O f a l l the d o c t r i n e s a d v o c a t e d by C h r i s t i a n religions, the d o c t r i n e of s a l v a t i o n of the d e a d must o c c u p y a high p l a c e o n the list of " u n u s u a l , " " c u r i o u s , " or " p e c u l i a r " p r a c t i c e s . T o m e m b e r s of T h e C h u r c h of Jesus C h r i s t o f L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s , t h i s d o c t r i n e is a m o n g t h e " m o s t g l o r i o u s o f a l l s u b j e c t s b e l o n g i n g to tbe e v e r l a s t ing g o s p e l " ( D f k C 128:17), I n a n a t t e m p t to a n s w e r t h e f r e q u e n t l y a s k e d q u e s t i o n p o s e d in the title of this b r o c h u r e , the f o l l o w i n g m a terial has been prepared.
WHY
GENEALOGY?
W h y does T h e Church of Jesus C h r i s t of Latter-day S a i n t s s p e n d large s u m s of money g a t h e r i n g g e n e a l o g i c a l r e c o r d s ? W h y ore M o r m o n s * i n t e r e s t e d in genea l o g y , a n d w h a t is the religious significance of all this activity? The a n s w e r to these q u e s t i o n s m a y he f o u n d in the Latter-day Saint beliefs that family relationships are both eternal and sacred in nature and that J e s u s Christ lives and is the Savior of mankind. "But," you may ask, "are not these beliefs common to all Christian churches?" The a n s w e r is, not i n the s o m e way we believe them to be true. W e b e l i e v e literally in J e s u s C h r i s t a s the L i v i n g C h r i s t , the actual Son of God, and that we are all spirit children of God, the Eternal Father. Jesus h i m s e l f p r o c l a i m e d h i s s o n s h i p to the Father:
* T h e n a m e " M o r m o n " c o m e s f r o m the p r o p h e t M o r m o n w h o l i v e d o n t h e A m e r i c a n r.ontinvnl. H e m a d e the a b r i d g m e n t o f the r e c o r d , s w h i c h h a v e b e e n t r a n . s l a t e d a s t h e B o o k o f M o r m o n , T h e w o r d " M o r m o n s " r e f e r s to m e m b e r s o f T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L o t t o r - d a y Saints,
S a y y e o f l i i m , w l i o m tfie F a t f i e r f i a t h s a n c t i f i e d , a n d sent i n t o tfie w o r l d . T h o u b l a s p h e n i e s t : b e c a u s e 1 s a i d , 1 a m t h e S o n of G o d ? I f 1 do not t h e w o r k s o f m y F a t h e r , b e l i e v e m e n o t , ( J o h n 10:36-;i7)
P a u l s p o k e of this r e l a t i o n s h i p as not to he q u e s t i o n e d ;
one
G o d , w h o at s u n d r y t i m e s a n d i n d i v e r s m a n n e r s s p a k e in t i m e past u n t o the f a t h e r s l)y the p r o p h e t s . H a t h in these last d a y s s p o k e n u n t o us b y h i s S o n , w h o m he h a t h a p p o i n t e d h e i r of a l l things, by w h o m a l s o he m a d e t h e w o r l d s : W h o being the b r i g h t n e s s of h i s g l o r y , a n d the e x p r e s s image of h i s p e r s o n , a n d u p h o l d i n g a l l t h i n g s by tbe w o r d of h i s p o w e r , w h e n he h a d by h i m s e l f p u r g e d our s i n s , sat d o w n on the right h a n d of the M a j e s t y on h i g h : Being m a d e so m u c h better t h a n the angels, as he h a t h by inheritance obtained a more excellent n a m e t h a n t h e y , ( H e b r e w s 1:1-4)
THE
RESURRECTION
W e believe a l s o t h a t J e s u s C h r i s t w a s literally resurrected with a body of flesh and bones. Jesus s a i d of this r e s u r r e c t e d body: B e h o l d m y h a n d s a n d m y f e e t , t h a t it is 1 m y s e l f : h a n d l e m e , a n d see: f o r a s p i r i t h a t h not f l e s h a n d b o n e s , as y e see me h a v e , ( L u k e 24:39)
T o Latter-day S a i n t s , the r e s u r r e c t i o n of the body is a very real concept. We believe that all p e r s o n s born on t h i s e a r t h will e n j o y t h i s s a m e p r i v i l e g e of having a tangible body of flesh and bones after this life. W h e n w e see the ejjorts m a d e b y s o m e people to r e g a r d the r e s u r r e c t i o n a s o n l y s y m b o l i c , w e s h a r e the a m a z e m e n t of Paul, who said to King Agrippa: W h y s h o u l d it be t h o u g h t a t h i n g i n c r e d i b l e w i t h y o u , t h a t G o d s h o u l d r a i s e t h e d e a d ? ( A c t s 26:8)
If the resurrection is real, then it is p o s s i b l e for us to d w e l J i n tbe v e r y p r e s e n c e of God the Eternal Father with tangible, r e s u r r e c t e d bodies. T h e r e w e w i l J h o v e the blessings of f a m i l y l o v e a n d affection for all eternity.
