Section 137

1–6, The Prophet sees his brother Alvin in the celestial kingdom; 7–9, The doctrine of salvation for the dead is revealed; 10, All children are saved in the celestial kingdom.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138” The revelations recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 137and 138 are separated by more than 80 years and 1,500 miles. Section 137 was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1836 in the unfinished 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 about the destiny of God’s children in the next life. Joseph Smith’s vision helped him understand the eternal destiny of his beloved brother Alvin, who had died six years before the authority to baptize was restored. Joseph F. Smith’s vision revealed glorious truths about the spirit world—surely a comforting revelation to one who had grieved the deaths of many close family members. Joseph F. Smith lost his father, Hyrum Smith, at age 5 and his mother, Mary Fielding Smith, at age 13. By the time of his vision in 1918, he had mourned the passing of 13 children.

The common understanding among Christians in 1836 was that if a person died without being baptized—as Joseph Smith’s brother Alvin had—that person could not go to heaven. Yet Joseph saw Alvin in a vision of the celestial kingdom. See also Saints, 1:232–35.

Doctrine and Covenants Stories “Chapter 39: The Kirtland Temple Is Dedicated”

God has Given Me a Way to Be with My Family Forever.

Doctrine and Covenants 137:1–5

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

In a vision, Joseph Smith saw members of his family together in the celestial kingdom. How can you use his vision to teach the children that families can be together forever?

Show a picture of someone in your family, and talk about how much you want to be with him or her in the celestial kingdom. Explain that Joseph Smith’s brother Alvin died as a young man and Joseph missed him very much. Read Doctrine and Covenants 137:1, 5, and ask the children who Joseph Smith saw in his vision of the celestial kingdom (see also Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 152–53). Invite the children to stretch their arms out wide to show how much they love their families, and ask them to share why they want to be with their families in the celestial kingdom.
Use Doctrine and Covenants 137:1–5 and this week’s activity page to help the children discover details about Joseph Smith’s vision of the celestial kingdom. Invite them to draw a picture of themselves and their family on the activity page while you play or sing a song about families, such as “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188).

Joseph Smith had a vision of the celestial kingdom and saw his parents and his brother Alvin there. This vision teaches us that if we are righteous, our family relationships can continue in the next life.

Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 137:1–5 and draw a picture of what they read (see also this week’s activity page). How might Joseph Smith have felt when he saw members of his family in the celestial kingdom?
Show the video “Families Can Be Together Forever” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or sing a song about families, such as “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188). What does the video or the song teach us about what we can do to make our families eternal?

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

Invite your family to draw what they think the celestial kingdom might look like based on these verses. What do you find in these verses that helps you look forward to living there? What are we doing now to prepare to live in the celestial kingdom with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Friend December 2021 “Scripture Time Fun: Our Heavenly Home”

Sing “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” (Children’s Songbook,64).
When Joseph Smith was young, his brother Alvin died. Much later, Joseph had a vision that Alvin would go to the celestial kingdom. Because Jesus Christ died and was resurrected, we can live with our families again after we die and are resurrected.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 137:1–5. What do you think the celestial kingdom will be like? Take turns saying words to describe it. Then draw a picture of your family with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Friend November 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones” Tell a story about a family member or friend who has died. Now draw a picture of them! Help your little ones say, “I will be with my loved ones again.”

Section 138

1–10, President Joseph F. Smith ponders upon the writings of Peter and our Lord’s visit to the spirit world; 11–24, President Smith sees the righteous dead assembled in paradise and Christ’s ministry among them; 25–37, He sees how the preaching of the gospel was organized among the spirits; 38–52, He sees Adam, Eve, and many of the holy prophets in the spirit world who considered their spirit state before their resurrection as a bondage; 53–60, The righteous dead of this day continue their labors in the world of spirits.

When I Ponder the Scriptures, the Holy Ghost Can Help Me Understand Them.

Doctrine and Covenants 138:6–11

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

The scriptures can sometimes be difficult to understand, especially for children. Doctrine and Covenants 138:11 teaches that the Holy Ghost can open “the eyes of [our] understanding.”

Show a picture of President Joseph F. Smith (see Gospel Art Book, no. 127). Explain that he was the sixth President of the Church, and one day he was reading the scriptures and pondering them (thinking about what they meant). As you read Doctrine and Covenants 138:6, 11, invite the children to pretend they are President Smith and do actions that go along with the words.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

What can the children learn from President Joseph F. Smith’s example that might improve the way they study the scriptures?

Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–11, and help them write a one-sentence summary of President Joseph F. Smith’s experience. What did he do that led to his remarkable vision? What does it mean to ponder or reflect on the scriptures?
Ask the children what they do when they have questions about the gospel. Share some examples from the scriptures or your own life of when pondering the scriptures brought understanding from the Spirit (see, for example, 1 Nephi 11:1–6; Doctrine and Covenants 76:19–24; Joseph Smith—History 1:11–12).
Tell the children about a time when you pondered something in the scriptures and the Holy Ghost helped you understand it. Sing together a song about scripture study, such as “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109). What does this song say we should do to understand the scriptures?

Ponder means to meditate and think deeply, often upon the scriptures or other things of God. When combined with prayer, pondering the things of God may bring revelation and understanding. (Guide to the Scriptures)

What does it mean to ponder? (To think about and consider) The scriptures tell us that many prophets received revelation from the Lord as they were pondering upon the things of God. We also open ourselves up to revelation as we ponder upon our problems during scripture study, during church meetings, and during our prayers.

All of Heavenly Father’s Children Will Have the Chance to Hear the Gospel.

Doctrine and Covenants 138:12–35

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

After Jesus Christ was crucified, He visited His faithful Saints in the spirit world. He instructed them to teach the gospel to those who had not received it.

Show a picture of a tomb (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 58, 59 or Bible Photographs, no. 14), or draw a picture of a tomb on the board. Show a picture of the Savior in the spirit world while His body was in the tomb (such as the one in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). As you do, ask questions to help the children notice key details in Doctrine and Covenants 138:18–19, 23–24, 27–30, such as who Jesus visited, how they felt, and what He asked them to do.

Latter Day Kids “Baptism for the Dead” Lesson ideas

Show a picture of missionaries (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 109, 110), and ask the children to share what missionaries do. You may also invite them to act out some of the things that missionaries do. Read Doctrine and Covenants 138:31–34 to the children. Explain that just as there are missionaries here on earth, there are also missionaries in the spirit world who teach the people there.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

President Joseph F. Smith learned that the work of preaching the gospel continues in the spirit world. This work ensures that everyone will have a chance to accept the gospel.

On the board, list some verses from section 138. Then list, in a different order, statements that summarize each set of verses. Invite the children to match the statements with the correct verses. Verses could include 12–16 (righteous spirits gather to wait for Jesus to appear), 18–19 (the Savior appears to the righteous spirits), 29–30 (Jesus appoints messengers to preach the gospel), 31–35 (the righteous spirits preach the gospel), and so on. After the children make a match, ask them to share what they learn from the verses.
Ask some of the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 138:33 to find out what principles of the gospel were taught to the spirits of the dead. Ask other children to read the principles taught in Articles of Faith 1:4. What is similar in these verses, and what is different? What does this teach us about Heavenly Father and His plan?

Doctrine and Covenants 138:38–55.These verses describe those whom President Joseph F. Smith saw in the spirit world and brief details about them. Maybe your family could make a list of your ancestors who are in the spirit world, along with details about their lives.Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138”

Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book “The Spirit World”