Doctrine and Covenants 76b – Study Guide

71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.

72 Behold, these are they who died without law;

73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;

74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it;

75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.

76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.

77 These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.

78 Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.

79 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

80 And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

• "Terrestrial" (v. 71): From Latin terra, meaning "earth." Greek parallel: γεώδης (geōdēs). Refers to something of the earth or earthly sphere. Its placement between celestial and telestial reflects a hierarchy of nearness to God.

• "Glory of the moon" (v. 71): Ancient astronomy treated the moon as a "lesser light" (Genesis 1:16). Its reflected glory symbolizes derived truth—honor without fullness.

• "Died without law" (v. 72): See Romans 2:12, which addresses accountability under the law. Refers to those not exposed to gospel truths in mortality.

• "Spirits in prison" (v. 73): Referenced in 1 Peter 3:19–20, this phrase designates the spirit world, particularly for those awaiting gospel preaching and judgment.

• "Not valiant in the testimony" (v. 79): Greek for "valiant": ἀνδρεῖος (andreios) — courageous, fully committed. They believed but lacked full devotion and covenantal loyalty.

• "Crown over the kingdom of our God" (v. 79): Greek στέφανος (stephanos) — a victor's crown. This crown signifies exaltation, divine inheritance, and full access to divine presence (cf. 2 Timothy 4:8).

• Jewish Calendar Symbolism: The moon's phases guided holy days (e.g., Rosh Chodesh), symbolizing cycles of enlightenment and return. Terrestrial glory might suggest partial light and partial understanding.

81 And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament.

82 These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.

83 These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.

84 These are they who are thrust down to hell.

85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.

86 These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial;

87 And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial.

88 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation.

89 And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding;

90 And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it.

• "Telestial": A uniquely Latter-day Saint term. Likely derived from Greek prefix tele- meaning “distant” or “far off” (as in telescope, television). It suggests separation from God’s immediate presence.

  
  

• "Celestial": From Latin caelestis meaning “heavenly,” from caelum, "sky, heaven."

  
  

• "Terrestrial": From Latin terra meaning "earth"; indicates a middle sphere.

  
  

• Ancient Astronomy: The hierarchy of sun (celestial), moon (terrestrial), and stars (telestial) reflects the ancient order in Genesis 1:16: the "greater light" (sun), "lesser light" (moon), and "stars."

  
  

• "Received not the gospel of Christ" (v. 82): Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) — literally "good news" or "glad tidings."

  
  

• "Heirs of salvation" (v. 88): Greek κληρονόμος (klēronomos) — heir, one who receives an inheritance. Even the least of these kingdoms reflects God's plan of inheritance and mercy.

  
  

• "Ministration" (vv. 86–88): Suggests a structured heavenly order. Greek διακονία (diakonia) means service, ministry, or sacred office.

91 And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial, which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion.

92 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;

93 Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever.

94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;

95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.

96 And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one.

97 And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one.

98 And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world.

• Glory (Hebrew: kavod כָּבוד, Greek: doxa δόξα): Honor, splendor, or weighty presence of God. Not just visual radiance, but also divine authority and influence.

  
  

• Power (Greek: dunamis δύναμις): Ability, strength, miraculous force. Often associated with the active energy of God.

• Might (Greek: ischus ἰσχύς): Enduring strength, capacity, or muscle—emphasizing enduring force.

  
  

• Dominion (Greek: kratos κράτος): Rule, authority, sovereign power. Related to kingdom or governance.

  
  

• Throne (Hebrew: kisse' כִּסֵּא, Greek: thronos θρόνος): Seat of ruling power and justice.

  
  

• Forever (Hebrew: olam עוֲלַם): Eternal, from antiquity to perpetuity. Greek: aiōnios αἰώνιος)

  
  

• Reigns (Hebrew: malak מַלָךּ, Greek: basileuō βασιλεύω): To rule, govern as king, exercise dominion.

  
  

• Bow in Reverence (Hebrew: shachah שָׁחָה, Greek: proskyneō προσκυνέω): To prostrate oneself, pay homage, or worship.

