Doctrine and Covenants 76: 73 and 138: 29 - 30

[askandanswer]

Does this verse from section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants suggest that Christ visited the spirits in prison and preached the gospel to them?

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;

And do these verses, from section 138, suggest that He did not?

29 And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;

30 But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

[Vort]

Yes to both. Section 138 clarifies what Section 76 was teaching.

[askandanswer]

1 hour ago, Vort said:

Yes to both. Section 138 clarifies what Section 76 was teaching.

Does Section 138 also contradict what Section 76 was teaching?

[Vort]

5 minutes ago, askandanswer said:

Does Section 138 also contradict what Section 76 was teaching?

Not as far as I'm concerned. God blesses us, like when the ward comes and helps us move in or move out. You know, God helping us, but through others.

Jesus opened the gates of Hell, as it were, and preached to the spirits in prison. This is what Section 76 teaches, and it's a thoroughly biblical doctrine. Section 138 clarifies that Jesus Himself did not go preach to the spirits in prison, but that he opened the gates (so to speak) and made such preaching possible. The actual preaching is and has always been done by His servants.

My youngest just flew to the Provo MTC yesterday. He will spend the next two years preaching the gospel of Christ to the Japanese people. (At least, that's the plan.) When and if he sees success in having convert baptisms, those he baptize will surely testify that God blessed them with the gospel. But it will have been done through the agency of another. Whether God's hand is "literally" involved depends entirely on what you mean by "God's hand" and "literally". But the blessings come from God, for there is no other way for blessings to come.

That's my view of the matter, fwiw.

[mikbone]

Jesus opened up spirit prison for missionary work.  Set apart a mission president and called missionaries.

The work continues

[Sal]

Yes ! Jesus when he died Visited the Spirits in Prison !

[Traveler]

It is the same.  If we listen to those sent through callings in the priesthood or by G-d himself that authorizes the priesthood be given to those to administer in his name – it is the same.  That which is done through the priesthood is that which is done by G-d.

 

The Traveler

[Jersey Boy]

On 8/8/2024 at 2:07 PM, askandanswer said:

Does this verse from section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants suggest that Christ visited the spirits in prison and preached the gospel to them?

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;

And do these verses, from section 138, suggest that He did not?

29 And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;

30 But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

With regard to your question, what follows are 2 excerpts from the Standard Works that may help you to reconcile the two seemingly contradictory verses that you found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, IT IS THE SAME. (Doctrine and Covenants 1)

In the above verse the Lord testifies that his appointed messengers, whom he clothes with great power and glory, are enabled able to preach the gospel in a manner so powerful that it’s tantamount to hearing the gospel preached by the Lord himself. One of the most powerful examples of this kind of divinely empowered preaching is found in the Book or Revelation, wherein an angel speaks to the Apostle John in the first person, as if he is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This mighty angel appears to be so much like the risen Lord that the Apostle John, someone who knew the Savior most intimately, was confused and about to bow before the angel and worship him, but the angel forbade to do so, making it clear that he is but an angel.

In the following 3 verses from Revelation 22, this angel first speaks to John in the first person, as if he’s the Savior.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeper the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down  to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

This amazing principle of divine empowerment is referred to in the restored gospel as “divine investiture of authority.” It’s by means of this principle of divine investiture that the Lord Jesus Christ occasionally speaks in the scriptures in the first person, as if he is God the Father.

With this mighty principle of divine investiture of authority in mind, it’s not hard to imagine that the spirits in prison had a very powerful encounter with the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, even though he wasn’t personally there with them.

 

 

 

[askandanswer]

16 hours ago, Jersey Boy said:

With regard to your question, what follows are 2 excerpts from the Standard Works that may help you to reconcile the two seemingly contradictory verses that you found in the Doctrine and Covenants.

38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, IT IS THE SAME. (Doctrine and Covenants 1)

In the above verse the Lord testifies that his appointed messengers, whom he clothes with great power and glory, are enabled able to preach the gospel in a manner so powerful that it’s tantamount to hearing the gospel preached by the Lord himself. One of the most powerful examples of this kind of divinely empowered preaching is found in the Book or Revelation, wherein an angel speaks to the Apostle John in the first person, as if he is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This mighty angel appears to be so much like the risen Lord that the Apostle John, someone who knew the Savior most intimately, was confused and about to bow before the angel and worship him, but the angel forbade to do so, making it clear that he is but an angel.

In the following 3 verses from Revelation 22, this angel first speaks to John in the first person, as if he’s the Savior.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeper the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down  to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

 

This amazing principle of divine empowerment is referred to in the restored gospel as “divine investiture of authority.” It’s by means of this principle of divine investiture that the Lord Jesus Christ occasionally speaks in the scriptures in the first person, as if he is God the Father.

With this mighty principle of divine investiture of authority in mind, it’s not hard to imagine that the spirits in prison had a very powerful encounter with the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, even though he wasn’t personally there with them.

 

 

 

Thanks @Jersey Boy this is a very clear and logical explanation and answers well the questions I had.