132. We are to perform vicarious baptisms for the dead.
128. All who have died without the opportunity to hear and to receive the gospel shall be given that opportunity in the spirit world.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
In the justice of the Father, he is going to give to every man the privilege of hearing the gospel. Not one soul shall be overlooked or forgotten. This being true, what about the countless thousands who have died and never heard of Christ, never had an opportunity of repentance and remission of their sins, never met an elder of the Church holding the authority? Some of our good Christian neighbors will tell you they are lost forever, that they cannot believe in the grave, for there is no hope beyond.
Would that be fair? Would it be just? No the Lord is going to give to every man the opportunity to hear and to receive eternal life, or a place in his kingdom. We are very fortunate because we have had that privilege here and have passed from death into life. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:132) DGSM:84
For for this cause 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. (Peter writes to the churches in modern Asia Minor, about A.D. 60) 1 Peter 4:6
But 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.
31. And 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.
32. Thus 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.
33. These 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.
34. And 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. . . .
57. I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead. (Vision regarding the Savior's visit to the spirits of the dead, Oct. 3, 1918) D&C 138:30-34,57
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
I have a declaration to make as to the provisions which God hath made to suit the conditions of man—made for before the foundation of the world. What has Jesus said? All sin, and all blasphemies, and every transgression, except one, that man can be guilty of, may be forgiven; and there is a salvation for all men, either in this world or the world to come, who have not committed the unpardonable sin, there being a provision either in this world or the world of spirits. Hence God hath made a provision that every spirit in the eternal world can be ferreted out and saved unless he has committed that unpardonable sin which cannot be remitted to him either in this world or the world of spirits. God has wrought out a salvation for all men, unless they have committed a certain sin; and every man who has a friend in the eternal world can save him, unless he has committed the unpardonable sin. And so you can see how far you can be a savior. (To the Church in general conference—a congregation of 20,000, "King Follett Sermon", April 7, 1844) (See HC6:302-17, also see The Words of Joseph Smith, pp. 340-62.) TPJS:356-57
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 very 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. (Millennial Star, Jan. 22, 1894, p. 49) TLDP:639
In his justice, the Lord has revealed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just as he revealed it in the days of the apostles, that there is a salvation even for the dead and the time must come when every soul must have an opportunity to hear it. Those who did not get the opportunity to hear it in this world will have that opportunity in the world of spirits, and Peter made that very clear in his Epistles, and it is only fair that those who died without a knowledge of the gospel should have the opportunity to hear it, and the Lord revealed that great truth to the Prophet Joseph Smith, that the time would come when the gospel of the kingdom would be declared to the dead and they who never had the opportunity of hearing it should have that opportunity given to them, and if they would repent in that spirit world then we could go into the temples of the Lord and perform the ordinances for them vicariously, being saviors upon Mount Zion, and thus give unto the dead the opportunity to hear the truth,to repent of their sins, and if they will repent and turn away from evil and accept the truth, we can go into the temples of the Lord and perform the ordinances for them which will be valid unto them just the same as if they were living upon the face of the earth. (CR 1959Apr; Afternoon Meeting, p.23)
One of the most profound principles of God’s love for his children was revealed to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple in 1836. In a vision he saw someone who had not received an opportunity to accept the gospel while living. A voice declared that all who have died without an opportunity to hear the gospel and accept it while on this earth will have the privilege in the spirit world. If they would have received it, given the opportunity, they will be heirs of the celestial kingdom. The Lord “will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts” (D&C 137:9). (CR 1979Oct; Joseph Smith the Prophet, Ensign, November 1979, p.22)
Related Witnesses:
The Latter-day Saints believe and teach that repentance will be possible, and indeed required of the yet unrepentant, even after death; and they affirm that this doctrine is supported by scripture both ancient and modern. HL:67-68
There are hundreds of thousands who have heard the Gospel in the flesh and through fear or folly have not embraced it, having been afraid to come forward and join themselves with this unpopular people, when they pass away from this stage of being into the spirit world will be prepared to receive it when it is being preached among the spirits that are there. CR1906Apr:86
129. Prophets and other priesthood holders who have departed this earth will be occupied in teaching the gospel to the dead in the spirit world.
