Lesson 152: Doctrine and Covenants 137–138

Doctrine and Covenants 138, Part 1

The Vision of the Savior’s Visit to the Spirit World

Jesus ministering in the spirit world

Grieving the deaths of beloved family members and mourning the devastation caused by World War I and the global flu pandemic, President Joseph F. Smith sought comfort in the scriptures. As he reflected on passages from 1 Peter 3–4, he received a glorious vision of the Savior’s ministering efforts in the spirit world between His death and Resurrection. President Smith’s vision is now Doctrine and Covenants 138. This lesson can help students understand how the Savior offers salvation to Heavenly Father’s children in the spirit world.

Possible Learning Activities

Where do we go when we die?

Invite students to ponder the following scenario or to create a scenario that fits their needs. The purpose of the scenario is to help students assess what they know about the spirit world. Students can share what they understand happens to both those who have and those who have not accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After the funeral of her Grandma Roberts, Julie tells you that her Grandma and Grandpa Roberts both passed away without being baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her other grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa Jones) died faithful, lifelong members of the Church. Julie asks you, “What’s going to happen to my unbaptized grandparents?”

Reflect on what you know about the spirit world.

• How confident would you feel sharing truths about the spirit world with Julie?

Remind students that one role of the Holy Ghost is to testify of truth. Invite them to be sensitive to the Spirit’s witness of truths about Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation they will study today.

The vision of the redemption of the dead

To provide historical context to Doctrine and Covenants 138, consider sharing the following statement by President Ballard or summarizing Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Vol. 3, Boldly, Nobly and Independent, 1893–1955 [2018], 196–207.

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, a great-grandson of President Joseph F. Smith, shared the following about the vision that is now Doctrine and Covenants 138.

President M. Russell Ballard

On October 3, 1918, having experienced intense sorrow over the millions who had died in the world through war and disease as well as the deaths of his own family members, President Smith received the heavenly revelation known as “the vision of the redemption of the dead.” …

The revelation he received on October 3 comforted his heart and provided answers to many of his questions. We too can be comforted and learn more about our own future when we and our loved ones die and go to the spirit world by studying this revelation and pondering its significance in the way we live our lives each day. (M. Russell Ballard, “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 72–73)

Read Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–4, looking for the truths President Smith was pondering when he received this vision.

• What stands out to you about what President Smith was reflecting on as he studied?

• What did President Smith know about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice?

  Help students identify a truth like the following: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and by obedience to the principles of His gospel, each of Heavenly Father’s children may be saved.

  You could summarize Doctrine and Covenants 138:5–10 by sharing that President Smith turned to 1 Peter 3–4 as he reflected on the redemption of the dead promised by the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. You might point out that 1 Peter 4:6 is a doctrinal mastery passage.

• What do you know about how Jesus Christ makes salvation available to all Heavenly Father’s children?

The Savior’s appearance in the spirit world

As students study the vision, it might be helpful to point out that President Smith saw the Savior visit the spirit world between the time of His death and His Resurrection.

Remind students that the spirit world is divided into paradise and prison. If needed, you could explain that prison in this context refers to a temporary place in the spirit world for those who died without a knowledge of the truth (rather than a jail or cell). Spirits in this prison are also those who were disobedient in mortality (see Topics and Questions, “Hell,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Read the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency about the work of salvation for all Heavenly Father’s children in the spirit world.

President Dallin H. 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)

As you study the vision recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 138, look for how Heavenly Father’s spirit children are in bondage and how they are freed by the Savior and His atoning sacrifice.

One way to organize the class is to arrange students into groups of three. Invite students to study one of the following three sections. After time to discuss the questions provided, students could share what they learned with others in their group who studied a different section.

Encourage learners to share the truths they are learning. For training on how to do this, see the training titled “Encourage learners to share the truths they are learning” found in Teacher Development Skills: Invite Diligent Learning. Consider practicing the skill “Invite students to share with each other what they are learning.”

• What did you discover?

• How did the spirits respond to the Savior’s gospel in mortality?

• How were these spirits in bondage? How did the Savior deliver them?

• What opportunities does the Savior give to spirits in paradise? In prison?

• What can we do to assist the Savior in His work?

1. The Savior frees the spirits in paradise.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 138:11–19, 23–24, 50–52, looking for how the Savior delivered those in spirit paradise.

2. The Savior frees the spirits in prison.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 138:20–22, 29–37, 57–59, looking for how the Savior delivered those in spirit prison.

3. The Savior organizes the preaching of the gospel in the spirit world.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 138:30–37, 57–59, looking for how the Savior organized the preaching of the gospel to those in spirit prison.

Demonstrate understanding

To help students demonstrate their understanding of Doctrine and Covenants 138, students could role-play the scenario from the beginning of class. Students could rotate the role of Julie and practice how to answer her question for each set of her grandparents. After students have had time to practice, they could share with the class what they have felt and how these teachings apply to them.

You might share your witness of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the salvation They offer to the living and the dead.

Additional Resources

Where can I learn more about the vision of the spirit world and salvation for the dead?

• Saints, 3:193–209

• Topics and Questions, “Spirit World,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Lisa Olsen Tait, “Susa Young Gates and the Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” in Revelations in Context [2016], 315

How should I approach my questions about the spirit world?

