Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 137–138

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The revelations recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 137 and 138 are separated by more than 80 years and 1,500 miles (2,400 km). Section 137 was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1836 in the Kirtland Temple, and section 138 was received by Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, in 1918 in Salt Lake City. But doctrinally, these two visions belong side by side. They both answer questions that many people—including God’s prophets—have about life after death. Joseph Smith wondered about the fate of his brother Alvin, who had died without being baptized. Joseph F. Smith, who had lost both of his parents and 13 children to untimely deaths, thought often about the spirit world and wondered about the preaching of the gospel there.

Section 137 casts some initial light on the destiny of God’s children in the next life, and section 138 opens the curtains even wider. Together, both revelations testify of “the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:3).

D&C 137: A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, January 21, 1836. The occasion was the administration of ordinances in preparation for the dedication of the temple.

D&C 138: A vision given to President Joseph F. Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 3, 1918. In his opening address at the 89th Semiannual General Conference of the Church, on October 4, 1918, President Smith declared that he had received several divine communications during the previous months. One of these, concerning the Savior’s visit to the spirits of the dead while His body was in the tomb, President Smith had received the previous day. It was written immediately following the close of the conference. On October 31, 1918, it was submitted to the counselors in the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and the Patriarch, and it was unanimously accepted by them.

President M. Russell Ballard taught: “I invite you to thoroughly and thoughtfully read [Doctrine and Covenants 138]. As you do so, may the Lord bless you to more fully understand and appreciate God’s love and His plan of salvation and happiness for His children” (“The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 73).

D&C 137: A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, January 21, 1836. The occasion was the administration of ordinances in preparation for the dedication of the temple.

D&C 138: A vision given to President Joseph F. Smith in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 3, 1918. In his opening address at the 89th Semiannual General Conference of the Church, on October 4, 1918, President Smith declared that he had received several divine communications during the previous months. One of these, concerning the Savior’s visit to the spirits of the dead while His body was in the tomb, President Smith had received the previous day. It was written immediately following the close of the conference. On October 31, 1918, it was submitted to the counselors in the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and the Patriarch, and it was unanimously accepted by them.

Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org

•   Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
•   “Search, Ponder, and Pray,” Children’s Songbook, 109.

• Section 137, Vision of the Celestial Kingdom, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 353–56
• Section 138, Vision of the Redemption of the Dead, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 353–56
• Chapter 55: Doctrine and Covenants 137–38, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
•   Righteous Desires, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Neal A. Maxwell
• “A House for Our God”, Revelations in Context
• Susa Young Gates and the Vision of the Redemption of the Dead , Revelations in Context
•   The Dead Awaited the Atonement, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, Elder Russell M. Nelson
•   What does the Doctrine and Covenants teach about life after death? Doctrine and Covenants 137–138, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants

Resources on Interpreter Foundation

•   Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 49: D&C 137–138, Jonn Claybaugh
•     Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 49 (D&C 137–138)

Resources on Other Sites

•   Come, Follow Me Week 49 – Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, FAIR
•   Section 137, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Section 138, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
•   Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, November 29 – December 5), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, Nov 29-Dec 5), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, Nov 29-Dec 5), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, November 29 – December 5), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, Nov 29-Dec 5), Book of Mormon Central
•   Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 137-138, Nov 29-Dec 5), Book of Mormon Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 137, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Doctrine & Covenants 138, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Joseph F. Smith’s Vision of the Afterlife, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 137-138 (Nov. 29-Dec. 5) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
•   Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 137-138: “The Heavens were Opened”, Doctrine & Covenants Central
•   Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead”, Sections 137-138, Meridian Magazine
•   November 29 – December 5, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
•   Doctrine and Covenants 137 to 138 – “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead”, BYU Studies