Doctrine and Covenants 137-138 Insights and Teaching Activities

Watch the Insight Video on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/wt-NmnJ-XN4

Watch the Teaching Activities Video on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/dN6soO6uGjc

To purchase slides or handouts, go to: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeachingWithPower

INSIGHTS

INTRODUCTION

The revelations that we find in sections 137-138 weren’t added to the official cannon of the Doctrine and Covenants until 1981 when the Church released its new edition. And we’re so glad they did. These two sections give us two visions given to two different people in two very different time periods. Section 137 was received by Joseph Smith in 1836 in Kirtland, Ohio. Section 138 was received by Joseph F. Smith in 1918 in Salt Lake City. But thematically, they go hand in hand. Both reveal fundamental truths about what happens when we die. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we believe in the eternal nature of the spirit, as do many other faiths. But what exactly happens to those spirits after they’ve left mortality is a question that many religions have wrestled with over the centuries. Reincarnation, limbo, heaven and hell, purgatory, or even the belief that we just cease to exist. But what’s the truth the of the matter? Sections 137-138 will help us to understand that.

137-CELESTIAL GLORY

ICEBREAKER

As an icebreaker, a video clip is a great way to introduce the background and content of section 137. It’s from a church movie that we’ve looked at before: “Joseph Smith-the Prophet of the Restoration”. What you can do is show a clip from time stamp 12:09-15:20. But before you show it, say: Doctrinal misunderstandings can have real consequences. What effect did a doctrinal misunderstanding of Joseph Smith’s day have on him?

The video depicts the death of Joseph’s Smith’s older brother Alvin and can help your students understand why this revelation was so important to him and the Smith family. You see, Joseph Smith grew up in a culture that believed that if you didn’t accept Christianity and get baptized that you would be condemned to hell. And this extended to everyone. Good but non-believing people, the ignorant, even babies. But something interesting about the Smith family was that they were a bit more religiously progressive than most people at that time. Father and Mother Smith allowed their children to make their own decisions regarding religion and didn’t pressure them to join one or the other or any at all. Well, Joseph had a hero while he was growing up. His older brother Alvin. Unfortunately, because of a sickness and a botched medical procedure, Alvin dies at age 25. Alvin though, had never been baptized. Like his father, he had kept himself aloof from joining any of the religions of his day. For many years, Joseph wondered and worried about the fate of his beloved older brother. Joseph recalls being told by ministers in Palmyra that Alvin was in hell because he had not yet been baptized. Even though he was a good person, it didn’t matter, Alvin was doomed to suffer in hell. And who was Joseph to doubt their conclusion. Joseph believed deeply in the Bible and studied it extensively. Perhaps verses like John 3:5 troubled him which says:

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

And Alvin’s fate was not the only thing that must have worried Joseph. By the time section 137 was received, he had already buried four of his own children. He must’ve been anxious about their fate too. What would happen to them?

So understanding the backdrop of Joseph’s life really helps us to see and feel just how glorious a revelation section 137 really is.

SEARCH

To get them into it, there’s an activity you could do with your students with the following handout. Since section 137 is relatively short, just 10 verses, I don’t think it’s too much to ask your students to read the entire section. I’ve put together a list of seven statements that may or may not be true about section 137. Have your students read the section and circle the statements that are taught or supported by this section.

Here are the statements.

Read section 137. Which of the following statements are true doctrines taught by this section? Circle them.

A. The celestial kingdom is a place of glory, beauty, and purity where we can enjoy the presence of the Father and the Son.

B. Those who die without a knowledge of the gospel will inherit the celestial kingdom because their sins were committed in ignorance.

C. Those who die without a knowledge of the gospel who would have accepted it shall inherit the celestial kingdom.

D. The Lord will judge us according to how much we did right compared to how much we did wrong. If we did more right, we will be saved in celestial glory, if we did more wrong, we will inherit a lesser kingdom.

E. The Lord will judge us based on the things we did and our motives for doing them.

F. Children who die before they arrive at the age of accountability will enter the Celestial Kingdom.

G. Children who die before the age of eight will be tested later in the Spirit World.

And we’ll go through each of these together.

A. The celestial kingdom is a place of glory, beauty, and purity where we can enjoy the presence of the Father and the Son.

This statement is true. Joseph describes the celestial kingdom as a place of glory and a place of transcendent beauty. He also sees a gate of circling flames, and a blazing throne of fire. Fire in the scriptures is often associated with purity and refining. The celestial kingdom is a place where the pure may dwell unencumbered by the pollutions of the world. He also sees the Father and the Son there. The celestial kingdom sure sounds like a place I would like to be.

B. Those who die without a knowledge of the gospel will inherit the celestial kingdom because their sins were committed in ignorance.

This would be a false statement. The promise is not that all who died in ignorance of the gospel will automatically be saved. There is still a judgment to be made. It’s not a free pass to all the uninformed. Even if individuals never heard of the Church of Jesus Christ, they will still be judged according to the knowledge they did have. Let’s not forget that the light of Christ is given to all that enter this world. Brigham Young once said that there were:

“in the world a certain number of good, gifted, moral, God-fearing men who would worship him the best they could, and acceptably in his eyes according to the light they had received”.

Brigham Young

(HISTORY OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS FROM THEIR ESTABLISHMENT IN THE YEAR 1823, TO THE TIME WHEN

THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM WERE EXILED FROM AMERICA BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGION, IN THE YEAR 1846, Dan Jones)

Truth has been revealed to mankind throughout the world in many different ways other than just God’s prophets. He’s revealed truth through various religious figures, writers, artists, scientists, and philosophers. You’d be surprised at the similarities of virtues that are taught within the world’s major religions. Charity, service, kindness, chastity, honesty, sacrifice. We have a lot more in common than we sometimes think. Therefore the Lord will be still able to judge all based on the light they were given. So at the judgment, if you were a Muslim, he might ask “what kind of a Muslim were you?” If you were a Hindu, “What kind of a Hindu were you?” If you were a Southern Baptist, “What kind of a Southern Baptist were you?” Just because an individual wasn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, doesn’t mean they didn’t have any understanding of right and wrong or any access to truth.

