BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD
by:
Apostles Charles R. Hield
and
Russell F. Ralston
Introductory Statement
Scripture and Other Source Material
The Bible
The Book of Mormon
The Doctrine and Covenants
Church History
"Millennial Star"
The Utah Church
The Reorganized Church
Historical Comment
Location
Time Limitation
Temples to Be Built by Command of God
Examination of the Scriptures and History
The Bible
The Book of Mormon
The Doctrine and Covenants
Other Points for Consideration
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
| Contents | INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT |
Many people make inquiry about the large headquarters building of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Independence, Missouri. The question is often asked; "Is not the Reorganized Church headquarters building a temple?" The answer is "No." The building contains an auditorium seating about seven thousand people, used to accommodate the large General Conferences of the church, general officers, library, council rooms, service departments , and record repositories.
Newspapers and periodicals have carried articles about the Mormon Church, with headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah, and its temples in Utah, Arizona, Canada , and Hawaii; also a temple which is being built in Los Angeles, California, and a site chosen for a temple in Europe at Bern, Switzerland. Questions are asked about the possibility of a temple being built somewhere on the sixty-two acres of land in Independence designated for that purpose by Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the latter-day church.
Some tourists stop at Salt Lake City and visit the Mormon temple there. Then inquiries come to the Reorganized Church as to the use of Latter Day Saint temples, and the ceremonies and ordinances performed in the Mormon Temples: sealing of husbands and wives for eternity(even today a Mormon man may be sealed to a second, third, or fourth wife, etc., if his former wives die, and he will expect to have them all as his wives in eternity!) , sealing of children to the parents, proxy baptism for the dead, endowment ceremonies(with its washings, anointings, sacred and secret undergarments, vows, and covenants,) proxy confirmations, proxy ordinations, proxy marriages, and so on. Some publicity has been given to the search of the Genealogical Society of the Mormon Church for genealogical records from many parts of the world. Million of pages of such records have been microfilmed in Sweden, in order that proxy baptisms may be made in Mormon temples for these departed spirits.
The Reorganized Church differs widely with the Mormon Church on the building and use of temples. It is for the purpose of answering some of these questions about Latter Day Saint temples and more particularly to make clear the position of the Reorganized church regarding the theory of proxy baptism for the dead, that this brochure is prepared.
In order to become acquainted with the Scripture on the subject, a careful study of the following texts from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants is necessary.
The matter of the doctrine of baptism for the dead, as is true of all other doctrines purporting to be of Christ, can only be truly examined in the light of the fullness of his teachings in regard to this subject. Thus first in the tract is placed such Scriptures as have been found to be connected with this doctrine. Thus the reader may become familiar with them before going into the position taken in this brochure.
Inasmuch as there are wide differences existing between the Latter-day Saint Church in Utah, and that of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with headquarters in Independence, Missouri, with regard to the interpretation of this doctrine of baptism for the dead, quotations also have been selected from the leaders of both churches. The reader is not asked to compare the teachings of the two churches, one with another, but rather that the teachings of the churches be compared with the teachings of Christ. Only as this is done with prayer and an earnest desire to find the truth can his Spirit direct toward a correct interpretation.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge valuable assistance from the research of A.M. Chase, J.W.A. Bailey, C.J. Hunt, S.M. Burgess, Charles Fry, and many others.
The Bible
1. 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?- I Corinthians 15:29
2 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. - I Peter 4:6
3. KING JAMES VERSION
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. - Hebrews 11:40
INSPIRED VERSION
God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings, for without sufferings, they could not be made perfect.- Hebrews 11:40
4. KING JAMES VERSION
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.
REORGANIZED CHURCH HISTORY AND UTAH DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
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.
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. - Reorganized Church History, Volume 1: 13; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 2: 1-3.
5. Therefore, let every man stand or fall, by himself, and not for another; or not trusting another.- Mark 9:44, Inspired Version. Not in King James Version.
6. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. - Philippians 2:12.
7. I besought thee... that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying.- I Timothy 1:3,4
8. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. - Titus 3:9.
9. As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. -Zechariah 9:11.
10. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.-I Timothy 2:5.
11. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. - Psalm 49:7-9 .
12. But these little ones have no need of repentance, and I will save them. - Matthew 18:11, Inspired Version. Not in the King James Version.
13. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. - Hebrews 6:4-6.
*Some words and phrases are italicized for emphasis.
The Book of Mormon
1. Wherefore he hath given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment;
And where there is no punishment , there is no condemnation;
And where there is no condemnation, the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement;
For they are delivered by the power of him: for the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment;
And they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel. - II Nephi 6: 51-55, Reorganized edition; II Nephi 9: 25,26, Utah edition.
2. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter of persons; for how many little children have died without baptism.
Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope , nor charity; wherefore , should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.- Moroni 8:13-15, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8:12-14, Utah edition.
3. For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism .
Wo be unto him [them] that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish, except they repent.- Moroni 8:16,17, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8: 15,16, Utah edition.
4. Little children can not repent; wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.
Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. - Moroni 8: 20-22, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8: 19-21, Utah edition.
5. For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.
For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, can not repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing.
But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
Behold, my son,this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation, and under the curse of a broken law.- Moroni 8: 25-28, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8: 22-24, Utah Edition.
6. For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by transgression of Adam, who have died, not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.- Mosiah 1:107, Reorganized edition; Mosiah 3:11, Utah edition.
7. But wo unto him that has the law given; yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation; for awful is his state!- II Nephi 6:56, Reorganized edition; II Nephi 9:27, Utah edition.
8. If we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness, wherein there can be no labor performed.-Alma 16:230, Reorganized edition; Alma 34:33, Utah edition.
9. And he [Alma] commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.- Mosiah 9:52, Reorganized edition; Mosiah 18:19, Utah edition.
10. But whoso among you shall do more or less than these, are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation.-III Nephi 8:44, Reorganized edition; III Nephi 18:13, Utah edition.
11. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him [Alma], and he said, Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead, as to the mortal body. - Mosiah 9:44, Reorganized edition; Mosiah 18:13, Utah edition.
12. The Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead.- Mosiah 8:54, Reorganized edition; Mosiah 15:20, Utah edition.
1. ....for this ordinance belongeth to my house, and can not be acceptable to me, only in the days of your poverty, wherein ye are not able to build a house unto me. But I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me, and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. but, behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptism for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me. - Doctrine and Covenants 107: 10,11, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 124: 30-32, Utah edition.
2. And after this time, your baptisms for the dead, by those who are scattered abroad, are not acceptable unto me, saith the Lord; for it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, these places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead. - Doctrine and Covenants 107:11, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 124:35,36, Utah edition.
3. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers, "that they without us can not be made perfect"; neither can we without our dead be made perfect. - Doctrine and Covenants 110: 15, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 128:15, Utah edition.
4. Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered, they that remain and are pure in heart shall return and come to their inheritances; they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy; to build up the waste places of Zion._ Doctrine and Covenants 98:4,Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 101:17,18, Utah edition.
5....and gave him power from on high , by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon, which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, and to the Jews also._ Doctrine and Covenants 17:2, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 20: 8,9 Utah edition.
6. {Christ speaking of the Book of Mormon and its people} They... shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine; yea and the only doctrine which is in me; and this I do , that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention, concerning the points of my doctrine. _ Revelation, July , 1828; Doctrine and covenants 3:15, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 10: 62, 63, Utah edition.
7. Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all good things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel and my Rock._ Revelation, June 1829, Doctrine and Covenants 16:1, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 18:3,4, Utah edition.
8. ... with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fullness of my everlasting gospel. _ Revelation, September 1830, Doctrine and Covenants 26: 2, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 27: 5, Utah edition.
9. And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fullness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation._ Revelation, December 1830, Doctrine and Covenants 34:3, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 35:12, Utah edition.
10. I have sent forth the fullness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph. _ Revelation, December 1830, Doctrine and Covenants 34:4, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 35:17, Utah edition.
11. Thou shalt preach the fullness of my gospel which I have sent forth in these last days._ Revelation, January 1831, Doctrine and Covenants 39:3, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 39: 11, Utah edition.
12. And again, the elders,priests, and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in which is the fullness of the gospel.- Revelation, February 1831, Doctrine and Covenants 42:5,Reorganized edition; Doctrine and covenants 42:12, Utah edition.
13. Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my Scriptures for a law, to be my law, to govern my church; and he that doeth according to these things, shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned, if he {so} continue{s}. -Revelation, February 1831, Doctrine and Covenants 42:16, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 42; 59,60, Utah edition.
14. And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them.- Doctrine and Covenants 45:10, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 45:54, Utah edition.
15. In this land which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints: wherefore this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion.- Doctrine and Covenants57:1, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 57:1,2, Utah edition.
16. Let my servant Titus Billings, .... take his journey up unto the land of Zion.....And let all the moneys which can be spared, ....be sent up unto the land of Zion.- Doctrine and Covenants 63:10, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 63:39,40, Utah edition.
17. For the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.- Doctrine and Covenants 76:1, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 76:1, Utah edition.
18. And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and , behold, and lo; these are they who are of the terrestrial.. behold, these are they who died without law; 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, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; these are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. - Doctrine and Covenants 76:6, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 76: 71-75, Utah edition.
19. And after this, another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ’s at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh.- Doctrine and Covenants 85:28, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 88:99, Utah edition.
20. And again , another trump shall sound, which is the third trump; and then cometh the spirits of men who are to be judged, and are found under condemnation; and these are the rest of the dead, and they live not again until the thousand years are ended neither again, until the end of the earth. - Doctrine and Covenants 85:29, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 88:100,101, Utah edition.
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; 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, for I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desires of their hearts.- Church History, Volume 2, page 16, Reorganized; History of the Church, Volume 2, page 380, Utah, by B.H. Roberts.
"A man may act as proxy for his own relatives; the ordinances of the gospel which were laid out before the foundations of the world have thus been fulfilled by them, and we may be baptized for those whom we have much friendship for; but it must first be revealed to the man of God, lest we should run too far." - History of the Church, Volume 6, page 366, Utah; and Millennial Star, Volume 23,1861, page 487.( This the Mormons affirm is a statement of Joseph Smith, Jr., on May 12, 1844, a little more than a month before he was killed.)