After sharing that there is much we don’t know about the spirit world, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained how to approach our questions:

President Dallin H. Oaks

For all questions about the spirit world, I suggest two answers. First, remember that God loves His children and will surely do what is best for each of us. Second, remember this familiar Bible teaching, which has been most helpful to me on a multitude of unanswered questions:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). …

We can all wonder privately about circumstances in the spirit world or even discuss these or other unanswered questions in family or other intimate settings. But let us not teach or use as official doctrine what does not meet the standards of official doctrine. To do so does not further the work of the Lord and may even discourage individuals from seeking their own comfort or edification through the personal revelation the Lord’s plan provides for each of us. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Trust in the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 28)

How does the Savior deliver those in the spirit world from bondage?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

President Dallin H. Oaks

President Joseph F. Smith’s great revelation, canonized in section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants, states that the righteous dead, who were in a state of “peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:22) as they anticipated the Resurrection (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:16), “had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:50).

The wicked also suffer an additional bondage. Because of unrepented sins, they are in what the Apostle Peter referred to as spirit “prison” (1 Peter 3:19; see also Doctrine and Covenants 138:42). These spirits are described as “bound” or as “captives” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:31, 42) or as “cast out into outer darkness” with “weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth” as they await resurrection and judgment (Alma 40:13–14).

Resurrection for all in the spirit world is assured by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:22), though it occurs at different times for different groups. Until that appointed time, what the scriptures tell us about activity in the spirit world principally concerns the work of salvation. Little else is revealed. The gospel is preached to the ignorant, the unrepentant, and the rebellious so they can be freed from their bondage and go forward to the blessings a loving Heavenly Father has in store for them.

The spirit-world bondage that applies to righteous converted souls is their need to await—and perhaps even be allowed to prompt—the performance of their proxy ordinances on earth so they can be baptized and enjoy the blessings of the Holy Ghost (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:30–37, 57–58). These mortal proxy ordinances also empower them to go forward under priesthood authority to enlarge the hosts of the righteous who can preach the gospel to the spirits in prison. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Trust in the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 26–27)

What is required of those in spirit prison?

While leading a video tour of the Rome Italy Temple prior to its dedication, Elders David A. Bednar and Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Rome Italy Temple tour

The Savior said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of [heaven].” Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins is an essential saving ordinance in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And here in the temple, we do baptisms for the dead. Two members of our Church will come into the baptismal font dressed in white, and there they will be baptized for their departed ancestors. Baptism for the dead was taught by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, and we have the privilege of continuing that ordinance in the Church today in all of the temples throughout the world.

One of the great questions in Christianity is what happens to those who have never heard of Jesus Christ. His is the only name under heaven whereby a man or a woman can be saved. But yet among all those who have ever lived, only a relative few have heard of Him, have had the opportunity to learn His doctrine, and to receive the saving ordinance of baptism by immersion. That is made possible through proxy baptism for the dead. There are some people who will ask if we are compelling or constraining our ancestors to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the answer is no. It is a loving offering. And they then have the opportunity to accept or reject that ordinance. (David A. Bednar and Ronald A. Rasband, in “Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple” [video], ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Role-play the vision of section 138

Consider helping students reverently act out what preaching the gospel in the spirit world may be like. You could act out the scenario of Julie from the lesson. You could have two students represent her Grandma and Grandpa Roberts, who go to spirit prison. Another set of students could represent Grandma and Grandpa Jones, who go to spirit paradise. Invite the students who represent the Joneses to visit the Robertses to teach them the gospel. Invite another student to represent Julie and her brother, who are then baptized in the temple for their grandparents the Robertses. The Robertses can then leave spirit prison and enter spirit paradise.

Note: The purpose is not to illustrate who teaches the gospel to whom in the spirit world; rather, it is to show how spirits leave spirit prison after they accept the ordinance of baptism as performed in the temple (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:31).

A visit from the spirit world to President Nelson’s grandfather

To confirm the truths that students discovered while studying section 138, you may want to share with them an account President Nelson shared about his grandfather. You could show the video “A Visit from Father” (3:20). Following the story, you could ask students discussion questions like the following:

• What did you learn from President Nelson’s story?

• What does this account teach you about Heavenly Father’s plan?

Pondering and reflecting on the scriptures

If students would benefit from a discussion of how pondering or reflecting on the scriptures invites revelation, invite them to read Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–4, 11, 29. Ask them to look for the words President Smith used to describe how he approached this scripture study. Students might identify a truth such as the following: pondering on the scriptures and reflecting on the Savior’s atoning sacrifice can prepare us to receive revelation from God.

Invite students to share, if not too personal, experiences they have had receiving revelation when pondering or reflecting on the scriptures. You might ask a question like the following:

• Why do you think pondering the scriptures can lead to revelation?

Video options

If students would benefit from learning more about the experience that led to President Joseph F. Smith’s vision, you could watch “Ministry of Joseph F. Smith: A Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (3:06).

To help students envision the events described in section 138, consider showing the video “To This End Was I Born” from time code 21:20 to 24:23. This shows a depiction of the Savior’s entry into the spirit world after His Crucifixion.

To help students understand a little more about what happens to our spirits after death, consider showing “What Happens to Our Bodies and Spirits after We Die?” (4:19).

To help students understand the Savior’s freeing of Heavenly Father’s children from bondage, you might show “Handel’s Messiah: Debtor’s Prison” (3:35).