So let’s go to our next statement.

C. Those who die without a knowledge of the gospel who would have accepted it shall inherit the Celestial Kingdom.

Now that’s the true statement. Verses 7-8 teach us that:

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;

8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;

This is where Alvin’s situation is addressed. As Joseph looks into heaven, he sees a number of different people. He sees God the Father, the Son, Adam, and Abraham. This probably didn’t surprise him since you would expect these individuals to be there. But then things get more interesting. He sees his father and his mother. Now that’s fascinating because Mother and Father Smith were still alive in 1836. What a comforting thought for them! Can you imagine Joseph telling them about this vision? Mom, Dad, I saw you in the celestial kingdom. I suppose that could almost qualify as having your calling and election made sure. And then he sees Alvin. And look at the word he uses to describe how his reaction. He “marveled” how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.” This must’ve been a beautiful and comforting thing for the family to hear, considering the Christian theology they’d all been taught. At this point, you could show another clip from the Joseph Smith movie. Show them from time stamp 31:51 to 33:01. It shows Joseph receiving the vision in the Kirtland temple and then telling his mother about it. His relief and joy are evident and can help your students sense how powerful a moment this must have been for the Smith family. Now God had confirmed to Joseph something that he had suspected all along—that it wasn’t fair or just for circumstance or death to be the judge of a person’s eternal destiny. God was the judge of a person’s heart. That truth extends to all of God’s children throughout the world and makes our theology one of the most hopeful and fair of any religion. I can’t think of many other faiths that allow for this possibility of exaltation to individuals who have never even heard of their religion. What do you do about that rice farmer and his family in rural China who has never even heard the name “Jesus Christ”? In our faith, they have just as much of a chance of being in the celestial kingdom as any of us.

Joseph once explained this principle of fair judgment. He said:

“The plans of Jehovah are not so unjust, the statements of holy writ so visionary, nor the plan of salvation for the human family so incompatible with common sense; at such proceedings God would frown with indignance, angels would hide their heads in shame, and every virtuous, intelligent man would recoil.

If human laws award to each man his deserts, and punish all delinquents according to their several crimes, surely the Lord will not be more cruel than man, for He is a wise legislator, and His laws are more equitable, His enactments more just, and His decisions more perfect than those of man; and as man judges his fellow man by law, and punishes him according to the penalty of the law, so does God of heaven judge “according to the deeds done in the body.” To say that the heathens would be damned because they did not believe the Gospel would be preposterous, and to say that the Jews would all be damned that do not believe in Jesus would be equally absurd; for “how can they believe on him of whom they have not heard, and how can they hear without a preacher, and how can he preach except he be sent;” consequently neither Jew nor heathen can be culpable for rejecting the conflicting opinions of sectarianism, nor for rejecting any testimony but that which is sent of God, for as the preacher cannot preach except he be sent, so the hearer cannot believe without he hear a “sent” preacher, and cannot be condemned for what he has not heard, and being without law, will have to be judged without law.”

I agree with Joseph, a lot of those theories and creeds of man are “Incompatible with common sense”. God is not more cruel than man. He’s fair. He’s merciful.

Another quick thought. I’m not sure if this is the message section 137 is meaning to send, but it’s fun to think that perhaps we will have a similar experience to Joseph’s if we attain the celestial kingdom. Will there be individuals we are surprised to see there? Will we marvel? Perhaps there are family members or acquaintances who we would assume wouldn’t make it. Sometimes people wonder about loved ones who may have committed suicide or who strayed from the path and they worry about their chances of exaltation. Maybe we will marvel to see those people there. Living prophets have taught that the judgment will reside with God and we may not understand all the factors that contributed to why people did the things they did. We can rest assured that they will be judged according to a perfect balance of justice and mercy. And as we’ll see later in today’s lesson, post-mortal decisions will also come into play. And who knows, maybe there will be people who will be surprised to see us there.

Let’s move on, because the remainder of section 137 and section 138 will help us to understand God’s judgment even better. Verse nine, to me, has to be one of the most reassuring and hopeful verses in all the standard works. It says:

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

That verse contains my favorite punctuation mark of all scripture. It’s that comma right after the word “works”. I’m so grateful that it’s not a period. Because if it’s a period right there, you and I are in a great amount of trouble. If I’m only going to be judged by my works, I doubt I’m going to make it. But it’s not a period, it’s a comma. What else is God going to take into consideration? The desire of our hearts. So our next statement:

D. The Lord will judge us according to how much we did right compared to how much we did wrong. If we did more right, we will be saved in Celestial glory, if we did more wrong, we will inherit a lesser kingdom.

That must be false. That’s not the way God judges us. He isn’t going to just put all our good deeds on one side of the scale and all our bad deeds on the other, and if the scales tip towards good we receive exaltation OR if the scales tip more towards the bad, we find ourselves in telestial or terrestrial glory. So . . .

E. The Lord will judge us based on the things we did and our motives for doing them.

This is the correct statement. The Lord will definitely judge us based on the things we did. We can’t minimize that. Our actions do matter. And we will be judged for what we did on this earth. But that’s not all. God will also consider our desires. Did we want to be good? Jesus made an interesting statement on the sermon on the mount. He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). The hunger we have to be good, the thirst we have for righteousness means something to God. I know of very good, righteous individuals whose hearts are filled with guilt and anxiety over their weaknesses and they wonder if they’re going to make it. My answer to them: if you’re worried about it, that probably indicates something about your heart. You WANT to be good. You have desires in your heart for righteousness. That’s going to count for something in the eyes of God. Yes, it’s true, that many will say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that is an accurate statement. We can’t just go through life wishing and never doing. But even though the road to hell may indeed be paved with good intentions, apparently, so is the road to heaven. I will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

You see this same sentiment taught in Doctrine and Covenants section 46, verse 9 in regard to spiritual gifts.

