The Resurrection of the Just
Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants Section 76 (Part 4)
In previous posts I outlined the historical background for Doctrine and Covenants Section 76, began to study the introduction and early verses in the same section, and reviewed the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly. In this post, let’s continue our study of Doctrine and Covenants Section 76.
And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
And they shall overcome all things.
Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.
These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical. (D&C 76:50-70)
This is the fourth vision, or a summary of the fourth vision that Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw together. They also heard many things. In this summary of the fourth vision, or in this part of the revelation, Joseph and Sidney testify of the eternal destiny of the righteous, or of those who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. This is the vision of those in the Celestial Kingdom of God. This is the portion of the revelation that most interests us because it describes our desire and our goal.
Who will reside in the Celestial Kingdom or the highest glory of Heaven? These verses describe the characteristics, attributes, qualities, qualifications, blessings, and glory of those who are saved and exalted in the Celestial Kingdom of God.
Regarding these verses, Smith and Sjodahl write:
(a) Who are They?
Received the testimony] Those who come forth in the resurrection of the just are they who accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and were baptized, as He commanded.
Washed and cleansed from all their sins] This is the effect of baptism when performed in accordance with the divine command, by one having authority from God. Baptism, notwithstanding exegetical sophistries, is “the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:5), and the members of the Church are sanctified by it (Eph. 5:26). It is the door to the kingdom of God.
Receive the Holy Spirit] They have not only been baptized in water, but have received the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. They are “born” of water and the Spirit; not of water alone; nor of Spirit alone; neither alone would be a complete baptism.
Who overcome by faith] They have not only been cleansed from sin and have received the Holy Spirit, but they have, by faith, endured all trials, and been “sealed” by the Holy Spirit of Promise. This sealing refers to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, by which that Spirit attests the reality of the conversion and claims the convert.
Church of the firstborn] They are members of the Church of the Firstborn, even Jesus Christ.
Into whose hands the Father has given all things] “All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours” (I. Cor. 3:21)
Priests and Kings] They hold these exalted offices, by promise now, but they will assume the full duties of them on coming forth in the first resurrection.
After the order of Melchizedek] They hold the holy Melchizedek Priesthood.
They are gods, even the sons of God] Because of their Priesthood, their office, their possession of all things, they are gods, even the sons of God. Comp. Sec. 132:20.
Some take exception to the glorious doctrine here taught, that those who are called forth in the first resurrection are destined to become gods. There is no valid reason for objection. The expression “gods” is applied to men, in the Bible as well as here. The Lord said to Moses, “I have made thee a God to Pharaoh” (Ex. 7:1). The Psalmist declares that “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods” (82:1). And again, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are the children of the Most High (Ps. 82:6). Here the judges in Israel are called gods, and they are rebuked for dishonoring their exalted position by judging unjustly. Our Lord was accused of blasphemy because He claimed Godhood. His answer was an appeal to this Psalm (John 10:34). The judges of old, He said, were called gods and sons of the Most High, by virtue of their calling; was it, then, blasphemy for Him to call Himself the “Son of God?” The doctrine, therefore, is perfectly scriptural, and is denied only by those who, like the opponents of our Lord, do not know the Scriptures. Says Brigham Young:
“Jesus is the elder Brother, and all the brethren shall come in for a share with Him; for an equal share according to their works and calling, and they shall be crowned with Him. Do you read of any such thing as the Savior praying that the Saints may be one with Him, as He and the Father are one? The Bible is full of such doctrine, and there is no harm in it, as long as it agrees with the New Testament *** The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming gods *** How many will become thus privileged? Those who honor the Father and the Son; those who receive the Holy Ghost, and magnify their calling; and are found pure and holy; they shall be crowned in the presence of the Father and the Son” (Jour. of Dis., Vol. III., p. 93).