If the Elders of Israel in these latter times go and preach to the spirits in prison, they associate with them, precisely as our Elders associate with the wicked in the flesh, when they go to preach to them. (In Tabernacle, Dec. 3, 1854, JD2:137) TLDP:639
The Lord has so arranged his plan of redemption that all who have died without this opportunity shall be given it in the spirit world. There the elders of the Church who have died are proclaiming the gospel to the dead. All those who did not have an opportunity here to receive it, who there repent and receive the gospel, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:132) DGSM:84
There are hundreds of thousands who have heard the Gospel in the flesh and through fear or folly have not embraced it, having been afraid to come forward and join themselves with this unpopular people, when they pass away from this stage of being into the spirit world will be prepared to receive it when it is being preached among the spirits that are there. For the work that Christ did after He departed from the flesh and went and preached to the spirits in prison who were disobedient in the days of Noah, will have to be repeated now by the servants of God who have gone beyond the veil, and it will be continued by those who shall follow after. While the Saints upon the earth are ministering in the temples that have been reared, and performing the necessary ordinances that pertain to the flesh which cannot be attended to by people in the spirit land, the prophets of the living God, who sealed their testimony with their blood, and their faithful brethren who have followed after them, are now laboring among the people behind the veil that they may be prepared to receive the blessings that shall come to them through the labors of the Saints in the flesh. . . . The powers of the Holy Priesthood which God has revealed are inseparably connected, he has told us, with the powers that are behind the veil. They are working together in harmony, and the time will come and it is not far distant, when the veil will be taken away which separates us from our brethren who have gone before, and we will work with them, and they with us. We will be in perfect harmony; and the Priesthood behind the veil will reveal to the Priesthood in the flesh in the holy Temples of God where these conversations will take place, the names of those for whom we must officiate which we cannot obtain by the means now at our command. This is the Lord's work, and it is not only going on here in the flesh, but it is going on in the world behind the veil among the spirits that have departed. Every man who has been called to hold the Priesthood should endeavor to qualify himself for the work that lies before him, both that which he will be called to do while he dwells in the body, and that which he will have to perform when he goes out of the body; for it is a fact that when we go away from here we will take with us that which we have spiritual. That intelligence which we gain, that knowledge of principle, that fellowship we have with the heavens, that Holy Priesthood which we bear, that divine spirit by which we have been inspired, and all the powers that we have gained in being exercised in the duties of the Holy Priesthood, will be strength and power and might to us when we depart from the body and are delivered from the weakness of mortality, and called to labor in the world of spirits. The same authority, the same power, the same intelligence, the same experiences that we have had here we will have there. . . . Therefore every man holding the Priesthood should endeavor to qualify himself for the work of the ministry, in time and in eternity, so that we may labor under the direction of the Captain of our salvation until redemption shall come to all the race, and "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ to the glory of God the Father." CR1906Apr:86-87
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:
19. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20. Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (Peter writes to the churches in modern Asia Minor, about A.D. 60) 1 Peter 3:18-20
Jesus was the first man that ever went to preach to the spirits in prison, holding the keys of the Gospel of salvation to them. Those keys were delivered to him in the day and hour that he went into the spirit world, and with them he opened the door of salvation to the spirits in prison. (In Tabernacle, March 15, 1857, JD4:285) TLDP:639
I have always believed, and still do believe with all my soul, that such men as Peter and James and the twelve disciples chosen by the Savior in his time, have been engaged all the centuries that have passed since their martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus Christ, in proclaiming liberty to the captives in the spirit world and in opening their prison doors . . . . Their special calling and anointing of the Lord himself was to save the world, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison doors to those who were bound in chains of darkness, superstition, and ignorance. I believe that the disciples who have passed away in this dispensation—Joseph, the Prophet, and his brother Hyrum, and Brigham, and Heber, and Willard, and Daniel and John, and Wilford and all the rest of the prophets who have lived in this dispensation, and who have been intimately associated with the work of redemption and the other ordinances of the gospel of the Son of God in this world, are preaching that same gospel that they lived and preached here, to those who are in darkness in the spirit world and who had not the knowledge before they went. The gospel must be preached to them. We are not perfect without them—they cannot be perfect without us. (Young Women's Journal, 1911, Gospel Doctrine, pp. 460-61) TLDP:640
As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.
