Privileges Concerning Temple and Other Ordinances

PRIVILEGES CONCERNING TEMPLE AND OTHER ORDINANCES By Joseph Fielding Smith, of the Council of the Twelve The following question has been received by the Improvement Era: "Did the Saints in the time of Christ enjoy a fulness of the gospel, and all the rights and privileges that we enjoy as Latter-day Saints, as far as temple and other ordinances are concerned?" The fulness of the gospel, as that expression is generally used, was revealed in the Dispensation of the Meridian of Time, and the Saints in that day had the privilege of receiving all the ordinances essential to their exaltation. By "fulness of the gospel" is meant all the ordinances and principles that pertain to the exaltation in the celestial kingdom. After the resurrection of the Lord, the Saints of that time also had the privilege of performing ordinance work for their dead. We are informed by the Prophet Joseph Smith that when Elijah and Mose3 appeared at the transfiguration, they conferred on the Apostles Peter, Jame:*. and John, the keys of their respective callings. Moses, evidently, conferred the keys of the gathering of Israel for that dispensation; and Elijah, the keys of the sealing ordinances, just as these ancient prophets did in the case of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. It is erroneously thought, by many, that Elijah held keys of salvation for the dead and that, therefore, he performed ordinances for the dead during the time of his ministry. There is abundant evidence in the Scriptures to show that there was no work performed for the dead, who died without the privilege of complying with the principles of the gospel, until after Christ opened the door, after his crucifixion; but that all ordinances, including the binding or sealing performed by Elijah, was confined to the living. After the resur- rection of Christ the doors were opened to the dead, and the vicarious work for the dead was instituted and the authority of the Priesthood held by Elijah was then extended to include blessings for the dead who would have received the gospel if the privilege had been granted to them on this earth. Speaking of Elijah's mission, the Prophet Joseph Smith has said: "The power and calling of Elijah is that you have power to hold the key of the revelations, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fulness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the Kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive and obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the Kingdom of God." It must have been thig authority that was conferred upon Peter,

TEMPLE AND OTHER ORDINANCES 73 7 James and John, as well as upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. We, therefore, conclude that the Saints in that dispensation had the privilege of receiving all the keys and authorities- that are necessary for the salvation and exaltation of man. However, these powers were exer- cised only for the living, until after the resurrection of Christ, when they were exercised also in behalf of the dead. That the Saints in the Primitive Church did some work for the dead is evident from the writings of Paul, and the Prophet Joseph Smith has said that the Saints of that dispensation had greater power and privileges than were granted to those who lived in earlier times because of the authority to perform ordinances vicariously for the dead. It is reasonable to believe, however, that the exercise of this authority was limited of necessity in those days-. The Dispensation of the Meridian of Time was not a dispensation of temple building. The Lord has declared that these higher sealing powers are to be received and conferred in temples built to his name, and only in the days of the poverty of the people can they be bestowed elsewhere. The Saints in that day built no temple, and it is most doubtful that they ever performed ordinances in the temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed about the year 70 A. D. That certain knowledge and authority were denied to the Church in the Meridian of Time, and .reserved for the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, must be conceded. When the apostles in- quired of the Savior, just before his ascension, if he would at that time restore to Israel the kingdom, the Lord answered them: "It is not for you to know the time or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." While they may have had in mind merely the restoration of the political kingdom, the answer the Lord gave them goes much further than that, and we are led to believe that he had reference to other matters as well which were reserved for the last days, and with which the Church at that time had nothing to do. It is also evident that the apostles had revealed to them much knowledge on this point, for later in their writings they intimate that powers and authorities were withheld until the later times. Paul said to the Ephesian Saints: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath proposed in himself; "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gathet together in one all things in Christ, both which arc in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." And again, writing to the Roman Saints, he said: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

73 8 IMPROVEMENT ERA In harmony with these expressions we have the word of the Lord to the Prophet 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 dis- pensation of the fulness of times." — Doc. and Cov., 124:41. Again the Prophet informs us that it is the purpose of the Lord in this dispensation to reveal the keys and powers of all other dispen- sations, and make "a whole and complete and perfect union and welding together of dispensations, and keys and powers, and glories * * * 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 the dis- pensation of the fulness of times." — Doc. and Cov. 128:18. This dispensation in which we live has aptly been compared to a great river into which all other streams flow and lend their influence and power. We may conclude, then, that while the Saints in former dispen- sations were granted every privilege and power by which they, through their faithfulness, could obtain exaltation even to the fulness, the fact remains that the Lord has reserved many privileges, authorities, powers, and much knowledge for the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, into which all things are to be eventually gathered and made perfect in the consummation of the purposes of the Lord towards the earth and its inhabitants. Vacant Vacations Vacations do not grow in fashionable mountain resorts nor on board walks at the sea-side. Vacations that are not vacant, vacations that are worth while, are found where Nature provides the program for each day: where darkness brings Elysian, delicious repose to physical fatigue; where God speaks in the songs of birds; in the gurgle of the waterfall; in the nodding wild flowers; in the whispering wind among the branches; in the unruffled pool reflecting a bit of heaven on its bosom. The big outdoors offers many an ideal vacation spot. It may be in some tiny valley where the faint click-clack of the reaper serves to emphasize the July- August hush; it may be under spreading oaks or moss-draped pines beside an emerald lake where a passing trail leads to the granite-flecked top above; it may be on a jutting point of mountain-side overlooking a checker-board of green fields and laden orchards; it may be a land-locked cove where a sail boat swings at anchor, ready to tack out into the always fascinating white caps; it may be a secluded nook in a fence corner sheltered by a sumac, near an ancient road full of dust-padded ruts which deaden the rattle of the asthenic truck of the farmer whose peaceful haven nestles among the wrinkled hills — beloved folds on Nature's breast, cleansed by the snows of Winter; bathed by the rains of Spring and kissed into green beauty by the suns of Summer. Wherever it is, the vacation spent close to Mother Earth, replete with sunshine, showers, birds, bees, and the thousand sweet essences that blend together in one great harmonious whole, is the only .vacation that is not vacant. San Diego, California. DOROTHY C. RETSLOFF.