1. We know something about our progenitors, and God has taught us how to be saviors for them by being baptized for them in the flesh, that they may live according to God in the Spirit.-John Taylor, March 20,1870, Journal of Discourses, Volume 14, page 187, quoted by Ludlow in Latter-day Prophets Speak, page 112.
2."... mortals have to be saviors on Mount Zion, acting by proxy for the dead." - Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, page 325.
3. 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{they} baptized for the dead? If the dead rise not why then are ye{they} 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.- Wilford Woodruff, September 12, 1875, Journal of Discourses, Volume 18, page 114, quoted in Latter-day Prophets Speak, page 111.
4. We have a great work before us in the redemption of our dead.... There are fifty thousand millions of people in the spirit world... Those persons may receive their testimony, but they cannot be baptized in the spirit world, for somebody on 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.-Wilford Woodruff, June 26, 1881, Journal of Discourses, Volume 22, page 234, quoted in Latter-day Prophets Speak,page 112.
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.- Heber J. Grant, April 17, 1892, Deseret Weekly News, Volume 44, page 593, quoted in Latter-day Prophets Speak, page 111.
6. As for the millions who lived before modern registration of people began in more civilized countries, it can only be said that their records will also be made available, either now or during the millennium....But the vast majority of God’s children, of past generations, have been lost to genealogical researchers. - Apostle John A. Widtsoe, Gospel Interpretations, page 100.
7. It is very clear that there is neither time nor information at hand to enable the saints- who are comparatively few in number - to finish the ordinance work for the dead before the coming of Jesus Christ....However, we can easily understand that the greater part of this work of salvation for the dead must be performed after the Millennium is ushered in. - Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, pages 322-323.
8. We shall go forth in the name of Israel’s God and attend to the ordinances for them (the dead). And through the Millennium, the thousand years that the people will love and serve God, we will build temples and officiate therein for those who have slept for hundreds and thousands of years.... We will bring them up,and form the chain entire, back to Adam. If we preserve ourselves in the truth and live so that we shall be worthy of the celestial kingdom by and by we can officiate for those who have died without the Gospel- the honest, honorable, truthful, virtuous and pure. By and by it will be said unto us, "Go ye forth and be baptized for them and receive the ordinances for them." Brigham Young Discourses, page 619, quoted by Joseph Fielding Smith in his book, The Way to Perfection, pages 325-326.
9. We have at least one thousand years,... wherein the elders of Israel will enter holy temples of the Lord and officiate for just such persons as you and I.- Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, Volume 6, page 308, quoted by Joseph Fielding Smith in The Way to Perfection, page 324.
1. Those who were baptized for the dead should live so nearly in accord with the spirits in the better land, that there should be revelation of a desire that the living should personate for the dead.If anyone supposes that an indiscriminate and careless administration, either in officer or candidate, would answer the end of this complicated theory, he certainly mistakes the ordinance and its effects.
Baptism for the dead is not commanded in the gospel, it is at best only permitted; was so by special permission, and we presume that should we ultimately prove worthy it may be again permitted. - Joseph Smith III, True Saints’ Herald, Volume 21, Number 14, page 435, July 15, 1874.
2. The General Conference, April 9, 1886 (Resolution No. 308), adopted a committee report:
That as to the alleged "Temple building and ceremonial endowments therein " that we know of no Temple building, except as edifices wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early saints on Pentecost Day.
"Baptism for the dead" referred to belongs to those local questions of which the body has said by resolution:
"That the commandments of a local character, given to the first organization of the church are binding on the Reorganization only so far as they are either reiterated or referred to as binding by commandment to this church." And that principle has neither been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment.
| Contents | HISTORICAL COMMENT |
Baptism for the dead had an uncertain beginning in the church somewhere between 1840 and 1844 at Nauvoo. It was evidently discussed and practiced by a few before any official declaration was made concerning it. It seems to have started without any divine authorization. There was no revelation or conference approval initiating the practice. On January 19, 1841, in a revelation dealing mainly with the temple and a proposed proclamation of the gospel, mention was made of the teaching of baptism for the dead. This revelation contained no formal or direct introduction to the principle, no defining of it, and no command to teach or practice it. It was to be a permissive rite which could only be practiced if and when (and after ) all requirements were met.
"Unto every law there are certain bounds."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 85:9; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 88:38. This revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 107, Reorganized edition; Utah edition, Section 124) does impose certain very definite limitations or rules for its application.
A. Location
1. "For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:11; and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 124:36. These limitations are exact and must be obeyed. They show that in America the ordinance only may be observed "in Zion"( or "her stakes"). It should not be too difficult to locate Zion. It was in Missouri, and Independence was the Center Place.
"Hearken, O ye elders of my church saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together, according to my commandments, in this land which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints: wherefore this is the land [Missouri] of promise, and the place for the city of Zion." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 57:1; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 57: 1,2; see also Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 52: 1,9; and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 52:2,42.
In the early church that part of Missouri which included Independence was always referred to as "Zion." The revelation of the lord(Section 63) given at Kirtland is typical of the designation of Missouri for Zion. Titus Billings was commanded to "take his journey up unto the land of Zion"; money was to be "sent up unto the land of Zion ," and so on. (Read Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 63: 8-13; and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 63: 24-54.) Kirtland, Ohio, was a part of the land of America; yet is was not in Zion, for the Lord commanded some to leave (Kirtland) and to "go up unto the land of Zion."
The Prophet Joseph Smith writing about his trip to Zion under date of August 2,1831, even gives its exact latitude and longitude:
"The season is mild and delightful nearly three quarters of the year, and as the land of Zion, situated at about equal distances from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as from the Alleghany and Rocky mountains, in the thirty-ninth degree of north latitude, and between the tenth and seventeenth degrees of west longitude.- Times and Seasons, March 1, 1844, Volume 5, page 450.
The thirty-ninth degree north latitude crosses northern Missouri. Longitude in 1831 was computed from the Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C., and "between the tenth and seventeenth degrees of west longitude took in most of Illinois and Missouri.
Thus there is no doubt in the days of the Prophet, that Zion was in the center of the United States, and far east from Utah, in the "land of Missouri." The Lord so indicated, and his word is final. (Read also Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 57:1; 83:1; and the Utah Doctrine and Covenants 57:3; 84:1-3.) No printed record during the lifetime of the prophet mentioned any other place. On the other hand, the Lord said that no other place would be so designated:
"Behold, there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed, neither shall there be any other place appointed than that which I have appointed for the work of the gathering of my saints, until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains, or strength of Zion."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 98:4; and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 101:20,21.
Under date of October 10, 1833, Joseph Smith in his history wrote:
"At this time the evil and designing circulated a report that Zion was to be extended as far east as Ohio, (italics in the original) which in some degree tended to distract the minds of the Saints, and produced a momentary indecision about removing thither, but the report was soon corrected and the brethren continued to remove to Zion and Kirtland."- Millennial Star 14:539 (Kirtland served as a gateway to Zion).
Until the "gathering" fills this region and there "is found no more room" ( a condition which today is far from being realized), the gathering is to be limited to this general central United States area.
2.The ordinance of baptism for the dead could be in a temple built in one of "her"stakes- that is, in a stake within the Zionic area.Of Nauvoo. the Lord said:
" ... this stake which I have planted to be a corner stake of Zion." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:1; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 124:2.
Baptism for the dead is to be connected with the building of the temple in the City of Zion, the New Jerusalem, at Independence, Missouri; and with the stakes of the gathering places "appointed for refuge." Later, where there are major concentrations of Saints outside the Zionic area, there may be organized (By divine appointment) "curtains" or gateway stakes- for the support or "strength of Zion." These stakes are formed for more complete systematizing and honoring of the law of Christ in both spiritual and temporal affairs than is possible in branches and districts. In no sense, however, are these "curtain" stakes to take the place of Zion in the central area, as the location for "the Gathering’ and the building of temples in which (among other uses) the ordinance of baptism for the dead "may" be permitted. The Mormons violate this requirement of the Lord, for none of their temples (for baptism of their dead, and so forth), are built in Independence or in any of "her" stakes the stakes of god’s "appointed" Zion. There is even a Mormon temple at Laie, on the island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, and a site has been chosen for a European Temple at Bern, Switzerland,both outside continental North and South America.
3. The ordinance could be performed "in Jerusalem." That has not been done yet, and someday perhaps converted Jews may be given a revelation to do so.
4. ".... those places which I have appointed." The word of the Lord did not say: " places which I shall later appoint for refuge." Zion, the land of Missouri, was the place of the Gathering. God said: "Neither shall there be any other place appointed than that which I have appointed for the gathering of my saints" (see paragraph 1, page 18). Baptism for the dead must first be done in this area already designated ( 1841) for "refuge" and the Gathering.
There is no temple on earth today that can be proved by documented evidence to have been built by direct revelation from God, with the exception of Kirtland Temple at Kirtland, Ohio (owned and used by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, having been granted to it by the courts, as the true church in succession to the original church). This temple built by the specific command of God contains no provision at all for the practice of baptism for the dead. Therefore, under the limitations of the ordinance placed by the revelation of God, there are no temples on earth today wherein baptism for the dead can be legally practiced in accord with approved church law.
B. Time Limitation
The revelation permitting baptism for the dead definitely limits the time during which this practice would be acceptable in the river or in an uncomplete temple. Permission to practice baptism for the dead was withdrawn when the Saints did not complete the Nauvoo temple within the time set by Divinity. Permission to practice this rite has never yet been restored.
The Revelation reads:
"I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me.... At the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead, saith the Lord your God. For, verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient time to build a house to me, .... your baptisms for your dead can not be acceptable unto me." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:10,11; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 124:31-33.
For a time baptism for the dead was permitted in the Mississippi River by special dispensation, but at a conference in Nauvoo, Sunday, October 3, 1841, Joseph Smith announced:
" There shall be no more baptisms for the dead until the ordinance can be attended to in the font of the Lord’s house,... for thus saith the Lord!"- Times and Seasons, Volume 2, page 578; Reorganized Church History, Volume 2, page 546; Utah History of the Church, Volume 4, page 426.
