12/8/2018 - Section 128:1-18

December 8, 2018

Section 128:1-18

Baptism for the Dead, Genealogy, Last Days, Service, Temple Service, Journals, Spiritual Things To Be Recorded and Preserved,

This section is a letter written to the church explaining baptism for the dead. It was written by Joseph while he was in hiding.

V 8 says “…whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven; and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged., according to their own works…” My thoughts on that verse were that I really should record my own inspirations and insights. Spiritual things are delicate and fragile. They sometimes fade with time. If we record them when we recognized them, then they are there for us to go back to again and again. They are there to direct us and help us negotiate those times we go periodically through when we seem to feel fewer answers and gifts from the Holy Ghost.

I love v 15: “…let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says, concerning the fathers---that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect.” To me that means that blessings can be a 2 way highway. When this mission in the Philippines is completed, then I hope to throw myself into genealogy. I only hope my mind can stay steady and focused for that work!

The end of v 19 also struck me when it says that “those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensations of the fulness of times.” When I go to the temple, I often feel that I my understanding is not yet deep enough. In that sense I truly am like a baby. But this verse tells me that if I humbly attend the temple, that will put me in the right place at the right time. It will allow me to serve others that I have not yet met. It will allow me to feel more, and hopefully to BE more. This will work, as long as I enter the temple humbling, asking to learn and to understand, and asking to be of service to someone else.

Charles Penrose wrote: “in this dispensation…will be gathered in one all things that are in Christ, not only His people gathered from the various nations to Zion to build it up, to prepare the place for His feet, but the hosts that have passed away, whom He will bring with Him. Not only are the people to be gathered together, but the glorious truths which have been made manifest in the ages that are past will all be brought forth in the dispensation in which we are living, and things kept hid from the foundation of the world will be made manifest; for the Lord has promised it; and His promises never fail of fulfillment.” Oct 1911 gen conf.

11/4/2021 – D&C 128:1-17

It was September 3, 1842. Joseph was at home with his family when he learned that sheriffs from both Missouri and Illinois were approaching with the intent of arresting him and returning him to Missouri. Joseph was able to slip away before they arrived, making his way to Edward Hunter’s home. 

The following day was Sunday, and the prophet’s letter (dated Sept 1, 1842) was read aloud to the members of the Church, and is now Section 127. It speaks of baptism for the dead. And then on September 6th, while Joseph was still at Brother Hunter’s home, he dictated a long letter to the Saints which he ordered to be read the next Sunday, and is now Section 128. This second letter was also about baptism for the dead.

The synopsis of this chapter shows us that the ordinance of baptism for the dead was to be carried out with specific standards: “1-5, Local and general recorders must certify to the fact of the baptisms for the dead; 6-9, Their records are binding and recorded on earth and in heaven; 10-14, The baptismal font is a similitude of the grave; 15-17, Elijah restored power relative to baptisms for the dead; 18-21, all of the keys, powers, and authorities of past dispensations have been restored; 22-55, Glad and glorious tidings acclaimed for the living and the dead.”

In the first verse of the section, Joseph explains why he is giving them more information about baptisms for the dead, and he tells the saints he why he is doing this: “I now resume the subject of the baptism for the dead, as that subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest…” That describes the feelings I have when I wake up and make the final decision on what I should do be doing this day. And so often, I am compelled to work on our family’s genealogy, and that is a marvelous feeling!

In v 6, Joseph quotes Revelation 20:12 in which John the Revelator said: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

In v 8 he continues, reminding us of Christ’s statement that “whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world….”

And in v 12 he states: “…The ordinance of baptism by water, to be immersed therein in order to answer to the likeness of the dead, that one principle might accord with the other; to be immersed in the water and come forth out of the water is in the likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth out of their raves; hence, this ordinance was instituted to form a relationship with the ordinance of baptism for the dead…”

 That same information is given in the Book of Mormon: in both 2 Nephi 2:6-7 and Alma 9:27. The Lord has loved us and prepared a way for salvation to be offered to all—including those who have died without the opportunity to receive the gospel in morality.

After Joseph has explained just how and why baptism for the dead works, he then pleads with the saints in v 15: “And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect.”  Blessings = a two way highway!

Joseph also explains in v 17 that this is what Malachi was referring to in Malachi 4:5-6: “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.” 

This is serious stuff! No wonder I am drawn to it so strongly. I am always praying that I can be guided in finding the right people for the right family.