SECTION 137
- God has Given Me a Way to Be with My Family Forever.
SECTION 138
- When I Ponder the Scriptures, the Holy Ghost Can Help Me Understand Them.
- All of Heavenly Father’s Children Will Have the Chance to Hear the Gospel.
Additional Resources

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.

For the Strength of Youth December 2025 It’s comforting to know that those who died without the gospel who would have received it if they’d had the chance will be heirs of the celestial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 137:7).

And that children who die before the age of eight are saved in the celestial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 137:10).

And that the gospel is preached to the spirits of those who died without it so they can be converted too (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:29–32).

SECTION 137

Section 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. 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.

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.

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”

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.

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.

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.”

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?

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

Read Doctrine and Covenants 137:1–5. What do you think the celestial kingdom will be like? Take turns saying words to describe it. (What do you find in these verses that helps you look forward to living there?)Then draw a picture of your family with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

SECTION 138

Section 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.

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

Doctrine and Covenants 138:1–11

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 137-138””

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. You could also talk about a time when you pondered something in the scriptures and the Holy Ghost helped you understand it.

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

Older Kids: 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 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)..

Come Follow Me Kid

Consider singing 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?

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

Doctrine and Covenants 137:5–10; 138:18–35

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025

To learn about what it would have meant for Joseph Smith to see several of his family members in the celestial kingdom, your children could watch the video “Ministry of Joseph Smith: Temples” (Gospel Library), or you could share Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 152–53 (or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). Perhaps you could also talk about someone you know who died without the chance to be baptized. What does Doctrine and Covenants 137:5–10 teach us about that person?

Video “Ministry of Joseph Smith: Temples”

Doctrine and Covenants Stories

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

Consider using a picture of the Savior’s tomb (see Gospel Art Book, no. 58, or Bible Photographs, no. 14) and the picture at the end of this outline to teach your children where Jesus’s spirit went when His body was in the tomb. Then you could read together Doctrine and Covenants 138:18–19, 23–24, 27–30. As you do, ask questions to help the children notice key details to learn about what Jesus did while He was there. Who did He visit? How did they feel? What did He ask them to do? Why did He do this?

Show a picture of missionaries (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 109, 110), and ask the children to share what 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.

You could also use this week’s activity page to help your children compare what missionaries teach on this side of the veil (see, for example, Articles of Faith 1:4) with what missionaries teach in the spirit world (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:33). What is similar in these verses, and what is different? What does this teach us about Heavenly Father and His plan?