A temporary font of pine plank, glued together, was built in the basement of the unfinished building and was given a dedication November 8, 1841 (Millennial Star, Volume 18:743, 744, published in 1856). Whether this font was ever accepted of the Lord or not in an incomplete building is open to question. While some baptisms for the dead were performed in this font in November, the time limitation of the Lord for the completion of the temple clearly was not satisfied, for "An Epistle of the Twelve to the Saints of the Last Days" (dated December 13, 1841) and signed by Brigham Young and eight others, was published in the Times and Seasons. This epistle pleaded for more money and workers and scolded the Saints for not assisting more in the building of the temple, and strongly warned them of the consequence should they fail:
"The building of the Temple of the Lord, in the city of Nauvoo is occupying the first place in the exertions and prayers of many of the Saints at the present time, knowing as they do, that, if this building is not completed speedily, ‘we shall be rejected as a church with our dead,’ for the Lord our God hath spoken it.... for if the Church must be brought under condemnation and rejected with her dead if she fail to build the house, and its appurtenances, why should not individuals of the church, who thus neglect, come under the same condemnation?.... There are individuals who have given nothing as yet..... suppose that all should act upon this principle, no one would do ought at present, consequently the building must cease, and this generation remain without a house , and the church be rejected." _ Times and Seasons, Volume 3, Number 4, December 15, 1841, pages 625-627; also in Utah History of the Church, Volume 4, pages 472-475.
Work progressed slowly in spite of repeated appeals for workers and money. About eight months later, in the October 1, 1842, issue of the Times and Seasons (Volume 3, pages 937-939), there appeared another warning, obviously from the editor, Joseph Smith. The editorial entitled " The Temple" said:
"The word of the Lord is build my house, and until that command is fulfilled we stand responsible to the great Jehovah for the fulfillment of it, and if not done in due time we may have to share the same fate that we have heretofore done in Missouri."
(The inference in this editorial is, of course, that if the Saints would do as they were commanded they would not be driven out.)
The Prophet Joseph Smith, as the Lord’s representative, became much concerned over the turn of events. As President of the High Priesthood, he had "all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church." -Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 104: 42; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 107:92. Also the Lord had said: "I will show unto my servant Joseph Smith all things pertaining to this house {Nauvoo Temple}." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:13; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 124:42. On May 12, 1844, Joseph Smith made a clarifying declaration about baptism for the dead. While this is not a revelation, it is of utmost importance:
"A man may act as proxy for his own relatives; the ordinances of the gospel which were laid out before the foundations of the world have thus been fulfilled by them, and we may be baptized for those whom we have much friendship for; but it must first be revealed to the man of God, lest we should run too far." (See page 15).
Note the first three words the Prophet uses here, "a man may." Later, however, in this same statement he says: "it must first be revealed." In other words it is permissible for us to be baptized for our relatives or for those close to us by the ties of friendship, but only under guidance of knowledge revealed to a man of God.
Joseph Smith was killed in June, a little over a month later, but the leaders in Nauvoo did not heed this instruction of the prophet to first secure revelation on each candidate for proxy baptism. They continued to baptize for the dead without a divine revelation through "the man of God." The spiritual condition of those spirits in the other world for whom they were being baptized was not known,and man had no knowledge whether a proxy baptism was timely or even wanted.
Some worked faithfully on the temple, but many others did not. During this critical period, several large brick homes were built in Nauvoo, and a three-story brick Masonic Temple was constructed. The latter building was dedicated April 5, 1844, the "most substantial and best finished Masonic Temple in the Western States" (Utah History of the Church, Volume 6, page 287).
As Brigham Young and his followers fled west, they still hoped to comply with God’s command and finish the temple. Brigham Young in January 1, 1877, speaking about the Nauvoo Temple, said:
"It is true we left brethren there with instructions to finish it, and they got it nearly completed before it was burned, but the Saints did not enjoy it." - Journal of Discourses, Volume 18, page 304.
Brigham sent a letter dated March 9, 1846:
".... wrote Orson Hyde to stay at Nauvoo and dedicate the Temple, if the Twelve did not return."- Improvement Era, Volume 49, May 1946, page 292.
Several perfunctory dedications were attempted after the exodus, one "privately," another at night, for fear of enemies. It was a last desperate effort to ask God to approve what had been done. Such prayers of dedication cannot be accepted as indicating the approval of God on their lives and the temple. The Lord had specifically told them that if they obeyed his commands they would not be driven out:
"If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrate that spot, that it shall be made holy; and if my people will hearken unto my voice,and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold, verily I say unto you, They shall not be moved out of their place." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:13;Utah Doctrine and covenants 124:44,45.
Since it is undeniable that the Saints were driven from Nauvoo, it seems to be equally undeniable, in the light of this revelation, that the Saints had failed to obey the commands given them.
Brigham Young several times acknowledged that they had failed to complete the Nauvoo Temple as commanded.
".... we shall attempt to build a temple to the name of our God. This has been attempted several times, but we have never yet had the privilege of completing and enjoying one." - Brigham Young, address in Salt Lake City, February 14, 1853, Journal of Discourses, volume 1, page 277.
"Here let me ask the old Saints a question. Have you ever seen a temple finished since this church commenced?" You have not."- Brigham Young, August 31, 1856, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4, page 42.
"I have been spending the winter in Saint George. Our Temple there is finished,which is the first completed Temple built to the name of the Most High,in which the ordinances for the living and the dead can be performed, since the one built by Solomon in the land of Jerusalem that we have any knowledge of." - Brigham Young, Richfield, Utah, April 22,1877, Journal of Discourses, Volume 19, page 220; see also Volume 18, page 304.
The Nauvoo Temple was never completed; history is very clear on this point. Joseph Smith III (the son of the martyr) who remained at Nauvoo until 1866 , tells how as a boy, and as a man he visited the building and later its charred ruin, and that he knew "from personal observation that the temple at Nauvoo was not finished." many parts of the building were incomplete, such as the "auditorium on the second floor, and the stairway on the north side." Alexander H. Smith (another son of the prophet) also testified that he lived in Nauvoo after the Saints left, and that the Temple was not completed:
"The upper auditorium; the plastering was not done, the floor was only the rough boards, intended only for the lining, was laid, and from this floor upward the stairs, except in the tower....were also temporary; the upper floor which was to have been divided into numerous rooms was laid, and partitioned off with cotton factory cloth... To my knowledge the temple never was finished., and those who have been led to believe it was, have been deceived."
Read the full statements of these two men in Church History (Reorganized) Volume 2, pages 563-565.
Non-Latter Day Saint writers also state that the Nauvoo Temple was unfinished. The Palmyra Courier_Journal under date of September 22,1847, speaking of the temple, said:
"The whole is quite unfinished and one can imagine what it might have been in course of time, if Joe Smith had been allowed to pursue his career in prosperity."- Quoted by E.Cecil McGavin in Nauvoo,the Beautiful, page 39.
When God commanded a temple to be built, he has always insisted that the Saints devote their utmost effort to comply with that command. When interest lagged at Kirtland, the Lord rebuked and warned them with another "if" clause:" ... if you keep my commandments, you shall have power to build it; if you keep not my commandments the love of the Father shall not continue with you." (Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 92:3; and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 95:11,12) . The temples at Independence and Far West never materialized because of persecution, and the Lord said: "I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them:(Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 98:1; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 101:2)
The Lord said further: "Were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church, and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now"(Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 102:2; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 105:2)
The church was rejected with its dead. The rejection of the church meant nothing more or less than the disorganization of the quorums; and when the quorums were disorganized, the church was back again in the same condition that it was before the organization of such quorums. this rejection of the church also meant that the Lord repealed the commandment given with regard to the building of the Nauvoo Temple and any special ordinances to be done therein.
The Twelve in their "Epistle"(refer to page 22) , indicated that in case of failure, a new command to build would not come again to their "generation" and that they would have to remain without "house" (temple). This instruction was also given in regard to the temple in Zion. In Missouri they also had displeased the Lord; they were in "transgression," and he said: "Inasmuch as they keep not my commandments , and hearken not to observe all my words, the kingdoms of the world shall prevail against them" (Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 100:2; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 103:8).
In the Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:15(Utah Doctrine and Covenants 124:49,50), the Lord said that whenever "enemies,... and the iniquity and transgressions of my holy laws and commandments"hinder the performing of commandments, "it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hand of those sons of men, but to accept of their offerings." The righteous who worked and tried hard are not to be condemned, but the church, as a church, was rejected. The righteous Saints of that generation were not to be required again to undertake the task of building a temple. The Lord again permitted the Saints to be driven out. Yet there was hope, for had the Lord not told them once before:
" .....let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion, for all flesh is in mine hands ; be still, and know that I am God. Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered, they that remain and are pure in heart shall return and come to their inheritances;they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy; to build up the waste places of Zion."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 98:4; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 101:16-18.
This return of the righteous Saints to the Central Area came to pass as the Lord had said.The reorganization of the church is simply a reorganization of the quorums under divine command according to the law. Due to the troublesome times at Nauvoo, thousands and thousands were scattered in confusion, not knowing what leadership to accept. Some remained in Zion, others visited and investigated the teachings of groups which reorganized in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Utah, Texas, and Iowa, but found finally the truths taught in the former church were being maintained only by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This group received again the blessings of God’s Holy Spirit, and under the leadership of Joseph Smith III, many of them personally gathered back to Zion. There, "pure in heart," they have continued to obey the commands of God and "build up the waste places." They returned to live in friendship and peace among the children of those men who had driven the Saints from Zion a few decades before. The fulfillment of this prophecy cannot be applied to the Mormons from Nauvoo who went to Utah. They died in the West, and never returned to Zion!
Furthermore, the Lord clearly indicated that the first prophet, Joseph Smith, had the exclusive gift to indicate his successor. Any reorganization of the church would have to comply with this revelation:
"None else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power, except to appoint another in his stead; and this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations, or commandments, ; and this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 43: 4-6.
Joseph Smith, the martyr, appointed his eldest son, Joseph Smith III, as his successor. He did not appoint Brigham Young. Any reorganization of the church which violates this fundamental "law " is in apostasy. The Lord did honor this right which he had bestowed(without reservation) upon Joseph Smith II, and Joseph Smith III took his father’s place as president and prophet of the church when it was reorganized. ?The power of the Holy Spirit has rested strongly upon his presidency, confirming it to be the will of the Lord.