9 For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts.

Once again, an example of God promising blessings to those who manifest their desire to follow God’s will, even when they may fail to execute it perfectly. I’m so grateful for that truth. Because if God will just add my desires for righteousness to the scale, perhaps that will be just enough to tip them in my favor.

F. Children who die before they arrive at the age of accountability will enter the Celestial Kingdom.

This statement is true. Verse 10:

10 And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.

This simple statement corrects that age old sectarian notion of the fate of unbaptized children. I recall my mother telling me the story of something that happened to her aunt as she sat at a bus stop in rural Canada. She came upon a woman weeping. Being a kindhearted and sensitive woman, she asked her what was wrong and if she could do anything to help. The woman responded, my baby died, my baby died! My mother’s aunt responded with sympathy and comfort and then asked, when did this happen? “10 years ago” she responded. Now, a little shocked by this, she asked her why this was still affecting her so deeply. She said, “I never had my baby baptized and now he’s in hell. I’ll never forgive myself for not getting by baby baptized”. This doctrine of infant damnation had disturbed this poor woman for 10 years. We are so fortunate that we have a section 137 understanding.

Emma also worried greatly about the fate of her children that had died in infancy. That concern continues all throughout her life. Just before she dies, she has a dream where she encounters Joseph again. She says:

Joseph came to me and said to me, “Emma come with me. It is time for you to come with me.”

I put on my bonnet and my shawl and went with him. I did not think that it was anything unusual.

I went with him into a mansion, a beautiful mansion, and he showed me through the different apartments of that beautiful mansion and one room was the nursery.

In that nursery was a babe in a cradle. I knew my babe, my Don Carlos that was taken away from me.

I sprang forward, caught up the child in my arms, and wept with joy over the child.

When I recovered myself sufficient, I turned to Joseph and said, “Joseph, where are the rest of my children?” and he said to me, “Emma, be patient and you shall have all of your children.”

(Gracia N. Jones, “My Great-Great-Grandmother, Emma Hale Smith”, Ensign, April 1992)

This is got to be one of the most comforting and reassuring doctrine for parents who lose children. Losing a child is a difficult enough experience as it is. I’m sure our Father in Heaven has no desire to add to that difficulty by prompting parents to question the fate of their children’s spirits. They are saved. It’s just that simple.

G. Children who die before the age of eight will be tested later in the Spirit World.

This last statement, as far as I know, is not a doctrine taught by section 137. But I put this statement in there because I think it highlights an interesting question. This revelation answers and solves the problem of the unfairness of condemning unbaptized children. But it does create another question. One might ask: Where is the justice in allowing children to be exalted automatically? Should I have hoped for that circumstance myself in order to secure my exaltation? I’m not quite sure how to answer that one I’m afraid. Maybe somebody wiser than me out there has a better explanation for that question. Put it in the comments if you do. But I suppose my answer to that would be, “Well, let’s allow God to be merciful”. Saving those children is an act of mercy and what a beautiful blessing afforded to those who didn’t get the opportunity to experience much of mortality.

TRUTH

All people who die without a knowledge of the gospel, who would have received it, will inherit the celestial kingdom.

The Lord will judge us by our works and the desires of our hearts.

All children who die before they become accountable will be saved in the celestial kingdom.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

Each of these doctrines are very hope infusing truths. So the “liken the scriptures” question is:

Which of these three truths gives you the most hope? Why?

CONCLUSION

Well, it’s apparent to me that much of the joy of the Celestial kingdom revolves around people and relationships. I know that I want to be in a place where I can enjoy “the same sociality that exists among us here only coupled with eternal glory” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:2). Just imagine the kind of relationship you will have with your spouse, your children, and your friends when all the baggage of mortality and the natural man are left behind. Those relationships can be amazing here on earth WITH all that baggage. How much better will they be there. Heaven often seems like such an unattainable goal. But I believe that when all is said and done and the judgment is over, we will see that many have obtained it. As a student of the scriptures, I have a lot of faith in the mercy of God. I believe that if our hearts are right, and we want to be good, all of God’s blessings will be ours. God is fair. God is just. God is merciful. Section 137 proves that.

138:1-11 DIGGING DEEP

ICEBREAKER

A brief thought here from the beginning of section 138. There’s a powerful message about scripture study here. And so for an icebreaker I like to say something to get their attention. For a little bit of shock value, I say: “Everyone, I really wish you would all just stop reading your scriptures. I don’t want you reading them here in class and I don’t want you reading them at home. In fact, I think it’s really unfortunate that so many people in the church read their scriptures so often. Me, I never read the scriptures”. And trust me, that will really get their attention. So then I say, “Now before you stand up and leave, let me explain what I mean. The scriptures use much better words than just ‘read’ to describe how we should interact with them. Rather than merely read them, we are instructed to study them, meditate on them, search them, lay hold upon them, liken them, treasure them up, and feast on them. But for heaven’s sakes, don’t read them. We read novels, we read magazines, we read instruction manuals, but we study the scriptures.”

TRANSITION

Section 138 is a perfect example of the power of scripture studyS

SEARCH

I want you to read verses 1-11 and mark all the words and phrases that describe what Joseph F. Smith did that helped lead to this vision. How did he “study” the scriptures?

Here’s what I see:

1. He SAT in his room. He found a quiet place where he could be alone. Scripture study will always be more effective when we remove all distractions from around us. Turn off the television. Silence the cell phone. Find a place where you can be alone. Revelation comes more easily in peaceful settings.

2. He was PONDERING over the scriptures. The definition of ponder is: to weigh in the mind, to reflect on, to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply. When we do this, we invite revelation.

3. He was REFLECTING on the doctrine of the atonement and the love of God. To reflect is to think deeply on something that you’ve heard or considered before. When we study the scriptures, it’s good to keep our minds open to things we’ve been taught or wish to understand better.

