Seminary
Doctrine and Covenants 137–138: Overview


“Doctrine and Covenants 137–138: Overview,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 137–138,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Doctrine and Covenants 137–138

Doctrine and Covenants 137–138

Overview

Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness offers salvation to all His children. In 1836, the Lord showed Joseph Smith a vision of the celestial kingdom. In 1918, President Joseph F. Smith saw a vision of the Savior’s ministry in the spirit world.

training icon Encourage learners to share the truths they are learning. This will help them internalize and express truths they are taught and help them gain confidence in their abilities to share truths in other settings. For more on how the Savior did this, see the section “The Savior Encouraged Others to Share the Truths They Were Learning” in Teaching in the Savior’s Way. You can also see an example of how to do this in this week’s lesson titled “Doctrine and Covenants 138, Part 1.”

Prepare to teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare in advance for each lesson.

Doctrine and Covenants 137

Lesson purpose: To help students increase their appreciation for Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on how the plan of happiness offers salvation to Heavenly Father’s children, including those who do not receive it in mortality.

  • Videos:Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration(1:02:04; watch from time code 2:05 to 4:21 or 11:57 to 15:22, or both); “And a Little Child Shall Lead Them” (16:55; watch from time code 4:40 to 6:00)

Doctrine and Covenants 138, Part 1

Lesson purpose: To help students understand how the Savior offers salvation to Heavenly Father’s children in the spirit world.

  • Student preparation: Invite students to ponder what they currently know and don’t know about what happens to Heavenly Father’s children after they die.

  • Video:The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (15:20; watch from time code 8:39 to 10:33)

Doctrine and Covenants 138, Part 2

Lesson purpose: To help students feel motivated to participate in temple and family history work.