12. And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality. . . .
16. They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death. . . .
18. While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;
19. And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance.
20. But unto the wicked he did not go, and among the ungodly and the unrepentant who had defiled themselves while in the flesh, his voice was not raised;
21. Neither did the rebellious who rejected the testimonies and the warnings of the ancient prophets behold his presence, nor look upon his face.
22. Where these were, darkness reigned, but among the righteous there was peace; . . .
25. I marveled, for I understood that the Savior spent about three years in his ministry among the Jews and those of the house of Israel, endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto repentance; 26. And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands.
27. But his ministry among those who were dead was limited to the brief time intervening between the crucifixion and his resurrection;
28. And I wondered at the words of Peter—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—and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time.
29. And 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;
30. But 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.
31. And 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.
32. Thus 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.
33. These 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.
34. And 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. . . . 36. Thus 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.
37. That 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. (Vision regarding the Savior's visit to the spirits of the dead, Oct. 3, 1918) D&C 138:11-12,16,18-22,25-34,36-37
And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; . . . (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:73
Related Witnesses:
If the veil could be taken from our eyes and we could see into the spirit world, we would see that Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and John Taylor had gathered together every spirit that ever dwelt in the flesh in this Church since its organization. We would also see the faithful apostles and elders of the Nephites who dwelt in the flesh in the days of Jesus Christ. In that assembly we would also see Isaiah and every prophet and apostle that ever prophesied of the great work of God. In the midst of those spirits we would see the Son of God, the Savior, who presides and guides and controls the preparing for the kingdom of God on the earth and in heaven. . . . The Son of God stands in the midst of that body of celestial spirits, and teaches them their duties concerning the day in which we live, and instructs them what they must do to prepare and qualify themselves to go with him to the earth when he comes to judge every man according to the deeds done in the body. (The Vision, or The Degrees of Glory, p. 96) TLDP:638
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
Father Smith and Carlos and Brother Partridge, yes, and every other good Saint, are just as busy in the spirit world as you and I are here. . . . What are they doing there? They are preaching, preaching all the time. . . . (In Bowery, June 22, 1856, JD3:370) DBY:378
Editor's Note: Since sisters as well as priesthood holders are engaged in this work on earth, it is logical that they likewise will be so engaged in the spirit world. Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "Neither will the work in the spirit world be carried on exclusively by the men holding the Priesthood. The sisters who have made covenant with the Lord and who have received blessings and power in the temples will also have much to do in that work. This was made very clear by President [Joseph F.] Smith at the funeral of Sister Mary A. Freeze, when he said: 'Now, among all these millions of spirits that have lived on the earth and have passed away, from generation to generation, since the beginning of the world, without the knowledge of the Gospel—among them you may count that at least one-half are women. Who is going to preach the Gospel to the women? Who is going to carry the testimony of Jesus Christ to the hearts of the women who have passed away without a knowledge of the Gospel? Well, to my mind, it is a simple thing. These good sisters who have been set apart, ordained to the work, called to it, authorized by the authority of the Holy Priesthood to minister for their sex, in the House of God for the living and for the dead, will be fully authorized and empowered to preach the Gospel and minister to the women while the elders and prophets are preaching it to the men. The things we experience here are typical of the things of God, and the life beyond us'." — Gospel Doctrine pp. 581-82. (The Way To Perfection, p. 320)
130. All who die without knowledge of the gospel, who would have received it with all their hearts while on earth, will inherit the celestial kingdom.