4. His mind was ENGAGED. I love that one. If we wish to get more out of the scriptures, we’ve got to engage our minds. Turn them on. Sometimes I think we just mindlessly skim through the scriptures or go through the motions. Do we just read our chapter for the night so we can cross it off our to do list? Or do we engage in actively seeking wisdom and revelation?

5. He OPENED the Bible. You can’t get much out of the scriptures if we don’t open them. I’m intrigued by the fact that all the previous verbs we looked at came before he ever even opened the scriptures. He came to them with a question and concern in mind. Then, the spirit was able to inspire and guide him to the verses that held the key to the answer. We can do the same. Before you even study, have a question in mind and then actively look for how the scriptures address that issue.

6. He was IMPRESSED by certain passages of the scriptures. When our minds and hearts are engaged, the Spirit may impress things upon us. Certain verses, thoughts, or words will catch our attention and stand out to us. The Spirit will emphasize the things that we, personally, need most to understand.

7. And then in verse 11, the word PONDERED is used again. Pondering may be one the most important scripture study tools you can have in your toolbox. Sometimes I’ll tell my students that if they came by in the morning during my preparation period, they might look into the window of my office and see me leaning back in my chair, feet up on my desk, staring off into space. And they might be tempted to think, “Wow, look at that lazy Brother Wilcox. What a life! Sitting around doing nothing.” But what they wouldn’t realize, is that they’re actually witnessing me doing the hardest work of my day. I’m pondering in those moments. My mind is reflecting, engaging, and being impressed upon by the Spirit. It’s when I’m deeply concentrating that revelation and understanding come. Some of the most important scripture study you will ever do will take place when you’re not even looking at the scriptures. Sometimes people will come up to me after teaching and will say, “I’ve never seen that before in the scriptures, how did you discover that?” They almost think it’s like magic, or I’m some kind of scriptural guru. But I’ll make a confession here. I’m no more of a scriptural expert than anyone else. What’s the secret? Pondering. I take the time to ponder. And I’m certain that anyone, who is willing to do the same, will discover their own powerful principles as well.

What was the result of President Smith’s pondering? Verse 11: The eyes of his understanding were opened, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and he saw great things.

TRUTH

If we ponder, reflect on, and engage with the scriptures, the Spirit will open the eyes of our understanding.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

I invite you to try this out for yourself. Today, in your scripture study, be sure to spend at least 5 minutes just pondering on something you encounter in the scriptures. Turn your gaze away from the actual page and reflect on what you’ve read and just see what happens.

CONCLUSION

I’m confident that you do this consistently, your relationship with the scriptures will change forever. You will enjoy and look forward to it more. And you will be edified and enlightened every time you sit down to STUDY.

138:12-60 THE WORLD OF SPIRITS

One of the things I believe is important to keep in mind when it comes to this vision of Joseph F. Smith is the date it’s received. October of 1918. Now consider the following facts:

Joseph F. Smith’s father, Hyrum Smith, was murdered when he was just 5 years old.

His mother, Mary Fielding Smith, died when he was 13.

One of his wives and 13 of his children will die in his lifetime.

His oldest son, Hyrum Mack Smith had died just months earlier due to a ruptured appendix. He had been serving as an apostle at the time.

By 1918, 9 million people have died in World War 1.

At this very time that he has this vision, the Spanish Flu pandemic was claiming lives all over the world. 50 million people are going to die before it runs its course.

And then, Joseph F. Smith himself was not well at the time. Ultimately, he will die just a few weeks after this revelation is received on November 19th. Perhaps he was contemplating his own passing as well.

Needless to say. Joseph F. Smith was someone who was very familiar with death. It’s fitting that the one canonized revelation he gives us is all about the spirit world.

ICEBREAKER

Well, you’re all going to start thinking that all I do is suggest videos for icebreakers anymore, but I have another one for you. To introduce section 138, I like to show a portion of the video “To this End was I Born” that depicts the last hours of the Savior’s life. You may just want to show the final scenes of the Savior on the cross and his body being placed in the tomb. You’ll find this part by showing from time stamp 17:28-24:23. As soon as the stone is rolled over the entrance of the tomb, pause the video, and ask, “What happened next?” What would you imagine the next scene of the video is going to be? Many students might guess that it is the resurrection. They’ll see Jesus rising from the tomb and meeting Mary. However, that isn’t what happened next. Remember that Jesus’s mortal body lay in the tomb for three days. Where was Jesus’s Spirit in the meantime? What was he doing? You then continue the video to show them what happened. A short scene of Jesus in the spirit world is what follows. That little scene will be the basis for the rest of the lesson.

SEARCH

After watching the video you can give them the following study guide handout. Usually, I’ll have them work with a partner to answer the questions together. Then, you can spend the remainder of the lesson correcting and discussing their answers.

1. Who were the people in white robes in the video? (138:11-12)

2. What are four words that describe the kind of people they were? (138:12-14)

3. Can you give me at least 6 of the names of the people that were there? (138:38-49)

4. Why did all the people in white robes have such big smiles on their faces? (138:15-18, 23-24, 50-51)

5. What group of people was not in the video and why? (138:20-22, 29)

6. What would the Savior have done next in the video if the scene were to continue? (138:30-32, 36-37)

7. What is that other group of people taught? (138:33-34)

8. Who else gets to join in that work? (138:57)

9. What must those people do in order to “break out of prison”? (138:58-59)

We’ll go through each of the questions together here and maybe I can give you some ideas and insights you could use to enhance your discussion.

