Did Joseph Smith teach that there are three degrees within the Celestial Kingdom? Modern Latter-day Saints often interpret Doctrine and Covenants 131 as supporting that view, referencing “three heavens or degrees.” However, historical evidence—including the original William Clayton journal entry—suggests this interpretation may be based on a misunderstanding of early terminology like “celestial glory.” In this interview, Bryan Buchanan builds on Shannon Flynn’s research to explore what Joseph Smith may have actually meant and how the idea of levels within the Celestial Kingdom evolved over time.
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Read the article by Shannon Flynn in Signature Books’ Continuing Revelation: Essays on Doctrine.
Table of Contents
- The Origins of the Three Degrees Doctrine
- Evaluating the Language and Interpretation
- The Evolution of the Interpretation
- Theological and Doctrinal Implications
The Origins of the Three Degrees Doctrine
Are There Sub-Degrees Within the Celestial Kingdom?
Well, there’s the rub! If you asked contemporary Latter-day Saint folks, you would probably get a universal “yes.” In fact, I think you would really have to do some searching to find someone who said no.
What Does D&C 131 Actually Say?
In the current text (2013), this verse reads:
“In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees.”
Doctrine and Covenants 131:1
What Did Shannon Flynn Believe the Verses Refer To?
In the 1980s, Shannon Flynn attended a lecture by Van Hale, in which Van stated that he didn’t believe that this concept of three degrees within the celestial kingdom could be traced to Joseph Smith’s time. Instead, this idea was developed sometime after 1900.
This intrigued Shannon, who started to look into the question and concluded that he agreed with Van.
Where Do the First Four Verses of D&C 131 Come From?
Like two other sections in the Doctrine and Covenants from this period (129 and 130), these verses are based on William Clayton’s journal. Orson Pratt extracted this section from Clayton’s journal while preparing the 1876 edition of the D&C.
What Is the Full Text From William Clayton’s Journal?
According to the Joseph Smith Papers Project, the full text of William Clayton’s 16 May 1843 journal reads as follows:
He put his hand on my knee and says “your life is hid with Christ in God.” and so is many others”. Addressing Benjamin [F. Johnson] says he “nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent him (me) from inheriting eternal glory for he is sealed up by the power of the priesthood unto eternal life having taken the step which is necessary for that purpose.” He said that except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity while in this probation by the power and authority of the Holy priesthood they will cease to increase when they die (i e) they will not have any children in the resurrection, but those who are married by the power & authority of the priesthood in this life & continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost will continue to increase & have children in the celestial glory. The unpardonable sin is to shed innocent blood or be accessory thereto. All other sins will be visited with judgement in the flesh and the spirit be
ingdelivered to the buffetings of Satan untill the day of the Lord Jesus.” I feel desirous to be united in an everlasting covenant to my wife and pray that it may soon be.prest. J. said that the
JS, Instruction, Ramus, Hancock Co., IL, 16 May 1843; in William Clayton, Journal, 16 May 1843, pp. [13]–[16]; handwriting of William Clayton; CHL.yway he knew in whom to confide. God told him in whom he might place confidence. He also said that in the celestial glory there was three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood and if he dont he cant obtain it. He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom he cannot have an increase.
What Was the Context of Joseph Smith’s Teachings That Night?
These verses have a very specific and fascinating context. Joseph Smith was visiting his friend, Benjamin Johnson, who lived in Ramus, a small settlement about 25 miles east of Nauvoo. William Clayton came along for the trip, which was lucky for us because he recorded what Joseph Smith had to say during the visit.
As a trusted associate, Johnson had been taught the principle of plural marriage by Joseph Smith. Smith had married two of Benjamin’s sisters—Delcena and Almera, the latter just a month before this visit to Ramus. Joseph Smith would marry Benjamin to a plural wife the next day.
Before retiring for the night, Joseph Smith taught Benjamin, Melissa, and William Clayton various things, including this specific content on the importance of polygamy.
