Salvation for the Dead, I

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Salvation for the Dead Social Service Value of the Doctrine

By Joseph F. Smith, Jr., of the Quorum of the Twelve

[In the Y. M. M. I. A. Senior Manual, for 1916-17, there are a number of subjects showing the glory and nobility of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an organization for social service. In the limited space of the manual, treatment could be accorded only to a few such topics. Many were of necessity omitted. Among them, the vital doctrine here considered, and presented in two lessons, in form convenient for study by individuals or by classes, as may be desired. We believe, too, that the general reader will be interested in this wonderful and distinguishing doctrine of the Church of Christ. Editors.]

1.   Explanatory Introduction
   

   The doctrine of salvation for the dead is a distinguishing feature of the faith of the Latter-day Saints. It is not believed in and practiced by any other people. No other religious organization performs the rites of baptism and confirmation vicariously for the dead. No other organization comprehends the significance and full meaning of the prophecy of Malachi recorded in the 4th chapter of that book, or the statement of Paul to the Corinthians: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then bap tized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?"* These passages of scripture have been unsolved riddles to Bible commentators of these modern times. They were not comprehended by the translators of our present versions of the Scriptures, but have been revealed to us in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. It is true that certain religious bodies believe in prayer for the dead, under certain limitations and conditions, but this is

*I Cor. 15:29-30. This is how it reads in the English, Twentieth Century revision: "Again, if there is no resurrection, what good will those people be doing who are baptized on behalf of the dead? If it is true that the dead do not rise, why are people baptized on their behalf?" In the American Standard Revision it reads thus: "Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?"

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merely a perversion of the true doctrine taught in the Primitive Christian Church pertaining to the salvation of the dead.

2. —Historical When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, on the night of September 21, 1823, he quoted to him the prophecy of Malachi with this variation from the account in King James'

"For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Behold, I will reveal unto you the priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers; if it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."

At that time the full meaning of this prophecy was not comprehended by Joseph Smith, although it made a deep impression on his mind. After the completion of the Kirtland temple, this prophecy was fulfilled, for on the 3rd day of April, 1836, Elijah, the prophet, appeared in that temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and conferred upon them this priesthood and the keys of the planting in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers, as Malachi predicted should be done. In restoring this power, Elijah said that the time had fully come, spoken of by that ancient prophet, "Therefore," said he, "the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands, and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors." Following the restoration of this authority, it was made known to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the dead were to receive the gospel, through their repentance, and that it was the privilege of the members of the Church to perform for and in their behalf, the ordinances which were essential to the salvation of the dead which they did not have the privilege of receiving in mortal life. These ordinances were to be performed vicariously in temples erected to the name of the Lord. However, in the poverty of the people, and while they had no temple, the Lord permitted them to baptize elsewhere for their dead and such baptisms were performed in the Mississippi river, at Nauvoo. (See Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 124.) Following this revelation, the hearts of the Latter-day Saints commenced to turn to their fathers, and there was great anxiety on their part to perform for their dead these sacred ordinances which would free them from the prison house. Not

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only among members of the Church were the hearts of the children turned to their fathers, but the work ^commenced to spread, and the desire took possession of honorable men and women in the world to seek after the records of their dead. Genealogical societies were organized following the restoration of these keys, the pioneer society having been organized in the city of Boston, Mass., in 1844. Today there are hundreds of societies of this character in our own land, and in the various countries of Europe, especially in lands where the gospel has been successfully preached and many of the house of Israel gathered out. As soon as the font in the temple in Nauvoo was ready, and long before that structure was completed, the Lord, by revelation, prohibited the baptisms for the dead outside of the temple and commanded the Saints to perform this ordinance for their dead in the font in that house. These baptisms were discontinued October 3, 1841, and the ordinance was resumed November 3, 1841, in the font which was dedicated for that purpose five days later (History of the Church 4:426, 446). Baptisms for the dead continued to be performed in the temple at Nauvoo until the Saints were driven to the Rocky Mountains, and the spirit of this work, which had rested so abundantly upon the Prophet Joseph Smith, continued with all its power and authority with President Brigham Young. One of the first commandments he received from the Lord after entering the Salt Lake Valley, was to build a temple to his name where these ordinances for the salvation of both the living and the dead could be performed. From that day to this the spirit of temple building and of temple work has continued unabated with the Church (Read section 127 and 128 Doctrine and Covenants; see also Lesson xii, M. I. A. Senior Manual, 1916-17).

3. —Obedience to the Gospel Essential to Salvation The scriptures teach us that every man that has reached the years of accountability must repent of his sins and be born of the water and of the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5. And that every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ (Phil 2:10). This being true, what of the many millions who have died in their sins, not having received the gospel? Provision had to be made for them so that they could receive these essential ordinances by proxy; and by repenting and accepting the gospel in the spirit world as it is there taught to them, the ordinances could be performed for them here, and our heavenly Father would accept the work the same as if they had received all these things while living in this life. Paul says: "If in this life only we

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have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (I Cor. 15:19).

4. —The Gospel Preached to the Dead

The scriptures are very clear and emphatic that the gospel should be carried to the dead and taught to them. The Lord declared to Enoch in reference to those who should be destroyed in the flood: "But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and, behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them. And that which I have chosen hath plead before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my chosen shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in torment" (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:36-39). Isaiah also speaking of the wicked declares: "And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited" (24:21-22). Again, speaking of the mission of the Redeemer, Isaiah says: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" (61:1). The Savior bore witness that he came to fulfil this scripture when he commenced his ministry in his home town (Luke 4:1621). Moreover, he declared to the Jews that the hour was coming when the dead should hear his voice, even all that were in their graves, and should come forth to receive a reward according to their works (John 5:25-29). Peter testified that after the crucifixion Jesus went to the dead and fulfilled this promise unto them (I Peter 3:18-20) that "they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit" (I Peter 4:6).

5. Problems
   1. Why is salvation for the dead a distinguishing feature of the Church?
   2. Who is Elijah and when did he live?
   3. Why was it necessary for him to come before the second advent of the Savior?
   4. Explain why the earth would have been smitten with a curse if he had not come? 5. Give scriptural references that promises were made to the fathers of their redemption? 6. Where is baptism for the dead to be performed? Why?
   5. Under what conditions can it be performed elsewhere?
   6. Why is the font placed in the basement of the temple?
   7. Why is it necessary for a recorder and witness for each ordinance?