1. Who were the people in white robes in the video? (138:11-12)

They were the dead, or the spirits of the just—people who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality. There is something I noticed this time as I read section 138 in regard to this group of righteous people. It says that it was an innumerable company of the spirits of the just. In verse 18 they are referred to as a vast multitude. Verse 38 speaks of a vast congregation. Verse 49 calls them a vast assembly. How hopeful! I’ve always had the impression that the numbers of the righteous are small. But, this revelation describes a vast multitude! There are many, many individuals in that group. An innumerable amount. Exaltation is not just a blessing that only the elite, or the few will enjoy. Exaltation lies in the grasp of countless individuals. Heaven is crowded it seems. Maybe that thought can help us not to get so discouraged as we strive to walk the Lord’s path.

2. What are four words or phrases that describe these people? (138:12-14)

Well, we’ve already seen just and faithful. To those we could add that they were people who had offered sacrifice, they had suffered tribulation for their faith, and they are those who died firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection.

3. Can you give me at least 6 of the names of the people that were there? (138:38-49)

Well, let’s see. You have Adam, and then Eve (who by the way, I know it’s just a video and this doesn’t happen in the scriptures, but at the end of that scene the Savior embraces someone. And it got me thinking. Who might those first embraces go to? Wouldn’t it be fitting for it to be Adam and Eve? Those who brought about the Fall, making our mortality possible, connecting with the one who had just overcome the fall? That’s just a thought) Along with Eve, who else do we have included here? You have Abel, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elias, Malachi. And you could add all the prophets who dwelt among the Nephites from the Book of Mormon. So I’m sure he would have seen Nephi, and Alma, and Moroni as well.

4. Why did all the people in white robes have such big smiles on their faces? (138:15-18, 23-24, 50-51)

Now we get to the meat of it here. Verse 15. They were filled with joy because the day of their deliverance was at hand. What an interesting dichotomy of emotions between the righteous on earth and the righteous in the spirit world. What are they feeling back on earth at this very time? Great sadness, weeping, bewilderment, and mourning. But in the spirit world? Great joy and anticipation. Now I’m sure those in the spirit world were also saddened by the crucifixion and the pain that Jesus suffered, but, knowing what he had just accomplished, and what he was about to do for them—they couldn’t help but rejoice. Maybe there’s a message in that. Depending on where you are, your perspective changes. Yes, death may be very tragic and difficult for us to understand here, but if we were to see things from the other side, we may feel differently about the situation. They were rejoicing. They had been waiting for the Savior to declare their redemption from the bands of death. Usually we associate words like bands and deliverance with the wicked and spirit prison. But even those that are in spirit paradise are in a type of bondage. The bondage of death. They were going to be freed—resurrected, restored to their perfect frame. They are described as captives in verse 18. In verse 23, they were to be delivered from death and the chains of hell. Woah, that’s an interesting term to throw in there—the chains of hell, in reference to the righteous? Not having our bodies must be difficult for us as spirits. Then verse 50 teaches us that the dead look upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage. Why were they so happy then? They were about to be freed from bondage. Even though they were already in a state of peace and rest in Spirit Paradise, they couldn’t wait to be reunited with flesh and bone once again. I love what they do in verse 24. It says that they sang praises unto his holy name. Their joy causes them to break into song. That got me thinking. What song would you sing? Is there a hymn that you would choose? And how would it be to sing that hymn, with the Savior right in front of you? What would it be like to sing “How Great Thou Art” or “I Know that my Redeemer Lives” or “I Believe in Christ” with him standing right there? What a moment.

5. What group of people was not in the video and why? (138:20-22, 29)

The wicked are not there. Unto the wicked he did not go. Let’s look at all the words and phrases used to describe that group. The ungodly, unrepentant, defiled, rebellious, they are those who rejected the testimonies of the prophets. In verse 29 we have wicked again, disobedient, and rejected the truth. This group are also in bondage. But the reason he didn’t go there is not because he didn’t love them. It wasn’t because they were beneath his care or concern. I mean, in life, he spent all kinds of time with that type of people. Verses 25-28 seem to suggest that it was a time constraint. Only three days. And you know, when we say Jesus laid in the tomb for three days, we don’t even mean 3 full 24-hour periods. He died on a Friday and was raised Sunday morning. So this was a quick visit to the Spirit World. Now I don’t understand all the doctrinal ins and outs of that. Could he not have gone back after his resurrection? I don’t know. Verse 37 suggests a different reason for him not teaching the wicked. It says, “because of their rebellion and transgression”. So which is it? Or was it a combination of the two? Not sure, but I imagine both could have played a role.

6. What would the Savior have done next in the video if the scene were to continue? (138:30-32, 36-37)

Verses 30-32

30 But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

31 And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.

32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

Verses 36-37 carry a similar sentiment. What we would have seen then in the video is Jesus organizing post-mortal missionary work. “That they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words”. Death does not mark the end of heavenly efforts to save souls. I think I used to have the impression that missionary work in the spirit world was primarily directed to those who had died without a knowledge of the truth. The ignorant who had never heard of Jesus, or the Church, or the gospel. But that doesn’t seem to be the case here. It is also preached to those who died in their sins, those in darkness, those who had rejected the prophets. The wicked. So just because somebody dies in a state of rebellion or disobedience or ungodliness, doesn’t mean they are cast off forever or have no hope. There seem to be three groups of individuals that are highlighted in section 138. The righteous, the ignorant, and the wicked. All of them are in some kind of bondage. God provides a way for all three groups to be freed from the chains that hold them down. All are referred to as being in bonds of some kind. Whether that is the chains of death and not having a body, the chains of ignorance, or the chains of sin. God makes it possible for all those chains to be broken. It seems like the spirit world is very much like our world here. A continuation of experience and opportunity. People will continue to have the chance to change, to repent, and to commit themselves to Jesus Christ, just like they do here. Sadly, there will still be many who continue to use their agency to reject the gospel message.

