My Come, Follow Me studies took me to Doctrine and Covenants 76 this week. Millions of people ask, “What will happen to me after I die?” Most religions in the world address the question one way or another. Many Christians for centuries have looked to the Bible for their answer. Biblical teachings discuss heaven and hell, paradise for the righteous and torment for the wicked. Where is the line that divides good and bad, and what does the word heaven actually mean?
The section heading to Doctrine and
Covenants 76 gives us the following information about this vision that was
given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February
16, 1832. When Joseph Smith recorded this revelation in his history, he
prefaced it with the following information.
Upon my return from Amherst conference, I
resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had
been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the
salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled.
It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every
one according to the deeds done in the body the term “Heaven,” as intended for
the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, …
while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.”
At the time this vision was given, the Prophet was translating John 5:29.
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were
studying this subject, and they wondered if there was more information to be
revealed on it. While pondering these things, the Lord “touched the eyes of
[their] understandings and they were opened” (verse 19). Joseph and Sidney
received a stunning, expansive, illuminating revelation that they called “the
Vision.” It opened the windows of heaven and showed a brilliant view of
eternity. The vision revealed a heaven that was much different than most people
thought previously. God is loving and merciful, and He wants to bless His
children. Heaven is grander, broader, and more inclusive than humans can
imagine, and God has prepared a glorious eternal destiny for all His children.
The Vision is actually several
visions in one. In the first vision, the Savior affirmed His reality and
divinity. In the second vision, He taught about the fall of Satan and the sons
of perdition. He started with the best and then showed the contrast with the
worst. From there, He revealed that there are three kingdoms of glory, their nature,
and who will inherit each one.
The Lord revealed that God the
Father will rule over the highest or Celestial Kingdom, Jesus Christ will rule
over the middle or Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Holy Ghost will rule over the
lowest or the Telestial Kingdom. The kingdom of glory we inherit will be
determined by our works and the desires of our hearts. Since the gospel of
Jesus Christ teaches only how to become worthy for the Celestial Kingdom, this
post will concentrate on the highest kingdom.
50 And again we bear
record—for we saw and
heard, and this is the testimony of
the gospel of
Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who
received the testimony of
Jesus, and believed on
his name and were baptized after
the manner of
his burial, being buried in
the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has
given—
52 That by keeping the
commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all
their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who
is ordained and
sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith,
and are sealed by
the Holy Spirit of promise,
which the Father sheds forth
upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who
are the church of
the Firstborn.
55 They are they into
whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who
are priests and kings, who have received
of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most
High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after
the order of
the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it
is written, they are gods,
even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are
theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are
theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they
shall overcome all
things.
61 Wherefore, let no
man glory in
man, but rather let him glory in God, who
shall subdue all
enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and
his Christ forever and ever.
63 These are they
whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven
to reign on
the earth over his people.
64 These are they who
shall have part in the first resurrection.
65 These are they who
shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
66 These are they who
are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of
the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67 These are they who
have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general
assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68 These are they
whose names are written in
heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
69 These are they who
are just men
made perfect through
Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought
out this perfect atonement through
the shedding of his own blood.
70 These are they
whose bodies are celestial,
whose glory is
that of the sun,
even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose
glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.
One of the requirements to enter the
Celestial Kingdom is to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. Elder
Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave the
following explanation.
“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus
is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unshakable conviction. …
“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 … ‘endure to the end.’ (2 Ne. 31:20.)
It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep the
commandments.” …
“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” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Be Valiant in the Fight
of Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1974, 35).
President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994)
gave the following meaning: “A testimony of Jesus means that you accept the
divine mission of Jesus Christ, embrace His gospel, and do His works; it means
you accept the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith and his successors” (“Valiant
in the Testimony of Jesus,” Ensign, May 1982, 62).
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