1The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell.
The Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain. 45:48
Trivia: What was Jesus's first commandment in the Doctrine and Covenants?
137:1-41The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell.
The heavens opened and I [Joseph Smith] saw the celestial kingdom.
I couldn't tell if I was in the body or out of the body.
2 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire;
The gate looked like it was on fire.
3 Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son.
Both the Father and the Son were sitting on the same throne, which was blazing with fire.
4 I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold.
The streets were paved with gold.
137:5-105 I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;
I saw Adam and Abraham - and also my own father and mother, along with my long-dead brother Alvin. [1]
6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.
I was surprised to see Alvin, since he wasn't baptized,
and died before the Lord gathered Israel for the second time. [2]
7Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: 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;
Then the Lord said to me,
Those who died without knowing the gospel, but would have believed it if they had lived longer, will enter the celestial kingdom.
8Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;
This also be true from now on.
9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.
I'll judge everyone according to their works and wants.
10 And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.
I also saw that children who die before the age of accountablity will be go to the celestial kingdom.
Joseph Smith's brother, Alvin, died in 1823 when he was 25 years old.
In his vision, Joseph was surprised to see Alvin in the celestial kingdom, since he died before the Mormon church was established. But God explained that people who die without knowing about the LDS church are accepted into the celestial kingdom if they would have become Mormon if they had only heard about it during their lifetime.
Alvin Smith figured prominently in the development of the Mormon practice of baptizing dead people.
(See Wikipedia - Alvin Smith: Significance in the LDS doctrine of redemption of the dead)
That is, before Joseph Smith had founded his new religion.
