The Vision Lesson 13 Student Readings Doctrine and

“The Vision” ~ Lesson 13 Student Readings: • Doctrine and Covenants 76 • L. Tom Perry, “The Plan of Salvation, ” Ensign, November 2006. 1

D&C Section 76 given February 16, 1832 at the Johnson Farm in Hiram, Ohio 2

“It came from God”. 3

John 5 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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. 4

John 14 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 2 5

1 Corinthians 15 40 There also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. 6

The Second Great Awakening 1790 - 1840 The Holy Trinity Biblical inerrancy Romanticism Rejection of rationalism Millennialism Restorationism 7

Views of Salvation Traditional – just heaven and hell; only the very righteous are saved but the wicked are damned eternally in hell; Satan is the big winner. Universalism – universal salvation for all; only a few righteous are saved outright; the wicked are punished in hell but are eventually saved. Calvinism – God saves or damns whomever He wants; He is an arbitrary sovereign; human striving and obedience makes no difference; there is no incentive to obey God’s commandments. 8

Where is God’s justice in dealing out rewards and punishments? Is God’s judgment of humanity consistent with His benevolent character? Is God benevolent, loving, just and fair? 9

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! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God. 10

Nothing could be more pleasing to the Saints upon the order of the 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 theory [of different degrees of glory in the future life] and witnesses the fact 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 narrowmindedness of men, that every honest man is constrained to exclaim: “It came from God. ” 11

President Wilford Woodruff 1807 - 1898 “I consider that the Doctrine and Covenants [contains] the most Godlike proclamations ever made to the human family. I will refer to the ‘Vision’ alone, as a revelation which 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. ” 12

After all, my traditions were such, that when the Vision came first to me, it was directly contrary and opposed to my former education. I said, Wait a little. I did not reject it; but I could not understand it. I then could feel what incorrect tradition had done for me. Suppose all that I have ever heard from my priest and parents— the way they taught me to read the Bible—had been true, my understanding would be diametrically opposed to the doctrine revealed in the Vision. I used to think and pray, to read and think, until I knew and fully understood it for myself, by the visions of the Holy Spirit. Brigham Young 13

Celestial Glory (verses 50 – 70, 92 – 96) Terrestrial Glory (verses 71 - 80, 87, 91, 97) Telestial Glory The Glory of the Father and the Son (verses 19 – 24) (verses 81 – 86, 88 – 90, 98 - 112) The Fall of Lucifer The Sons of Perdition (verses 25 – 27) (verses 30 -49) Doctrine and Covenants 76 “The Vision” is a compilation of 6 visions! 14

“Without a knowledge of the gospel plan, transgression seems natural, innocent, even justified. There is no greater protection from the adversary than for us to know the truth - to know the plan!” 15

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• The glory of the Father and the Son • Obtaining and learning the mysteries of the Gospel • Qualifying for the Celestial Kingdom 17

D&C 76: 1 -4 – Look for words and phrases that describe Jesus Christ D&C 76: 5 -10 – Look for the Lord’s promises to the faithful • According to verse 5, what must we do to experience the Savior’s mercy, graciousness, and honor? • What does “fear” the Lord mean? (to reverence and obey Him) 18

Principles • As we fear the Lord and serve Him in righteousness, He will honor us and be merciful to us. 19

D&C 76: 15 -19 What were Joseph and Sidney doing that resulted in their receiving this revelation? What can we learn from their experience about the value of studying and pondering scriptures? 20

Principles • As we fear the Lord and serve Him in righteousness, He will honor us and be merciful to us. • Pondering the scriptures is a valuable study skill that gives the Holy Ghost greater opportunity to reveal truth to us. 21

D&C 76: 19 -24 What truths do we learn about Jesus Christ from this vision? • Jesus Christ is a living, glorified being. • Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten of the Father. • Jesus Christ is the Creator of this and other worlds. • The inhabitants of this and other worlds are begotten sons and daughters of God. 22

D&C 76: 54 -70 These verses list many of the blessings received by those in the Celestial Kingdom v. 69 – How does this verse help us to understand the Savior’s role in the lives of those who inherit the celestial kingdom? How can knowing the truths about the plan of salvation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76 help us make better choices in life? 23

D&C 76: 50 -70, 92 -96 Vision of the Celestial Kingdom v. 50 -53 – What do we need to do to enter the Celestial Kingdom? What do you think it means to have a “testimony of Jesus”? 24

Qualifications of Celestial Glory (verses 50 – 70, 92 – 96) • • • Receive the testimony of Jesus Believe on his name Are baptized Receive the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands Overcome by faith Sealed by Holy Spirit of Promise 25

The importance of being valiant in the testimony of Jesus Celestial: D&C 76: 50 -53 Terrestrial: D&C 76: 72 -79 Telestial: D&C 76: 82, 98 -101 26

What does it mean to “be valiant in the testimony of Christ”? What is the difference between ‘the testimony of Christ’ and ‘a testimony of Christ’? 27

Principles • As we fear the Lord and serve Him in righteousness, He will honor us and be merciful to us. • Pondering the scriptures is a valuable study skill that gives the Holy Ghost greater opportunity to reveal truth to us. • If I desire to live with Heavenly Father and His Son, I must be valiant in the testimony of Christ. 28

After studying “The Vision”: I know that… I want to… I will… 29

After studying “The Vision”: Make choices that will qualify us to inherit the Celestial Kingdom and qualify for the promised blessings! 30

Next week: The Kirtland Temple and Priesthood Keys ~ Lesson 14 Student Readings: • Doctrine and Covenants 109: 1 -28; 110: 1 -16. • David A. Bednar, “Honorably Hold a Name and Standing, ” Ensign, May 2009 31

“I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them. ” (History of the Church, 5: 402). 32

To have a testimony of Jesus… Pres. Ezra Taft Benson • Is to possess knowledge through the Holy Ghost of the divine mission of Jesus Christ. • Is to know the divine nature of our Lord’s birth— that He is indeed the Only Begotten Son in the flesh. • Is to know that He was the promised Messiah and that while He sojourned among men He accomplished many mighty miracles. • Is to know that the laws which He prescribed as His doctrine are true and then to abide by these laws and ordinances. • Is to know that He voluntarily took upon Himself the sins of all mankind in the Garden of Gethsemane, which caused Him to suffer in both body and spirit and to bleed from every pore. 33

To have a testimony of Jesus… Pres. Ezra Taft Benson • Is to know that He came forth triumphantly from the grave with a physical, resurrected body. And because He lives, so shall mankind. • Is to know that God the Father and Jesus Christ did indeed appear to the Prophet Joseph Smith. • Is to know that the Church, which He established in the meridian of time and restored in modern times is, as the Lord has declared, “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1: 30). • Means that we accept the divine mission of Jesus Christ, embrace His gospel, and do His works. It also means we accept the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith and his successors and follow their counsel. 34

Our doctrine is clear; its application sometimes seems to be more difficult. Perhaps some personal introspection might be helpful. For instance: Elder Bruce R. Mc. Conkie • Am I valiant in the testimony of Jesus if my chief interest and concern in life is laying up in store the treasures of the earth, rather than the building up of the kingdom? • Am I valiant if I have more of this world’s goods than my just needs and wants require and I do not draw from my surplus to support missionary work, build temples, and care for the needy? • Am I valiant if my approach to the Church and its doctrines is intellectual only, if I am more concerned with having a religious dialogue on this or that point than I am on gaining a personal spiritual experience? 35