During the last months of the life of President Joseph F. Smith, the veil was thin and Heavenly Father blessed him with revelation and direction. On the 3rd of October, 1918, the day before he addressed the Saints in general conference, the heavens were opened and he beheld a vision of the redemption of the dead, wherein he saw the ministry of the Lord in the spirit world during the time when the Lord's body lay in the tomb. This great revelation is now included in the Doctrine and Covenants as section 138. The eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great. And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality. All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand. They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.

On October 4, 1918, in the opening discourse of his last general conference, he declared: I will not, I dare not, attempt to enter upon many things that are resting upon my mind this morning, and I shall postpone until some future time, the Lord being willing, my attempt to tell you some of the things that are in my mind, and that dwell in my heart. I have not lived alone these five months. I have dwelt in the spirit of prayer, of supplication, of faith and determination; and I have had my communication with the Spirit of the Lord continuously.

During April conference of 1976, President Smith's revelation was accepted as scripture and approved for publication in the Pearl of Great Price. It is proposed that we sustain and approve this action and adopt these revelations as part of the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All in favor, please manifest it.

In June 1979, the First Presidency announced that it would become section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants.