Ep. 395: Doctrine & Covenants 131 - 132:14 Prepare Your Heart for Understanding

Introduction

As the Prophet Joseph Smith nears the end of his mortal ministry, the revelations become both intensely doctrinal and deeply personal. In this episode of Streaking the Scriptures, we move from Doctrine and Covenants section 130 into sections 131 and 132—some of the most concentrated teachings on eternal marriage, revelation, knowledge, and the sealing power in all of scripture.

We start in section 131, where Joseph teaches about the three degrees within the celestial glory, the necessity of the new and everlasting covenant of marriage for exaltation, the “more sure word of prophecy,” and the reality that “all spirit is matter.” From there, we step into section 132 and listen as the Lord answers Joseph’s question about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others who had many wives and concubines. Rather than debating the revelation, we focus on how to prepare our hearts, how to receive and obey commandments we may not fully understand at first, and how the Lord’s house operates in perfect order.

Along the way, we look at powerful cross-references in Malachi and Doctrine and Covenants 90 and 107, explore why we “cannot be saved in ignorance,” and hear a personal story from the temple that illustrates what it means for the Lord’s house to be “a house of order, and not a house of confusion.” This episode invites you to seek revelation for your own life, prepare your heart for the Lord’s direction, and make steady, consistent progress—one day, one verse, one act of obedience at a time.

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Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Nauvoo Context for D&C 131–132
Jeff sets the stage coming out of section 130, reflecting on Joseph Smith’s late-Nauvoo teachings and the mounting pressures of his final months, then introduces today’s focus on sections 131 and 132 and how they apply to our lives.

01:15 – Degrees of Celestial Glory & the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage (D&C 131:1–4)
Reading and reflecting on D&C 131:1–4, Jeff explores the three degrees within the celestial kingdom, why entering into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage is required for the highest glory, and what “increase” in eternity likely means for husbands, wives, and eternal families.

04:20 – The More Sure Word of Prophecy & Assurance of Eternal Life (D&C 131:5–6)
Jeff discusses the “more sure word of prophecy”—knowing by revelation that one is sealed up to eternal life. He distinguishes between revelation for the whole Church and revelation for our personal lives, emphasizes the sacred, private nature of such assurance, and highlights how daily, consistent effort positions us to receive more light.

06:45 – “We Cannot Be Saved in Ignorance”: Learning, Study, and Duty (D&C 131:6 with Malachi 2; D&C 90 & 107)
Turning to Malachi 2:7–9 and then Doctrine and Covenants 90:14–15 and 107:99–100, Jeff unpacks what it means that we “cannot be saved in ignorance.” He emphasizes the Lord’s expectation that we study, learn our duty, become acquainted with good books, languages, and people, and act diligently in whatever office or calling we’ve been given.

11:45 – Introducing D&C 132 & the Question of Plural Marriage
Jeff reads the section heading and opening verses of D&C 132, where the Lord responds to Joseph’s inquiry about Old Testament prophets who had many wives and concubines. Rather than debating the origin of the revelation, Jeff testifies that it came from God and frames the study as an effort to understand what the Lord revealed and how it draws us closer to Christ.

14:06 – Preparing Our Hearts to Receive Difficult Commandments (D&C 132:3–6)
Focusing on verses about preparing our hearts to receive and obey the law the Lord is about to reveal, Jeff draws out a broader principle: for every commandment—whether easy or hard—we must prepare our hearts in advance. He shares missionary experiences teaching people at different levels of gospel understanding and reflects on how each of us faces unique commandments that stretch us toward sainthood.

18:39 – Sealing Power, Covenants, and What Lasts Beyond Death (D&C 132:7–8)
Jeff walks through the sweeping language about covenants, contracts, oaths, and bonds that must be sealed by proper authority to have effect after the resurrection. He explains the unique role of the living prophet in holding the sealing keys, how that authority is delegated, and the bold doctrine that only what is sealed by the Lord’s authority endures beyond death.

20:31 – “My House Is a House of Order”: Uzzah, the Ark, and a Tray in the Temple (D&C 132:8–14)
Centering on the Lord’s declaration that His house is a house of order, Jeff shares a personal temple experience involving something as simple as moving a tray and the spiritual correction that followed. He then parallels this with the story of Uzzah steadying the ark, illustrating the importance of obedience, respect for authorized stewardship, and faith in those whom the Lord has called.

26:58 – Order, Obedience, and Preparing for More Revelation
Jeff reflects on what he has learned serving in the temple about order in even the smallest details and how that mirrors the Lord’s kingdom. He pauses at verse 15 to save the next doctrinal section for a future study, then bears testimony of the truth of these revelations, the reality of eternal marriage and sealing power, and the promise that through Jesus Christ and His Church we can be with our spouses and families forever.

27:20 – Invitation, Testimony, and Looking Ahead
In closing, Jeff invites listeners to prepare their hearts, ask the Lord directly about the truth of these doctrines, and continue their own consistent spiritual progress. He shares his testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and invites listeners to reach out by email and join him again as they continue “streaking the scriptures.”

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Conclusion

As we wrap up this study of Doctrine and Covenants 131 and the opening verses of 132, we’ve seen how much the Lord cares about covenant relationships, personal revelation, learning our duty, and living within His divinely ordered house. Exaltation in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom is tied to the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. The more sure word of prophecy reminds us that eternal life is not a vague hope but a revealed promise. And the Lord’s insistence that we “cannot be saved in ignorance” and that His house is a house of order calls us to steady, disciplined, daily effort.

That’s why consistency matters so much. One paragraph of a good book each day. One verse of scripture. One moment to ponder your temple covenants. One prayer to prepare your heart for the next commandment the Lord will invite you to live. Small, deliberate actions done every day open us to personal revelation and help us gradually put off the natural man.

If you’d like help turning today’s impressions into consistent action, you can use the MyStreaks – Streak Tracker app. Set simple spiritual streaks like:

• “Read at least one verse of scripture each day.”

• “Study one paragraph from a good, gospel-centered book.”

• “Record one insight from my scripture study.”

• “Pray daily to prepare my heart to receive and obey the Lord’s commandments.”

MyStreaks will quietly track your progress, celebrate your consistency, and help you see how small daily efforts—over time—shape your soul, deepen your testimony, and align your life with the covenants we’ve studied today.

I’d love to hear what stood out to you from this episode and what streaks you’re running. You can email me at jeffrey (J-E-F-F-E-R-Y) @ mystreaksapp.com.

Until we study together again, remember to have charity in traffic, stay faithful to your covenants, and as always… keep streaking the scriptures.