ETERNAL
FAMILIES
W h e n the poet s a n g of a love to last "until stars grow old and the sun grows cold," he e x p r e s s e d the h o p e of m a n y m e n a n d w o m e n that family love and family life could continue forever bey o n d the g r a v e . F a m i l y r e l a t i a n s h i p s s h o u l d l a s t f o r e v e r i n s t e a d of j u s t " u n t i l d e a t h do y o u p a r t . " L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s believe that such e t e r n a l family relationships are possible. Families may be bound together under God's plan not just for this life only, but for all eternity. When j e s u s C h r i s t g a v e the A p o s t l e Peter p o w e r to s e a l o n e a r t h , h e s a i d that s u c h a sealing w o u l d a l s o be v a l i d in h e a v e n : A n d I w i l l give unto thee the k e y s of the k i n g d o m of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be b o u n d i n h e a v e n : a n d w h a t s o e v e r t h o u .shalt l o o s e o n e a r t h s h a l l be l o o s e d i n h e a v e n . ( M a t t h e v V 16:19)
O u r Heavenly Father d e s i r e s that men and w o m e n be s e a l e d i n marriage for time and e t e r n i t y while on this earth, for as J e s u s p o i n t e d out there will be no marriages performed in h e a v e n : J e s u s a n s w e r e d a n d s a i d u n t o t h e m , Y e d o err, not k n o w i n g the s c r i p t u r e s , n o r the p o w e r of G o d . For in the resurrection they neither m a r r y , nor are given in m a r r i a g e , but a r e a s t h e angels of G o d i n h e a v e n . ( M a t t h e w 22:29-30)
// t h r o u g h the seciJiug p o w e r of the h o l y p r i e s t h o o d of G o d it is p o s s i h i e to have h u s b a n d s , w i v e s , a n d children sealed together, would we not also desire to be sealed to our fathers and mothers and so c o n t i n u e u n t i i all m e m b e r s of our families have been sealed? Since we e v e n t u a l J y c o m e to a p o i n t of c o m m o n ancestry, w e must h a v e great concern for all p e r s o n s . All m e n a n d w o m e n w h o are or ever were born on this earth may receive such bJessings if they are w i l l i n g to accept them.
BY WHAT
MEANS?
But how can such work be done for those who are dead? Jesus Christ has provided the way which m a k e s this possible. Following his crucifixion, but before his resurrection, J e s u s w e n t to the s p i r i t world and there organized the work of preaching the gospel to the spirits of those who had died: B y w h i c h also he w e n t a n d p r e a c h e d unto the s p i r i t s in prison: W h i c h s o m e t i m e w e r e disobedient, w h e n o n c e the longsuffering of G o d w a i t e d in the d a y s of N o a h , w h i l e the a r k w a s a p r e p a r i n g , w h e r e i n f e w , that is. eight s o u l s w e r e s a v e d b y w a t e r . ( 1 P e t e r 3:19-20)
W h y d i d Jesus have those s p i r i t s taught the gospel? Peter a n s w e r s this q u e s t i o n in the Jo/lowing m a n n e r ; F o r f o r t h i s c a u s e w a s t h e g o s p e l p r e a c h e d a l s o to t h e m t h a t a r c d e a d , t h a t t h e y m i g h t b e j u d g e d a c c o r d i n g to m e n i n t h e f l e s h , b u t l i v e a c c o r d i n g to G o d i n t h e s p i r i t . (1 P e t e r 4:6)
Jesus e m p h a s i z e d that his c a l l i n g s :
this
was
one
of
T h e S p i r i t of the L o r d is u p o n m e , b e c a u s e he h a t h a n o i n t e d m e t o p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l to t h e p o o r ; h e h a t h s e n t m e t o h e a l t h e b r o k e n - h e a r t e d , to p r e a c h d e l i v e r a n c e t o t h e c a p t i v e s , a n d r e c o v e r i n g o f s i g h t to t h e b l i n d , to s e t a t l i b e r t y t h e m t h a t a r e b r u i s e d . ( L u k e 4 : 1 8 )
W h e n Jesus s a i d this H e w a s referring to the w o r d s of I s a i a h , w h o defined the S a v i o r ' s duty as: T o o p e n t h e b l i n d e y e s , to b r i n g out the p r i s o n e r s f r o m the p r i s o n , a n d t h e m that sit i n d a r k n e s s out of the p r i s o n h o u s e . ( I s a i a h 42:7)