“The Scriptures are a mixture of very strange doctrines to the Christian world, who are blindly led by the blind. I will refer to another Scripture. ‘Now,’ says God, when He visited Moses in the bush *** ‘Thou shalt be a god unto the children of Israel.’ God said, ‘Thou shalt be a god unto Aaron, and he shall by they spokesman.’ I believe those gods that God reveals as gods to be sons of God, who exalt themselves to be gods even from before the foundation of the world, and are the only gods I have reverence for (Joseph Smith, Hist. of the Church, Vol. VI., p. 478).
“Gods have an ascendancy over the angels, who are ministering servants. In the resurrection, some are raised to be angels; others are raised to become gods” (Joseph Smith, Hist. of the Church, Vol. V., p. 426).
(b) What is their final glory?
Dwell in the presence of God and his Christ] This is the sum total of glory and honor and exaltation. They shall have access to the presence of the Father and the Son. A citizen in a kingdom can have no greater honor than to be a welcome visitor in the palaces of the king. This is the privilege of those who come forth in the resurrection of the just.
Whom he shall bring with him] Christ will bring them with Him when He comes to take possession of the Kingdom on this Earth.
The first resurrection] For they will be resurrected at His coming, and together with the living Saints, who will be changed in a moment, they will meet Him “in the air,” and return with Him (Compare I. Thes. 4:15-17); Jude 14, 15).
Resurrection of the just] This is also called the first resurrection, but the truth is here taught that only those who are just will have part in it. To be just is to be upright and sincere in one’s actions and dealings with others. It is to be like Christ, who suffered, the just for the unjust (I. Pet. 3:18). To be just is also to be justified. That is to say, one who is just is, by God Himself, declared to be as he ought to be. Such are they who have part in the first resurrection.
Who have come unto Mount Zion] They have accepted the gospel and cast their lot with the people of God in Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem, “the heavenly place, the holiest of all.”
To an innumerable company of angels, etc.] In mortality they cast their lot with the Saints of God. As resurrected beings they gather with angels, with the Saints of Enoch’s Zion, and with those of the Church of the Firstborn, even Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Whose names are written in heaven] There is a special record which is called the “Book of God,” or the “Book of Life,” which contains the names of those who shall rise from the dead in the first resurrection. Moses, on one occasion, asked the Lord to forgive; “and if not,” he said, “blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written.” The Lord’s reply was, “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Ex. 32:32-3). The disciples of our Lord, after their first missionary journey, returned to their Master full of enthusiasm, and reported that even demons were subject to them in His name. Jesus replied, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not *** but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). In the Revelation by John it is stated that all who dwell on Earth, “whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb” shall worship the “beast” with seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 13:8). Here is one mark by which it may be known in this life, whether our names are “written in heaven.” There are two classes of children of men. One consists of the followers of the Lamb; the other, of the followers of the beast. For there are only two churches (I. Nephi 14:10-17). The names of the members of one are recorded in the Book of God; those of the other are not found there.
Where God and Christ are judge of all] That insures absolute justice and perfection in the Record. No name will be entered by mistake; none will be left out by mistake. No one worthy of a place in the Book will be forgotten; no unworthy name will be inscribed. Both the Father and the Son are interested in the Record. Infinite justice and infinite mercy stand guardians over its pages.
Just men made perfect] Those who have part in the first resurrection are made perfect. They have passed from their first existence to one in mortality,, and from mortality to immortality again, with celestialized tabernacles. They are now made perfect. And this life in perfection they own to the atonement of Jesus, the Mediator (Comp. Rom. 2:7; I Tim. 6:16).
Bodies are celestial] Their resurrected bodies are “celestial.” Their glory is that of God, “the highest of all,” typified by the sun.
On January 21st, 1836, while the Prophet Joseph and his associates were attending to holy ordinances in Kirtland, the heavens were opened to their vision. The Prophet says he beheld the Celestial Kingdom of God and the glory thereof. He saw the gate through which the heirs of that Kingdom will enter, and it appeared to him like circling flames of fire; also the radiant throne of God, whereon were seated the Father and the Son. He saw streets which seemed to be paved with gold. He saw also Adam, Abraham, his own father and mother, and his brother Alvin, who departed this life in 1824, and he marveled. Then the voice of the Lord came to him:
“All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry shall be heirs of the Celestial Kingdom of God; also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that Kingdom, for I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.”
