Doctrine & Covenants 76
Philo Dibble observed that “Joseph wore black clothes,
but at this time seemed to be dressed in an element of
glorious white, and his face shone as if it were transparent,
but I did not see the same glory attending Sidney. Joseph
appeared as strong as a lion, but Sidney seemed as weak
as water, and Joseph, noticing his condition smiled and
said, ‘Brother Sidney is not as used to it as I am” (Philo
Dibble’s Narrative, 81).
“Nothing could be more pleasing to the saints upon the
order of the kingdom of the Lord, than the light which
burst upon the world through the foregoing vision. Every
law, every commandment, every promise, every truth,
and every point touching the destiny of man, from
Genesis to Revelation, where the purity of the scriptures
remain unsullied by the folly of men, go to show the
perfection of the theory (of different degrees of glory in
the future life) and witnesses the fact that the document
is a transcript from the records of the eternal world. The
sublimity of the ideas; the purity of the language; the
scope for action; the continued duration for completion,
in order that the heirs of salvation may confess the Lord
and bow the knee; the rewards of faithfulness, and the
punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrowmindedness of men, that every honest man is
constrained to exclaim: “It came from God” (Joseph
Smith, History of the Church, 1:252-53).
Initially, the revelation was not as well received by the
Saints as would be supposed.
Brigham Young explained,
“When God revealed to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon
that there was a place prepared for all, according to the
light they had received and their rejection of evil and
practice of good, it was a great trial to many, and some
apostatized because God was not going to send to
everlasting punishment heathens and infants, but had a
place of salvation, in due time, for all and would bless
the honest and virtuous and truthful, whether they ever
belonged to any church or not” (Journal of Discourses,
16:42).
The Prophet’s poetic response is perhaps the most
authoritative and helpful commentary we have on this
revelation.
It is 78 verses and titled “A Vision,” written in February
1843.
It was the Prophet’s response to a poem written by W.W.
Phelps.
An interesting verse from “A Vision” is the following:
From the council in Kolob, to time on the earth.
And for ages to come unto them I will show
My pleasure & will, what my kingdom will do:
Eternity’s wonders they truly shall know (Times and
Seasons, 4:82).
From this it would appear that the Grand Council
in Heaven took place on Kolob, which we learn
from the Book of Abraham is the planet nearest
to the throne of God (Abraham 3:3; Facsimile 2,
Explanation, figure 1).
This stanza may suggest that Kolob was our place
of residence during our pre-mortal estate.
“The Vision”
How?
Where?
Translating the Bible, John 5:29
John Johnson Home, Hiram Ohio
“Section 76 of the D&C in it sublimity and clearness in
relation to the eternal destiny of the human family, has
not been surpassed. It should be treasured by all
members of the Church as a priceless heritage. It
should strengthen their faith and be to them an
incentive to seek the exaltation promised to all who are
just and true. So plain and simple are its teachings that
none should stumble or misunderstand” (Joseph Fielding
Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols.
Salt Lake City: The Council of the Twelve Apostles of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1953, 2:50).
Joseph wrote that he could explain a hundred fold more
than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested
to me in vision, were I permitted, and were the people
prepared to receive them (History of the Church, 5:402).
Could you gaze into heaven 5 minutes, you would know
more than you would by reading all that was ever written
on the subject (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:50).
The above quote was given by Joseph Smith at the
funeral services of James Adams on October 9, 1843. It
was about eleven years after section 76 was revealed
(History of the Church, 6:50).
The greatest revelation the Lord, Jesus Christ, has
ever given to man, so far as record is made, was
given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on the 16th of
February, 1832, known as the 76th section of the
book of Doctrine and Covenants, commonly
called for years and still known as “the Vision.” I
say, this to my mind is the climax of all wonderful
revelations that have come from the Lord from
the days of Father Adam until the present
moment (Melvin J. Ballard, Three Degrees of
Glory, 3).
Philo Dibble mentioned that he
was there with others, (perhaps
the 12) they felt the power but did
not see the vision.
Interesting Sequence:
The Son of God,
Satan and his followers,
Celestial Kingdom,
Terrestrial Kingdom,
Telestial Kingdom,
Light
–
v. 1-24
v. 25-49
v. 50-70, 92-96
v. 71-80, 91, 97
v. 81-90, 98-112
darkness
–
light!