T h u s H e w e n t not Just to have the gospel taught to the s p i r i t s of those w h o h o d d i e d , but to free them f r o m their spirit prison. T h e g o s p e l h a s n o t a l w a y s been o n the e a r t h , n o r w a s it a l w a y s taught in truth and r i g h t e o u s n e s s . W o u J d G o d be so u n j u s t a s to c o n d e m n to d e s t r u c t i o n a n i n n o c e n t p e r s o n , w h o b y t i m e or p l a c e of birth h a d n o o p p o r t u n i t y to hear the truth taught, let alone accept it? It is unthinkable! God looks upon the whole h u m a n family with compassion and is filled with parental love for all his children. He has prepared a way for all to hear who will listen. T h e l o v e of the Father for all mankind is shared by his Son who is to judge the human family with a righteous judgment. T h o s e w h o J i v e d without law will be Judged without law, w h i J e those w h o J i v e d b y the J a w w i J J be Judged b y that law, whatever it may be. We emphasize, however, that God's plan is to save and not to c o n d e m n , to r e d e e m a n d not destroy: F o r G o d s e n t n o t h i s S o n i n t o t h e w o r l d to c o n d e m n t h e w o r l d ; b u t t h a t t h e w o r l d t h r o u g h h i m m i g h t be s a v e d . ( J o h n 3:17)
There/ore, the p J a n o / s a J v a t i o n m u s t i n d u d e f o r g i v e n e s s for s i n if a p e r s o n w i J J a c c e p t a n d a c t o n the t r u t h w h e n he h e a r s it.
W e quote the B i b l e f r e e i y to e x p l a i n the reJigious beliefs of Latter-day Saints. H o w e v e r , w e a r e not d e p e n d e n t soJeJy upon the B i b i e , for w e beJieve i n the r e s t o r a t i o n of the gospel of Jesus C h r i s t w h i c h Peter a n d the o t h e r apostles prophesied w o u l d come: R e p e n t y e t h e r e f o r e , a n d be c o n v e r t e d , t h a t y o u r sin.s m a y be b l o t t e d o u t . w h e n t h e t i m e s o f r e f r e s h i n g s h a l l c o m e f r o m the p r e s e n c e of the L o r d : A n d he s h a l l send preached unto y o u :
Jesus
Christ,
which
before
was
W h o m the h e a v e n s must r e c e i v e u n t i l the t i m e s of restit u t i o n of a l l things, w h i c h G o d h a t h s p o k e n b y the m o u t h of a l l h i s h o l y p r o p h e t s since the w o r l d began. ( A c t s 3:19-21)
L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s believe that G o d h a s a g a i n s p o k e n to m a n a n d that there are living p r o p h e t s a n d a p o s t l e s today who speak in the name of God, testifying of the divinity of Jesus C h r i s t . T h e s e l i v i n g p r o p h e t s bear r e c o r d of h i m as the r i s e n L o r d , r e s u r r e c t e d f r o m the g r a v e , w h o s p e a k s to p r o p h e t s today Just as H e h a s always s p o k e n to h i s people t h r o u g h p r o p h e t s i n the p a s t .
BAPTISM T H EK E Y W e k n o w , then, by personal witness that G o d l i v e s , a n d believe that m a n will be Judged according to his w o r k s in the f l e s h . Accordingly, b a p t i s m by i m m e r s i o n is practiced today as it was
d u r i n g the lifetime of Jesus and as practiced even before his day. The gospel is not new. It was taught by the patriarchs and p r o p h e t s of God in its original p u r i t y i n u l i the d i s p e n s a t i o n s of man u p o n the e a r t h . Baptism by immersion is a testimony or w i t n e s s of a p e r s o n ' s w i J J i n g n e s s to be a d o p t e d into the family of God. When Jesus answered Nicodemus' question as
to how he might enter the Church f a m i l y of G o d , J e s u s s a i d to h i m ;
or
V e r i l y , v e r i l y , 1 s a y u n t o t h e e . E x c e p t a m a n be b o r n a g a i n , b e c a n n o t s e e t h e k i n g d o m o f C l o d . ( J o h n 3:3)
T r u e b a p t i s m s y m b o l i z e s not o n l y d e a t h a n d the resurrection by being buried in the water and raised to a new life, but it symbolizes the p r o c e s s of b i r t h into this world. We enter the world after being completely surrounded by water, nourished by the blood of our mother, and made alive by the spirit which enters the body to form a living soul. The ordinance of b a p t i s m which is so symbolic of life, must be performed here on earth. As previously explained, in order to organize us into families, a sealing of the m a r r i a g e v o w s m u s t a l s o be p e r f o r m e d on e a r t h . T h u s f o r the d e a d , both of these o r d i n a n c e s m u s t be p e r f o r m e d v i c a r i o u s l y by s o m e o n e on e a r t h . T h a t this w a s done a n c i e n t l y is c l e a r f r o m the t e a c h i n g s of Paul: E l s e w h a t s h a l l t h e y do w h i c h a r e b a p t i z e d f o r tbe d e a d , i f t h e d e a d r i s e n o l at a l l ? w h y a r e I h e y t h e n b a p t i z e d f o r t h e d e a d ? ( 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 15:29)
