Salvation Universal. IV

Salvation Universal.

BY JOSEPH F. SMITH, JR,, ASSISTANT CHURCH HISTORIAN.

IV.

While many honorable men and women in the world are accomplishing a great work in searching out and compiling geneal- ogical data, their labors serve only as the means to the end. The greatest work, after all, devolves on the members of the Church who have the priesthood, power and privilege, to go into the tem- ples, taking the names from these compiled records and from all

other authentic sources and performing the ordinances in behalf of their dead. We live in the greatest dispensation of the world's history, that of the fulness of times, when all things are to be gathered and restored to their proper order, ushering in the mil- lennial reign of the Redeemer and the righteous. Do Latter-day Saints fully realize the importance of the mighty responsibility placed upon us in relation to the salvation of the world? We are doing a great deal in the attempt to convert and save a perverse and wicked generation; we are sending hundreds of missionaries into all parts of the earth, and are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in this very necessary labor, with results that are not so very startling. We are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the building of meetinghouses, Church schools and other buildings, and in the education of the youth of Israel, in developing and improving our lands, building cities and increas- ing our communities, publishing periodicals and magazines, and in every way diligently striving to improve our own people, and dis- seminate knowledge that will convert the world to the gospel; but what are we doing for the salvation of our dead? Many there are, it is true, who comprehend this greater work, and are faithfullv

352 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

discharging their duties in the temples of the Lord, but of others this The temple in Salt Lake City has for many cannot be said. months been so crowded with anxious, earnest workers, that it has been necessary many times to turn large numbers away because there was not sufficient room. This is a good sign, showing the willingness and activity of the Saints. But this condition does not relieve the inactive, dilatory members, who are doing nothing for their dead. These persons cannot expect to receive credit for what others may be doing, the responsibility rests with equal force on all according to' our individual ability and opportunities. It

matters not what else we have been called to do, or what position we may occupy, or how faithfully in other ways we have labored in the Church, none are exempt from this great obligation. It is

required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder. Place or distinction, or long service in the cause of Zion in the mission field, the stakes of Zion, or where or how else it may have been, will not entitle one to disregard the salvation of one's dead. Some may feel that if they pay their tithing, attend their regular meetings and other duties, give of their substance to the poor, perchance spend one, two or more years preaching in the world, that they are absolved from further duty. But the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead. We may and should do all these other things, for which reward will be given, but if we neglect the weightier privilege and commandment, notwith- standing all other good works, we shall find ourselves under severe condemnation. And why such condemnation? Because ''the great- est responsibility in this world thatGod has laid upon us, is to seek after our dead."* Because we cannot be saved without them, "It is necessary that those who have gone before and those who come after us should have salvation in common with us, and thus hath God made it obligatory to man,"f says the Prophet Joseph Smith. From this, then, we see that while it is necessary to preach the gospel in the nations of the earth, and to do all

other good works in the Church, yet the greatest commandment

• Joseph Smith in Times and Seasons 6: 616.

t Ibid.

SALVATION UNIVERSAL. 353

given us, and made obligatory,, is temple work in our own behalf and in behalf of our dead. Again the Prophet says: "Baptism for the dead is the only way that men can appear as saviors upon Mount Zion. The proclamation of the first principles of the gospel was a means of salvation to man individually, but men, by actively engaging in rites of salvation substitutional^,become instrumental in bringing multitudes of their kin into the kingdom of God. This . . .

doctrine appears glorious inasmuch as it exhibits the greatness of divine compassion and benevolence in the extent of the plan of human salvation. This glorious truth is well calculated to enlarge the understanding, and to sustain the soul under troubles, difficul- ties, and distresses. . . . This doctrine presents in a clear light the wisdom and mercy of God, in preparing an ordinance for the salvation of the dead, being baptized by proxy, their names recorded in heaven, and they judged according to the deeds done in the body. This doctrine was the burden of the scriptures. Those Saints who neglect it, in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation."* The reason our own salvation stands in jeopardy is because it is necessary that the parents and children not only receive the ordinance of baptism, but they must be joined together from gen- eration to generation. It is necessary for us to go into the tem- ples, be baptized, confirmed, and receive all the ordinances for our dead, just as we receive them for ourselves. f "It is sufficient to know," we read in the revelation, "that the earth will be smitten with a curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between the fathers and the children upon some subject or other, and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union and welding together of dis-

• Times and Seasons 2: 545-6.

t History of the Church, May 12, 1844.

354 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

pensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed, from the days of Adam even to the present time; and not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in * this dispensation of the fulness of times." Again, quoting from the prophet: "The Bible says, I wil send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the hearts of the fath- ers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. "Now, the word turn here should be translated bind or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be fulfiled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the gospel to be established, the Saints of God to be gath- ered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion. "But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them, and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and children to And I would to the fathers, which fulfils the mission of Elijah. God this temple was now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and make use of the seals while they are on earth. "The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead, and gather together their living relatives, that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten, and the consummation decreed falls upon the world. "f These passages emphasize the importance of the work for the dead, for we cannot be saved without them, nor can they be saved

*Doc. and Cov, 128: 18.

t History of the Church, Jan. 20, 1844.

SALVATION UNIVERSAL. 355

without us. Our salvation cannot be accomplished unless the fathers and the children are joined together, bound, sealed in per- fect family order. Husbands must be united by authority with their wives; children to their parents, until their is one grand fam- ily composed of all the faithful from the beginning to the end of time, with Adam, our progenitor standing in his calling as the father of us all.

[to be concluded in next number]

Salt Lake City, Utah.

Passing Events.

The battleship "Utah" the fifth ship of the "all-big-gun' ' type to be added to the United States Navy, since 1905, and the most power- ful warship yet built in the United States, was launched at Camden, New Jersey, on the 23rd day of December, 1909. It was christened by

Miss Mary Alice Spry, daughter of Governor William Spry, who, with a large number of other Utah people, was present at the launching. The Utah is one of the world's largest battleships, is 510 feet in length, 88 feet in breadth, with a normal displacement of 21,825 tons. Her bat- tery includes ten 12-inch and sixteen 5-inch guns. She has two 21-inch submerged torpedo tubes, a displacement 2000 tons greater than the Delaware and North Dakota, and is expected to develop a speed of 20| knots per hour.

The Agricultural College of Utah began several short winter courses — dairying, horticultural inspection, poultry management, house- keeping, the farmer's roundup, forestry, commerce, and mechanic arts, etc., in January. These courses are offered primarily for the benefit of the farmer, business man, and housewife, who can be absent from home only a short time. They are arranged to enable any one interested in a special subject to get in touch with the latest developments and the best and most up-to-date methods in as short a time as possible. The splendid equipment of the college is a guarantee of the best results to be obtained Those who have attended the farmer's round-ups in the past are unani- mous in their statement that they have received several times the worth of their money in the instructions received, and this phase of the college work is becoming increasingly popular. The farmer's round-ups are especially intended for young men who'can spend only a few months in school.