Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants 76
Refuge, by Shaelynn Abel
“What will happen to me after I die?” Nearly everyone asks this question in some form or another. For centuries, many Christian traditions, relying on biblical teachings, have taught of heaven and hell, of paradise for the righteous and torment for the wicked. But can the entire human family really be divided so strictly? In February 1832, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon wondered if there was more to know about the subject (see Doctrine and Covenants 76, section heading).
There certainly was. While Joseph and Sidney were pondering these things, the Lord “touched the eyes of [their] understandings and they were opened” (verse 19). They received a revelation so stunning, so expansive, so illuminating that the Saints simply called it “the Vision.” It threw open heaven’s windows and gave God’s children a mind-stretching view of eternity. The vision revealed that heaven is grander and broader and more inclusive than most people had previously supposed. God is more merciful and just than we can comprehend. And God’s children have an eternal destiny more glorious than we can imagine.
D&C 76: A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832. Prefacing the record of this vision, Joseph Smith’s history states: “Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, … while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.” At the time this vision was given, the Prophet was translating John 5:29.
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 19: D&C 46–48, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 19 (D&C 46–48)
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 15, "Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts", Administration, March 20, 2017
- 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 Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- “Have I Done Any Good?” Hymns, no. 223.
- Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation, Revelations in Context
- Gifts of the Spirit Come to the Obedient, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Section 46, “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 98–102
- Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts, Revelations in Context
- Chapter 18: Doctrine and Covenants 46–49, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Section 47, The Importance of Church Records, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 102–3
- The Book of John Whitmer, Revelations in Context
- Section 48, Ohio: A Temporary Abode, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 103–4
- “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”, Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 8
- 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
- 3 Nephi 18:22–23
- Moroni 6:5–9
- “Welcome”
- “Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts” , Revelations in Context, 105–11
- “Gifts of the Spirit”, Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Feb. 2002, 16
- “Spiritual Gifts”, Gospel Topics
- 2 Nephi 29:11–12
- Moses 6:5
- Abraham 1:28, 31
- “There Shall Be a Record Kept among You” , Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, Ensign, Dec. 2007, 28, 33
- “Have I Done Any Good?”, Hymns, no. 223
- Doctrine and Covenants 46-48 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
- Section 46, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 47, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 48, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Why Did John Whitmer Continue to Testify of the Book of Mormon?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #602
- Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 46 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 47 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 48 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 46-48 (May 3-9) Come Follow Me Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 46-48: “The Best Gifts”, Unshaken
- Come, Follow Me Podcast #19: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, Meridian Magazine
- May 3-9, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
- Doctrine and Covenants 46 to 48 –“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, BYU Studies
In section 76, the Lord expressed how much He wants to reveal truth to us (see verses 7–10). Read the scriptures with faith that He can and will reveal to you “the things of God” (verse 12) that you need to know. Then record the insights you receive “while [you are] yet in the Spirit” (verses 28, 80, 113).
D&C 76: A vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Hiram, Ohio, February 16, 1832. Prefacing the record of this vision, Joseph Smith’s history states: “Upon my return from Amherst conference, I resumed the translation of the Scriptures. From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home, must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, … while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision.” At the time this vision was given, the Prophet was translating John 5:29.
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 Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” Hymns, no. 136.
- Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation, Revelations in Context
- “The Vision”, Revelations in Context
- Section 76, The Vision of the Degrees of Glory, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 158–66
- Chapter 27: Doctrine and Covenants 76:1–49, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Chapter 28: Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–119, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Hearing about the Three Degrees of Glory for the First Time – Doctrine and Covenants 76, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 28: D&C 76, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 28 (D&C 76)
Additional Posts & Roundtables on the Interpreter Foundation Website
- KnoWhy OTL13A — What Did the Lord Mean When He Said Moses Would Become “God to Pharaoh” During the Plagues of Egypt?, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, March 26, 2018
- “The Kingdoms of Glory”: D&C 76; 131; 132:19-24; 137, Taylor Halverson, December 7, 2013
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 20, "The Kingdoms of Glory", Administration, June 16, 2017
Articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
- “How long can rolling waters remain impure?”: Literary Aspects of the Doctrine and Covenants, Richard Dilworth Rust, October 6, 2017
- The Doctrine of Resurrection in the Book of Mormon, A. Keith Thompson, July 31, 2015
Resources on Other Sites
- Doctrine and Covenants 76 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
- Section 76, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 76, Jul 5-11), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 76, Jul 5-11), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 76, July 5-11), Book of Mormon Central
- Come, Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 76, July 5-11), Book of Mormon Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 76, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Week 28 (D&C 76, Jul 5-11), Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 76, with Scott Woodward, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 76 (July 5-11) Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 76: “The Wonders of Eternity”, Unshaken
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Great Shall Be Their Reward and Eternal Shall Be Their Glory”, Doctrine & Covenants 76, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me Podcast #28: Section 76 –The Great Vision, Meridian Magazine
- Doctrine and Covenants 76 – “Great Shall Be Their Reward and Eternal Shall Be Their Glory”, BYU Studies
Legacy Resources
- Joseph Smith, Emanuel Swedenborg, and Section 76: Importance of the Bible in Latter-day Revelation from The Doctrine and Covenants: Revelations in Context
- BYU Religious Education Discussions on the Doctrine and Covenants: The Vision, Part 1 D&C 76
- BYU Religious Education Discussions on the Doctrine and Covenants: The Vision, Part 2 D&C 76