What Did “Celestial Glory” Mean in Joseph Smith’s Day?
If we look at contemporary dictionaries (like Webster’s 1828 dictionary), “celestial” was simply a synonym for “heavenly.” In other words, Joseph Smith may have been expressing the idea that “in the heavenly glory (or just heaven), there are three gradations.”
What Is the Difference Between “Celestial Glory” and “Celestial Kingdom”?
This is the crux of the matter since Latter-day Saints have a very particular definition of celestial. Based on Joseph Smith’s February 1832 vision (now D&C 76), specific concepts of the three kingdoms of glory—celestial, terrestrial, and telestial—became entrenched in Restoration thought.
However, modern members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tend to apply overly concrete theological structures to the Joseph Smith era, which was likely more fluid at the time. Other questions, like the identity of Jehovah and the related role of Adam, demonstrate very clearly that nineteenth-century Latter-day Saint thought was far from the neat, ordered theology of today.
Evaluating the Language and Interpretation
Is There Any Evidence That William Clayton Wrote Down the Wrong Words?
When discussing this topic, some will suggest that Clayton meant to write “celestial kingdom.”
I believe that it would be surprising to William Clayton to learn that the sentence he wrote in his journal—[D&C 131:1]—has been interpreted the way it has.
Shannon Flynn, “Three Sub-Degrees in the Celestial Kingdom?,” in Continuing Revelation: Essays on Doctrine (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2021), 132.
That seems to reflect the modern Latter-day Saint understanding of what they term “the plan of salvation,” frequently depicted visually with a defined, highly ordered diagram of bubbles and arrows.
What Synonyms Might William Clayton Have Used for “Celestial”?
If we argue that Joseph Smith did not intend to convey that the celestial kingdom (the highest of the three kingdoms of glory in the February 1832 vision), then Clayton could have written instead, “in heaven there are three degrees” or “in God’s realm, there are three kingdoms.”
In other words, the Prophet was restating the heavenly framework from his vision, rather than making another subdivision within the one kingdom.
The Evolution of the Interpretation
What Are the Earliest Known Instances of Three Degrees Within the Celestial Kingdom?
Orson Pratt occasionally explores the idea of division within the celestial kingdom, but he never refers to three specific gradations.
The first known reference to three degrees within the celestial kingdom comes from an 1888 sermon by a Salt Lake Stake presidency counselor who noted:
Joseph has made it known that ‘in the celestial kingdom are three heavens or degrees,’ and that the highest can only be reached by observing the patriarchal order of marriage.
Joseph E. Taylor, “The Resurrection,” Deseret Weekly, Dec. 29, 1888.
As Shannon Flynn notes, “kingdom” has been substituted for “glory ” here, making this interpretation easier.
When Did Shannon Flynn Suggest the Shift in Understanding Happened?
Shannon Flynn felt that the major impetus for understanding these verses in the modern sense was a talk published in pamphlet form entitled The Three Degrees of Glory. Melvin Ballard, a relatively new apostle (and grandfather of current apostle, M. Russell Ballard), gave a talk—in several venues—that was subsequently published in 1924.
There are three degrees of glory in the Celestial Kingdom and only those who attain the highest degree of Celestial Glory will be candidates to become what God is.
Melvin J. Ballard, Three Degrees of Glory: A Discourse Delivered in the Ogden Tabernacle, September 22, 1922.
Shannon argued that, while Ballard was likely not envisioning himself as a correlator of this idea, the popularity of this pamphlet, which is still available, had a huge impact on making the idea stick.
How Often Has This Issue Been Addressed in General Conference?
Shannon Flynn located three instances of the concept being addressed by general authorities, but only in passing, without any additional clarification. While the three degrees topic was addressed elsewhere, “official” mentions were few.
Theological and Doctrinal Implications
Why Did Shannon Flynn Believe No Further Details Were Given?