Brigham Young also realized that the church had to be reorganized. He even rebaptized his followers( using new words for the baptismal prayer, see Millennial Star 8:136, 137), reconfirmed them, and reordained his priesthood! (See also Life of Brigham Young, pages 180, 182; Journal of Discourses, Volume 2, pages 8, 9, Autobiography of P.P. Pratt, page 432.)
C. Temples to Be Built by Command of God
God gave specific commandments to Moses to build the tabernacle in the wilderness, to Solomon to build his temple, and to Joseph Smith to build the temples at Kirtland and Nauvoo.
In accord with this procedure, the Lord restates this law when the Nauvoo temple was under consideration:
"... my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 107:1`2; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 124:37-39.Read all these verses.
The Utah Church has attempted to interpret this passage as if it read: "Commanded always to build"- placing the adverb "always" on the other side of the verb "commanded". The grammatical structure of the sentence is clear, God’s people are "always commanded." "Always" modifies the verb "commanded" and clearly shows that when the temples are built, God will "always command." The passage cannot possibly mean that his people are "always to build" temples. History also sustains this truth.
The Utah Church builds temples without a revelation to do so. Brigham Young realized that many of the Saints who went west with him felt that they should have a revelation from the Lord before a temple was started:
"Some might query whether a revelation had been given to build a house to the Lord, but he is a wicked and slothful servant who doeth nothing but what his Lord commandeth, when he knoweth his master’s will. I know a temple is needed, and so do you; and when we know a thing, why do we need a revelation to compel us to do that thing? If the Lord and all the people want a revelation, I can give one concerning this Temple."_ Brigham Young, Great Salt Lake City, February 14,1853, Millennial Star, Volume 15,page 391
It seems rather presumptuous to say that "if the Lord" wants a revelation he (Brigham Young) can give it!
Joseph F. Smith, Jr. , was aware of the need of a specific command to build temples. Speaking of the exodus to the West, he says: first commandment to them from the Lord, was to build a Temple to His name , where the ordinances of salvation for the living and the dead could be performed." -the Reorganized Church vs. Salvation for the Dead,page 7.
Brigham Young and Joseph F. Smith vary in their statements. The world would like to see the revelation-commandment that Joseph F. Smith, Jr. mentions which directed the church at Salt Lake City to start a temple in the West.John A Widtsoe in the Improvement Era, Volume 18, Number 11, November, 1945, page 672, says:"... any new revelation from God, through the constituted authorities of the Church , must be presented and accepted by the people before it becomes a law of the Church. " No such a commandment has ever been presented to the people and printed, as far as is known. The present leaders of the Utah Church do not present revelations for temple building.
That the early Church knew and respected this law of God regarding temple building is clear from several sources:
"The previous summer( August 5, 1837) the authorities of the Church in Missouri had resolved in council to go on moderately and build a house unto the name of the Lord in Far West. When Joseph arrived there he counseled that the building of that house should be postponed until the Lord should reveal it to be His will to have it commenced."- Historical Record, Volume 7, page 434.
The Saints at Far West voted unanimously that, "... the building of the House of the Lord be postponed, till the Lord shall reveal it to be His will to be commenced" (Millennial Star, Volume 16, page 89; see also Volume 16 , page 54). Later, April 26, 1838, a specific command from the Lord was given to build a temple at Far West ( Millennial Star, Volume 16, pages 147,148; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 115:8; Reorganized Church History, Volume 2, pages 151,152).
Orson Pratt in 1848 said:
"The ‘House of God’ never was in any past age, and never can be in any future age, built without express commandments or new revelations being given to the people who built it. "-Millennial Star, Volume 10, page 264.
This law is respected by some of the Mormons yet today:
"It is true that a house may be erected upon that tract of ground (Independence Temple Lot) in this generation, but it will not be a temple erected to the name of the Lord and accepted by him, until the time comes when he shall speak through the proper channel." Anthony W. Ivins, October 4-6 Conference Minutes, 1929 , pages 96,97.
| Contents | EXAMINATION OF THE SCRIPTURES AND HISTORY |
A. The Bible
In 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul writes in order to warn the Saints against the sin of immortality, idolatry, "divisions"(11:18) and "heresies" (11:19) that were dividing the church at Corinth into schismatic groups, with a resulting loss of faith. In chapter fifteen he discussed the truth of the resurrection with these wayward Saints, and by way of illustration to prove the resurrection, he mentions that some people practice baptism for the dead:
"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 15:29.
A careful reading of this epistle shows that the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian saints using the words "I," "we," "ye," "you" when referring to them and/or himself all the way through his message; but when he mentions baptism for the dead, he changes to "they." * "What shall they do?" "Why are they then baptized for the dead?" In the verses following, he returns to the use of "we" and "you." thus he seems to disassociate himself and the righteous saints from the methods used by those groups who at that time were practicing baptism for the dead.
The Apostle Paul did not urge his hearers to practice the principle, nor did he command it. He merely used the case as an illustration. Paul did not worship the "unknown God" of the pagans because he used the argument to tell his gospel story when he found an altar to the pagan unknown god (Acts 17:23). At times even Christ projected himself into a false position for argument’s sake: "If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?" ( Matthew 12:27 or Luke 11:19.) There is no mention of baptism for the dead in the Bible up until Paul- and no mention after ward. Paul, as well as the other apostles, rather than endorsing baptism for the dead as then practiced, seems to have exercised a counteracting influence upon this ordinance, for it was perpetuated only among heretics in his day.
The Bible, contains no specific authorization of this doctrine . Christ does not mention it, nor do any of the apostles, save Paul who makes only an indirect reference to it.
The Apostle Paul does, however, speak most harshly about genealogies:
"Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith."-
1 Timothy 1:4.
"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings
about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."-
Titus 3:9.
Malachi 4:6 is often used by the Mormons in an attempt to bolster their belief in the necessity of the practice of baptism for the dead. The Mormon claim is that Elijah was to come in the last days to turn the "heart of the children to their fathers, " that in, according to Mormon interpretation the children would be taught the theory of baptism for the dead,and would seek out the genealogies of their progenitors and relatives,and by proxy be baptized for any that had not joined the Mormon Church. In this connection it is interesting to note that when the Angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith in 1833, Joseph noted carefully that Moroni used a different and obviously clearer statement about Elijah. This rendition may be found in the Reorganized Church History, Volume 1, page 13. The Utah Church has given it a place of honor in their Doctrine and Covenants, Section 2:1-3. Moroni’s rendition of the verse follows (compare the two on page 7):
"And he {Elijah} 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."
Moroni’s quoting of this Scripture puts the passage in a much different and clearer light. The children shall again be made aware of the promises made to their righteous forebearers. The children here referred to are the Jews and the children of Israel. The fathers are the ancient prophets. Thus this passage as quoted by Moroni, means that there shall be planted again in the hearts (mind, the attention) of the children (the Jews and the lost sheep of the house of Israel who have departed from the ways of the Lord) the promises (prophecies and covenants of God) made to their fathers (God’s prophets and the early leaders of the house of Israel). This being true, the children (Israel) will turn their hearts again (their lives ) to the fathers (God’s prophets and their teaching) and accepting anew their spiritual leadership and divine message, will be saved the destruction that comes to those who reject the teachings and laws of God. All Latter Day Saints look forward to the time when the Jews will again follow the teaching of their ancient prophets ,and accept the Christ as their Messiah. The above interpretation is made in several places. See Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 95:3 and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 98:16,17. Read Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 26:2,3 and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 27:5-14, where some of these father-prophet-leaders are named, and mention again is made of God’s promises and covenants to Israel, Similar words are used by the Lord when he speaks about the "promises" he made to the "fathers" of the Nephites and the Lamanites. Read Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 2:6; and Utah Doctrine and Covenants 3: 16-20. The Book of Mormon also " is to shew unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever." (Introduction to the Book of Mormon.)
The claim is sometimes made that there is no water for spirit baptism on the other side. Zechariah 9:11 is quoted:"I have sent forth the prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water." Also Luke 16:24, where the rich man begs that Lazarus may be sent to him "that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." No one has ever returned to clarify this issue, but it would seem to limit God’s power, to say that repentant spirits cannot be forgiven in the prison house, and they cannot take a covenant to obey the commandments of God without a water-physical-body baptism. Furthermore, what proof is there that (1) little children, (2) those who died without the law, (3) the heathen nations, and (4) the honorable men of the earth are in the "pit" or "prison " house? Some of the spirits of these categories may well be in paradise. Josiah Quincy quotes Joseph Smith as saying that "there" ( in Paradise) the repentant thief on the cross " doubtless" could be baptized:
"... the word that has been translated means simply a place of departed spirits. To that place the penitent thief was conveyed, and there, doubtless, he received the baptism necessary for his admission to the heavenly kingdom."- Figures of the Past, page 392.
If, as is claimed by Brigham Young, John A. Widtsoe, and Joseph Fielding Smith (see page 16, paragraphs 6,7,8 ), many baptisms will occur in the millennium, then all who receive Christ after this life can be baptized at that time, regardless of whether or not there is water in hell. Anyway, Zechariah 9:11 indicated that the "blood" of the atonement will free spirits from the "pits" (see page 8, paragraph 9).
B. The Book of Mormon
There is no mention of the principle of baptism for the dead in all the Book of Mormon. yet the angel Moroni stated that the Book of Mormon contains the "fullness" of the gospel. (Reorganized Church History, Volume 11, page 13 Utah History of the Church, Volume 1, page 12. Read also the quotations from the Doctrine and Covenants, page 12, No. 7 and No. 8) Two of these statements will be stated again to make clear the fact that the book of Mormon is a record intended by God to specifically clarify misunderstanding in other Scriptures. Speaking of the Book of Mormon and the destiny of its people, the Lord says:
"They.... shall bring to light the true points of my doctrines; yea, and the only doctrine which is in me; and this I do , that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention, concerning the points of my doctrine."_ Revelation , July, 1828, Doctrine and Covenants 3:15, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 10:62,63, Utah edition.
".... with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fullness of my everlasting gospel."- Doctrine and Covenants 26:2,Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 27:3, Utah Edition.
