of universal resurrection, of the just and unjust, to justify himself in committing sexual sin.  Corrianton believed that because both the just and unjust would be resurrected, his resurrected body would be redeemed and purified.  The ressurrected body would be perfect and no longer subject to the weakness of the flesh.  Therefore, according to Corianton, his moral behavior and the content of his character no longer mattered.

Corianton was correct in believing, that the resurrected body would be perfected, incorruptible, and no longer subject to some of the weaknesses of the flesh. In heaven, Corianton was correct to believe certain sins would no longer be possible. However, he was wrong in thinking that the resurrection would also change our love, desire and devotion towards God.  Laziness, and slothfulness may still be a thing. Pride, and wanting to do our own thing your own way may still be a thing.  Accordingly, our reward in heaven is not only determined by our capacity to sin (harm self and others), but also by our desires to serve God. Therefore, the three degrees of heaven, are also based on our capacity for faith, work, and devotion towards God.

Those who inhert exaltation in the highest degree in heaven will seek to "live by every word that preceedeth from the mouth of God". But also because they are on the same page with God and have the same mind and will as God, they will find they don't have to be commanded in all thing. Those that are exalted will already know the things they should do. The righteous will be agents unto themselves, not commanded in all things, but free to be engaged in many good causes, and free in bringing about much righteousness. Those that wish to do "do their own thing" will have different responsibilities in heaven and a different degree of glory. 

In my estimation, heaven to not so much a physical separation but like the hospital has doctors, nurses, and techs. We all work together,  but there are certain responsibilities reserved for the doctors.  Nurses and techs are an invaluable part of the healthcare team.  Most nurses find great joy in their choosen career, and have no desire to be the doctor. But like nurses and techs, there may be responsibilities, those of a lesser glory are not permitted to do (world's without end). In life, some techs decide to go back to school and become a nurse.  Some nurses choose to go back to school and become NPs, PAs, or even MDs themselves.  However, in God's plan we are warned, there is no going back to school.  Scripture warns, "do not procrastinate", "today is the day for men to perform our labors".   Gods university has open enrollment, but the decision to attend medical school is now. Jesus Christ invites all to get all the education we can and lay up in store our treasures in heaven. 

While, confessing Christ is the first step in accepting Him.  Taking Christ's name upon us is a process that leads to baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This process of sanctification continues, leading the believer to making additional sacred covenants in Holy Temples.