The Promises Made to the Fathers

The Promises Made to the Fathers By Joseph Fielding Smith, of the Council of the Twelve Apostles The question is asked: "What is meant by the 'promises made to the fathers,' in the instruction of Moroni to the Prophet Joseph Smith, as recorded in the second section of the Doctrine and Covenants?" This expression has reference to certain promises made to those who died without a knowledge of the gospel, and without the opportunitly of receiving the sealing ordinances of the Priesthood in matters pertaining to their exaltation. According to these promises, the children in the latter days are to perform all such ordinances in behalf of the dead. At various times during the history of the world the op- portunity ifor mankind to receive the blessings of the gospel has been denied them. For instance, during the time of the apostasy, following the ministry of our Savior and his apostles down to the time of the restoration, the opportunity for men to receive the remission of their sins by baptism and partake of the other ordinances essential to exaltation was impossible, for the Church with its authorized ministers was not on the earth. It is true that similar conditions have existed at other and more remote periods of time. Even when the Priesthood has been on the earth and every opportunity given to men to repent and embrace the gospel, many have died without that opportunity who, perhaps, would have done so had the privilege been presented to them. Moreover, is it not probable that in the present dispensa- tion we are privileged to perform ordinances for the dead which were denied them when living, notwithstanding their faithful- ness and obedience to the gospel in their day? The Lord said to Joseph Smith: "For I deign to reveal unto my Church, things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times." Doc. and Cov. 124:41. See also 128:18. The Lord has said that his great work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. This being true, then all men must have the opportuity of hearing the gospel, either now or in the spirit world. Moreover, the Lord declared to Joseph Smith that "all who have died without a knowledge of

830 IMPROVEMENT ERA the gospel who would have received it if they had been per- permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom." This is likewise true of all those who shall die henceforth with- out receiving it, who would receive it if the opportunity came. However, since the kingdom of God is governed by law, ana among its laws are the principles of the gospel, which all who enter there receive, it becomes necessary that baptism as well as other ordinances which should be performed in this mortal existence must be obeyed by those who would enter there, whether they be living in mortality or the spirit world. If they are dead, then the only way these ordinances can be complied with is for some one to act as proxy for the dead and perform a vicarious work, which, if accepted by those departed, will be accounted unto them just the same as if they had acted in their own person. In this manner all who are entitled to receive these blessings shall have the opportunity and all the righteous shall be saved. The temples are the places designated where this vicarious work shall be performed. Some of these promises made to the fathers are found in the Scriptures. For instance, Isaiah said in reference to our Savior: "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a cove- nant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." 42:6-7. Again he says: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to pro- claim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comtort all that mourn." 61:1-2. It is generally understood by the Latter-day Saints that these references to the prisoners who are bound, refer to those who are dead who were to hear the gospel and be redeemed. Further light is thrown on this by another reference by Isaiah: "And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited." — 24:21-22. Perhaps the most direct promise recorded in the Scriptures is that by Malachi, in the fourth chapter and fifth and sixth verses, as follows: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

THE PROMISES MADE TO THE FATHERS 831 and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the! children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Another significant passage embodying this promise is found in the Pearl of Great Price in the words of the Lord to Enoch: "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." Moses 7:38-39. The fulfilment of this prediction is spoken of by Peter in his first epistle, chapter 3:18-20, and 4:6. The Pilgrim Up the imperial highway I go where voices call me: Few travelers are on the route, Few do I ever hear. Solemn is the silence. Wonder-thoughts appall me ; But the Voice speaks kindly, "Come, and have no fear!" I am groping slowly, Step by step ascending, And my steps awaken Not an echoing sound; No one asks me whither, No one crosses hither; On and on unending Leads the way I've found. Vision, upward searching, Somewhere in the distance Opens us to brighter realms On either side the way; But the Voice will never Alter its insistence — I must onward, upward, And the Voice obey! Wlhither may it lead me? It is my reliance! Yet I trust, and trusting, Follow faithfully : Strict in moral precepts Is this Voice of silence, All its trend, refining, Leads to liberty. Neither creed nor dogma, Neither fear nor scorning, Nor the trite opinions That my friends revere, Can gainsay the Voice's Warning and rewarning, Crying on the highway, "Come, and have no fear!" So I learn my lesson, Traveling up the highway — I must pay the price in full For all that I obtain. — Straight ahead the journey, Turning in no byway, All rewards a measure Of the heights I gain. Sometime on the highway, From the still Voice learning; I will know my teacher And his purpose know. — At my journey's ending, While the gate is turning, Where the vail is opened, And therein I go! — Joseph Longking Townsend.