The doctrine of salvation for the dead is that all who die without a knowledge of the gospel, without a knowledge of Christ and his atoning sacrifice, without having the opportunity to believe and obey in this life and thereby qualify for celestial salvation—the doctrine of salvation for the dead is that all such, if they would have received the gospel with all of their hearts, had it been available to them, such shall hear and believe and obey in the spirit world and thereby become heirs of the celestial kingdom of heaven. Gospel ordinances—baptisms, endowments, marriages, sealing—will be performed for them vicariously by those yet in mortality. (The Promised Messiah, pp. 240-41) TLDP:596-97
I saw Father Adam and Abraham; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin, that has long since slept;
6. And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins.
7. Thus 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;
8. Also 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.
9. For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. (Vision received in Kirtland Temple; Joseph sees his brother Alvin in the celestial kingdom, Jan. 21, 1836) D&C 137:5-9
All who hear and believe, repenting and receiving the gospel in its fulness, whether living or dead, are heirs of salvation in the celestial kingdom of God. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:133) DGSM:85
Those who keep the full law and obey all the commandments of God are heirs of full salvation in the celestial kingdom, the glory of which the sun is spoken of as being typical. These overcome all things and receive a fulness of the blessings, power, and glory of the Father. All who have died without a knowledge of the gospel, or the opportunity to receive it, who would have accepted it had the opportunity been presented to them while living, are also heirs of this kingdom. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:21) TLDP:129
Related Witnesses:
He [Christ] has told us . . . to build Temples. What for? To administer in them. Who for? For the dead who have died without a knowledge of the Gospel, that they might participate with us in the blessings which they had not the privilege of enjoying on the earth. . . . We are making preparations for saving the dead, according to the word of God. (At quarterly conference of Salt Lake Stake, Jan. 6, 1879, JD20:118) TLDP:675
Thus 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.
33. These 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.
34. And 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. (Vision regarding the Savior's visit to the spirits of the dead, Oct. 3, 1918) D&C 138:32-34
131. The prophet Elijah restored to Joseph Smith the sealing power—power to seal together those who dwell on earth, and to seal those on earth to those who dwell in heaven.
The keys that Elijah held were the keys of the everlasting priesthood, the keys of the sealing power, which the Lord gave unto him. And that is what he . . . gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith; and that included a ministry of sealing for the living as well as the dead and it is not confined to the living and it is not confined to the dead, but includes them both. . . .
Elijah's mission was the sealing power. He held the keys by which the parents could be sealed together and children sealed to parents. He bestowed these keys upon the Prophet Joseph Smith. And that applies to the dead as well as the living since the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But what was the nature of his mission to the earth in these latter days? It was to restore power and authority which once was given to men on the earth and which is essential to the complete salvation and exaltation of man in the kingdom of God. In other words, Elijah came to restore to the earth, by conferring on mortal prophets duly commissioned of the Lord, the fulness of the power of priesthood. This priesthood holds the keys of binding and sealing on earth and in heaven of all the ordinances and principles pertaining to the salvation of man, that they may thus become valid in the celestial kingdom of God. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:111-12,17) DCSM:7
According to that which has been revealed through the restoration of the sealing power of Elijah, the crowning blessing in the restoration of his keys, is the authority to seal both on earth and in heaven, husbands and wives and children to parents. Malachi said that if this authority was not restored the Lord would "come and smite the earth with a curse." Elijah, when he delivered his authority, said that the great and dreadful day of the Lord was near, even at the doors. (The Restoration of All Things, pp. 252-53) TLDP:190-91
What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.
Now was this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means. It was a far greater work. Elijah what would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No; I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest: that is, without us, they could not be made perfect, nor we without them; the fathers without the children, nor the children without the fathers. . . .