The Book of Mormon teaching the "true points" of the doctrine of the Christ does, however, clearly explain some points of the law of God which put limits on the pattern of baptism for the dead as Mormon membership seek to find the names of all their dead progenitors and relatives,and if they were not members of the Mormon Church, the living are then baptised by proxy for them. The living know nothing of the spiritual condition of the dead on the other side, and do not know whether their relatives there have ever accepted the laws of God. Supposedly the proxy baptism is to save their friends from punishment and suffering, and give them release and forgiveness. Note Nephi’s statement carefully:
"Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him: for the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel." - Reorganized Book of Mormon, 11 Nephi 6:51-55; Utah Book of Mormon, 11 Nephi 9: 25,26.
This clearly indicates that those who have died not having heard the law of Christ are not under condemnation and need no proxy baptism. Note:
1. Those who knew no law can have no punishment.
2. Those who have no punishment have no condemnation.
3. Where there is no condemnation, they are saved by the atonement of Christ.( not by proxy baptism.)
Another marvelous passage in the Book of Mormon is the letter Mormon wrote to his son, Moroni. Apparently Moroni carried the letter with him during his many years of wandering, and when he wrote the closing chapters of his father’s book, he incorporated it therein. This was just prior to his depositing the sacred record in the hill in New York , where fourteen centuries later it was revealed to Joseph Smith to be a "light" on the "true Points" of Christ’s doctrine. Moroni may even have intended it for a guide for our generation (read Moroni 8:8-29, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8:7-26, Utah edition):
"And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord, and your God.... Little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin....This thing shall ye teach, repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; ... little children need no repentance, neither baptism... Little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter of persons; for how many little children have died without baptism. Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell... He that supposeth that little children need baptism, is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope nor charity:.... I speak it boldly, God hath commanded me.....,For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, can not repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing. But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.... Behold my son, this thing ought not to be." - Excerpts from Moroni 8:8-28, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8:7-24, Utah edition.
If a child dies before reaching the age of eight years, and therefore unbaptized, some Mormons today maintain that the proxy temple ceremonies of baptism, confirmation, marriage for eternity, and priesthood ordination are never later performed for them here on earth.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has always maintained that
baptism (personal or by proxy) is not necessary for those who die before reaching the age
of accountability (eight years) since the Scripture is very clear that the atonement of
Christ makes provision for their redemption, "for they are all alive in him because
of his mercy."
The Utah church, however, still teaches that in order to receive highest celestial glory,
all males must sometime , somewhere, be ordained to the higher or Melchisedec priesthood.
Yet only baptized members may be ordained to the Mormon priesthood!
Also all females, according to Mormon teachings, before they can obtain highest celestial glory, must sometime, somewhere become a member of the church and must marry some worthy man holding the Mormon Melchisedec priesthood. The Mormons are not clear in their own minds when and where in the hereafter these ordinations and marriages are to be performed for those who die before reaching the age of eight. They think it may be possible in the millennium.
The Utah church urges all their couples to be married for eternity in a present-day-this-world Mormon temple. Mormon bachelor girls are taught that they cannot get highest celestial glory unless they have a husband sealed to them for eternity , for there is no marrying possible for immortals after death. Yet Mormons hold to the hope that a female who has died under eight years of age, even though resurrected an immortal in the millennium, may there win a priesthood husband and be married to him. This is in order that she may insure her place in highest glory with him. It is little wonder that many Mormons find no rhyme nor reason to temple ceremonies and ordinances, and refuse to take part in them! Some leave the Mormon Church.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not believe that marriage or priesthood is an absolute essential for celestial glory (or any degree of celestial glory).
Furthermore, it is most important to note that while some Mormons today admit that according to holy law, little children who die in infancy ( or before eight) need no baptism (either personal or by proxy), yet they clearly disregard a second group classification made by Mormon in the Book of Mormon, for he says,"... also they that are without the law" are in the same category as little children and need no baptism. (See page 10, Section 5.) This is further implemented by what King Benjamin says: "For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by transgression of Adam, who have died, not knowing the will of god concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned." (See page 10,Section 6.)
Thus the Book of Mormon makes no difference between the salvation of those eight years of age or over who die "without the law" or die having "ignorantly sinned," and little children who die without baptism. The atonement of Christ provided a possibility for their salvation.
In fact, the Prophet Mormon says about baptism for both of the foregoing groups: "It ought not to be" because "it is mockery before God" and it "denies the mercies of Christ and the power of his Holy Spirit" and is "putting trust in dead works." (See Section 13, pages 48, 49 for the facts about those "who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it").Yet the Mormons are taught to seek out the names of all of their dead non-Mormon relatives that they might have proxy baptisms for them, if possible, clear back to Adam!
The Book of Mormon firmly but plainly warns those who die having a knowledge of the law:
"But wo unto him that has the law given, yea , that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation; for awful is his state." -11 Nephi 6:56, Reorganized edition; 11 Nephi 9-27, Utah edition.
C. The Doctrine and Covenants
There are three sections in the Doctrine and Covenants that wholly, or in part, deal with the theory of baptism for the dead.
They are Sections 107, 109, 110 in the Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants, and Sections 124, 127, and 128 in the Utah edition. They can easily be read in full.
Section 107 is a reprint of a revelation given to Joseph Smith, January 19,1841( "extracts" of which were published in the Times and Seasons, Volume 2, No. 15, June 1, 1841). Sections 109 and 110 are two letters written by Joseph Smith, September 1, 1842, and September 6, 1842, to the Saints at Nauvoo while he was away (published in full in the Times and Seasons, Volume 3, No. 22, September 15, 1842, pages 919-920, and in Times and Seasons, Volume 3, No. 23, October 1, 1842, pages 424-429).
In August, 1844 , two months after the death of Joseph Smith, this revelation and the two letters came out in the new edition of the Doctrine and Covenants printed by John Taylor. We have no way of knowing whether Joseph Smith would have included them in the new edition of 1844 had he lived. He was not in the habit of placing his letters in the Doctrine and Covenants, although the Mormons in 1876 placed a number of such letters in their Doctrine and Covenants.
These two letters were put in the 1844 edition without Conference authority, not having been submitted at that time to the church for vote, either for acceptance or rejection. They should be read with this in mind, being careful not to reject the good, and such truth as does not contradict the "written word" of God. The Reorganized Church in 1878 by General Conference Resolution, Number 215, recognized "the revelations of God contained in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.... which have been....accepted by the church."
The Reorganized Church cannot accept letters on an equal standard with clearly designated, approved,and accepted revelation. Where they differ, the Reorganized church accepts the interpretation of the approved revelation. The Mormons have altered some of Joseph Smith’s correspondence before placing them in their Doctrine and Covenants. ( The Mormon Doctrine and Covenants, Section 121, is an example of this.)
One of these letters reads:
"For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers, ‘ that they without us can not be made perfect’; neither can we without our dead be made perfect."- Doctrine and Covenants 110:15, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and covenants 128:15 Utah edition.
The Mormons often seek to use this quote in Joseph Smith’s letter as proof of the theory of baptism for the dead. Paul’s statement is found in the King James Bible , Hebrews 11:40. Joseph Smith himself under the inspiration of God changed that verse in Hebrews, and it is so recorded in the Inspired Version. The Mormon commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants (page 996) states that this letter was written by Joseph Smith while "in seclusion at the home of Edward Hunter." It is most unlikely that he had the manuscript of the Inspired Version with him, nor did he have its corrections memorized. the Inspired Version reads:
"God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings, for without sufferings they could not be made perfect. " - Hebrews 11:40, Inspired Version.
The fact that God caused Joseph Smith by inspiration to correct the Scriptures misquoted in the King James Version, certainly shows that the writer of the letter ( Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants Section 110; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 128:15) disregarded the previous inspiration received, for in this letter he quoted an uninspired and incorrect Scripture to support the theory advanced, adding to it a conclusion that could not be arrived at if he had used the inspired correction of that Scripture.
The Reorganized Church of course accepts the Inspired Version rendition, for God himself clarified that Scripture.
The Doctrine and Covenants is an unimpeachable witness to the fact that the church had the "fullness of the gospel" (that is , the general laws and ordinances necessary for salvation)before the idea of baptism for the dead, sealings, polygamy, and so on, ever came to be practiced by a few at Nauvoo. Note:
"....... behold, I give unto you a commandment , that you rely upon the things which are written; for in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel and my Rock."- Revelation given June, 1829, Doctrine and Covenants 16:1, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 18:3,4, Utah edition; see also pages 12, 13 , of this brochure.
"... And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fullness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation.... I have sent forth the fullness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph." - Revelation, December, 1830, Doctrine and Covenants 34:3,4 Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 35: 12,17, Utah edition.
Other Points for Consideration
1.No mention of baptism for the dead was placed in the "Articles of Faith" (Epitome of Faith) prepared by Joseph Smith for Mr. John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. These statements of belief were published by Joseph Smith in the Times and Seasons, Volume 3, Number 9, pages 706-710, March 1, 1842 (after the revelation mentioning baptism for the dead). The ordinances that are essential to salvation are listed, but not baptism for the dead. This would indicate that Joseph Smith did not consider it essential for salvation.
2.What basis or scriptural proof is there that the spirits on the other side have no method of making a covenant with God beside proxy water-baptism by someone on earth? Christ was baptized, though without sin, and "witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments" (Reorganized Book of Mormon, 11 Nephi 13:9; Utah Book of Mormon, 11 Nephi 31:7). Considering the short span of the earthly abode, it does not seem right to say that God is so limited in procedure that? Christ and the other spirits before or after their earthly life have no other method of making a covenant to serve God than by an earthly water baptism by proxy. This should not be used as an excuse for people not to join God’s church while here on the earth. Those who have this opportunity and are not baptised are sharply condemned. (See page 10, Number 7.) Also those who having the gospel preached unto them receive not "the testimony of Jesus in the flesh" can only obtain an inferior, terrestrial glory. (See page 48, Number 13, paragraph 2.)
3. The Doctrine and Covenants (Reorganized edition , 85: 28; Utah edition, 88:99) plainly states that at the coming of Christ at the end of the world, and the beginning of the millennium, those "who have received their part in that prison" shall have redemption. They will be in the millennium. Speaking further of the great day of the Lord when he comes, the revelation in 1831 states:
"And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 45:10; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 45:54.
