D&C 76 - Intro

Yay!!! Section 76 is finally here! This is a really long section, so we’re probably going to spend a couple of weeks on it but that’s ok because it’s doctrinally intense and I’m excited to learn about it. The IM gives the background information stating that JS had been revising the Bible for over a year when he came to the concept of heaven and hell. DJR says that John 5:29 specifically is the verse that prompted the questions. Verse 28 leads up to it, and together they says, “Marvel not at this: for the hour incoming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”  The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: “Upon my return from Amherst (Ohio) 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, on the 16^th of February, 1832, while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision (D&C 76).” The IM continues “Philo Dibble was an eyewitness to the reception of this revelation. He wrote that ‘the vision which is recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants was given at the house of ‘Father Johnson,’ in Hiram, Ohio, and during the time that Joseph and Sidney were in the spirit and saw the heavens open, there were other men in the room, perhaps twelve, among whom I was one during a part of the time- probably two-thirds of the time,- I saw the glory and felt the power, but did not see the vision. The events and conversation, while they were seeing what is written (and many things were seen and related that are not written,) I will relate as minutely as is necessary. Joseph would, at intervals, say: ‘What do I see?’ As one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, ‘I see the same.’ Presently Sidney would say ‘what do I see?’ and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, ‘I see the same.’ This manner of conversation was reported at short intervals to the end of the vision, and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision. Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to it as I am.’ The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: ‘Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of 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 remains 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 face that that 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 for faithfulness, and the punishments for sins, are so much beyond the narrow-mindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: ‘It came from God.’ President Wilford Woodruff said of the vision that it ‘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 to. Any man may know through that revelation what his part and condition will be. For all men know what laws they keep, and the laws which men keep here will determine their position hereafter; they will be preserved by those laws and receive the blessings which belong to them.’ While it is often called ‘the vision,’ Doctrine and Covenants 76 is a series of visions combined into one grand revelation: a vision of the glory of the Son; a vision of the fall of Satan and the sufferings of those who follow him, who are sons of perdition; a vision of those who inherit the celestial glory and come forth in the resurrection of the just; a vision of those who inherit terrestrial glory; and a vision of those who inherit the telestial glory. A comparison of the three degrees of glory is also given.”

DJR gives a break down as “Six visions within the vision.

1.       The Glory of the Son (verses 19-24)

2.       The Fall of Lucifer (verses 25-29)

3.       The Sons of Perdition (verses 30-39, 43-49)

4.       Celestial Glory (verses 50-70-92-96)

5.       Terrestrial glory (verses 71-80, 87, 91, 97)

6.       Telestial Glory (verses 81-89, 98-106, 109-12)

I’ve never really understood the whole concept of heaven or hell. I used to wonder “ok, is the cut off 500 sins? Is you have 499 sins or less you go to heaven, if you have 500 sins or more, then you go to hell?” There are several sources that have helped shape my new understanding, and I feel that I have an understanding that is deeper than most other people, or at least, I feel like I see the plan of salvation in a way that is different than most, definitely more liberal in its application. This brings me much comfort and happiness knowing that as long as I’m doing my best, that’s what matters, and that the Lord accepts that and will work with me. It also gives me peace and the ability to look at the eternal perspective more, and for that I’m grateful. In the explanation of this section, there is much said, and resaid that our salvation is a process. I love this doctrine and an eternal grateful for it.