Choose Ye this Day!
We have much to lose!
Interesting facts about the revelation:
When it was first given, the elders were forbidden to talk
about it!
It blew away Brigham Young and others doctrinally!
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were told what to write
and what not to write.
It is the only place in the standard works where this
information is taught.
Joseph wrote a poem called “A Vision” (1843, 78 verses
long).
Classroom discussions of this vision often
focus on the degrees of glory, perdition, and
the attendant requirements for each.
However, the highlight of the section is a
vision of the Father and the Son, the
premortal life, and Lucifer’s fall. The vision of
the two supreme members of the Godhead
was rich and glorious.
Doctrine & Covenants 76:1
“O ye heavens”
Genesis 28:10-19
“Jacob’s Ladder”
I Corinthians 15
“Celestial, Terrestrial”
2 Corinthians 12
“Third heaven”
John 14:2
“Many Mansions”
Doctrine & Covenants 76:22-23
“And now, after the many testimonies which have been
given of him.”
And now as pertaining to this perfect atonement,
wrought by the shedding of the blood of God---I testify
that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and
as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of
the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the
world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know
of myself independent of any other person.
I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel
the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his
feet with my tears.
But I shall not know any better then than I know now that
he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and
Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his
atoning blood and in no other way (Bruce R. McConkie,
Conference Report, Apr. 6th 1985).
(Elder Bruce R. McConkie died 13 days later on April 19th,
1985).
When we say, “He lives,” we mean all that
that glorious truth implies. The theophany at
Palmyra, for instance, was a deeply
profound statement, not solely an
affirmation to that youthful audience of one,
but to all mankind (Neal A. Maxwell, Even As
I Am, 8-9).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:24
“Creator of Worlds Without Number”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie has written:
“Now our Lord’s jurisdiction and power extend far beyond the
limits of this one small earth on which we dwell. He is, under the
Father, the creator of worlds without number (Moses 1:33). And
through the power of his atonement the inhabitants of these
worlds, the revelation says, ‘are begotten sons and daughters
unto God,’ which means that the atonement of Christ, being
literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earth”
(Mormon Doctrine, 65).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:26
“Perdition”
Perdition means “utter loss or destruction.”
“Lucifer” means “light bearer” or “shining one” or
“early-born spirit” “Child of our Father” (Joseph
Smith, Teachings, 161).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:29
He maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth
them round about.
“On November 1, 1857, Elder George Albert Smith delivered a
memorable discourse, which included this old Chinese fable:
“A man traveling through the country came to a large city,
very rich and splendid; he looked at it and said to his guide,
‘This must be a very righteous people, for I can only see but
one little devil in this great city. The guide replied, ‘You do not
understand, sir. This city is so perfectly given up to wickedness
that it requires but one devil to keep them all in subjection.
Traveling on a little farther, he came to a rugged path
and saw an old man trying to get up the hill side,
surrounded by seven great, big, coarse-looking devils.
‘Why,’ says the traveler, ‘this must be a tremendously
wicked old man! See how many devils there are around
him!’ ‘This,’ replied the guide, ‘is the only righteous man in
the country; and there are seven of the biggest devils
trying to turn him out of his path, and they all cannot do
it.’
After relating the fable, Elder Smith added that ‘the devil
has the world so perfectly at his disposal that it requires
few devils to keep it in subjection and that the whole
legion of devils has nothing to do but look after the
Mormons and stir up the hearts of the children of men to
destroy them---to put them out of existence’” (Journal of
Discourses, 5:364).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:31
“Sons of Perdition”
They must deny the truth, having a sure knowledge of it,
and then defy or war against it (v. 35).
These unite themselves with the legions of the devil who
warred against God and Christ in the councils of heaven.
For such a sin there is no forgiveness in this world or the
world to come (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
358).
Receive the absolute knowledge of the divinity of Christ,
and then deny “the new and everlasting covenant by
which he was sanctified, calling it an unholy thing, and
doing despite to the Spirit of grace” (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, 128).