The doctrine or sealing power of Elijah is as follows:—If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory. (Sunday sermon on Elijah and Elias, March 10, 1844) HC6:251-52,54
In the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836, Moses appeared and gave the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery the keys of the gathering of Israel. After this, Elias appeared and committed the gospel of Abraham, that in "our seed all generations after us should be blessed." After this, Elijah the prophet appeared and gave to them the keys of this dispensation, including the sealing power, to bind in heaven that which is bound on earth within the temples. Thus, prophets of previous gospel dispensations presented their keys to the Prophet Joseph Smith in this, the "dispensation of the fulness of times" spoken of by the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. (The Restoration of All Things, CR April 2006)
It is important to know why the Lord promised to send Elijah. Elijah was a great prophet with great power given him by God. He held the greatest power God gives to His children: he held the sealing power, the power to bind on earth and have it bound in heaven. God gave it to the Apostle Peter. And the Lord kept His promise to send Elijah. Elijah came to the Prophet Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836, just after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the first temple built after the Restoration of the gospel. Joseph described the sacred moment: ¶ "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: ¶ "Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come— ¶ "To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse— ¶ "Therefore, 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." (CR 2005Apr; Hearts Bound Together, Ensign, May 2005)
Joseph compared Moroni’s teaching to a similar prophecy by Malachi—that Elijah would come again.10 We know that Elijah did return—at least twice—after Malachi’s promise. At Christ’s transfiguration, Elijah appeared on the mount to Peter, James, and John. At the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836, Elijah appeared to the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery and said, “The keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands.” (CR 1994Oct; The Spirit of Elijah, Ensign, November 1994, p.84)
Related Witnesses:
I am sure you agree with me that he has already appeared, for we have it so recorded by the testimony of witnesses. [See section 110.] It was on the third day of April, 1836, when he came to the Kirtland Temple, to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and conferred upon them the keys of his priesthood and told them that he came in fulfillment of the prophecy of Malachi, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to their fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. CR1948Apr:132
Just think of the consequences if the hearts of the fathers are not turned to their children and the hearts of the children turned to the fathers, and no one in this world outside of this Church can tell you the true meaning of those words, nor would we be able to do so except for the fact that Elijah did come and appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, and he revealed these great truths to them. That accounts for our building these holy temples all over the world, so that with the power of the priesthood of God that has been restored in our day, men and women can be sealed together for time and for all eternity and know that their children shall be born under the new and everlasting covenant and shall be theirs throughout the countless ages of eternity. CR1962Oct:109
After 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:
14. Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—
15. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—
16. Therefore, 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. (Visions manifested to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836) D&C 110:13-16
Adam brought the keys of the First Presidency. Joseph Smith received the keys of the First Presidency from Adam, who came back and visited him. Joseph Smith received the power of the gathering of Israel through Moses, who came back to see him. Elijah brought back the powers that we use in connection with our temple work. ACR(Mexico City)1972:61
I have found that many members of the Church have a very limited view of what the sealing power is. Since it is used most frequently in connection with temple marriages, the word seal has come to mean, in the minds of many Church members, simply that—sealing two people in the eternal marriage bond. It is also used to designate the ordinance by which children who have not been born in the covenant are "sealed" to their parents. Other members of the Church have the idea that the sealing authority that Elijah brought had to do solely with baptism for the dead.
The authority is much more inclusive than that. The keys of the sealing power are synonymous with the keys of the everlasting priesthood. . . .
Peter was to hold the sealing power, that authority which carries the power to bind or seal on earth or to loose on earth and it would be so in the heavens. Those keys belong to the President of the Church—to the prophet, seer, and revelator. That sacred sealing power is with the Church now. Nothing is regarded with more sacred contemplation by those who know the significance of this authority. Nothing is more closely held. There are relatively few men who hold this sealing power upon the earth at any given time—in each temple are brethren who have been given the sealing power. No one can get it except from the prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is more closely held than any other authority. I am an Apostle and in company with fourteen other men now living hold all of the keys. I have the sealing power. It was given to me at the time of my ordination, as is true of all the Brethren who hold membership in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. I can seal and I can loose according to the directions given by the President of the Church. But I cannot give this authority to another. If another is to have it, he must get it from that one man on the earth who has the right to exercise all the keys of the priesthood. We know from the revelations that there will be but one at a time on the earth who has this right. (The Holy Temple, pp. 84-85) TLDP:619
I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you will receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah and the keys of the kingdom of Jehovah. (Sermon, March 10, 1844) HC6:252; DGSM:86
Author's Note: The importance of this mission of Elijah can be seen by its early mention to the boy Joseph by the angel Moroni in 1823: "And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: 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.
39. He also quoted the next verse 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." (JS-H 1:38-39
And, Malachi foretold the event some four hundred years before the birth of Christ: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6. 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
132. We are to perform vicarious baptisms for the dead.
It is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your dead, but you will have to go through all the ordinances for them, the same as you have gone through to save yourselves. (To the Church in Nauvoo, Ill., May 12, 1844) HC6:365; DGSM:86
. . .I now resume the subject of the baptism for the dead, as that subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest, since I have been pursued by my enemies. . . .