Yet, Wilford Woodruff (third president of the Mormon Church), states that none of the unbaptized dead will come forth in the first resurrection unless they have had a proxy baptism. (See pages 15 and 16 , No. 4.)
The Mormons connot possibly be baptized by proxy for all those thousands of millions, even if the dead should accept the gospel on the other side. The Mormons cannot possibly learn who they all are. (Read also Reorganized Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8:58-60; Utah Book of Mormon, Mosiah 15:24,25; Church History and Modern Revelation, a course of study for the Utah Melchisedec priesthood quorums for the year 1948, Second Series, pages 58, 59.) Such resurrected personalities again will have their immortalized bodies in the millennium, and if any baptism is required there, they can be baptized personally in their own right, and will not need a proxy!
4. All mankind will have a resurrection (a joining again of spirit and body), many at the beginning of the millennium, and some not until the end of the thousand years. When they stand before God for judgment, they all shall do so in a resurrected body. Those who receive the celestial glory are to minister to those of the terrestrial glory, and baptisms could be performed in terrestrial glory in the resurrected body providing, of course, such body-baptism is absolutely necessary there. This is also true for those who are to occupy the telestial glory.
5. This "proxy" business can indeed "run too far." Not only do the Mormons now use a proxy for baptism; they also will serve as proxy in the confirmation service; ordain by proxy for a dead man; by proxy receive for him his endowments (washings, anointings, covenants, and a display of pageantry in special rooms where the candidate witnesses dramatic presentations of the creation, and of what may be expected in the different glories); and finally, again by proxy, the dead man may be married for eternity to a Mormon wife! To take a hypothetical, though very possible, case: A Mormon may have a brother who is an Episcopalian bishop. The bishop dies still an Episcopalian. The Mormon brother then may act as proxy for a number of ordinances, and be baptized for the bishop, ordained for him, receive for him his endowments, and be married for the good bishop for eternity to a wife (perhaps his own wife, if some Mormon woman has also been baptized by proxy for her; or some other Mormon lady member). The Mormons have done proxy baptism for all the signers of the Declaration of Independence, all the Presidents of the United States (except three), for Benjamin Franklin, John Wesley, Columbus, Martha Washington and her family, fifty other eminent men, and seventy of the eminent women of the world, and so on.( See The Vision by N.B. Lundwall, pages 99-101; also The Forefather Quest, lesson book for Junior Genealogical Classes, 1937, page 67.)
Under the heading "Primary Group Has Practical Lesson on Baptism" there appears an article (with a picture of the children) in The Church News, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 22,1947, page 5, telling how Mormon primary children’s groups are taken in masse to the temple, there to be baptized for the dead:
"Guides and Sea Gulls of the St. George Stake were responsible for 460 baptisms for the dead.... Groups were taken by wards to the baptismal font where each member participated in five baptisms. Girls were taken first, and while each group was at the font, the remaining members were entertained with stories, music, and a quiz......."
6. The Mormon method of checking genealogies all seems too limited and futile. Mormon Apostle John A. Widtsoe says:
"As for the millions who lived before modern registration of people began in more civilized countries, it can only be said that their records will also be made available, either now or during the millennium.....But the vast majority of God’s children, of past generations, have been lost to genealogical researchers."- Gospel Interpretations , page 100.
Mormon researchers read tombstones, check death registers, photostat the birth and death records of whole cities. They seek to get the record of all men back to Adam. Yet if the Mormons would carry out the instructions of the Prophet Joseph Smith, when he said: "We may be baptized for those whom we have much friendship for; but it must first be revealed to the man of God, lest we should run too far," they need not go to all that effort. God would reveal the name of each candidate as soon as the spirit on the other side is ready for the proxy baptism!
7. What percentage of the genealogies of the whole world past and present can the Mormons ever obtain? Birth registration for the common man was not required in most nations until around the turn of the century, about 1900. In the Handbook of the Restoration (page 501) , mention is made of twelve million Mormon ordinances for the dead by 1928, , twenty-three million by 1935. Perhaps by 1955 they may have performed seventy-five or one hundred million ordinances(proxy- baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, endowments, marriages,and so forth). What a very small percentage of all the people who have lived on the earth that will provide for! James Talmage goes on to say in the same article: "This is only a beginning; it will be continued in hundreds of temples during the Millennium now dawning " (Handbook of the Restoration, page 501.)
Joseph F. Smith has "hope" for revelation during the millennium:
"That this work may be hastened so that all who believe in the spirit world may receive the benefit of deliverance, it is revealed that the great work of the Millennium shall be the work in the temples for the redemption of the dead; and then, we hope to enjoy the benefits of revelation through the Urim and Thummim, or by such means as the Lord may reveal concerning those for whom the work shall be done, so that we may not work by chance, or by faith alone, without knowledge, but with the actual knowledge revealed to us. "- Quoted in The Vision by N.B. Lundwall, pages 106,107.
8. For whom do the Mormons expect to be baptized during the millennium? All the people in the millennium will have their own bodies again, and can be baptized personally, if such is needed. The only possible need for proxy baptisms would be for those disobedient spirits still left for an additional thousand years in hell, some of whom may well be "sons of perdition." Some of those left in hell may receive telestial glory, others will go to the "lake of fire" (Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 76:7; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 76:81-88). Heber C. Kimball may be right when he says:
"Perhaps my father may not receive the gospel. If he don’t , my baptism will not do him any good. He is in the spirit-world; he has to believe and embrace the gospel in his heart and affections, and then I receive from him thorough a proper authority, and I am administered to for him. You might as well go and be baptized for a devil as for a man who will not receive the gospel in the spirit world." - Journal of Discourses, Volume 5, page 90.
9. It hardly seems just to have another man’s salvation and happiness depend upon the frailties of some Mormon relative. Suppose a good and honorable man died without having an opportunity of hearing the gospel, thus not baptized. He has a son and grandchildren who join the Mormons, but who do not accept temple work. The father’s name is forgotten and lost after a few hundred years. For lack of a proxy baptism must he fail to get salvation? Is he to be denied the right to get into the millennium? If salvation for the unbaptized people on the other side must depend upon frail mankind today, them judgment depends upon the works of the living and not upon one’s own life. Man cannot be a savior for another, there is but one savior, Christ the Lord. Such procedure is not only unjust, it is not in accord with the teachings of Christ.
10. Must one’s salvation depend upon the efficiency of some clerk?
".... whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven."-Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 110:8; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 128:8.
Suppose some recorder should fail to record a baptism for the dead, being human and subject to error, so that when the books are opened in heaven, there is no record of his baptism! This statement comes from another of the letters put in the Doctrine and Covenants by John Taylor after the martyr’s death, without the authority of the church.
11.Enoch had a vision of the crucifixion of Christ and the resurrection of the Saints at that time:
"And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. (Read Inspired Version, Genesis 7:64; Mormon Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:57; Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants, 36:11.)
Here some spirits that were in prison came forth , and there is no record of any baptism for the dead for them. lacking a record, there is no proof that there ever was.In fact, Joseph Fielding Smith says:
" There was no baptism for the dead in the days of Elijah, or before Christ bridged the gulf which separated the righteous in Paradise from the wicked in the Spirit World. Christ was the first to declare the Gospel to the dead, and it was not until after his resurrection that the privilege of baptism for the dead was granted." -Quoted in The Forefather Quest, lesson book for Junior Genealogical classes, 1937, page 10.
12. On October 31, 1841, Hyrum Smith, Patriarch for the whole church, wrote a strong spiritual message ( "Thus saith the Lord")to the Saints at Kirtland, rebuking them for not offering more assistance in the building of the temple at Nauvoo. He speaks in the name of the Lord,about baptism for the dead, the use of the font and the temple:
"Thus saith the Lord, there shall not be a General Assembly for a General Conference assembled together until the House of the Lord shall be finished, and the Baptismal Font, and if we are not diligent the church shall be rejected and their dead also."- Times and Seasons, Volume 3, page 589.
It is possible that the use of the temple and its ordinances were not only under the direction of the First Presidency, but there is also a probability that the Presiding Patriarch had some specific responsibility in this matter.
13. Joseph Fielding Smith, Utah church Historian and acting President of the Council of Twelve, states:
" The First Presidency of the Church has said that all of the ordinances of the Gospel, pertain to the celestial kingdom of God, and he has not told us what ordinances, if any, he will require of those who enter other kingdoms,"-Church History and Modern Revelation, a course of study for the Melchisedec priesthood quorums for the year 1948, Second Series, page 61.
The law of Christ is specific about the glories that some people shall receive:
"... these are they who are of the terrestrial.... they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them; ... who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it:... these are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men;.... these are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 76:6 Utah Doctrine and Covenants 76:71-79.
If, as Joseph Fielding Smith said, the Mormon ordinances in their temples pertain only to those who may expect to get celestial glory, why are Mormons being baptized today by proxy for people of the terrestrial and telestial kingdom categories? The vision in Section 76 is very clear, those "who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterward received it" are to get terrestrial glory. Others are to get telestial glory. The vision is a statement of conditions and facts as they will be, and no Mormon proxy baptism or a proxy marriage will be able to change future events as they were shown to the prophet Joseph Smith and to Sidney Rigdon.
14. While the Prophet Joseph Smith was to have all the "gifts" of God which he bestows upon the head of the church, and was shown "all things" pertaining to the Temple at Nauvoo (see references on page 22-26), yet many changes have been made by Mormon leaders in the temple ordinances. Formerly (under Joseph Smith ) a man could be baptized for any of his dead relatives, male or female:
"Men need not be baptized for dead men, and women for women under Joseph."- Brigham Young, Times and Seasons, Volume 6, page 955, etc.
Brigham Young changed that procedure so that men are baptized only for men, and women for women. Confusion also was evident in other and successive ordinances:
"... it was revealed that if a woman was baptized for a man, she could not be ordained for him, neither could she be made an Apostle or a Patriarch(!) for the man, consequently the sisters are to be baptized for their own sex only."- Brigham young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 16, pages 165, 166, quoted in Temples of the Most High, page 386.
Wilford Woodruff tells of other changes, giving the alibi:
" .... the full particulars of this order was not revealed till after the days of Joseph." - Journal of Discourses, Volume 5, page 85, etc.