He has got to say the sun does not shine while he sees it;
he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have
been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of
salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from
that time he begins to be an enemy. This is the case
with many apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
When a man begins to be an enemy to this work, he
hunts me, he seeks to kill me, and never ceases to thirst
for my blood. He gets the spirit of the devil–the same
spirit that they had who crucified the Lord of Life–the
same spirit that sins against the Holy Ghost” (Teachings
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 358).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:31-35, 48
“Sons of Perdition”
The sins unto death may be thought of as somewhat
difficult to define and limit with precision. From the words
of Joseph Smith quoted we note “…many apostates of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” will fall into
this category. We cannot definitely identify them
individually since it is impossible for us to know the extent
of their knowledge, the depth of their enlightenment, and
the sureness of their testimonies before their fall…
The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such
knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for
the rank and file to commit such a sin.
Comparatively few Church members will
commit murder wherein they shed innocent
blood, and we hope only few will deny the
Holy Ghost (President Spencer W. Kimball,
Miracle of Forgiveness, 122-23).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:31
“Five things that qualify one to be a S.O.P.”
1. “Know my Power”
2. “Be made partakers thereof”
3. “Overcome by the devil”
4. “Deny the truth”
5. “Defy my power”
Joseph Smith taught that an individual cannot become a
son of perdition in the Spirit World (Teachings, 357).
Joseph Smith wrote: (Doctrine & Covenants
76:48)
Say to the brothers Hulet and to all others, that the Lord
never authorized them to say that the devil, his angels,
or the sons of perdition, should ever be restored; for
their state of destiny was not revealed to man, is not
revealed, nor ever shall be revealed, save to those
who are made partakers thereof: consequently those
who teach this doctrine have not received it of the
Spirit of the Lord….We, therefore, command this
doctrine be taught no more in Zion (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, 24).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:53
“Sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise”
“All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows,
performances, connections, associations, or
expectations” that we desire to have in a future world
must be approved by the Holy Ghost “ (Doctrine &
Covenants 132:7).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:54
“Church of the Firstborn”
The inner circle of faithful saints who are heirs of
exaltation and the fullness of the Father’s kingdom
(Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 139).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:63
“When Christ Returns”
He will bring with him all who have lived upon the earth
who are worthy of celestial glory (JS-Matthew 1:1).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:67
“An innumerable company of angels”
It is a false notion, one not worthy of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, that only a few of God’s children will be saved in
the Kingdom of God. In his vision of the dead, President
Joseph F. Smith saw an “innumerable company of the
spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of
Jesus while they lived in mortality” (Doctrine & Covenants
138:12).
John 14:2 was not suggesting that there were various
degrees of glory, at that moment he was speaking to the
twelve. He was giving them the assurance that there was
room for them and as many has would believe on their
word in his Father’s kingdom.
Doctrine & Covenants 76:75
“Honorable men of the Earth”
Yes, to Caesar we owe taxes. But to God, in whose image
we are minted, we owe ourselves (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign,
November 1988, 31).
Church members who are not fully consecrated are the
essentially “honorable” members who are skimming over the
surface instead of deepening their discipleship and who are
casually engaged rather than “anxiously engaged.”
Though nominal in their participation, their reservations and
hesitations inevitably show through. They may even pass
through our holy temples but, alas, they do not let the holy
temples pass through them (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign,
November 1992, 65).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:79
“Not Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus Christ”
This is a gospel of individual work. I wish our Latter-day
Saints would become more valiant. As I read the
seventy-sixth section of the D&C, the great vision given
to the Prophet Joseph Smith, I remember that the Lord
says to that terrestrial degree of glory may go those who
are not valiant in the testimony, which means that many
of us who have received baptism by proper authority,
many who have received other ordinances, even
temple blessings, will not reach the celestial kingdom of
glory unless we live the commandments and are valiant.
What is being valiant?...
There are many people in this Church today who
think they live, but they are dead to the spiritual
things. And I believe even many who are
making the pretenses of being active are also
spiritually dead. Their service is much of the letter
and less of the spirit (Spencer W. Kimball,
Conference Report, Apr. 1951, 104-05).
Can’t one rest a little while longer before starting a
quiet new campaign of self-improvement? No,
because being “valiant” in our testimony of Jesus
includes precious few recesses and no vacations!
The school day in the mortal classroom is so very
brief at best (Neal A. Maxwell, Lord Increase Our
Faith, 116).