5. You may think this order of things to be very particular; but let me tell you that it is only to answer the will of God, by conforming to the ordinance and preparation that the Lord ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world, for the salvation of the dead who should die without a knowledge of the gospel. (Joseph writes to the Church giving further directions on baptism for the dead, Sept. 6, 1842) D&C 128:1,5
The Latter-day Saints [believe] in baptism for the dead, in salvation for those who [have] died without a knowledge of the Gospel—that all human beings should have the privilege of receiving or rejecting the Gospel. ("Sunday Services," Deseret Weekly, April 23, 1892, p. 593) TLDP:61
We have been authorized to perform baptisms vicariously so that when they [the dead] hear the gospel preached and desire to accept it, that essential ordinance will have been performed. They need not ask for any exemption from that essential ordinance. Indeed, the Lord Himself was not exempted from it. CR1975Oct:147
We know by the scriptures that the gospel is preached to the dead and the dead are to be judged according to men in the flesh and live according to God in the spirit. Thus baptism is necessary for those who, during their lifetime, had not opportunity for this ordinance of baptism by immersion for the remission of sin. CR1979Apr:20
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? (Paul writes to the Church at Corinth, Greece, about A.D. 55) 1 Corinthians 15:29
also quoting Paul
They will not baptize anybody in the spirit world; there is no baptism there; there is no marrying or giving in marriage there; all these ordinances have to be performed on the earth. Paul says, in referring to this subject—"Why are ye baptized for the dead? If the dead rise not why then are ye baptized for the dead?" The Lord holds us responsible for going to and building Temples, that we may attend therein to the ordinances necessary for the salvation of the dead. (In new Tabernacle, Sept. 12, 1875, JD18:114) TLDP:61
We have a great work before us in the redemption of our dead. . . . Those persons may receive their testimony, but they cannot be baptized in the spirit world, for somebody on the earth must perform this ordinance for them in the flesh before they can receive part in the first resurrection, and be worthy of eternal life. It takes as much to save a dead man as a living one. . . . Have we any time to spend in trying to get rich and in neglecting our dead? I tell you no. (At Bountiful, Utah, June 26, 1881, JD22:234) TLDP:61
Thus 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.
33. These 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. (Vision regarding the Savior's visit to the spirits of the dead, Oct. 3, 1918) D&C 138:32-33
133. The Saints in the latter days cannot be made perfect without doing the ordinance work for their dead, nor can the dead be made perfect without this work being done for them.
One of the fundamental principles underlying the doctrine of salvation for the dead, is that of the mutual dependance of the fathers and the children. Family lineage and the sequence of generations in each particular line of descent are facts, and cannot be changed by earth; on the other hand it is evident from the olden scriptures . . . attested by the equally sure word of modern revelation, that the family relationships of earth are recognized in the spirit world. Neither the children nor the fathers, neither progenitors nor descendants, can alone attain perfection; and the requisite co-operation is effected through baptism and related ordinances, administered to the living in behalf of the dead.
In this way and through this work are the hearts of the fathers and those of the children turned toward each other. As the living children learn that without their ancestors they cannot attain a perfect status in the eternal world, their own faith will be strengthened and they will be willing to labor for the redemption and salvation of their dead. And the dead, learning through the preaching of the Gospel in their world, that they are dependent upon their descendants as vicarious saviors, will turn with loving faith and prayerful effort toward their children yet living. HL:83-84
And 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—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect.
18. I 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—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 perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed 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 dispensation of the fulness of times. (Joseph writes to the Church giving further directions on baptism for the dead, Sept. 6, 1842) D&C 128:15,18
We 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. . . . We are now called upon to do ours; which is to be the greatest work man ever performed on the earth. Millions of our fellow creatures who have lived upon the earth and died without a knowledge of the Gospel must be officiated for in order that they may inherit eternal life (that is, all that would have received the Gospel). And we are called upon to enter into this work. (At Logan, Utah, Aug. 15, 1876, JD18:213) TLDP:592-93
also quoting Paul
Our members need to be taught that it is not sufficient for a husband and wife to be sealed in the temple to guarantee their exaltation—they must also be eternally linked with their progenitors and see that the work is done for those ancestors. "They without us," said the Apostle Paul, "cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect" (D&C 128:15). Our members should therefore understand that they have an individual responsibility to see that they are linked to their progenitors. (To regional representatives, April 3, 1981) DGSM:86
In the days of Noah, God destroyed the world by a flood, and He has promised to destroy it by fire in the last days: but before it should take place, Elijah should first come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, &c.
