Section 137
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants Section 137 records a vision experienced by Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple on January 21, 1836. In this vision, Smith claims to have seen the celestial kingdom, the highest tier of heaven in Latter-day Saint theology. He observes God the Father and Jesus Christ, as well as biblical figures like Adam and Abraham. Crucially, he sees his deceased brother, Alvin, who died in 1823 before the formal organization of the LDS Church and without receiving LDS baptism. Smith marvels at this, prompting a divine voice to reveal a new doctrine: those who die without a knowledge of 'this gospel,' but who would have received it had they been given the chance, will inherit the celestial kingdom. The text further establishes that God judges all people according to their works and the desires of their hearts, and explicitly states that all children who die before the age of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom. This text serves as the foundational theological justification for the expansive LDS practice of proxy temple ordinances (like baptism for the dead), shifting the paradigm of salvation from a strictly mortal probation to one that extends into the post-mortal spirit world.
Key Figures
- Joseph Smith: The recipient of the vision and prophet who receives the revelation regarding post-mortem salvation.
- Alvin Smith: Joseph's deceased older brother, whose presence in the celestial kingdom despite being unbaptized serves as the catalyst for the revelation on salvation for the dead.
- The Father and the Son: Described as seated on a blazing throne, reinforcing the LDS doctrine of the Godhead as separate, distinct beings.
- Father Adam: The first man, seen in the celestial kingdom, affirming his exalted status in LDS theology.
- Abraham: The biblical patriarch, seen in the celestial kingdom, representing the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
- Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith: Joseph's parents, seen in the vision despite being alive at the time (1836), indicating the vision encompassed future realities.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Post-Mortem Salvation (Salvation for the Dead)
Assertion
Individuals who die without hearing the gospel can still inherit the highest degree of heaven if God determines they 'would have received it' had they lived.
Evidence from Text
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 (137:7)
Evangelical Comparison
In Evangelical theology, the mortal life is the sole period of probation and opportunity for salvation. Hebrews 9:27 explicitly states, 'And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.' The eternal destiny of a soul is fixed at death based on their faith in Jesus Christ during their lifetime (Luke 16:19-31). D&C 137 introduces a hypothetical, retroactive salvation based on what a person *would* have done. This fundamentally alters the urgency of the Great Commission and contradicts the biblical witness that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Necessity of Baptism for Salvation
Assertion
The text implies that baptism is normally a strict requirement for entering the celestial kingdom, which is why Joseph marveled at Alvin's presence there.
Evidence from Text
And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom... seeing that he... had not been baptized for the remission of sins. (137:6)
Evangelical Comparison
The Evangelical baseline adheres to Sola Fide—justification by faith alone. While baptism is an important command for believers (Matthew 28:19), it is not the mechanism that remits sins or grants entry into heaven. The thief on the cross (Luke 23:43) was saved without baptism. D&C 137:6 reinforces the LDS doctrine that water baptism by proper priesthood authority is an absolute requirement for exaltation, making Alvin's presence an anomaly that required a new revelation to explain.
Judgment by Works and Desires
Assertion
God will judge all humanity based on their works and the desires of their hearts to determine their eternal inheritance.
Evidence from Text
For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. (137:9)
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelicalism teaches that believers are saved *for* good works, not *by* them (Ephesians 2:8-10). Our righteous acts are like filthy rags regarding justification (Isaiah 64:6). While there is a judgment of believers' works for rewards (the Bema Seat, 2 Corinthians 5:10), entry into heaven is based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ. In LDS theology, as reflected in D&C 137:9, works and desires are the actual metrics by which one qualifies for the Celestial Kingdom, blending justification and sanctification into a works-righteousness system.
Salvation of Children
Assertion
All children who die before reaching the age of accountability are automatically saved in the celestial kingdom.
Evidence from Text
And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven. (137:10)
Evangelical Comparison
The salvation of infants is a point of general agreement in outcome, though not in premise. Evangelicals generally believe that infants who die are covered by the blood of Christ, often citing David's confidence that he would go to his deceased child (2 Samuel 12:23). However, Evangelicals maintain that infants are still born with original sin (Psalm 51:5) and are saved solely by God's sovereign grace. Mormonism rejects original sin entirely (Article of Faith 2), teaching that children are born pure and therefore need no atonement until they reach the age of accountability (traditionally age 8 in LDS practice).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The text introduces post-mortem salvation based on hypothetical acceptance of the gospel, denies justification by faith alone by requiring baptism and works, and portrays the Father and Son as separate physical beings.