7. What is that other group of people taught? (138:33-34)

The first principles and ordinances of the gospel with just a bit of a twist. Faith, repentance, then vicarious baptism for the remission of sins and vicarious confirmation of the gift of the Holy Ghost. And we know now that all saving ordinances are available to them through the work we do in the temple. There’s something else I’d like to add from verse 37 to this thought. Those that preach “carry the message of redemption unto all the dead”. Perhaps that might be the message they most need to here. I imagine that many of these souls are in a state of despair, thinking all is lost, drowning in regret and fear. Maybe they feel the way Alma the younger described feeling in Alma 36. Racked, in torment, horror, harrowed up by the memory of all their sins, wishing that they could become extinct both soul and body. And perhaps all they need is someone to come and teach them “concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world (Alma 36:17) We may not need to spend so much time and effort convincing them to change, but it may take more effort to teach and convince them that they can change. Not all the teaching is just "you've got to repent; you need to understand this”. But maybe it’s, "Hey, you can be redeemed! There is an atonement. There is mercy. There is love. It’s not too late. Salvation is still available to you!”

8. Who else gets to join in that work? (138:57)

Verse 57:

57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

All righteous individuals will continue to have the joy of sharing the gospel and the good news of Christ’s redemption and mercy. I love missionary work. There are few things greater in life than seeing the message of the gospel change someone. To be an instrument in God’s hand is a powerful privilege. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to just sit around in spirit paradise resting forever. Although a little bit of that will be nice. I want to go to work. I want to go to hell, or spirit prison and help free captives from the bonds of sin and ignorance.

If you’re worried that it only says faithful elders in that verse, I would refer you back to verse 39. Who else was included in that vast congregation President Smith saw? Along with our glorious Mother Eve, there were also “many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God”. Wonderful! The women are not excluded in this effort. The teaching of the gospel in the spirit world is not just a duty and opportunity for ordained priesthood bearers, but all of God’s faithful sons and daughters. So sisters, if you never felt like you had the opportunity to serve a mission, or marriage came first for you, you too will have that privilege to preach and share the gospel in the world of spirits.

9. What must those people do in order to “break out of prison”? (138:58-59)

They need to repent, and be obedient to the ordinances of the house of God. Notice that it says they aren’t redeemed BY the ordinances of the temple but through their obedience to the ordinances of the temple. This suggests that there is a chance to obey in the spirit world—that there is an agency that can be exercised in the next life. This is also a reminder to the living. We too, are not redeemed just because we’ve received temple ordinances. We must be obedient to those temple ordinances, or the covenants that we’ve made while receiving them. Back to the prisoners here:

:59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.

So those in prison do pay a penalty. Alma’s feelings come to mind again. The wicked do suffer a consequence for their actions on this earth. This should help to dissuade anyone from being foolish enough to procrastinate the day of their repentance in this life by counting on some future change of heart in the world of spirits. But they can be washed clean, and receive a reward, and become heirs of salvation.

TRUTH

Righteous individuals will have the opportunity to preach the gospel in the spirit world.

Individuals who never had a chance to receive the gospel will have that opportunity in the spirit world.

Wicked and rebellious individuals will have an opportunity to repent and be redeemed in the spirit world.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

Which of those three doctrines is most exciting or hopeful to you? Why?

What do these doctrines of the spirit world reveal to you about God?

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, one final thought. There is something that impresses me most about the message of these two sections. As doctrinal and specific as they are, there seems to be one overarching or foundational principle that shines through each verse. In our study of section 137, we discovered that we will be judged according to our works and desires that we had while in this life. But that is not all. 138:56 speaks of individuals who were prepared to do certain things on earth because of how they reacted to their first lessons in the world of spirits. And we have now learned that it is even the wicked and rebellious, not just the ignorant who will have an opportunity to be taught the gospel again and repent in the next life. It appears to me that we will be judged not only for our mortal deeds and desires, but for our premortal, mortal, and post-mortal deeds and desires. God offers many, many chances to his children to change, to repent, and to come unto him. What’s the message that impresses me most? God’s mercy. His grace. His goodness. He wants to save all. His work and his glory is the immortality and eternal life of mankind and he is going to expend every effort and offer every occasion for his children to attain that outcome. Indeed, what was the subject on Joseph F. Smith’s mind when this vision occurred? What was he pondering? Verses 2-3

2 And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world;

3 And the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world;

He was thinking of God’s great and wonderful love. That was the genesis of the whole subject. God loves his children. God loves you and he loves me more than we can ever imagine. He loves the just and the faithful. He loves the wicked and rebellious. And his love is not just a mere feeling. Love is verb to God, not just a noun. He acts on that love and is ever reaching out his arms to invite his children to use their divinely granted agency to come to Him and enjoy all he has to offer. As John concluded in one of his epistles, “God is love” (1 John 4:16). He is the living embodiment of that principle.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

LESSON #1 CELESTIAL GLORY:WHO’S IT FOR? (DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 137)

TRUTH:

Now I usually like to boil down the point of a lesson into one focused, single statement of truth. But for this first lesson, there are actually three distinct doctrines or truths that I would want my students to understand. And I think you can get away with that sometimes, especially when they’re thematically connected. Those three doctrines are:

All people who die without a knowledge of the gospel, who would have received it, will inherit the celestial kingdom.

The Lord will judge us by our works and the desires of our hearts.

All children who die before they become accountable will be saved in the celestial kingdom.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

I feel a fire in the bones for this lesson as I consider just how theologically groundbreaking these truths are in Christianity. For those of us who have been members of the Church our whole lives, we may be more apt to take these truths for granted. But these doctrines reveal just how fair, merciful, and loving our Heavenly parents really are. These reassuring truths dispel fears and questions concerning loved ones who died young, friends outside the Church, or our own imperfect efforts. This is our chance to help our students understand the true nature of God, a God who sees and values desire, who understands circumstance, and who redeems the innocent. This has got to be one of the most comforting sections in the entire Doctrine and Covenants.