Now comes the point. What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children.
Now was this merely confined to the living, to settle difficulties with families on earth? By no means. It was a far greater work. Elijah what would you do if you were here? Would you confine your work to the living alone? No; I would refer you to the Scriptures, where the subject is manifest: that is, without us, they could not be made perfect, nor we without them; the fathers without the children, nor the children without the fathers.
I wish you to understand this subject, for it is important; and if you will receive it, this is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven. This is the power of Elijah and the keys of the kingdom of Jehovah. (Sermon at the Stand, Nauvoo, Ill., Mar. 10, 1844) HC6:251-52
In our preexistent state, in the day of the great council, we made a certain agreement with the Almighty. The Lord proposed a plan, conceived by him. We accepted it. Since the plan is intended for all men, we become parties to the salvation of every person under that plan. We agreed, right then and there, to be not only saviours for ourselves but measurably, saviours for the whole human family. We went into a partnership with the Lord. The working out of the plan became then not merely the Father's work, and the Saviour's work, but also our work. The least of us, the humblest, is in partnership with the Almighty in achieving the purpose of the eternal plan of salvation. (Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Oct. 1934) DCSM:8; MPSG1967:87
Ordinances of the temple relate to personal progress and to the redemption of departed ancestors as well. “For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, … they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect.”41 Service in their behalf provides repeated opportunities for temple worship. And that service deserves commitment to a planned schedule. By doing for others what they cannot do for themselves, we emulate the pattern of the Savior, who wrought the Atonement to bless the lives of other people. (CR 2001Apr; Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings, Ensign, May 2001, p.32)
As we ponder the importance of our ancestral responsibilities, we also need to be reminded of the Lord’s vast ministry. I quote from President Joseph F. Smith: “Jesus 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.” (CR 1998Apr; A New Harvest Time, Ensign, May 1998, p.34)
Now, some members of the Church have wondered just what was meant by the words of the Prophet, that we without our dead could not be made perfect. Will not a man who keeps the commandments of the Lord, who is faithful and true so far as he himself is concerned, receive perfection? Yes, provided his worthy dead also receive the same privileges, because there must be a family organization, a family unit, and each generation must be linked to the chain that goes before in order to bring perfection in family organization. (CR 1942Apr; Afternoon Meeting, p.26)
Related Witnesses:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Paul writes to the Jewish members of the Church on faith, about A.D. 60) Hebrews 11:40
There is a feeling existing among some members of the Church that because the Prophet declared that we without our dead cannot be made perfect, the work in the temples will have to be performed for all the dead. This is an error. What is intended by this remark is that we cannot be made perfect without our dead who are worthy and entitled to salvation. There will be a great host of the dead who will not be entitled to the ordinances of exaltation and who will not be made perfect. Perfection is in the celestial kingdom only, and those who enter the other kingdoms and who are restricted will be as countless as the stars of heaven. Few, there will be, who will be saved. (Matthew 7:13-14CHMR2:329-30
It is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your dead, but you will have to go through all the ordinances for them, the same as you have gone through to save yourselves. (To the Church in Nauvoo, Ill., May 12, 1844) HC6:365; DGSM:86
No man can enter into the kingdom of God except he is born of the water and of the Spirit. Men may be judged and their bodies lie in the grave until the last resurrection, to come forth and receive of the telestial glory, but no man will receive of the celestial glory except it be through the ordinances of the House of God. (In Tabernacle, June 30, 1878, JD19:361) TLDP:53
also quoting Paul
They will not baptize anybody in the spirit world; there is no baptism there; there is no marrying or giving in marriage there; all these ordinances have to be performed on the earth. Paul says, in referring to this subject—"Why are ye baptized for the dead? If the dead rise not why then are ye baptized for the dead?" The Lord holds us responsible for going to and building Temples, that we may attend therein to the ordinances necessary for the salvation of the dead. (In new Tabernacle, Sept. 12, 1875, JD18:114) TLDP:61
Why is this such a grave responsibility? For two reasons. First, because we cannot enter into the perfect life without our worthy dead who have not been blessed as we have with the Gospel. Second, because they who have lived worthy lives, but in darkness, because the Gospel did not come to them in life, are also heirs of salvation. (The Way to Perfection, p. 153) TLDP:592
134. The hearts of the children shall be turned to their ancestors in such a manner that the children will desire to seek the records of their dead ancestors and perform the necessary ordinances for them.
