Doctrine and Covenants Commentary - Section 131

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           SECTION 131

Instructions by Joseph Smith the Prophet, given at Ramus, Illinois, May 16 and 17, 1843. HC 5:392—393.

    1—4, Celestial marriage is essential to exaltation in the highest heaven;
    5—6, How men are sealed up unto eternal life;
    7—8, All spirit is matter.
D&C 131:1 IN the acelestial glory there are three bheavens or degrees;
D&C 131:2 And in order to obtain the ahighest, a man must enter into this border of the cpriesthooda [meaning the new and deverlasting covenant of emarriage];
D&C 131:3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
D&C 131:4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an aincrease.

 2a this order of the priesthood The Order of Priesthood being spoken of here is that Order of Priesthood which is after the Order of Heaven. It is the true order of the priesthood, even the Patriarchal Order of the priesthood which can only be effected by the coupling of the Patriarch and the Matriarch of a heavenly union of Celestial Marriage which is the only way that man will have eternal increase. This principle of Patriarchal Order and descent in the Priesthood from father to son was the primary purpose behind that order of plural marriage refered to as 'the law of Sarah' after the wife of Abraham and her purpose in providing another wife unto her husband Abraham, to provide him a 'patriarchal heir' to the true order of the Priesthood of God (See section 132 verses 34, 63 and 65 ~ commentary).
D&C 131:5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of aprophecy means a man's knowing that he is bsealed up unto ceternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthooda.
D&C 131:6 It is impossible for a man to be asaved in bignorance.

 5a by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood Revelation and the spirit of prophecy come by the power of the Holy Ghost. But the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood are not the same thing. But here again it is seen that they do operation hand in hand, with the Holy Spirit accompanying the power of teh Holy Priesthood. The priesthood it the power of God.
D&C 131:7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All aspirit is matter but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by bpurer eyes;
D&C 131:8 We cannot asee it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all bmatter.