OBJECT:

For an object, once again, a set of balances. Oh, those come in handy so often. And I like to use that object during the portion of the lesson where you discuss the final judgment. You can use it to illustrate how God doesn’t judge us. We are not judged based solely on a balance between our good deeds and our bad deeds and if our good deeds outweigh our bad, we’ll be exalted. Rather, you can use the balance as a symbol of God judging us with the perfect balance of justice and mercy. That’s the balance he’s going to use.

Link to purchase scales: https://amzn.to/3JWayQU

ICEBREAKER/VIDEO:

But for the icebreaker, I like to show a video clip because the power and message of section 137 really hinges on the context it grows out of. Joseph had a great concern over the salvation of his older brother Alvin who died when Joseph was a boy. Alvin had never been baptized, and so Joseph was forever worried about the that state of his soul. The general belief of the day was that if you weren’t baptized during your life, you were damned, regardless of how you lived your life. So to set the stage for this context, show a clip from Joseph Smith-the Prophet of the Restoration from time stamp 12:09-15:20. And before you show it, say to your students: Doctrinal misunderstandings can have real consequences. What effect did a doctrinal misunderstanding of Joseph Smith’s day have on him? After the video you can discuss how that common belief of the day really worried and devastated Joseph, who loved his brother deeply and agonized over the state of his soul. This will also set up the power and significance of section 137.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-03-0001-joseph-smith-the-prophet-of-the-restoration?lang=eng

SEARCH ACTIVITY/HANDOUT:

Then, the search activity involves the following handout. It’s just a simple list of doctrinal statements and your students’ job is to circle the ones that are true and taught by section 137. Give them a chance to read and study the entire section and make their selections. And the section is short, only 10 verses, so it shouldn’t take them too long. You could make that assignment an individual one, have them work in pairs, or in small groups. It’s up to you. But then, you can spend the rest of the class period reviewing each of those statements, showing which ones are true and taught by section 137, and discussing the significance of those doctrines. The insight video can help to prepare you for that discussion and there are a number of helpful quotes included in the slide presentation.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

But I’d also like to provide you with a number of possible discussion question you could choose from to ask during that discussion.

What part of Joseph’s description of the celestial kingdom stands out most to you?

Why do you think it matters that God judges people based on the light they had and not just whether they were baptized or had the “right” information?

Why do you think God includes “the desires of our hearts” in the judgment and what does that tell you about His character?

What does the exaltation of those who die young reveal about God’s mercy?

TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION:

Then, for a more general “take it to heart” type question, ask:

Which of these three truths gives you the most hope? Why?

I WILL GO AND DO QUESTION:

What is one way you can let God’s fairness and mercy change the way you look at somebody else or yourself this week?

TAKEAWAY:

You can then conclude by showing the following takeaway slide and bearing your own personal witness of the comforting and hopeful truths of section 137. Be sure to testify of the nature of God that this section reveals. His mercy, his justice, his love, his fairness with mankind. Testify of the hope that section 137 offers us. The hope it provides for the ignorant, the innocent, and the imperfect. We too can experience the same kind of comfort and reassurance that Joseph received that day in the Kirtland temple. That peace can be ours as well.

LESSON #2 DIGGING DEEP (DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 138:1-11)

TRUTH: DEEP and GENUINE scripture STUDY will open the eyes of our understanding and invite the Spirit to reveal things that we could never discover by simply “reading.”

FIRE IN THE BONES:

This is a shorter lesson but can still be immensely powerful in helping to inspire our students to truly study the scriptures. A fire in the bones for teaching this portion of section 137 can be sparked by a desire to help our students to get more out of their scripture study. This comes easy to me because I LOVE the scriptures. I hope YOU love the scriptures. And if you do, let that enthusiasm and love for them pour out of you as you encourage your class to make scripture study a more meaningful part of their lives. And with that, you can promise them that with that study will flow greater understanding, increased motivation to choose the right, and perhaps most importantly, an amplified ability to receive personal revelation from God.

OBJECT:

For an object, bring in a shovel. That can serve as a good visual to accompany the idea of digging deep into the scriptures in search of valuable spiritual treasures.

ICEBREAKER/HANDOUT:

For the icebreaker, a couple of thoughts. One, for a little bit of shock value, you could say something like: “Everyone, I really wish you would all just stop reading your scriptures. I don’t want you reading them here in class and I don’t want you reading them at home. In fact, I think it’s really unfortunate that so many people in the church read their scriptures so often. Me, I never read the scriptures”. And that should get their attention. But then you say, “Now before you stand up and leave, let me explain what I mean. The scriptures use much better words than just ‘read’ to describe how we should interact with them. Rather than merely read them, we are instructed to study them, meditate on them, search them, lay hold upon them, liken them, treasure them up, and feast on them. But for heaven’s sakes, don’t read them. We read novels, we read magazines, we read instruction manuals, but we study the scriptures.” If you wanted to turn this into a short activity, you could give them the following handout and invite them to find the verbs in those verses that describe how we should interact with the scriptures.

OR, you could hold up the shovel and ask the following question: What are some of the valuable things people can find by digging? And there’s many. In fact, some of the things we consider to be the MOST valuable things on earth must first be unearthed by digging for them. Things like gold, silver, diamonds and other precious metals and gems. Fossils. Fossil fuels like oil can make you rich if you dig for it. Food can be found by digging; potatoes, onions, peanuts, carrots, and other edible things must be dug up in order to eat them. And then you’ve got archeological artifacts, and of course buried treasure. The point of all this is that valuable things can be found as long as you’re willing to dig for them. Well, the same holds true of the scriptures. If we want to get to the good stuff, we have to be willing to dig. We’ve got to be willing to expend concentrated effort, when we do, then and only then, will we uncover the treasures the scriptures have to offer us.

The first portion of section 138 gives us a perfect illustration of this process. In 1918, Joseph F. Smith had an incredible vision of the Spirit World, and it was scripture study that acted as the catalyst for that experience.

SEARCH ACTIVITY:

So for the search activity, invite your students to read verses 1-11 of section 138 looking for and marking all the words and phrases that describe what Joseph F. Smith did that helped lead to this treasure of a revelation. How did he “study” the scriptures?