Theological Gap (Explained)
The theological gap between D&C 137 and Evangelical Christianity is severe, touching on eschatology, soteriology, and theology proper. First, the text introduces a post-mortem probationary state. By claiming that those who 'would have received' the gospel can be saved after death, it nullifies the biblical doctrine that mortal life is the final arena for repentance and faith (Hebrews 9:27). This creates a system of hypothetical justification. Second, the text reinforces a works-righteousness paradigm. Verse 6 laments Alvin's lack of baptism for the remission of sins, and verse 9 explicitly states judgment is according to works. This directly violates Sola Fide (Ephesians 2:8-9), which teaches that justification is an instantaneous legal declaration by God based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ, received by faith alone. Finally, the depiction of the Father and the Son seated on a throne (v. 3) is interpreted within Mormonism as evidence of two separate, exalted physical beings, contradicting the orthodox Trinitarian doctrine of one God in three persons (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 10:30).
For All Ages
Imagine you have to take a very important test to get into a special school. Christians believe that Jesus took the test for us, and if we trust Him, we get His perfect score. We have to make that choice while we are alive. This Mormon text says something different. It says that if you die without taking the test, God will look at your heart and say, 'I think they *would* have passed the test if they had the chance,' and lets them in. It also says you still have to do good works and get baptized to get in, rather than just trusting what Jesus did.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura
Adds new, extra-biblical revelation regarding the afterlife and post-mortem salvation.
Sola Fide
Makes baptism and works necessary components for entering the highest heaven.
Eschatology / Final Judgment
Contradicts Hebrews 9:27 by allowing for salvation based on hypothetical choices made after physical death.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Celestial Kingdom"
In This Text
The highest of three degrees of glory in heaven, reserved for those who accept the LDS gospel, receive ordinances, and endure to the end.
In Evangelicalism
The Bible does not teach degrees of heaven based on works; heaven is the singular eternal dwelling place for all justified believers (Revelation 21).
"This Gospel"
In This Text
The restored gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the LDS Church, including priesthood authority and necessary ordinances like baptism.
In Evangelicalism
The good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins, received by faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: Exaltation; inheriting the Celestial Kingdom and dwelling in the presence of God the Father.
How Attained: By accepting the LDS gospel (in this life or the next), receiving baptism, and having righteous works and desires.
Basis of Assurance: Subjective hope that God will judge one's works and the desires of one's heart as sufficient.
Comparison to Sola Fide: D&C 137 explicitly rejects Sola Fide by stating God judges men 'according to their works' for the purpose of determining their heavenly inheritance. In contrast, Romans 3:28 states, 'For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.'
Mandates & Requirements
Implicit Obligations
- Accept 'this gospel' (the LDS restoration) either in this life or the next.
- Maintain righteous desires in the heart, as they are a metric for judgment.
- Perform good works, as they are a metric for judgment.
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism for the remission of sins (implied as the standard requirement in verse 6, which necessitates proxy baptism for the dead later in LDS theology).
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- If God judges us according to our works and the desires of our hearts, how can we ever be sure our desires are pure enough to qualify for the Celestial Kingdom?
- How do you reconcile the idea of accepting the gospel after death with Hebrews 9:27, which says judgment comes immediately after death?
- Why do you think this vision about Alvin wasn't added to the Doctrine and Covenants until 1981, over 140 years after it happened?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
God's profound mercy and justice.
Joseph Smith was wrestling with a real theological problem: the fate of the unevangelized (specifically his brother). While his solution (post-mortem salvation) is unbiblical, his underlying desire to see God as perfectly just and merciful is correct. We can bridge this by showing how the biblical Gospel perfectly balances God's justice (punishing sin in Christ) and mercy (justifying the ungodly) without needing to invent a second chance after death.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
Because verse 9 states that God judges according to works and the desires of the heart, a believer can never have true, objective assurance of salvation. They must constantly introspect to see if their desires are 'good enough' and if their works are sufficient, leading to chronic spiritual anxiety.
The necessity of baptism and works for the dead places a massive burden on living LDS members to perform proxy ordinances for their deceased ancestors. This creates an endless treadmill of genealogical research and temple attendance to 'save' their dead relatives.