For Shannon Flynn, the matter was very simple. No additional details were “forthcoming because there were none to begin with.”
In his view, it was a simple misreading that took on a life of its own.
Are There Any Other Doctrinal Shifts Based on Misreading?
Two other intriguing concepts that Shannon Flynn mentioned briefly in a footnote were the idea that a temple sealing guarantees the exaltation of their children (popularized by Orson Whitney and then repeated) and that the sacrament renews all covenants (first stated by Delbert Stapley, it seems).
These concepts have taken root.
These concepts, like the idea of three degrees within the celestial kingdom, have taken root in modern Latter-day Saint thought.
Shannon Flynn
What are your memories of the late Shannon Flynn?
Shannon Flynn was an absolutely delightful person. He had a very sharp sense of humor while also being very sensitive emotionally. Shannon was very curious about the rabbit holes of Mormon history and thought while remaining an ardent believer. He could acknowledge the fallibility of religious leaders while also appreciating that, for others, it was impossible to reconcile.
Shannon loved B. H. Roberts and had an extensive collection of his writings. Up until the end, we were working on another project to compile all known “lineage lessons” used before the temple and priesthood ban for those of African descent was lifted in 1978.
Shannon was very tenacious. Once something piqued his curiosity, he was determined to figure it out. I miss seeing him walk through the door, frequently giving the Vulcan sign for “live long and prosper.”
A very fitting motto, friend.
Did You Enjoy This Article?
About the Interview Participant
Bryan Buchanan is a book buyer for Benchmark Books in Salt Lake City. He co-hosts the Sunstone History Podcast with Lindsay Hansen Park and is the editor of Continuing Revelation: Essays on Doctrine. He is currently editing the diaries of Michael Quinn and Joseph Musser (with Cristina Rosetti).
Further Reading
- What Have Scholars Written about the Doctrine and Covenants?
- How Did Early Latter-day Saints React to “The Vision”?
- How Important Is the King Follett Discourse?
- What Did it Mean to “Shake Off the Dust of Thy Feet”?
- Grace vs. Works: Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far?
- Is the Song of Solomon Scripture?
Three Degrees of Celestial Kingdom Resources
- Continuing Revelation: Essays on Doctrine (Signature Books)
- Kingdoms of Glory (Gospel Topics Essay)
- Celestial Kingdom: Glossary (Joseph Smith Papers)
- “The Kingdoms of Glory”: D&C 76; 131; 132:19–24; 137 (Interpreter Foundation)
- Six Visions of Eternity (Sperry Symposium Classics)
Quotes From “Three Sub-degrees in the Celestial Kingdom”
Read the entire chapter in “Continuing Revelation: Essays on Doctrine,” edited by Bryan Buchanan and published by Signature Books in 2021.
Actual Meaning of D&C 131:1
Does this verse actually mean that in the celestial kingdom, as defined in Doctrine and Covenants 76, there are three sub-degrees? In my opinion, upon close examination, it does not.
Shannon Flynn, page 128
Melvin J. Ballard Origins
I do not believe that Ballard had any idea he was introducing a radically new concept. It is impossible to know how long he harbored the idea of three sub-degrees previous to this talk [“Three Degrees of Glory”], but it seems likely that the teaching was not yet widely held.
Shannon Flynn, page 135
Concept Gains Traction
Despite there being no official acknowledgement or promotion of the concept, [community members like N. B. Lundwall, DeVon Mecham, Bruce R. McConkie, and Sidney B. Sperry began to promote the idea]. . . .
By the second half of the twentieth century, the subdivision of the celestial kingdom had acquired seemingly official status.
Shannon Flynn, page 137–138
From Original Context to Influential Opinion to Modern “Fact”
Such errors happen in every religion. . . . A leader or authority makes a statement based on his/her limited understanding without the benefit of research or an awareness of background contexts. The statement is soon repeated until it essentially takes on a life of its own, after which it becomes widely dissemninated as established fact.