  
  

• Church of the Firstborn (v. 94):

  • Church: Greek: ekklēsia ἐκκλησία — called out assembly, community of covenant people.

  • Firstborn: Greek: prōtotokos πρωτότοκος — preeminent heir, first to rise, Christlike inheritance.

    
    

• See / Know as Known:

  • See: Hebrew: ra'ah רָאָה, Greek: horaō ἅραω: Not just visually, but to perceive or understand.

  • Know: Hebrew: yada' יָדָע, Greek: ginōskō γινώσκω: Intimate, covenantal knowledge, not merely intellectual.

    
    

• Grace (Hebrew: chen חֶן, Greek: charis χάρις): Unmerited favor, divine gift, enabling power from God.

  
  

• One (v. 96–98):

  • Hebrew: echad אֶחָד — unity or compound oneness.

  • Greek: heis ἕις — one in unity, not necessarily numeric singularity (cf. John 17:21).

99 And after this another angel shall sound, which is the third trump; and then come the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation;

100 And these are the rest of the dead, and they live not again until the thousand years are ended, neither again, until the end of the earth.

101 And another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then come the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation;

102 And these are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.

103 These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit.

104 These are they who are thrust down to hell.

105 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.

106 These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial;

107 And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial.

108 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation.

109 And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding;

110 And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it.

111 And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial which excels in all things—the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion.

112 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;

• "Telestial" (vv. 107–109): Derived from the Greek prefix "tele-" meaning "far off" or "at a distance" (as in telescope, television). While not a classical term, it was introduced in modern revelation to denote a kingdom far removed from God's full presence.

  
  

• "Received not the gospel..." (v. 102): Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:8 — Those who know not God and obey not the gospel will face judgment.

  
  

• "Everlasting covenant" (v. 101): The eternal agreement between God and man made through Christ. See Hebrews 13:20 and D&C 132:6.

  
  

• "Thrust down to hell" (v. 104): Greek Gehenna or Hades; see Luke 12:5. Used symbolically for a temporary state of suffering prior to redemption.

  
  

• "Heirs of salvation" (v. 108): Indicates that even these individuals are included in God's salvific plan. Compare Hebrews 1:14.

  
  

• "Every knee shall bow..." (v. 110): Echoes Philippians 2:10–11 and Isaiah 45:23, affirming universal acknowledgment of Christ.

  
  

• "Dominion" (v. 111): Greek κύριος (kyrios) for lordship or ruling authority. Reflects ranked inheritances across kingdoms. Hebrew מָשַׁל mâshal meaning to have dominion, to govern and care for, used in Genesis to describe the ruling authority of the greater light, referring to the sun. The word רָדָה râdâh is also used and this is the word that describes the dominion the Lord granted to Adam and Eve, and by extension humanity. There are significant distinctions in these words.

  
  

• "Many mansions" (John 14:2): Implies that even within the telestial realm, varying degrees of inheritance and stewardship exist.

113 This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit.

114 But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;

115 Which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter;

116 Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him;

117 To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves;

118 That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory.

119 And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• "Not lawful for man to utter" (v. 115): This phrase mirrors 2 Corinthians 12:4 where Paul speaks of being "caught up into paradise" and hearing unspeakable words. The Greek word for "not lawful" is ἄρρητος (arrētos), meaning "unutterable, not permitted."

  
  

• "Mysteries of his kingdom" (v. 114): The word "mysteries" in Greek is μυστήριον (mystērion), meaning sacred secrets revealed only by God. This reaffirms the revelatory and divine nature of the vision.

  
  

• "Purify themselves" (v. 116): Hebrew root: טָהַר (tahar) — to cleanse or make ceremonially clean. Purification is both spiritual and ritual, often preparatory to encountering the divine.

  
  

• "Bear his presence in the world of glory" (v. 118): Parallels Exodus 24 and Isaiah 6 where prophets enter God's presence in vision. This phrase implies transfiguration or sanctification by the Spirit.

  
  

• "Glory, honor, and dominion" (v. 119): A triadic phrase echoing Revelation 5:13 and temple language, emphasizing divine sovereignty and worship.