THE DOCTRINE OF REDEEMING THE DEAD



THE DOCTRINE OF REDEEMING THE DEAD

1. Moses 1:39 AFor behold, this is my work and my glory B to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.@

2. D&C 137:7-9 AThus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;

AAlso all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.@

3. D&C 138:28-37 AAnd I wondered at the words of Peter B wherein he said that the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah B and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time.

AAnd as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;

ABut behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

AAnd the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.

AThus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

AThese were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,

AAnd all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

AAnd so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.

AThus was it made known that our Redeemer spent his time during his sojourn in the world of spirits, instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets who had testified of him in the flesh;

AThat they might carry the message of redemption unto all the dead, unto whom he could not go personally, because of their rebellion and transgression, that they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words.@

4. Malachi 4:5-6 ABehold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

AAnd 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.@

5. D&C 2:1-3 ABehold, 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.

AAnd he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.

AIf it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.@

6. D&C 110:13-16 AAfter this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

ABehold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi B testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come B

ATo turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse B

ATherefore, 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.@

7. D&C 128:15-18,22-24 AAnd now my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers B that they without us cannot be made perfect B neither can we without our dead be made perfect.

AAnd now, in relation to the baptism for the dead, I will give you another quotation of Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:29: >Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?=

AAnd again, in connection with this quotation I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his eye fixed on the restoration of the priesthood, the glories to be revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel, namely, the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th: >Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 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.=

AI might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, 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 B 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 perfectY.@

ABrethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

ALet the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

ABehold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.@

8. AThe prophecy concerning the coming of Elijah before >the great and dreadful day of the Lord= is one of the most carefully documented prophecies of all time. It appears in all the standard works of the Church:

A1. The prophecy was revealed to Malachi and appears in the last book of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6).

A2. The resurrected Jesus Christ was commanded of the Father to give these scriptures to the righteous inhabitants of the American continent. Thus, the prophecy is contained in the Book of Mormon (III Nephi 24 and 25), where the Savior also indicated that this prophecy had been given unto Malachi by >the Father= (III Nephi 24:1).

A3. The Angel Moroni quoted and explained this prophecy of Malachi when he first appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith on September 21, 1823. This account is recorded in Joseph Smith B History (v. 36-39) in the Pearl of Great Price.

A4. The Doctrine and Covenants contains Moroni=s wording of the prophecy (D&C 2) and also an account of the fulfillment of the prophecy (D&C 110:13-16).@

B Daniel H. Ludlow, AA Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants@, 1978.

9. AThe significance of the restoration of the keys held by Elijah, embracing the turning of the hearts of the children to their fathers, is clearly defined and readily observable in the work that is being done today for the dead. Not only have the hearts of members of the Church turned to their dead fathers, but this same influence has taken hold of the hearts of people in various parts of the world. There are today thousands of individuals who are working in the preparation of their family genealogical records. This has come to pass since Elijah came, and is one of the most significant signs of the timesY. Thousands of genealogical records have been compiled at enormous expense by individuals and family organizations. The compilers do not seem to know what force it is that impels them onward in this work. They think they are doing it as a matter of family pride and the desire to have some record of their ancestors, but back of it all is the inspiration which comes from the restoration of the keys of this turning of the hearts of children to parents and parents to their children.

AAlfred Edersheim, in his interesting book, >The Temple=, tells this story: >Jewish tradition has this curious conceit: that the most important events in Israel=s history were connected with the Paschal seasonY. Hence to this day, in every Jewish home, at a certain part of the Paschal service B just after the >third cup,= or the >cup of blessing,= has been drunk B the door is opened to admit Elijah the prophet as forerunner of the Messiah, while appropriate passages are at the same time read which foretell the destruction of all heathen nations.= (>The Temple=, pp. 196-197)

AIt is interesting to know that on the third day of April, 1836, the Jews were celebrating the feast of the Passover, and were leaving the doors of their homes open for the coming of Elijah. On that day Elijah came, but not to the Jewish homes, but to the Temple in the village of Kirtland near the banks of Lake Erie, to two humble servants of the Lord who were appointed by divine decree to receive him.@

B Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, AChurch History and Modern Revelation@, 1946.

