1 THE heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell.

2 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire;

3 Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the son.

4 I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold. [ It is impossible for one to describe color especially white unless one has seen them first hand. The colors pf this world do not compare. White for example has a quality of brilliance that radiates purity it is brighter and whiter than can be explained. Exod. 3:2, Deut. 4:11, 2 Kings 2:11, Ezek. 1:4]

5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept; [ With the denotation that both Adam, Abraham who would have been resurrected being there, and then his father, mother and older brother who would not have been resurrected all in the same place. Indicates, that the “paradise” or celestial quality spirits get to enjoy before the resurrection includes the same locations where resurrected celestial quality persons are. ]

6 And marveled how it was that he [ Joseph Smith was surprised to see Alvin there, as he was not a child when he died (he was 26 per JS-H 1:4) and had not been baptized previous to his death. ] had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: 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; [ So how does this relate for those who are waiting on the other side for their individual ordinance work to be completed? At this point Alvin's vicarious work had not been performed, ( see verse 6as he had not been baptised for his sins as of yet) yet he still had access to celestial glory. One would assume those who have to wait for their vicarious ordinance work to be performed in order to enter into celestial glory are those who are presently of terrestrial quality, see comments D&C 76:71-80. ]

8 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;

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

10 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. [ Moroni 8:8, D&C 29:46, D&C 74:7 ]

 

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 137 At early candle-light I met with the Presidency at the west school room, in the Temple, to attend to the ordinance of anointing our heads with holy oil; also the Councils of Kirtland and Zion met in the two adjoining rooms, and waited in prayer while we attended to the ordinance. I took the oil in my left hand, Father Smith being seated before me, and the remainder of the Presidency encircled him round about. We then stretched our right hands towards heaven, and blessed the oil, and consecrated it in the name of Jesus Christ. We then laid our hands upon our aged Father Smith, and invoked the blessings of heaven. I then anointed his head with the consecrated oil, and sealed many blessings upon him. The Presidency then in turn laid their hands upon his head, beginning at the oldest, until they had all laid their hands upon him, and pronounced such blessings upon his head, as the Lord put into their hearts, all blessing him to be our Patriarch, to anoint our heads, and attend to all duties that pertain to that office. The Presidency then took the seat in their turn, according to their age, beginning at the oldest, and received their anointing and blessing under the hands of Father Smith. And in my turn, my father anointed my head, and sealed upon me the blessings of Moses, to lead Israel in the latter days, even as Moses led him in days of old; also the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All of the Presidency laid their hands upon me, and pronounced upon my head many prophecies and blessings, many of which I shall not notice at this time. But as Paul said, so say I, let us come to visions and revelations.... [text of D&C 137 quoted] I saw the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, who are now upon the earth, who hold the keys of this last ministry, in foreign lands, standing together in a circle, much fatigued, with their clothes tattered and feet swollen, with their eyes cast downward, and Jesus standing in their midst, and they did not behold Him. The Savior looked upon them and wept. I also beheld Elder M’Lellin in the south, standing upon a hill, surrounded by a vast multitude, preaching to them, and a lame man standing before him supported by his crutches; he threw them down at his word and leaped as a hart, by the mighty power of God. Also, I saw Elder Brigham Young standing in a strange land, in the far south and west, in a desert place, upon a rock in the midst of about a dozen men of color, who appeared hostile. He was preaching to them in their own 137.3tongue, and the angel of God standing above his head, with a drawn sword in his hand, protecting him, but he did not see it. And I finally saw the Twelve in the celestial kingdom of God. I also beheld the redemption of Zion, and many things which the tongue of man cannot describe in full. Many of my brethren who received the ordinance with me saw glorious visions also. Angels ministered unto them as well as to myself, and the power of the Highest rested upon us, the house was filled with the glory of God, and we shouted Hosanna to God and the Lamb. My scribe also received his anointing with us, and saw, in a vision, the armies of heaven protecting the Saints in their return to Zion, and many things which I saw. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 2, pages 379-381) ]