It's no secret that Mormons perform temple work - saving ordinances - on behalf of the dead. But the best kept secret in all of scripture is the fact that this practice, along with the need for it, was first described anciently, in the Bible. Let me show you.
First, let's look at the reasons why temple work for the dead is necessary.
Jesus Christ: The God of Both the Living and the Dead
The Lord taught the doctrine of the resurrection, saying He came to bring life - both spiritual and temporal - to them that are dead:
"He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." (John 11:25)
"I am come that [the sheep] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
The apostle Paul taught the Romans: "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living." (Romans 14:9)
The Dead Shall Hear His Voice
During His mortal ministry, in reference both to the resurrection and to preaching of the gospel, the Savior said the dead would hear His voice and live:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." (John 5:25, see also John 3:14-16)
Peter said:
"For [because He will judge the quick and the dead] was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Peter 4:6, see also the preceding verse)
Very evidently, the dead have been and will be given a chance to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ before they are judged!
No "Respect of Persons"
Many Christian religions teach that you have to be baptized - or at a minimum accept Christ - while in life. They teach that once you are dead, your chances are over and done. This treats unfairly those to whom the fullness of Christ's gospel and His Church were not available in life. The apostle Paul, however, taught that all persons have equal right to receive the law of the gospel before they can be judged by it:
The Opening of the Prison
Peter taught that Christ preached His gospel to the dead in spirit prison, including the wicked who were destroyed at the time of Noah, who had not yet received His gospel:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah..." (1 Peter 3:18-20, see also Moses 7:28-40)
Even Isaiah foretold of the day when Christ would "proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound". (Isaiah 61:1-3, see also Isaiah 42:7, Zechariah 9:11) We typically think of this statement as referring to the living who are captive in sin. For Latter-Day Saints however, this verse is just as applicable to the dead in spirit prison. For more discussion on spirit prison and spirit paradise, see my Bible study article: Paradise & Hell, Judgement & Resurrection, Paul's Three Heavens
Baptism and Other Ordinances For the Dead
In reminding the saints that they had seen Christ in resurrected form, Paul made reference to the practice of baptism for the dead:
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 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?" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22,29)
This practice was very evidently in place in the early Church of Jesus Christ. The dead who are in spirit prison were and are able to receive the gospel and be born again of water and of the spirit by way of vicarious baptism (no freaky stuff necessary). It follows that all other ordinances of salvation were also therefore performed on behalf of the dead. Notice that baptism was considered preparatory, not just to entrance into the kingdom of God, but to resurrection also. The dead who wish to be baptized must do so before they are resurrected.
LDS Lower Light: Baptism (Bible study)
LDS Lower LIght: Temple Ordinances
Turning the Heart of the Children to the Fathers
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the Bible gives prophecies of various dispensations of the gospel that were yet to come in the history of man. One characteristic that manifests in these prophecies distinguishes dispensations occurring at the time of Christ and in the latter-days from all others: the hearts of the children being turned to their fathers.
Malachi foretold:
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch... 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." (Malachi 4:5-6)
When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he quoted this verse a little differently:
"And 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. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (Joseph Smith History 1:39)
Peter associates this idea of hearts being turned and promises being fulfilled with the receiving of saving ordinances:
For Latter-Day Saints, the meaning of "turning the hearts of the children to the fathers" is twofold: first, in the latter-days, we, the children, would have the opportunity to receive the same gospel and enter into the same covenants as did our fathers anciently; second, that the children would be expected to offer that same chance to those of our fathers who did not get their chance in life.
For us, temple work for the dead is about performing and offering the ordinances of the temple to those who've passed on. Temple work for the dead is about offering them the chance to choose for themselves whether or not they will enter into these same temple covenants.
This prophecy of Malachi is also true regarding promises which God made to the Jews anciently - promises that still apply to Jews in our day. The Jews have long awaited the restoration of their temple ordinances. The return of Elijah was to signal the beginning of that restoration.
LDS Lower Light: Apostasy and Restoration of the Church Foretold
LDS Lower Light: Apostasy and Restoration of the Church Fulfilled
Gathering in One, On Earth and In Heaven
Paul taught that those who have passed on have need to be "gathered in one" with us in Christ. He taught that gathering all things in heaven as also on earth would be part of the last dispensation in the fulness of times:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ... In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth..." (Ephesians 1:3-10, compare Doctrine & Covenants 27:13)
Latter-day saints believe that this "gathering" of things in heaven and on earth refers to the preaching of the gospel and the performing of saving ordinances for both the living and the dead.