10. AEvery genealogical society, library and magazine; every one of millions of genealogical records; every name on each page of every pedigree and every individual in the United States and twenty-nine foreign lands who is engaged in seeking after his dead are tangible, physical witnesses that Elijah came, because they all indicate the fulfillment of the prophet=s mission, >to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers.= The results of his mission are all about us. The evidence is conclusive. There is no room for doubt. Elijah has come. One of the greatest of the prophecies has been fulfilled.@

B Elder Mark E. Petersen

11. AOften Church members suffer from a lack of perspective, perhaps understandably, as to the vastness and intensity of the Lord=s work in the spirit world. The scope is enormous! Demographers estimate that some sixty to seventy billion people have lived on this planet thus far. Without diminishing in any way the importance of the absolutely vital and tandem work on this side of the veil, we do need a better grasp of >things as they really will be= (Jacob 4:13). Otherwise, we can so easily come to regard family history as a quaint hobby and its resulting temple work as something we will get around to later. Not only does the word vastness characterize the work there, but so does intensity.@

B Elder Neal A. Maxwell, AThe Promise of Discipleship@ 2001, p.105

12. AWilford Woodruff spoke of Joseph and Hyrum and David Patten, the first apostle to be martyred in this dispensation, and said that they had fifty times as many people to preach to as we have on the earth, and he said that in 1873. And Lorenzo Snow, who is now preaching with them, said this in 1884, >I believe that when the gospel is preached to the spirits in prison, the success attending that preaching will be far greater than that attending the preaching of our elders in this life. I believe there will be few indeed of those spirits who will not gladly receive the gospel when it is carried to them. The circumstances there will be a thousand times more favorable.=@

B Elder Henry B. Eyring, Family History Training Broadcast, May 4, 2000

13. AOh I wish many times that the veil were lifted off the face of the Latter-day Saints. I wish we could see and know the things of God as they are laboring for the salvation of the human family who are in the spirit world; for if this were so, this whole people, with very few exceptions, would lose all interest in the riches of the world, and instead thereof, their whole desires and labors would be directed to redeem their dead.@

B Pres. Wilford Woodruff

14. AFamily history builds bridges between the generations of our families. Bridges between generations are not built by accident. Each member of this Church has the personal responsibility to be an eternal architect of this bridge for his or her own family.... I alone am the link to the generations that stand on either side of me. It is my responsibility to knit their hearts together through love and respect.... That which I do not in some way record will be lost at my death, and that which I do not pass on to my posterity, they will never have.@

B Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander of the Seventy, AEnsign@, May 1999

15. AOver the years as my thoughts and heart have turned to the lives of my noble ancestors, my appreciation for them has increased. Learning about my ancestors has not only turned my heart to them, but has helped me see eternity more clearly. My own life is rooted not just in the present, but in the lives of my ancestors as well.@

B Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Jan. 1977, p.3

16. AWhy is it that sometimes only one of a city or household receives the gospel? It was made known to me that it is because of the righteous dead who had received the gospel in the spirit world exercising themselves, and in answer to their prayers, elders of the Church were sent to the homes of their posterity that the gospel might be taught to them, and through their righteousness they might be privileged to have a descendant in the flesh do the work for their dead kindred.@

B Elder Melvin J. Ballard, ASermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard@, p.249

“Concerning the work for the dead, [Joseph] said that in the resurrection those who had been worked for would fall at the feet of those who had done their work, kiss their feet, embrace their knees and manifest the most exquisite gratitude.... We do not comprehend what a blessing to them these ordinances are.”

B Statement of Horace Cummings in Lundwall, comp., “The Vision”, p. 141

17. AThe Lord will help open doors as we do genealogy. I have a conviction born of a little experience to which I bear testimony that there are forces beyond this life that are working with us. I have the simple faith that when you do everything you can, researching to the last of your opportunity, the Lord will help you to open doors to go further with your genealogies, and heaven will cooperate, I am sure.@

B Pres. Harold B. Lee, 7th Annual Priesthood Genealogical Research Seminar Address, 4 Aug. 1972

18. AElder Melvin J. Ballard testified that >the spirit and influence of your dead will guide those who are interested in finding those records. If there is anywhere on the earth anything concerning them, you will find it.= (Bryant S. Hinckley, >Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard=, 1949, p.230) And Elder Widtsoe said, >I have the feeling ... that those who give themselves with all their might and main to this work receive help from the other side, and not merely in gathering genealogies. Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life.= (>Genealogical Activities=, p.104)@

B Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, Apr. 1980 General Conference

19. AGenealogical work has the power to do something for the dead. It has an equal power to do something to the living. Genealogical work of Church members has a refining, spiritualizing, tempering influence on those who are engaged in it. I know of no work in the Church more conductive to spiritual refinement and communication than temple and genealogical work. In this work our hearts and minds are turned to those beyond the veil. Such a work helps us to sharpen our spiritual sensitivities.