The Prophet, further, beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability, are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven (Hist. of the Church, Vol. II., p. 380-1).
In an address at Nauvoo, May 12th, 1844, the Prophet said, in part: “All men who are immortal dwell in everlasting burnings.
In order for you to receive your children to yourselves you must have a promise - some ordinance, some blessing, in order to ascend above principalities, or else it may be an angel. They must rise just as they died; we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory - the same loveliness in the celestial glory, where they all enjoy alike. They differ in stature, in size; the same glorious spirit gives them the likeness of glory and bloom; the old man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom and beauty. No man can describe it to you - no man can write it” (Ibid., Vol. VI., p. 366). (pp. 457-460)
Monte S. Nyman’s commentary on these verses is also noteworthy. Regarding the doctrine of theosis, or the doctrine that Christ atoned for us so that we may become as He is, one of my favorite books on this topic is Andrew C. Skinner’s To Become Like God: Witnesses of our Divine Potential. My review of Skinner’s excellent book was published in LDS Interpreter Magazine.
This is Joseph Smith’s poetic rendering of the aforementioned verses about the inheritors of the Celestial Kingdom of God:
And again I bear record of heavenly things, Where virtue's the value above all that is priz'd, Of the truth of the gospel concerning the just, That rise in the first resurrection of Christ. Who receiv'd, and believ'd, and repented likewise, And then were baptiz'd, as a man always was, Who ask'd and receiv'd a remission of sin, And honoured the kingdom by keeping its laws. Being buried in water, as Jesus had been, And keeping the whole of his holy commands, They received the gift of the spirit of truth, By the ordinance truly of laying on hands. For these overcome, by their faith and their works, Being tried in their life-time, as purified gold, And seal'd by the spirit of promise to life, By men called of God, as was Aaron of old. They are they, of the church of the first-born of God, And unto whose hands he committeth all things; For they hold the keys of the kingdom of heav'n, And reign with the Saviour, as priests and as kings. They're priests of the order of Melchizedek, Like Jesus (from whom is this highest reward), Receiving a fulness of glory and light; As written--they're Gods even sons of the Lord. So all things are theirs; yea, of life or of death; Yea, whether things now, or to come, all are theirs, And they are the Saviour's, and he is the Lord's, Having overcome all, as eternity's heirs. 'Tis wisdom that man never glory in man, But give God the glory for all that he hath; For the righteous will walk in the presence of God, While the wicked are trod underfoot in his wrath. Yea, the righteous shall dwell in the presence of God, And of Jesus, forever, from earth's second birth-- For when he comes down in the splendour of heav'n, All those he'll bring with him to reign on the earth. These are they that arise in their bodies of flesh, When the trump of the first resurrection shall sound; These are they that come up to Mount Zion, in life, Where the blessings and gifts of the spirit abound. These are they that have come to the heavenly place; To the numberless courses of angels above: To the city of God, e'en the holiest of all, And the home of the blessed, the fountain of love; To the church of old Enoch, and of the first-born: And gen'ral assembly of ancient renown'd, Whose names are all kept in the archives of heav'n, As chosen and faithful, and fit to be crown'd. These are they that are perfect through Jesus' own blood, whose bodies celestial are mention'd by Paul, where the sun is the typical glory thereof, And God, and his Christ, are the true judge of all.
It is worth every effort to repent, and to strive to become worthy of the Celestial Kingdom of God. It is worth every effort to persuade those we love, and all men and women, to repent, and to strive to become worthy of the Celestial Kingdom of God. This is the eternal life that we seek, through the merits, mercy, and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ, and this is the blessing that is available through His Atonement: to dwell in Their holy presence forever and ever, and to become as They are.
Our part is to obey the Gospel and to do our best to be and become just men and women. Only Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, can make us perfect through His perfect atonement and the shedding of his own blood.
