1/5/2018 - Section 76:1-10

January 5, 2018

Section 76:1-10

Heaven, Degrees of Glory, Scripture Study, Plan of Salvation, Spiritual Learning,

Joseph Smith: “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 everyone 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]”  I read this statement and later I read v 19 “And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened and the glory of the Lord shone round about.” This reminds me that when we read the scriptures, we get so much more out of it if we think deeply about the things we read, asking for a deeper understanding. Basically, this is reading AND pondering, and when we do both these things, we are enlightened in many different ways…all good.

The student manual states that section 76 is actually “a series of visions combined into one grand revelation: a vision of the glory of the Son (v20-24); a vision of the fall of Satan and the sufferings of those who follow him, who are the sons of perdition (v 25-49); a vision of those who inherit the celestial glory and come forth in the resurrection of the just (v 50-70); a vision of those who inherit the terrestrial glory (v 71-80); and a vision of those who inherit the telestial glory (v 81-89). A comparison of the three degrees of glory is also given.”

President Wilford Woodruff said that this vision “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.” Journal of Discourses 22:146-47.

I think I will go through this section slowly and thoughtfully.

In v 5 Christ describes this, our earthly opportunity, and makes it less daunting then we so often try to make it “For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end….7. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea,….9. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. 10. For by my spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen , nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.”  I don’t know if I could talk with a religious scholar and explain the ‘facts’ of my faith. But I do know I feel the spirit and rightness of my faith and it always brings me to a place of comfort and peace and happiness and a desire to be just a little better every day-- and I find this a very good place to be.

7/5/2021 – D&C 76:1-30

It is Feb 16, 1832. Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were working, once again, on what we now call the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. They were both pondering John 5:29. (John 5:28-29: “Marvel not at this for the hour is coming, 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.” As Joseph reflected on the many truths that the Lord had revealed to the Saints, his observation was: “It was apparent that many important points, touching the salvation of man, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled.” One of the questions Joseph & Sidney were pondering during this time was what happens after death. One of Joseph’s comments was that “if God rewarded everyone according to the deeds done in the body, the term ‘heaven’, as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one.” It was after reading John 5:29 that this section was given. It is described in the Joseph Smith Papers that after the Prophet dictated the translation of this verse [D&C 76:15-17], he and Sidney saw a vision “concerning the economy of God and his vast creation throughout all eternity.” Christ appeared to them and conversed with them [D&C 76:14], and they were commanded to record the vision while they “were yet in the Spirit” [D&C 76:28, 80, 113]. It’s from this section that we learn much about Heavenly Father & Jesus, the kingdoms of glory, Satan’s rebellion, and the sons of perdition.

There were approximately 12 others in the room during this vision. One of those men was Philo Dibble, who later recalled: “The vision which is recorded in the Book of the Doctrine of 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--…I saw the glory and felt the power, but did not see the vision….Joseph would , at intervals, say; “What do I see? As one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all 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 world reply, “I see the same.” This manner of conversation was repeated at short intervals 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”.

Now, on to the section itself: It begins by calling out to the heavens and the earth to give ear. (v 1) and I love v 3 which speaks of the Savior, and reminds me of His marvelous power and plan for this earth that seems to have so much wickedness in it right now: “His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand.”

And then in v 5, we hear directly from Christ: “For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.” The Lord then speaks of the blessings that will come to the righteous, and in v 10 tells us the reward the righteous receive: “For by my Spirit well I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.” 

Joseph tries to describe what was happening to them during this vision: “By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened so as to see and understand the things of God—Even those things where were from the beginning before the world was, which were ordained of the Father, through his Only Begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father , even from the beginning; Of whom we bear record; and the record which we bear is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Son, whom we saw and with whom we conversed in the heavenly vision.” (v’s 12-14)

There is a beautiful quote from Elder Kim Clark (a seventy) in the Oct 2015 General Conference: “If we will look to Christ and open our eyes and our ears, the Holy Ghost will bless us to see the Lord Jesus Christ working in our lives, strengthening our faith in Him with assurance and evidence. We increasingly will see all of our brothers and sisters the way God sees them, with love and compassion. We will hear the Savior’s voice in the scriptures, in the whisperings of the Spirit, and in the words of the living prophets. We will see the power of God resting upon His prophet and all the leaders of His true and living Church, and we will know with a surety that this is God’s holy work. We will see and understand ourselves and the world around us the way the Savior does. We will come to have what the Apostle Paul called ‘the mind of Christ’ [1 Corinthians 2:16]. We will have eyes to see and ears to hear, and we will build the kingdom of God”

Joseph certainly gives us information that will help us when we are seeking our own revelation: “And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings, and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about us.” (v 19) If we want more understanding, we need to start working on it ourselves—‘meditating’ –and then going to the Lord asking for clarification.

In the middle of this vision, Joseph was speaking it as it occurred, Joseph included his strong assurance: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all which we give of him: That he lives!” (v 22)

 

I believe I have had one vision—and that occurred as I pleaded with the Lord for many months to help me know whether I should have another child. I was concerned if I could handle one more child, and I was concerned if one more child would be a detriment to how I would be able to care for the children we already had. When my vision occurred, I knew I was in another realm, for my thoughts were suddenly based on deeper and wiser things. My questions were certainly answered in a loving way. I was assured that I could go either way, it was my decision. As soon as I had my answer, I picked up my pen that was by my hand, and tried to write it all in my journal—but in that moment, I was no longer in the status of a vision. I could not remember all the details I had been given, but I was sure as to the answer I had received. And my decision was to bring one more child into the world, because what could be better than bringing and raising one more valiant person into this world. 

Joseph & Sidney were shown the entire plan of the Lord. They were shown the Lord’s glory AND they were shown “an angle of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son” (v 25) God is real! Satan is real! It was important to the Lord that we would know both of those truths.