Church History Matters – Episode 178

D&C 137 CFM – This Revelation Saves Most of Mankind (E49 December 1–7, 2025)

Hosts: Scott and Casey
Podcast: Church History Matters (Scripture Central)
Release Date: November 25, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into Doctrine & Covenants Section 137, a pivotal Latter-day Saint revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1836. Scott and Casey discuss its context, significance, and the hopeful doctrines it introduces—particularly concerning salvation for those who died without knowledge of the Gospel and for children who pass away before the age of accountability. The hosts explore both the historical setting and the theological development that emerges from this section, connecting it to broader temple theology and its eventual canonization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Context of D&C 137

• Kirtland Temple Setting ([02:14–05:04])

  • Joseph Smith receives the vision in January 1836, during a period of intense spiritual outpourings in the Kirtland Temple (“Kirtland Endowment”).
  • Associated with washings, anointings, visions, and manifestations—including the presence of the Father and the Son and other spiritual gifts.
  • The vision was originally recorded in Joseph’s journal; participants included church leadership.
  • Ordinances acted as gateways to spiritual power and revelation.
    • Quote – Scott ([07:11]): “The ordinance or the ritual is the gateway to the power.”
    • Quote – Casey ([08:28]): “In the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is made manifest.”

• Canonization and Placement ([09:15–10:36])

  • D&C 137 was formally added to the Pearl of Great Price in 1976, then moved to the Doctrine & Covenants in 1979, finally appearing in the 1981 edition.
  • Boyd K. Packer commented on the Church’s underwhelming reaction, predicting its future significance.
    • Quote – Boyd K. Packer (via Casey) ([10:13]): “We will live to sense the significance of it … we will record it in our diaries that we were on earth and remember when that took place.”

2. The Vision’s Content and Theological Impact

• Joseph’s Vision ([13:30–16:24])

  • He glimpses the celestial kingdom: “The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God and the glory thereof … the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son... the beautiful streets... paved with gold.”
  • Sees his parents (then alive) and his deceased brother Alvin, which surprises him.
  • Births the question: If Alvin was never baptized, how is he in the celestial kingdom?
    • Quote – Scott ([16:24]): “He sees Alvin and formulates the question, how … How could Alvin be there? He wasn’t baptized. And then comes the voice, verse 7…”

• Revelation of Hope ([17:29–19:48])

  • The Lord’s Answer: All who died without knowledge of the gospel, who would have accepted it, will be heirs of the celestial kingdom.
  • The Lord will judge all according to their works and desires.
    • Quote – Lord (via D&C 137) ([17:29]): “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.”
    • Quote – Lord (via D&C 137) ([19:48]): “I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.”
  • Line Upon Line Revelation: This is an early and partial answer—fuller doctrine (work for the dead) comes later in Nauvoo.
    • Quote – Scott ([18:52]): “This is line upon line. The Lord’s laying down a line here. This is not the whole story, but it’s enough in 1836 to have hope...”
  • Mechanism (baptism for the dead) is not given; only the end goal is stated.

• Children in the Celestial Kingdom ([20:38–25:20])

  • All children who die before accountability are saved.
  • Major comfort given high child mortality rates and Joseph and Emma Smith’s personal losses.
    • Quote – Casey ([20:38]): “It’s honestly such a load off my mind... this little verse in section 137 saves almost half the human race.”
    • Quote – Joseph Smith (via Casey) ([21:19]): “[Joseph] said, the Lord takes many away even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, the sorrows and evils of this present world ... if rightly considered, instead of mourning, we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again.”

3. Doctrinal Development and the Nature of Revelation

• Progressive Revelation ([26:56–29:28])

  • The section does not “over-explain” how salvation works for those without opportunity—because the full theological apparatus was not yet in place.
  • Baptisms for the dead and sealing work came through line-upon-line revelation and Joseph’s scriptural study.
    • Quote – Casey ([27:25]): “When you and I did our deep dive on the development of temple ordinances, we were really surprised how much we had assumed that this was just all laid out … it’s clearly one part revelation and one part perspiration on Joseph Smith’s part.”
    • Quote – Casey ([29:28]): “God basically gave Joseph the puzzle pieces... and then allowed him to kind of construct the ... the ordinance surrounding it.”
  • Section 137 is a theological ‘line’; later revelations in Nauvoo and eventual temple practices fill in the ‘picture.’

• Canonization Timing ([30:23–33:56])

  • Why canonized in 1976–1981? Hosts speculate the timing aligns with the first global surge in temple building under Spencer W. Kimball.
    • Quote – Casey ([31:44]): “The timing is fortuitous because these two sections which do so much to reinforce temple theology come right after we really get into the first great era of mass temple building.”

4. Consequences for Latter-day Saint Doctrine & Practice

• Hope and Assurance ([34:06–36:46])

  • Section 137 elegantly addresses “edge cases” – what about the unbaptized, those who never hear the gospel, or children? It provides an answer focused on God’s justice, mercy, and the value of individual desire for salvation.
    • Quote – Scott ([34:06]): “Section 137 does a great job with edge case questions... it just gives the hope really beautifully.”
    • Quote – Scott ([36:02]): “…no person is going to be lost who wants salvation. If you want it, if you would have received it... then you will receive it later. There’s no lost opportunity...”

• Temple Work and Restoration

  • D&C 137, along with later temple ordinances and theology, opens the possibility for universal salvation according to individual will and circumstance.
    • Quote – Casey ([35:29]): “This is one of the most important puzzle pieces given to Joseph... but it does take a while for him to assemble it.”
  • The vision points forward to, and is foundational for, the Latter-day Saint understanding and practice of proxy ordinances and temple work for the dead.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott ([07:11]): “It has struck me that the gift of power seems to always come on the heels of the ordinances they were doing... the ordinance or the ritual is the gateway to the power.”
• Casey ([20:38]): “It’s honestly such a load off my mind... this little verse in section 137 saves almost half the human race.”
• Scott ([36:02]): “There’s no lost opportunity because your circumstances were bad, that you had unfortunate timing or location... all those questions are eliminated with section 137.”
• Casey ([36:46]): “Section 137 is small, but it packs a punch. It really does present this expansive view of salvation.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Historical Context and Kirtland Endowment – [02:14–05:04]
• Ordination, Visionary Outpouring – [04:50–07:11]
• Link Between Ordinance and Power – [07:11–09:15]
• Canonization of D&C 137 – [09:15–10:36]
• Vision Content Begins (“I beheld the celestial kingdom...”) – [13:30–16:24]
• Alvin’s Place in the Celestial Kingdom: Question Raised – [16:24]
• The Lord’s Hopeful Answer – [17:29–19:48]
• Promise for Children Who Die Young – [20:38–25:20]
• Discussion of Revelatory Process & Theology Development – [26:56–29:28]
• Speculation on Canonization Timing – [30:23–33:56]
• Consequences & Final Reflections – [34:06–36:46]

Conclusion

Scott and Casey offer a hopeful, deeply contextualized exploration of D&C 137. They show how this revelation addresses profound personal and collective anxieties about salvation, highlights God’s mercy, and sets the stage for powerful temple doctrines embraced by Latter-day Saints today. The episode leaves listeners with a renewed appreciation for line-upon-line revelation and for the “expansive view of salvation” revealed in this remarkable section.