The Vision (D&C 76): Vision of the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon
Published March 25, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Contributed by
Todd Morgan
Beaumont, CA, 92223
On February 16, 1832, at the home of John Johnson in Hiram, Ohio, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were working on the inspired translation of the New Testament when they were caught up together in a shared, extended vision that was later recorded as Doctrine and Covenants 76. The vision opened with a view of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, included an account of Satan’s fall and the fate of the sons of perdition, and gave sequential revelations of the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms of glory. The experience lasted over an hour; contemporaneous recollections report Joseph and Sidney both testifying to the same sights (Joseph often asking, “What do I see?” and Sidney replying, “I see the same”). Philo Dibble, who was present along with approximately twelve other priesthood holders, recorded that he “saw the glory and felt the power” for part of the time though he did not see the vision in full. This event became known among early Latter-day Saints simply as “The Vision.”
In Their Own Words
“The vision which is recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants was given at the house of 'Father Johnson,' in Hiram, Ohio, and during the time that Joseph and Sidney were in the spirit and saw the heavens open, there were other men in the room, perhaps twelve, among whom I was one during a part of the time—probably two-thirds of the time,—I saw the glory and felt the power, but did not see the vision. The events and conversation, while they were seeing what is written (and many things were seen and related that are not written,) I will relate as minutely as is necessary. Joseph would, at intervals, say: 'What do I see?' as one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, 'I see the same.' Presently Sidney would say 'what do I see?' and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, 'I see the same.' This manner of conversation was repeated at short intervals to the end of the vision, and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision. Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, 'Sidney is not used to it as I am.'”
— Philo Dibble, 'Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith'
Sources & References
Doctrine and Covenants 76 josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/vision-16-february-1832-dc-76 rsc.byu.edu/joseph-smith-prophet-seer/joseph-smith-vision-1832 fromthedesk.org/the-vision-dc-76-reaction-of-early-latter-day-saints/ Philo Dibble, 'Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith', The Juvenile Instructor Vol. 27 (1892) Full first-person account: Philo Dibble, "Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith," The Juvenile Instructor, Vol. 27, No. 10 (May 15, 1892), pp. 303–304. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/vision-of-the-three-degrees-of-glory Monte S. Nyman, "Six Visions of Eternity," Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants (RSC, BYU, 2004), 198-201 - https://rsc.byu.edu/sperry-symposium-classics-doctrine-covenants/six-visions-eternity-0
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