B Pres. Boyd K. Packer, AThe Holy Temple@

20. AThe greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. Those saints who neglect it, in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation.@

B Pres. Joseph Smith, Jr., ATimes and Seasons@, 15 August 1844, delivered 7 April 1844

21. AWe have a work to do just as important in its sphere as the Savior=s work was in its sphere. Our fathers cannot be made perfect without us; we cannot be made perfect without them. They have done their work and now sleep. We are now called upon to do ours, which is to be the greatest work man ever performed on the earth.@

B Pres. Brigham Young, ADiscourses@, p. 406

22. AJesus had not finished his work when his body was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? Not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time.... That is his mission. We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission. The dead are not perfect without us, neither are we without them.@

B Pres. Joseph F. Smith, AGospel Doctrine@, 5th ed. 1939, p.442

23. AIt matters not 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 is exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder. Place, or distinction, or where 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 hey are absolved from further duty. But the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead.@

B Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith, ADoctrines of Salvation, vol.2, pp.148-9

24. AWork for the dead is a great responsibility. Those engaged in genealogical research and temple work are giving of themselves, their time and their efforts, for the benefit of others. They find the joy and happiness which must have come to the Savior after his resurrection, knowing what he had accomplished for the benefit of his brothers and sisters. We have a great obligation, a great responsibility. There is no question in my mind but what the Prophet knew exactly what he was talking about when he stated that this is our >greatest responsibility.= I presume that no greater blessing comes to us than to become saviors of others. This is our privilege and opportunity if we would accept it.@

B Pres. Howard W. Hunter

25. AThat which goes on in the House of the Lord, and which must be preceded by research, comes nearer the spirit of the sacrifice of the Lord than any other activity of which I know. Why? Because it is done by those who give freely of time and substance, without any expectation of thanks or reward, to do for others that which they cannot do for themselves and for which they expect no thanks or recompense.@

B Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, AEnsign@, Mar. 1995

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

The mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to Ainvite all to come unto Christ@ (D&C 20:59) and Abe perfected in Him@ (Moroni 10:32). This mission has three dimensions:

1. Proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.

1. Perfect the Saints by preparing them to receive the ordinances of the gospel and by caring for the poor and needy.

2. Redeem the dead by performing vicarious ordinances of the gospel for them.

FAMILY HISTORY WORK B MEMBERS= RESPONSIBILITIES

AMembers should identify their kindred dead, request temple ordinances if needed, and provide these ordinances if possible. As a beginning, members should try to identify three to five generations of their ancestorsY.

AAll members should be engaged in some aspects of temple and family history work throughout their lives.

ASome additional ways for members to serve include:

ADoing research to identify ancestors beyond the first few generations.

AServing in family record extraction or in a Family History Center.

AContributing computerized family history information to the Church.

AServing as missionaries in temple or family history work.

AParticipating in family organizations.

AKeeping personal journals and preparing personal and family histories.

AEncouraging others (including nonmembers) to learn more about family historyY.@

AFamily members should work together in doing temple and family history work. This helps them grow closer, develop greater love and harmony, focus on temple ordinances and covenants, and feel the Spirit of the Lord in greater measure. Bonds with extended family members can be strengthened as all participate in family organizations and work together to identify common ancestors and complete their temple work.@ B AChurch Handbook of Instructions@, pp.262-3

Family History Basics

President Boyd K. Packer

Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Ensign, August 2003, p. 17

There are several basic component parts to family history and temple work. Over the years, they may be rearranged somewhat in emphasis, or the approach in programming Church participation may change somewhat. But the responsibilities stay about the same.

1. Each of us is to compile his or her own life history.

2. Each of us is to keep a book of remembrance.

3. As individuals and families we are each to seek out our kindred dead, beginning first with the four most recent generations on each line, and then going back as far as we can.

4. We are each to participate in other programs such as name extraction when asked to do so.

5. We are to organize our families and hold meetings and reunions.

6. If we have access to a temple, each of us should go to the temple as often as possible to do ordinance work B first for ourselves, then for our progenitors, then for all the names that have been gathered by means other than our own.

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