The Mormons have also had confusion over their temple "sealing" ordinances. Wilford Woodruff tells of the confusion up to 1894:
"Well what are these changes? One of them is the principle of adoption (sealing). In the commencement... a great many persons were adopted to different men who were not of the lineage of their fathers, and there was a spirit manifested by some in that work there that was not of god. Men would go out and electioneer and labor with all their power to get men adopted to them ..... President Young was not satisfied in his mind with regard to the extent of this matter. President Taylor was not.... I have had friends adopted to me. We all have more or less. But I have had peculiar feelings about it especially lately.There are men in this congregation who wish to be adopted to me. I say to them today .... Go and be adopted to your fathers." - Discourse by President Wilford Woodruff, April 8, 1894, published in the Deseret News, April 17, 1894; quoted in Saints’ Herald, Volume 43, page 50.
Certainly Christ is not the author of such confusion!
15. Kirtland Temple is the only temple standing today built by the direct command of God. And contrary to what is often said by the Mormons, it was and is a place for receiving the endowment of the Holy Spirit.
"Verily I say unto you, It is expedient in me that the first elders of my church should receive their endowment from on high, in my house, which I have commanded to be built unto my name in the land of Kirtland."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 102:10; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 105:33. "I gave unto you a commandment that you should build an house, in the which house I design to endow those whom I have chosen with power from on high, for this is the promise of the Father unto you." - Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 92:2; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 95:8,9.
Christ appeared in person at the dedication of the completed temple in Kirtland,and a Pentecostal blessing of God’s Spirit was present. Such spiritual endowments continue , as manifested at the recent high priests conference held in the temple (1950), when the Lord spoke to his ministry through the Presiding Patriarch. Yet the Lord made no provision for baptism for the dead in the Kirtland Temple.
The endowment, however, need not be confined to a temple. On June 23, 1834 (before the completion of the Kirtland Temple, which was started on July 23, 1833 and was dedicated on March 27, 1836) a number of men were "called and chosen" to go to Kirtland and receive their "endowment" "with power from on high" ( Times and Seasons 6:1105,1106; Reorganized Church History, Volume 1, pages 478, 479; and Utah History of the church, Volume 2, pages 112,113). These men were Edward Partridge, W.W. Phelps, Isaac Morley, John Corrill, John Whitmer, David Whitmer , Algernon S. Gilbert, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Simeon Carter, Newel Knight, Thomas B. Marsh, Lyman Wight and others.
16. What is the use of proxies? The word "proxy" was used many times in the early church referring to the baptism for the dead. The method used by the Mormon Church today is not a true proxy. One may own some stock in a big corporation and not being able to attend the annual business meeting, sigh a "proxy" form, which entitles the company officials to vote his stock. But they must have the written authorization from the stockholder! One may grant the power of attorney to another individual (perhaps a lawyer) but that also, to be legal, has to be a signed document. Most people leave a "will" specifying the executors who are to carry out the will and purpose of the written document. State laws often require a notary’s stamp and additional witnesses.But one thing is clear through all of this type of transaction, no proxy may act for another without the expressed consent of the person for whom the act is to be performed. As far as can be discovered, Mormon baptisms for the dead are not by the will, direction, or consent of the principals involved.
The Mormons often refer to baptism for the dead as a "vicarious" ordinance. Any dictionary will show that the word "vicarious" comes from the Latin "vicarius," from which we also get the English, "vicar." Vicar means a deputy, an ecclesiastic representing a high official. The main meaning of "vicarious" as an adjective is to indicate delegated authority, such as a "vicarious agent."
There is much that man can do to help, love, and assist his fellow man. A person may rescue a drowning boy and lose his own life in doing so. A soldier in war may drag a wounded comrade to safety and die later from wounds received in the effort. A doctor may volunteer to drop from a plane in a parachute to assist those wounded in a mountain airplane crash, and in doing so lose his own life. These are not acts which the others ought to have done themselves, or which they delegated their rescuers to do for them. They are acts of love, mercy, and compassion, which were needful,, and which the doer could not do without suffering. The spark of divine love always motivates people to assist their fellow men. Christ’s death was not in substitution for what God had decreed man should do for himself. Christ’s death was in behalf of men , but not in substitution for men. Man still has to die a physical death.
17. The Mormons seem to be in confusion and in disagreement as to what persons will act as proxies in the millennium. Brigham Young says that during the millennium "the elders of Israel will enter holy temples of the Lord and officiate." ".... we will build temples and officiate therein." "....we can officiate for those who have died without the Gospel.... By and by it will be said unto us, Go ye forth and be baptized for them and receive the ordinances for them." - See Sections 8 and 9, pages 16,17.
Joseph Fielding Smith in his book The Way to Perfection, Chapter 45, entitled, "Temple Work in the Millennium," denies that resurrected elders will "officiate" or go forth and "be baptized for them" (the dead). He writes: "Some one in mortal life must act for them. Neither can those who have received the resurrection officiate." Under the paragraph heading, "Resurrected Elders Will Direct Their Labors," he writes further: "That the elders who have passed through the resurrection will work hand in hand with the elders in mortal life, is a very consistent doctrine. Those who are exalted will come to their mortal relatives and furnish the needed names, and those who are mortal will go into the temples and do the work"(page 325). What confusion results on such speculation!
| Contents | THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS |
(Headquarters in Zion, the Auditorium, Independence, Missouri)
Many have asked what the Reorganized Church is doing about baptism for the dead. The church is doing all that Christ ever told it to do. It has very specific and definite beliefs and policies.
1. For one thing, The Reorganized Church has not tried to dictate to God what He should do! The Lord gave "to the church" a firm and clear statement on baptism in 1830. He warned the Saints of "dead works," and said:
"Wherefore , enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded , and seek not to counsel your God. Amen."- Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 20:1; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 22:4.
The Lord promised to give "sufficient time" for the Saints to build, and to prove worthy of a temple in Zion at Nauvoo, associated with the Gathering and place of refuge. At the end of the time if not obeyed, baptisms for the dead were not to be acceptable unto him. The Saints failed, and the Reorganized Church is not counseling God as to his further will about it. He spoke, and the Reorganized Church is not telling God that he did not mean what he said! It is not impatient; the Reorganized Latter Day Saints are trying to live righteous lives and be worthy of his further commands.
2.The Reorganized Church has positive proof that the temple was not completed at Nauvoo as commanded. It was only up about two stories (no roof) when Joseph Smith was killed, June 1844. Work was continued until about January, 1846, yet it was never finished. The testimony of those who stayed there and knew is more dependable than that of those who fled and sent others back to try to finish it! ( An impossible task with the mob and enemies all about.) The oxen holding the font in the basement were standing in dirt; the upper floor had only rough boards for floor. On the third floor the plans called for rooms, and no such walls had been placed in position; curtains were used as a temporary substitute, etc. Buildings are ordinarily not dedicated until they are complete, yet at Nauvoo ( and the Mormons have done the same in the West) small dedication services were held over each part as it was placed in the building (such as the temporary font, the lower auditorium , etc. ) There was no huge gathering of the Saints for a regular formal dedication as was the pattern at Kirtland. A few prayers were said for the temple in 1846, some private, one at night, while the city was in the control of the mobs. God did not accept the work of the Saints, and they were "scattered."
3. The Reorganized Church faces the facts, and admits the rebuke of the Lord: that the church as a church (not all righteous members) was rejected, with its dead. That means that some of the membership and some of the leading quorums of the church were displeasing to Christ. The quorums would have to be reorganized . Temple building must cease, until again commanded. The privilege of baptizing for the dead was withdrawn. This reorganization was started in 1852 under divine direction and completed in 1860. The Reorganized Church is not a new or substitute church. Former members were received on their original baptism. It is the original church (so declared by the courts) reorganized, after the apostate elements went to Utah. (See references, page 29, paragraph 4, for statements on the Reorganization of the Mormon Church.)
4. The Reorganized Church accepts the word of the Lord for what he plainly said:
"If ye labor with all your might, I will consecrated that spot, that it shall be made holy; and if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people,behold, verily I say unto you, They shall not be moved out of their place." - See pages 22-25.
The Saints were scattered and the presence of the Mormons in Utah is demonstrative proof that the Saints were "moved out of their place," and that the church was rejected as the Lord had promised. Otherwise they would have remained in Nauvoo. There could be no greater proof.
5. The Reorganized Church refuses to disregard the plain words of the Lord, that any temple connected with the Gathering, and for baptism of the dead shall be "in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem,those places which I have appointed for refuge." There was no question in the early church (from New York, Ohio, England , etc.) that Missouri, with Independence as the center, was the place for Zion. Nauvoo was a "corner" stake. The Reorganized Church is positive about the unchangeability of the God whom they worship, and when a temple is built in which baptism for the dead may be performed, he will first instruct the building of such a temple to be in this central area. The Reorganized Church is growing in numbers and spirituality, yet it is not dictating to God as to when he wills such a temple to be built! Joseph Smith 111, the son and "seed" of the martyr appointed by the first prophet to be his successor, and whose words should have considerable weight, wrote:
"A place of worship we may build, and we trust we shall; but a temple we shall wait for the approval of the Spirit.... when.... the Spirit shall demand the effort, we are ready to undertake, so far as it shall devolve upon us, any duty connected therewith; but the urgings of ambition, the whisperings of pride; zeal of hasty counsel,and the murmurings of discontent are far too friable building materials for such a work as lies before us. "-True Latter Day Saints’ Herald, Volume 21, Number 14, July 15, 1874, page 434.
No taunting from the Mormon Church will cause the members of the Reorganization to build the temple until they know it is God’s will, by revelation through the Prophet to the church. (The Mormon Church today has taken almost this same attitude about the Center Place; they are now looking forward to Zion in Missouri and the command of God to build a temple there. The Mormon leaders tell their members that they must become more righteous, the United Order must be in operation; etc., before God will speak.)
6. The Reorganized Church is devoting much time to the "Gathering," as one of the great missionary methods of the Christ. It, too, we know, is the will of God (though belief in the Gathering is not a requirement for fellowship in the church, the same as baptism for the dead is not a requirement for fellowship).The Reorganized Church lives and grows with every expectation of some day building "the" temple at Independence, Missouri ( there is no law or reason for having "temples" all over the world), where Christ may come,and where the church and its leaders may find fellowship with Christ and the power of the Holy spirit. This temple may or may not ( the Reorganization is still not "counseling the Lord") make provision for baptism for the dead. One thing is clear, a temple for that purpose is also connected with the Gathering, or the "place of refuge." ( this the Mormon church disregards, for surely they are not gathering to Zion in Canada, the Hawaiian Islands, Switzerland, and so on.)The Lord indicated Zion, in Missouri, for the place of the Gathering. Every day more and more Mormons are convinced of this truth.
