D&C 137:1-4

Section 137 is only 10 verses, and it’s not exactly on track as far as the time line goes. The IM gives a very long introduction quoting Joseph Smith as recording that “at early candle-light” on January 21, 1836, he met with “the Presidency” and with them blessed “Father Smith.” This is Joseph Smith’s father and “I then anointed his head with the consecrated oil, and sealed many blessings upon him.” Then the members of the presidency each performed a blessing for him, “all blessing him to be our Patriarch.” Then each member of the Presidency “took the seat in their turn… and received their anointing and blessing under the hands of Father Smith.” I love the blessing that Joseph Smith’s father gave him, and wonder at what a tender moment it must have been between the two men. “In my turn, my father anointed my head, and sealed upon me the blessings of Moses, to lead Israel in the latter days, even as Moses led him in days of old; also the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” This was not all but “this night the spirit of prophecy and revelation was poured out on the brethren. In addition to the vision of the celestial kingdom, the Prophet Joseph Smith saw in vision the Savior standing in the midst of the present Twelve Apostles who were laboring in foreign lands, and he saw the Twelve Apostles and the Presidency in the celestial kingdom. Many of the other brethren saw glorious visions and received the ministration of angels. Some even saw the face of the Savior.”

137:1-4 - JS begins describing his vision of the celestial kingdom, “The transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.” There are a lot of fire references here used to describe God and heaven. The IM makes a very interesting point saying, “The Prophet Joseph Smith in his account of the First Vision wrote that God’s ‘brightness and glory defy all description.’ He also taught that ‘God Almighty Himself dwells in eternal fire; flesh and blood cannot go there, for all corruption is devoured by the fire. ‘Our God is a consuming fire.’ … Immortality dwells in everlasting burnings.’ President Joseph Fielding Smith stated: ‘God is full of energy, and should we mortals stand in his presence, unless his spirit was upon us to protect us we would be consumed. That is how much energy there is in a celestial body.’” I’m sure they don’t mean energy in the sense of being physical ready to move, but more in the sense of nuclear fission releasing energy. I’m going to have to think about that.