Shannon Flynn, page 140
Citation Information
This post was originally published on August 22, 2022. It was most recently updated on May 11, 2025, to include additional resources, updated links, and enhancements to the reading experience.
5 replies on “Are There 3 Degrees in the Celestial Kingdom?”
Personally, getting to the celestial kingdom is enough of a challenge to be worried about. If it isn’t clearly revealed, and has to be debated, then it probably could be set aside until after you have “endured to the end”, and have your place assigned to you by Jesus the Christ. Worry about what is important to your salvation, not things that have not been clearly revealed. You have more than enough on your plate. No need to add unanswerable stuff…. Or you could just ask God….
“Celestial” should be understood to mean Heavenly in the sense of the place where God resides or that place where the saints shall live after resurrection and judgment. Now, both “telestial” and “terrestrial” too are both considered heavens but it needs proper context because it is a part of our doctrine that has grossly been misinterpreted.
There are 3 heavens, but not “heaven” like we tend to define or imagine in the pure future eternal sense. According to scripture we are actually in the “first heaven” now. The temple also correlates this by teaching we are in the telestial kingdom now. In Revelations and other scripture it speaks of this first heaven passing away by fire and then we come into a new heaven. This second heaven is the terrestrial kingdom or otherwise known as the millennium. This second heaven too will pass away by fire and then comes the third heaven which is eternal. It is referred to as the celestial kingdom.
Now, what’s interesting is that section 76 mentions those celestial inhabitants as being “gods”. Yet, section 131 mentions that only a portion, those in the highest gradation, become Gods. So, We have a problem here. Now, it could mean, that there was some translation error or recording error but it does make a pretty good case that all celestial heirs will be entered into marriage and that part of the plan of salvation requires the marriage covenant. After all, almost every covenant made in the temple endowment has to do with couples.
So, to come full circle. The error in section 131 could be that it is not understood that salvation in the end requires the marriage covenant. Celestial inhabitants really do become gods themselves and only that one heaven will exist as the other two have slready passed away.
Some points to ponder on this question:
-Section 88 refers to “celestial bodies” etc., thereby further strengthening the concept of a celestial kingdom inhabited by those possessing such bodies.
-Section 76, in speaking of the Telestial Kingdom, refers to the various degrees of brightness of stars, figuratively. This is one reason many also infer degrees in the Terrestrial and Celestial Kingdoms.
-Section 132:16-17 are often viewed in conjunction with the verses/text discussed in this article, and are always interpreted as relating to the Celestial Kingdom or glory, with angels receiving the glory but not the eternal increase which is far more and weighty.
-For decades now the Church has had a Scripture Publications Committee that has carefully looked at the wording of all the D&C (and PofGP) revelations, comparing them to original manuscripts and making necessary adjustments in the texts and related helps (as recently as 2013). They had the assistance of the JSPP. They have made none of these changes. We must assume they know about such theorizing. They have access to the First Presidency on all such questions, which is the same as having access to Jesus. Church leaders have not sought to change the Church’s understanding of these revelations, but have instead promoted and strengthened them.
-Elder McConkie taught that the wording regarding faithful members receiving eternal life and a continuation of the seed, if they did not commit the unpardonable sin, referred to those who had their calling and election made sure, which seems to fit well with the original text. He also placed this interpretation on D&C 132:26.
I pulled all of this off the top of my head without looking any of it up, which means there may be errors in it.
Sometime things can he right in front of our faces and we not care to either notice or altogether get it wrong.
We’ve had the endowment now for around 175 years explaining that this earth we now live on is the telestial kingdom/ telestial world (same language as found in D&C section 76) and yet, besides what is taught inside the temple endowment within the temple, no doctrine of this is taught or understood in any church publication or official teaching outside the temple. So, we totally basically disregard the plan of salvation the endowment teaches of progressing through the telestial and terrestrial kingdoms in order to qualify for and gain entrance to the celestial.
What about D&C 132:17 ? “For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.”