D&C 76

Doctrine and Covenants section 76 is a revelation of profound proportion. It completely changed the Saints' view of life after death. It was revealed that it's not as simple as heaven or hell. As Latter-day Saints we believe that there is life after this one. We will continue to progress and move forward after we die. Section 76 is the first major revelation on the subject. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon see a series of visions in which the Lord reveals to them the different degrees of glory. Only the sons of perdition, those who deny the Holy Ghost and Christ after having a perfect knowledge, will suffer eternal damnation. All others will gain some degree of salvation.

These degrees of glory are the telestial kingdom, compared to the brightness of the stars, the terrestrial kingdom, compared to the glory of the moon, and the celestial kingdom, that of the sun. Those in the telestial kingdom will have the Holy Spirit with them. Those in the terrestrial kingdom will receive the ministering of Jesus Christ, and those in the celestial kingdom will live with God. This revelation was a radical idea to the people in 1832. It also completely separated the Mormons from other religions...this doctrine was different from that of any other church.

There are other parts to this revelation that I love, one of them being the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. In verses 22-24 they state:

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.

What a beautiful and powerful testimony! That, in and of itself makes this section important and significant.

I also appreciate that this revelation began with questions. Joseph Smith was reading in the Bible and he had questions...he felt that there was something lost or missing and so he prayed to the Father about it. And he received an answer. I know that it is important to question. I believe that's part of pondering, and we are taught at an early age to "search, ponder, and pray." I know we cannot get caught up in doubts and troubling matters. Sometimes we must set things aside and trust that Heavenly Father loves us and all will be right in the end. But, nonetheless we must continue questioning, continue growing, continue learning...the restoration of the Gospel itself began with a question, the question of a young boy...and it is absolutely incredible to me what has come of that as a result.