7. The Reorganized Church has not expected the Lord to again permit baptism for the dead in the "generation" of those who attempted to build the Nauvoo Temple, but failed. He accepted the efforts of the righteous, but required temple building no more "at the hands of those sons of men." The members of the "Reorganization will build the temple when they know it is God’s will.
8. The Reorganized Church does not believe that baptism for the dead is essential for salvation for either the living or the dead. It is a permissive rite, of a "local nature, " that is, limited to a relatively small (local) area (not to be permitted in temples all over the world.) Joseph Smith 111, the legal successor in the prophetic office, has expressed the stand of the Reorganized Church:
" ... we believe that a person obedient to the gospel as taught by the ministers of Christ, obedient to the dictates of the gospel requirements, is a candidate for salvation though he may not believe in the doctrine of baptism for the dead, belief in baptism for the dead not being required in his confession of faith at the time of his salvation whether he believe or disbelieve in that particular doctrine, while being otherwise a believer and obedient to the gospel requirements." - Saints’ Herald, June 11, 1902, Volume 49, page 570.
Baptism for the dead is not taught or mentioned in the Book of Mormon as essential for salvation. It is not mentioned or commanded before or after Paul. Christ does not mention it.
9. If and when Christ permits this rite in a temple built in Zion, the Reorganized Church is sure that it will not violate the laws already given. The Reorganized Church accepts the law as it is plainly written: little children ( before the age of accountability) need no baptism, either while alive or after death. The atonement of Christ provides for their welfare and redemption.( Read again the passages quoted from Moroni, pages 9,10.)
10. The Reorganized church believes also, as the Scriptures clearly state, that the atonement of Christ makes provision for "all those that are without the law" (Book of Mormon, Moroni 8:25, Reorganized edition; Moroni 8:22, Utah edition), and they need no proxy baptism.
11.The Reorganized Church believes the Doctrine and Covenants when it says that "the heathen nations shall have part in the first resurrection"(Doctrine and Covenants 45:10, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 45:54 Utah edition). It is beyond reason that the Mormons here on earth can learn all of those names, and be baptized for those millions and millions before the millennium starts. There is also the category of those who receive the gospel in the "prison" (Doctrine and Covenants 85:28,Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 88:99,Utah edition) who will be resurrected with their immortalized bodies to live in the millennium. If a water baptism is necessary; if spirits have no water in the prison house, the people in these categories can be baptized personally, for themselves, in the millennium.
12. The Reorganized Church accepts the word of the Lord in the vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in 1832 , showing that those who will receive terrestrial glory will consist of those who "received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; the honorable men of the earth, blinded by the craftiness of men"; and those who are not "valiant in the testimony of Jesus" (Doctrine and Covenants 76:6, Reorganized edition; Doctrine and Covenants 76:71-81, Utah edition). The Reorganized Church does not believe that any proxy baptism for the dead will alter the facts shown in this prophetic vision. It rejects the doctrine that those whom the lord showed were to receive terrestrial glory may, by proxy baptism, gain celestial glory!
13.Baptism for the dead may have some psychological or spiritual value for living as well as the dead. It may come under the supervision, someday, of the Presiding Patriarch. There may be some special category of spirits on the other side, to whom such a service may give spiritual strength.
14. The Reorganized Church (see General Conference resolution , page 17, ) is not rejecting this ordinance. In addition to the Priesthood and the General Conference, the Council of the Twelve are on record concerning baptism for the dead:
"Whereas, inquiry is being made concerning the teaching and practice of baptism for the dead,and, Whereas, we understand that the observance of said ordinance was prohibited for a time, by command of the Spirit, Resolved, that as a quorum we put ourselves on record as being ready to promulgate the doctrine as soon as the Lord shall so direct and enlighten us as to time, place, and conditions for its observance."-General Conference Minutes, 1892, page 17.
15. The Reorganized Church has no secret temple (or church) ordinances, or ceremonies, and never anticipates having any. Our Lord has said:
" I spake openly to the world: I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing." - John 18:20.
The Mormon Church practices their baptisms for the dead in secret. Much publicity has been given by the Utah church to the fact that the public have been permitted to enter the building right after its completion and before the ordinance work starts. However, not even a Mormon (unless he has a bishop’s "recommend,") no nonmember, or reporter is permitted ever to witness the ordinance. This is also true of other temple work: endowments (with all its secret covenants, handclasps, garments,and so forth), proxy marriage, proxy ordination, marriage for eternity, and so on.
It is not the physical properties of any building that matters; it is what takes place inside the building. It makes quite a difference whether a building is used for a bank or a saloon, a garage or a church. The fact remains that the public are not permitted to see what goes on and is said inside the temples even on invitation.
The Mormon Church says that these things are "sacred." One can have no reason not to wish temple worship to be sacred, but the Mormon temple work is also secret. No Mormon, who has had the temple ordinances, will deny that he in essence has taken covenants that "my throat may be cut from ear to ear, and my tongue torn out by its roots, " ... "our breasts may be torn open, our hearts and vitals torn out," and so on. Such vows are taken in Mormon temples,and Mormons are pledged not to reveal them. The Reorganized Church repudiates all such secret temple ceremonies. The Kirtland Temple and the churches of the Reorganization are open for all, members and nonmembers alike. The Nauvoo temple also was to be used for preaching services, General Conferences, etc., and was not to be limited, as the Mormons now do in their temples for ordinances work, celestial marriage, sealings, endowments, and baptism for the dead. (See Times and Seasons, Volume 3, pages 937-939.)
16.The Reorganized Church refuses to spend millions and millions of dollars of the tithes and offerings of its people, building "temples" all over the world, or to collect photostats of birth and death records, combing the world for lists of genealogy. If, and when, the Lord wishes his people to be baptized for their dead, he will reveal the name of the dead person for whom the proxy baptism is to be done through "the man of God." To the Reorganization such genealogical effort is putting faith in "dead works."
17. The Reorganized Church accepts the Scriptures of the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants as the word and law of God for its guidance. Man is to be judged out of the things "written" in the Scriptures, not from letters or private comments.The Reorganized Church gives careful consideration to all authenticated talks, sermons, and published articles of its leaders( and of the Prophet Joseph Smith); but where letters, reports of sermons, diary-journals, minutes of conferences, women’s meetings, etc., violate the "written" and accepted word of God in the Bible, book of Mormon, and the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Reorganized Church accepts the Scriptures. The Reorganization has great love and confidence in its prophet-presidents, for while they bring additional light and knowledge explaining the fundamental laws of God to the church, at no time have they violated the written word that God gave to the world in the Three Standard Books. Christ being the head of the church, the Saints of the Reorganization are sure that their prophets never will violate this trust.
18.The Reorganized Church cannot accept the theory that numerous temple ceremonies and ordinances (see page 45, No. 7) are required of the Saints of the latter days for their salvation (highest glory)or for the salvation of their dead. Such doctrine is not taught in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, nor is it commanded in modern revelation. The Reorganized church believes that God is an unchangeable God, and will not require more and additional ordinances of this dispensation than he has required of other dispensations. True, mankind needs more and continued revelation from God to direct him in his refinement and growth toward the kingdom personality. The Reorganization believes that new revelation from God does not , and never will, change or alter the basic plan, the primary essentials, or "fullness" of the everlasting gospel of Christ. As the Saints comply more thoroughly with the financial law; as they give more of their time and talents to evangelism; as they make progress in the building of Zion(in Missouri), they may expect greater and greater blessings, and clarification of Christ’s gospel plan already given to them. Then they will have greater joy in the increasing abundance of the power of the Holy Spirit, which testifies of the Christ. Jesus has said:
"Ye are little children , and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father has in his own hands, and prepared for you; and ye can not hear all things now; nevertheless be of good cheer,for I will lead you along; the kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours; and the riches of eternity are yours."-Reorganized Doctrine and Covenants 77:4; Utah Doctrine and Covenants 78:17,18.
19. What is the Reorganization doing about baptism for the dead? It is doing all Christ has commanded. It is obeying the law of god! The Reorganization is following the counsel of the Apostle Paul:
"But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."_Galatians 1:8.
The Reorganization rejects as contrary to God’s will baptism for the dead in temples built outside of Zion. When temples are built, they will be "always commanded" by the Lord. Permission to be baptized for the dead was withdrawn until the gathering is more successful, and a temple is built by divine command in Zion. Only about 10 per cent of the Saints followed Brigham Young to Utah. To the others the church in the West was in apostasy. This was only another doctrine( with polygamy, marriage for eternity, proxy ordinations, proxy marriages, proxy confirmations, and so forth) which caused Saints from all over the world to wait for Joseph Smith 111, the rightful successor, and the Reorganization of the church according to the true laws of Christ. Only uninformed persons and enemies of the church claim that the Reorganization does not know what it is doing about this principle. The Reorganization is sure that it is following the will and commands of God. The witness of the Holy Spirit has many times confirmed its position on this matter. Today thousands and thousands of Mormons refuse to do Mormon temple work. The rules governing baptism for the dead have been changed. The sealing procedure has been changed; the temple garments have been altered; the Mormon Presidency plead with the Melchisedec priesthood to take as a project the endowment work for the one hundred thousand men of whom it is lacking ( Improvement Era, Volume 47, July 1944, page 425); and 71,035 men over twenty-one years of age( Improvement Era , May 1950, Volume 53, page 368) in the organized stakes alone of the Mormon Church do not hold the Melchisedec priesthood; and therefore have not been through the temples for their endowments, nor have they been married (sealed) to their wives for eternity. This shows that from one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand Mormons (counting wives and children) are not accepting the Mormon teachings about the need of temple work, even though they are threatened by Mormon leaders with the "danger of losing their wives and their children" for eternity. Many Mormons after investigating the truths of the church, are affiliating with the Reorganization, where the law is taught as contained in the three Standard books- the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
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