"Gathering in one" things on earth involves sharing the gospel through missionary work and with our friends and neighbors, offering the people of the world the opportunity to receive the saving ordinances of the temple through the authority of the restored priesthood. "Gathering in one" things in heaven involves searching for our ancestors and providing them the opportunity receive the ordinances of the temple, if they should choose to accept them.
This is the main reason why Mormons do genealogy, or, as we prefer to call it, "family history work". Since long before any ordinances were ever performed for the dead, genealogical research has been a part of the Church:
"And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them..." (Nehemiah 7:5-6)
"And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations (of the tribe of Reuben) was reckoned..." (1 Chronicles 5:2-7)
For Latter-Day Saints, Malachi's "roots" refer to our dead ancestors, and his "branches" refer to our living family members and future descendants. We believe Malachi's "curse" is the whole earth being utterly wasted at His coming in the sense that its purpose of creating and uniting families had not been completed. We believe the only way we can fulfill the Lord's purposes for the Creation and retain our "roots" and "branches" - our families - in the eternities is by doing all we can to "gather in one" both in heaven and on earth.
Also of Interest
Why I Do Family History Work: Let's Go Into the "Family Business!"
Begin finding your ancestors:
www.ancestry.com
www.familysearch.org
nastake.org/wards-and-branches/new-albany-ward/family-history-and-temple-work/
Also on LDS Lower Light:
What Secrets Are Being Kept in the Mormon Temples? Answered By a Mormon
The Sanctity of the Temple (Why a Temple Recommend is Necessary)
www.mormon.org/free-bible
www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon
First, let's look at the reasons why temple work for the dead is necessary.
Jesus Christ: The God of Both the Living and the Dead
The Lord taught the doctrine of the resurrection, saying He came to bring life - both spiritual and temporal - to them that are dead:
"But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I
am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God
is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:31-32)
"He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." (John 11:25)
"I am come that [the sheep] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
The apostle Paul taught the Romans: "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living." (Romans 14:9)
The Dead Shall Hear His Voice
During His mortal ministry, in reference both to the resurrection and to preaching of the gospel, the Savior said the dead would hear His voice and live:
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." (John 5:25, see also John 3:14-16)
Peter said:
"For [because He will judge the quick and the dead] was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Peter 4:6, see also the preceding verse)
Very evidently, the dead have been and will be given a chance to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ before they are judged!
No "Respect of Persons"
Many Christian religions teach that you have to be baptized - or at a minimum accept Christ - while in life. They teach that once you are dead, your chances are over and done. This treats unfairly those to whom the fullness of Christ's gospel and His Church were not available in life. The apostle Paul, however, taught that all persons have equal right to receive the law of the gospel before they can be judged by it:
"For there is no respect of persons with God. For
as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and
as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law..." (Romans
2:11-12)
Mormons believe that those who "had not the law given unto them" in life
will have the opportunity to learn it in the hereafter. We believe
those who had their chance to hear it in life will be held to it at the last day, whether
they accept it or not, while those who do not hear it in life will have a
chance to do so in death - before they are judged. (see 2 Nephi 9:20-27 for comparison)
We
believe that all people, both Jew and Gentile, both the quick and the dead, will be given fair opportunity to "hear [the
Lord's] voice and live", for with God, there is no "respect of persons". If anything, our merciful Savior makes a point of including everyone - even those whom others deemed unworthy. (ex: Matthew 19:13-14, Matthew 20:8-16, Mark 2:16-17) With God there is no special treatment, and nobody gets left out.
The Opening of the Prison
Peter taught that Christ preached His gospel to the dead in spirit prison, including the wicked who were destroyed at the time of Noah, who had not yet received His gospel:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah..." (1 Peter 3:18-20, see also Moses 7:28-40)
Even Isaiah foretold of the day when Christ would "proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound". (Isaiah 61:1-3, see also Isaiah 42:7, Zechariah 9:11) We typically think of this statement as referring to the living who are captive in sin. For Latter-Day Saints however, this verse is just as applicable to the dead in spirit prison. For more discussion on spirit prison and spirit paradise, see my Bible study article: Paradise & Hell, Judgement & Resurrection, Paul's Three Heavens
Baptism and Spiritual Re-Birth
During His mortal ministry, the Savior taught that, with the exception of little children, baptism is a prerequisite to entry into the kingdom of God:
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus
saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5, see also Matthew 18:3, Matthew 19:14)
Why preach the gospel of salvation to the dead unless they can be thereafter admitted into the kingdom of God? If the dead spirits in prison to whom the Lord went accepted the gospel, they too would need to be born again of water and of the spirit.
How can a man be born when he is dead? How can he (or she!) be baptized?
