The Vision of Kingdoms
Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants is one so singular that it deserves special consideration. How it was given, received, and witnessed by those present was so impressive that, even in its time, it was simply known as ‘The Vision’. No vision in the Bible was given and received by two or more people at the same time. Most visions were personal and written down at some later time. Stephen’s vision of the Father and the Son was witnessed by others, but not seen by them. Never in recorded history has anything like this ever happened.
Most commentary on Section 76 revolves around the ‘Three Degrees of Glory’, and rightfully so. The concept of the afterlife consisting of more than heaven and hell is alluded to in the Bible, but somehow dismissed by mainstream Christianity. According to most Christians, there are only two possible outcomes for people in the hereafter. While there appears to be a single division in the world of spirits immediately following death and before the resurrection, the final state of beings after the final judgment is not as clear. It was this ambiguous language that prompted Joseph and Sidney to question.
My thoughts today will revolve around the idea of the kingdoms described in the preface part of the section. “Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior. Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand. From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail. 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. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. 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. 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 want to focus specifically on this, “And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.” The vision that follows this preface mentions details about kingdoms of glory or divisions in the broader Kingdom of God in heaven.
When Jesus gave what we call the Lord’s Prayer, the phrase, “…thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven, stood out as one of his high priorities. I wrote about the Kingdom of Heaven in a message on January 5th of this year, describing some important aspects of this. The main points I want to reiterate are that in heaven there are hierarchies or divisions in the kingdom, presided over by beings (angels) responsible for them. Both the heavenly and earthly kingdoms are described as highly ordered, with authority, roles, and blessings distributed according to covenants and faithfulness.
Section 76 reveals a structured afterlife, echoing my post’s emphasis on order and levels within the heavenly kingdom. Each kingdom—Celestial (like the sun), Terrestrial (like the moon), and Telestial (like the stars)—reflects degrees of glory and proximity to God, paralleling the angelic hierarchies and delegated roles described in the January 5th message.
The Celestial Kingdom is reserved for those who accept Christ, receive ordinances, and keep covenants, matching my discussion of covenants as the means of uniting heaven and earth. Those in this kingdom are described as “priests and kings,” “the church of the Firstborn,” and even “gods,” inheriting all things and dwelling with God and Christ forever. This mirrors the highest heavenly order and the potential for exaltation also discussed in D&C 132.
The structure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and its ordinances (especially temple covenants) are designed to prepare individuals for Celestial glory, directly linking earthly practice to heavenly reality. The vision emphasizes that the path to the highest kingdom is through Christ, His atonement, and the restoration of His authority and ordinances.
Unlike mainstream Christianity, Section 76 refutes the idea that most of humanity is damned, instead teaching that nearly all will inherit a kingdom of glory, each surpassing mortal comprehension. The Terrestrial and Telestial kingdoms provide a place of glory for those who were honorable or accepted Christ later, but without the fullness of the Celestial. This demonstrates God’s mercy and the broad scope of His plan, as well as the principle of conditional blessings based on choices and covenants. God is a merciful king, not a vengeful tyrant who punishes his children for eternity. There is no place in his kingdom where mercy is not active.
Are these some of the mysteries of the kingdom mentioned in the preface of the vision? I believe so. Is this an exhaustive list of all the mysteries? I think not.
Our role in the kingdom of God on earth is to align it with the structure and purpose of the heavenly kingdom. Understanding more about the heavenly realm gives Latter-Day Saints an advantage in making heaven on earth. It gives us hope and reveals our divine potential. Section 76 is indeed a vision above visions. It brings clarity out of ambiguity. Joseph Smith is at the head of the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, under Christ only. “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. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.” Happy Sabbath.