The fathers are our dead ancestors who died without the privilege of receiving the gospel, but who received the promise that the time would come when that privilege would be granted them. The children are those now living who are preparing genealogical data and who are performing the vicarious ordinances in the temples.
The turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers is placing or planting in the hearts of the children that feeling and desire which will inspire them to search out the records of the dead. Moreover the planting of the desire and inspiration in their hearts is necessary. This they must have in order that they might go into the house of the Lord and perform the necessary labor for their fathers, who died without a knowledge of the gospel, or without the privilege of receiving the fulness of the gospel. (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:127-28) DCSM:7-8
The dead know where their records are, so you are to search until you have gone as far as you can. But, of course, there are hosts of men and women in the Spirit World whose records don't exist anywhere on the earth, but whose record is in the Spirit World.
When you have done all you can and have reached the limit, what will happen? As always in the past, man's extremity is God's opportunity: The Lord never helps us while we can help ourselves. This is our day. We don't expect Him to do miraculous things that we can do ourselves. When we have done our utmost, then will come God's opportunity. Don't think for a moment that the temples will close. They will go on all through the Millennium. Great hosts of the dead in the Spirit World are waiting for this work. Should it not stir us to do everything to relieve them of their distress? It surely should. When we have done our utmost, then will come the day when the authorities that preside on the other side will come and make known all who have received the Gospel in the Spirit World, and everyone entitled to have their work done. That is the simplest thing in the world. When the Lord is ready, it will be very simple and very easy. We can speed that day by doing now the work that we can do. ("The Inspiration of Temple Work," Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Oct. 1932, pp 148-49) TLDP:602
We have our dead also to seek after, those of our immediate ancestors, our blood kindred, many of whom were noble men and women who lived their lives here in mortality, according to the best light and knowledge they had, but were deprived of the privileges which we enjoy of the Gospel and its saving ordinances. We have the responsibility of finding these out by genealogical research, obtaining information which is necessary to identify them upon the records of the Church and of the Temple, and then after receiving these saving ordinances ourselves, to act vicariously for the dead in receiving those ordinances. . . .
The Lord has said through the Prophet Joseph that there is no greater responsibility that he has laid upon us than that of looking after our kindred dead.
This missionary work for the living and the dead is the highest service in which man can be employed, and, I think I might say, that can employ the attention of the Gods, for all that we know of their works that have been revealed unto us are looking to this worthy end the saving of the souls of men. CR1939Oct:109-10
The Bible says, "I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be fulfilled? . . . By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. (Discourse on the sealing power in the Priesthood, at southeast corner of Nauvoo Temple, Jan. 21, 1844) HC6:183-84
Related Witnesses:
It is a matter of historical record that God was to send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children, lest the earth be smitten with a curse. It is a matter of historical fact that in this dispensation Elijah has returned to the earth, for the hearts of the children have been turned to their parents and those of the parents to the children. CR1950Oct:25
He also quoted the next verse 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 relates the angel Moroni's visit to him, Sept. 21, 1823) JS-H 1:39
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6. 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. (The prophet Malachi to the people, about 430 B.C.) Malachi 4:5-6
quoting Malachi,
quoted by Mormon
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
6. 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. (The resurrected Jesus Christ teaches the Nephite people, A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 25:5-6
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.
2. 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.
3. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming. (Extract from words of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, Sept. 21, 1823) D&C 2:1-3
After 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:
14. Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—
15. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—
16. Therefore, 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. (Visions manifested to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, April 3, 1836) D&C 110:13-16