How can a man be born when he is dead? How can he (or she!) be baptized?
Baptism and Other Ordinances For the Dead
In reminding the saints that they had seen Christ in resurrected form, Paul made reference to the practice of baptism for the dead:
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 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?" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22,29)
This practice was very evidently in place in the early Church of Jesus Christ. The dead who are in spirit prison were and are able to receive the gospel and be born again of water and of the spirit by way of vicarious baptism (no freaky stuff necessary). It follows that all other ordinances of salvation were also therefore performed on behalf of the dead. Notice that baptism was considered preparatory, not just to entrance into the kingdom of God, but to resurrection also. The dead who wish to be baptized must do so before they are resurrected.
LDS Lower Light: Baptism (Bible study)
LDS Lower LIght: Temple Ordinances
Turning the Heart of the Children to the Fathers
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the Bible gives prophecies of various dispensations of the gospel that were yet to come in the history of man. One characteristic that manifests in these prophecies distinguishes dispensations occurring at the time of Christ and in the latter-days from all others: the hearts of the children being turned to their fathers.
Malachi foretold:
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch... 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." (Malachi 4:5-6)
When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he quoted this verse a little differently:
"And 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. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (Joseph Smith History 1:39)
Peter associates this idea of hearts being turned and promises being fulfilled with the receiving of saving ordinances:
"And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God
hath fulfilled the same unto us their children... [God] said on this wise, I will give you the mercies of David." (Acts 13:32-34)
The "sure mercies of David" is a reference to "everlasting covenants" made in the temple, including "enduement" and binding on earth and in heaven. (see Isaiah 55:3, 2 Chronicles 34:30-31, Revelation 3:7)
For Latter-Day Saints, the meaning of "turning the hearts of the children to the fathers" is twofold: first, in the latter-days, we, the children, would have the opportunity to receive the same gospel and enter into the same covenants as did our fathers anciently; second, that the children would be expected to offer that same chance to those of our fathers who did not get their chance in life.
For us, temple work for the dead is about performing and offering the ordinances of the temple to those who've passed on. Temple work for the dead is about offering them the chance to choose for themselves whether or not they will enter into these same temple covenants.
This prophecy of Malachi is also true regarding promises which God made to the Jews anciently - promises that still apply to Jews in our day. The Jews have long awaited the restoration of their temple ordinances. The return of Elijah was to signal the beginning of that restoration.
LDS Lower Light: Apostasy and Restoration of the Church Foretold
LDS Lower Light: Apostasy and Restoration of the Church Fulfilled
Gathering in One, On Earth and In Heaven
Paul taught that those who have passed on have need to be "gathered in one" with us in Christ. He taught that gathering all things in heaven as also on earth would be part of the last dispensation in the fulness of times:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ... In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth..." (Ephesians 1:3-10, compare Doctrine & Covenants 27:13)
Latter-day saints believe that this "gathering" of things in heaven and on earth refers to the preaching of the gospel and the performing of saving ordinances for both the living and the dead.
"Gathering in one" things on earth involves sharing the gospel through missionary work and with our friends and neighbors, offering the people of the world the opportunity to receive the saving ordinances of the temple through the authority of the restored priesthood. "Gathering in one" things in heaven involves searching for our ancestors and providing them the opportunity receive the ordinances of the temple, if they should choose to accept them.
This is the main reason why Mormons do genealogy, or, as we prefer to call it, "family history work". Since long before any ordinances were ever performed for the dead, genealogical research has been a part of the Church:
"And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them..." (Nehemiah 7:5-6)
"And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations (of the tribe of Reuben) was reckoned..." (1 Chronicles 5:2-7)
"...a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Malachi 3:16-17)
For Latter-Day Saints, Malachi's "roots" refer to our dead ancestors, and his "branches" refer to our living family members and future descendants. We believe Malachi's "curse" is the whole earth being utterly wasted at His coming in the sense that its purpose of creating and uniting families had not been completed. We believe the only way we can fulfill the Lord's purposes for the Creation and retain our "roots" and "branches" - our families - in the eternities is by doing all we can to "gather in one" both in heaven and on earth.
Also of Interest
Why I Do Family History Work: Let's Go Into the "Family Business!"
Begin finding your ancestors:
www.ancestry.com
www.familysearch.org
nastake.org/wards-and-branches/new-albany-ward/family-history-and-temple-work/
Also on LDS Lower Light:
What Secrets Are Being Kept in the Mormon Temples? Answered By a Mormon
The Sanctity of the Temple (Why a Temple Recommend is Necessary)
www.mormon.org/free-bible
www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon
No comments:
Post a Comment