In 4 Baruch 9:4-5, we read the following depiction of the archangel Michael offering incense and opening the gate of heaven to the righteous:
4 for your mercy I plead, for the sweet voice of the two
seraphim I plead, for another fragrant odor of incense. 5 And may Michael,
the archangel of righteousness who opens the gates for the righteous, be (the
object of) my attention until he leads the righteous in. (S.E. Robinson,
"4 Baruch (First to Second Centuries A.D.): A New Translation and
Introduction," in James H. Charlesworth, eds., The Old Testament
Pseudepigrapha, 2 vols. [New York: Yale University Press, 1985], 2:424)
This is
reminiscent of, not just D&C 137, but Heber C. Kimball’s discussion of this
vision dated March 17, 1861:
This brings to my mind the vision that Joseph Smith had, when he
saw, Adam open the gate of the Celestial City and admit the people one by one.
He then saw Father Adam conduct them to the throne one by one, when they were
crowned Kings and Priests of God. I merely bring this up to impress upon your
mind the principles of order, but it will nevertheless apply to every member of
the Church. (JOD 9:41)