Some Church members are “honorable” but not
“valiant.” They are not really aware of the gap nor
of the importance of closing it. These “honorable”
individuals are certainly not miserable or wicked,
nor are they unrighteous and unhappy. It is not
what they have done, but what they have left
undone that is amiss. For example, if valiant, they
could touch others deeply instead of merely being
remembered pleasantly (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign,
November 1955, 22).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:89
“Surpasses all Understanding”
Regarding “surpassing all understanding.” A rather
common notion in connection with this verse is that
Joseph Smith had taught that if we knew what the
Telestial Kingdom was like, we would commit suicide to
get there. What the Prophet said was not in reference to
the Telestial Kingdom, but to life “behind the veil,” which
may mean a number of things. The Prophet’s statement,
(Charles Walker quoting Wilford Woodruff quoting Joseph
Smith as follows):
Brother Woodruff spoke…He referred to a saying
of Joseph Smith which he heard him utter (like
this).
That if the people knew what was behind the veil,
they would try by every means to commit suicide
that they might get there, but the Lord in his
wisdom had implanted the fear of death in every
person that they might cling to life and thus
accomplish the designs of their creator (Diary of
Charles Lowell Walker, ed. By A. Karl Larson).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:94-95
“Celestial Kingdom”
What did Jesus do?
Why; I do the things I saw my Father do when worlds came
rolling into existence. My Father worked out his kingdom with
fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my
kingdom, I shall present it to my Father, so that he may obtain
kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt him in glory. He will
then take a higher exaltation, and I will take his place, and
thereby become exalted myself. So that Jesus treads in the
tracks of his Father, and inherits what God did before; and God
is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all
his children” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 347-48).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:109
“Telestial”–“Innumerable as the Stars”
“Most of the adult people who have lived from the day
of Adam to the present time will go to the Telestial
Kingdom. The inhabitants of this lower kingdom of glory
will be ‘as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of
heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore” (Bruce R.
McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 778).
Doctrine & Covenants 76:115
“Don’t write”
He commanded that they should not write!
WE DON’T’ HAVE TO BE PERFECT RIGHT
NOW!!
Bruce R. McConkie
“I’d like to append to them the fact and this is a
true gospel verity that everyone in the Church
who is on the straight and narrow path, who is
striving and struggling and desiring to do what is
right, though is far from perfect in this life; if he
passes out of this life while he’s on the straight
and narrow, he’s going to go on to eternal
reward in his Father’s kingdom.
“We don’t need to get a complex or get a feeling that
you have to be perfect to be saved. You don’t. There’s
only been one perfect person, and that’s the Lord Jesus,
but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in
order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is
get on the straight and narrow path–thus charting a
course leading to eternal life–then, being on that path,
pass out of this life in full fellowship. I’m not saying that
you don’t have to keep the commandments. I’m saying
you don’t have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no
one would be saved. The way it operates is this: you
get on the path that’s named the “straight and narrow.”
You do it by entering the gate of repentance and
baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the
gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance,
to a reward that’s called eternal life.
If you’re on that path and pressing forward, and
you die, you’ll never get off the path. There is no
such thing as falling off the straight and narrow
path in the life to come, and the reason is that this
life is the time that is given to men to prepare for
eternity. Now is the time and the day of your
salvation, so if you’re working zealously in this life–
though you haven’t fully overcome the world and
you haven’t done all your hoped you might do–
you’re still going to be saved. You don’t have to
do what Jacob said, “Go beyond the mark.” You
don’t have to live a life that’s truer than true. You
don’t have to have excessive zeal that becomes
fanatical and becomes unbalancing.
What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of
the Church and live as upright and decent
people live in the Church–keeping the
commandments, paying your tithing, serving in
the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord,
staying on the straight and narrow path. If
you’re on that path when death comes–
because this is the time and the day appointed,
this the probationary estate–you’ll never fall off
from it, and, for all practical purposes, your
calling and election is made sure” (“The
Probationary Test of Mortality,” Address given at
University of Utah, Jan 10, 1982, 11).
Three Degrees of Glory
Celestial Kingdom
Determining Conditions
As a minimum requirement, all those inheriting this
kingdom will have–
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Received the testimony of Jesus
Received baptism
Received the Holy Ghost
Kept the commandments
Overcome by faith
Been sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise
(v. 51)
(v. 51)
(v. 52)
(v. 52)
(v. 53)
(v. 53)