Layout of The Vision

[mordorbund]

From my notes on D&C 76 I get the following layout for the Vision:

• Vision of throne room
• Fall of Perdition
• Opposition against saints
• Destiny of Sons of Perdition
• Gospel declared
• Vision of the celestial glory
• Vision of the terrestrial glory
• Vision of the telestial
• Explanation of interglorial ministries (telestial to celestial)
• Comparative glory and Christ subdues (celestial to telestial)
• Telestial bows the knee

Any thoughts on why this particular layout for this vision? If I were to describe the kingdoms, I would start at one end and go to the last - from celestial to terrestrial to telestial to perdition; or the reverse order. I'm also struck by how the first portion of the vision, all the way up to the point where the gospel is declared in vs 40-42 follows the plan of salvation - beginning in the presence of God, followed by a fall and a world of opposition, when salvation is offered through the gospel (there are angels, but we'll get to those later), but there the parallel seems to end. We jump straight to the celestial instead of progressing from one kingdom to the next.

As an additional question, why do you think the celestial and telestial take up the lion's share of the vision? Why is the terrestrial almost glossed over?

If you have a different layout that may clarify I'd appreciate seeing that as well.

[Anddenex]

This is the layout I see and how I would share it.

1. Vision of the Throne

Testimony Written and Declared

2. Vision of the Sufferings of the Ungodly - Fall of Perdition - Satan's rebellion

• War with the Saints (Opposition against Saints)
• Gospel preached "glad tidings" (Escape from perdition)

Testimony written

3. Vision of the Resurrection of the Just (The First Resurrection: morning and afternoon)

• Bodies celestial and their destiny
• Bodies terrestrial and their destiny

4. Vision of Bodies Telestial (The Last Resurrection)

5. Explanation of Interglorial Ministries (Telestial to the Celestial)

6. Comparative glory (Telestial to Celestial than Celestial to Telestial) and Christ Subdues

7. Telestial heirs: bow knees and tongues confess (Servants?)

Testimony written

Edited June 7, 2013 by Anddenex

[Anddenex]

Any thoughts on why this particular layout for this vision?

In answer to this question my first thoughts pondered these two thoughts as given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie and Elder Boyd K. Packer:

Elder McConkie, "Christ and the Creation":

"These three are the very pillars of eternity itself. They are the most important events that ever have or will occur in all eternity. They are the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement."

Elder Packer, "The Play and the Plan":

“The plan of redemption, with its three divisions, might be likened to a grand three-act play. Act 1 is entitled ‘Premortal Life.’ The scriptures describe it as our first estate (see Jude 1:6; Abraham 3:26, 28). Act 2, from birth to the time of resurrection, is the ‘Second Estate.’ And act 3 is called ‘Life After Death’ or ‘Eternal Life." (The Play and the Plan [address to young adults, 7 May 1995], 1–2).

The vision appears to be a systematic approach to the three pillars and our "Acts" we have been a part of, or will be a part of.

As an additional question, why do you think the celestial and telestial take up the lion's share of the vision? Why is the terrestrial almost glossed over?

My first thoughts lead me to think this is typically how we explain rewards and promises whenever there are more than two possible outcomes.

We typically teach the best rewards and the lowest reward, which typically isn't what people want, but we also don't want people to fall short so we spend more time on the best result or the result you definitely don't want to obtain.

My quick question, how is one "ordained" to a kingdom? It mentions in the vision those who are "ordained" to the telestial kingdom. Thoughts?

Sorry Mordorbund, was waiting for other smart people to comment before my comment. You will have do bear with my response before others :)

Edited June 7, 2013 by Anddenex