After you’ve given your students time to study those verses, invite them to share what they found and discuss how doing those things can lead to greater experiences with the word of God. In that discussion, I would be sure to highlight the significance of the following words:

Sat, Pondering, Reflecting, Engaged, Opened, and Impressed. Then highlight the results of his being willing to study the scriptures this way. From verse 11: The eyes of his understanding were opened, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon him, and he saw great things.

QUOTE:

“Search the scriptures—search the revelations which we publish, and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit.” (Smith, Teachings, 11).

TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION:

Have you ever had a moment when understanding seemed to “open up” while you were studying the scriptures? What happened?

I WILL GO AND DO QUESTION:

If you were to add one new scripture-study habit this week—just one—which do you think would help you notice more revelation?

TAKEAWAY:

Then, the takeaway slide reminds our students to DIG DEEP into the scriptures. Testify to your students that the kind of scripture study that Joseph F. Smith modeled here works and it changes our relationship with the word of God. He didn’t just read the scriptures; he engaged with them, pondered them, dug deep into them. And because of that, heaven opened. Invite them to try it this week. To stop settling for mere “reading.” If they do, you can promise them that they’ll start to notice the Spirit opening their understanding in amazing ways and they will uncover the great, valuable treasures that the scriptures have to offer us.

GAME:

If you feel like you want a little more activity and engagement with this lesson. Instead of the handout, you could play a quick game of pyramid which I know I’ve explained a number of times in the past. The words you could use for this lesson would be:

Scriptures

Dig

Treasure

Ponder

Study

Value

Feast

Search

Meditate

Revelation

Daily

Worth

LESSON #3 BREAKING CHAINS (DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 138:12-60)

TRUTH:

For the truth in this lesson, once again I’ve boiled it down into three separate statements of doctrine that I feel this section highlights. All three should be covered in my opinion when teaching this lesson. They are:

Righteous individuals will have the opportunity to preach the gospel in the spirit world.

Individuals who never had a chance to receive the gospel will have that opportunity in the spirit world.

Wicked and rebellious individuals will have an opportunity to repent and be redeemed in the spirit world.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

I love the doctrines presented here almost as much as I love the doctrines of the Celestial kingdom found in the previous section of the Doctrine and Covenants. But here, we find the doctrines of the Spirit World. And just like those Celestial truths, the truths we find here also illustrate the love, mercy, and fairness of our Father in Heaven. Your students probably have a lot of questions about death, about fairness, about loved ones who wander, and about what happens next. This is your chance to help them see that the story does not end at the grave, and that God’s reach extends far beyond the limits of mortality. This lesson can give our students a renewed hope in a God that is actively working for the salvation of every one of His children.

OBJECT:

I would display a chain for this lesson. Much of what you’ll discuss involves God’s efforts to free his children. To free them from the chains of ignorance, the chains of sin, the chains of death, the chains of fear, and the chains of despair. Section 138 contains one of the most liberating messages we find in the scriptures.

ICEBREAKER/VIDEO:

So, for the icebreaker, a video again. I would show them a portion of the video entitled, “To this End was I Born” that depicts the last hours of the Savior’s life. You may just want to show from time stamp 17:28-24:23 which shows the last moments of Christ on the cross and his body being placed in the tomb. As soon as the stone is rolled over the entrance of the tomb, you should pause the video, and ask, “What happened next?” What would you imagine the next scene of the video is going to be? And many students might guess that it is the resurrection. They’ll see Jesus rising from the tomb and meeting Mary. However, that isn’t what happened next. Remember that Jesus’s mortal body lay in the tomb for three days. Where was Jesus’s Spirit in the meantime? What was he doing? You then continue the video to show them what happened. A short scene of Jesus in the spirit world is what follows. And that little scene is going to be the basis for the rest of the lesson.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

Before you dive deep into that discussion, you may want to discuss the circumstances and setting under which this revelation was received. It was received by Joseph F. Smith in October of 1918. Then, show them a list of all the reasons for why the question of “What happens when we die?” might be foremost on Joseph F. Smith’s mind when section 138 is received and perhaps why the Lord decided to reveal it specifically to him.

SEARCH ACTIVITY/HANDOUT:

Then, I really like using the study guide handout as a means of working through the content of section 138. It uses the video you showed at the beginning of class as the backdrop for the questions they’ll be looking for answer to. The handout indicates which verses they should read in order to find the answers. I believe that the handout should take anywhere from 8-15 minutes to complete depending on the age and maturity of your classes. Give them time to fill it out, and then correct it. This should give you a chance to deepen their understanding of the great doctrines of the Spirit World that are revealed here. I invite you to watch the insight video to see all the answers to the questions and to get ideas on how you might lead a discussion on the principles taught there.

QUOTE:

A quote you might want to share, especially in reference to the chains you have displayed would be the following from President Oaks:

“The work of salvation in the spirit world consists of freeing spirits from what the scriptures frequently describe as “bondage.” All in the spirit world are under some form of bondage.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Trust in the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 26)

TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION:

Which of those three doctrines is most exciting or hopeful to you? Why?

What do these doctrines of the spirit world reveal to you about God?

I WILL GO AND DO QUESTION:

How could this section change the way you think about your own spiritual progress this week?

TAKEAWAY:

The takeaway slide reminds our students of the major principles taught in section 138. The overarching principles of hope, justice, and above all, love. These sections prove just how much God loves his children; ALL of His children. He loves the just and the faithful and He loves the wicked and rebellious. Furthermore, testify that His love is not just a mere feeling. Love is verb to God, not just a noun. He acts on that love and is ever reaching out his arms to invite his children to use their divinely granted agency to come to Him and enjoy all he has to offer. The Savior who stepped into the spirit world to break chains is the same Savior who can break the ones that weigh on you and me. So, let’s allow Him to do so.