Introduction
Begin with the following quote from President Woodruff:
“I will refer to the ‘Vision’ alone, as a revelation which gives more light, more truth, and more principle than any revelation contained in any other book we ever read. It makes plain to our understanding our present condition, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. Any man may know through that revelation what his part and condition will be” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 47–48).
Read D&C 76:15–19. As Joseph and Sydney Rigdon were translating the Bible, they pondered on what they were reading and received this wonderful revelation. This revelation and sections 131 and 137 add greatly to our understanding of how our post mortal life fits in our Heavenly Father’s plan for us.
“The testimony of Jesus”
First and foremost, section 76 testifies of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Read verses 1, 20–24, and 119. Especially in this section, pay attention to how all of the other teachings relate to this testimony of Jesus.
The general Christian understanding of life after death consists of a bimodal existence: heaven and hell. You are either in a place of peace, joy, rest and tranquility, or in a state of torment and suffering. And this concept is absolutely right… up to a point. Upon our death, we face a preliminary judgment and our spirits await the resurrection in either paradise or prison, which could also be appropriately called heaven or hell. (See Alma 40:11-15.)
However, this is not our final state. The Lord described in John 14: 2 that there are many mansions, not just two. Through the Prophet Joseph, God has revealed much of this doctrine. We’ll classify these “many mansions” into four broad categories.
Perdition
The word perdition refers to a state of loss and destruction rather than a kingdom of glory. Those who experience this are called “sons of perdition” because they follow Satan, who is called Perdition. Because we all agree that this is a miserable place where none of us wants to go, we’ll keep this discussion brief, with just one explanatory statement from Joseph Smith:
The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that 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” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 358).
The Telestial Kingdom
Who will inherit the
What is their state in eternity? Read verses 86 and 112.
Quote regarding committing suicide to get to the
“Many of us have heard the statement made-and ascribed to either Joseph Smith or Brigham Young-to the effect that if a person could see the glory of the telestial kingdom he would commit suicide to get there. If only we could get the fundamental doctrines across to Church members as rapidly as we get across rumors, everyone would be saved. Am I saying that’s a rumor? Well, I am saying this, that over a period of many years I have combed everything Joseph Smith said and wrote, and I can’t find it. Hugh Nibley has done the same with Brigham Young’s words, and he can’t find it. It is hard to prove a negative, of course. What I can say is that we have found a statement from Joseph via Wilford Woodruff that says something else that is close, and I suspect it is the origin of the alleged statement (see Diary of Charles C. Walker, August 1837, in Church Historical Department). Elder Woodruff said the Prophet taught this, roughly: that if we could see what is beyond the veil we couldn’t stand to stay here in mortality for five minutes. And I suggest from the context that he was not talking about the telestial kingdom. He was talking about what it was like to be in the presence of God and the family” (Truman G. Madsen, The Radiant Life , p.91).
The Terrestrial Kingdom
Who will inherit the
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve explained: “Those destined to inherit the terrestrial kingdom are: (1) those who died ‘without law’—those heathen and pagan people who do not hear the gospel in this life, and who would not accept it with all their hearts should they hear it; (2) those who hear and reject the gospel in this life and then accept it in the spirit world; (3) those ‘who are honorable men of the earth, who [are] blinded by the craftiness of men’; and (4) those who are lukewarm members of the true church and who have testimonies, but who are not true and faithful in all things” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 146).
How can we keep ourselves from being blinded by the subtle craftiness of men? Two suggestions from the scriptures are in D&C 21:4–6 and Helaman 5:12.
The Celestial Kingdom
Who will inherit the
- Receive the testimony of Jesus
- Believe on his name
- Be baptized by immersion
- Keep the commandments
- Receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands by someone holding the priesthood
- Overcome by faith
- Be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise
Verse 69 points out that prior to the Atonement working in their lives, these men are just, not perfect. However, through Jesus’ perfect atonement we can be made perfect. We do all we can, and he does all we can’t.
About four years after the vision in D&C 76 was revealed, Joseph Smith received a vision in which he saw his older brother Alvin in the celestial kingdom (summarize D&C 137:1–5).
What blessings come to those who inherit the
What does it mean for us to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus?
“What does it mean to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus?
“It is to be courageous and bold; to use all our strength, energy, and ability in the warfare with the world; to fight the good fight of faith. … The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel.
“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him’; it is to deny ourselves ‘of all ungodliness,’ and ‘love God’ with all our ‘might, mind and strength.’ (Moro. 10:32.)
“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unshakable conviction. It is to know of the verity and divinity of the Lord’s work on earth.
“But this is not all. It is more than believing and knowing. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only. It is more than lip service; it is not simply confessing with the mouth the divine Sonship of the Savior. It is obedience and conformity and personal righteousness. …
“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to ‘press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.’ It is to ‘endure to the end.’ (2 Ne. 31:20) It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep the commandments. It is the manifestation of ‘pure religion’ in the lives of men; it is visiting ‘the fatherless and widows in their affliction’ and keeping ourselves ‘unspotted from the world.’ (James 1:27.)
“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to bridle our passions, control our appetites, and rise above carnal and evil things. It is to overcome the world as did he who is our prototype and who himself was the most valiant of all our Father’s children. It is to be morally clean, to pay our tithes and offerings, to honor the Sabbath day, to pray with full purpose of heart, to lay our all upon the altar if called upon to do so.
“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to take the Lord’s side on every issue… It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be one with him as he is one with his Father” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1974, 45–46; or Ensign, Nov. 1974, 35).
About eleven years after receiving section 76, Joseph Smith learned that within the
Conclusion
President Joseph Fielding Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve said: “Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants … 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” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:279).
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