H e used this p r a c t i c e of o r d i n a n c e w o r k for the d e a d as p r o o f of the reality of the resurrection. Therefore, b a p t i s m f o r the d e a d m u s t h a v e been widely practiced a m o n g church m e m b e r s of that day. Jesus G h r i s t announced that all who were dead would have the opportunity to accept the s a v i n g o r d i n a n c e s of the gospel. V e r i l y , v e r i l y , 1 s a y u n t o y o u . T h e h o u r is c o m i n g , a n d n o w is. w h e n the d e a d s h a l l h e a r the v o i c e of the S o n of G o d : a n d I h e y t h a t h e a r s h a l l l i v e . (|ohn 5:25)
<
W h o c o u l d be m o r e i n t e r e s t e d i n d o i n g this v i c a r i o u s w o r k f o r the d e a d t h a n those descendants w h o love their p r o g e n i t o r s e n o u g h to p e r f o r m the w o r k of salvation for them? Such p e r s o n s a r e s a v i o r s for t h e i r b e l o v e d a n c e s t o r s . T h i s also w a s predicted: A n d s a v i o r s s h a l l c o m e u p o n m o u n t Z i o n to j u d g e t h e m o u n t o f E s a u ; a n d the k i n g d o m s h a l l be the L o r d ' s . ( O b a d i a h 21)
I n fact, Paul said that the dead could not be made perfect without us, since we w o u l d have to perform this work in their behalf: G o d h a v i n g p r o v i d e d s o m e better thing for us, that t h e y w i t h o u t u s s h o u l d not be m a d e p e r f e c t . ( H e b r e w s 11:40)
IDENTIFY ANCESTORS I n o r d e r to p e r f o r m t h i s vicarious work for their d e c e a s e d a n c e s t o r s , m e m b e r s of T h e Church of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r d a y S a i n t s s p e n d m u c h time a n d m o n e y g a t h e r i n g genealogies to identify their kindred dead. Once the ancestor has been clearly identified, his d e s c e n d a n t , i f worthy to do so, may take the name of that p e r s o n a n d enter into a temple of the Lord to perform a vicarious baptism. T h u s , all m e m b e r s of a deceased family may be assembled into a family unit. Living p e r s o n s s e r v i n g a s p r o x i e s for the d e a d p a r t i c i p a t e i n a ceremony, vicariously sealing the wife to the husband and the children to their parents. All this work is in fulfillment of the prophecy given in Malachi:
B e h o l d , 1 w i l l s e n d y o u E l i j a h the prophet before c o m i n g o f t h e great a n d d r e a d f u l d a y o f t h e L o r d :
the
A n d h e s h a l l t u r n t h e h e a r l o f t h e l a t h e r s to t h e c h i l d r e n , a n d t h e h e a r t o f t h e c h i l d r e n to t h e i r f a t h e r s , lest 1 c o m e a n d s m i t e the e a r t h w i t h a c u r s e . ( M a l a c h i 4:5-6)
E l i j a h h a s a i r o a d y c o m e in our day and restored this power just as Malachi prophesied. Eventually, through Christ, all men may be gathered into one g l o r i o u s f a m i l y of G o d . T h i s g a t h e r i n g is to c o m e in the dispensation of the fullness of times, when all the children of God are to be gathered as one in jesus Christ: H a v i n g m a d e k n o w n u n t o us t h e m y s t e r y o f h i s w i l l , a c c o r d i n g to h i s g o o d p l e a s u r e w h i c h h e h a t h p u r p o s e d i n himself: T h a t i n the d i s p e n s a t i o n of the f u l l n e s s of t i m e s he might gather together i n one a l l things in C h r i s t , both w h i c h are i n heaven, a n d w h i c h are o n earth: e v e n in him: In w h o m also w e h a v e obtained ( E p h e s i a n s 1:9-12)
an inheritance
. . ."
THE FAMILY OF GOD T h u s , M o r m o n s g a t h e r together the records of their families as far back as they can trace them in order to verify their family relationship. These families are tied together in the s a v i n g o r d i n a n c e s which God has prescribed. These s a v i n g o r d i n a n c e s p e r f o r m e d by the L o r d ' s d u l y a u t h o r i z e d s e r v a n t s a r e so s a c r e d t h a t the L o r d r e q u i r e s that they be a d m i n i s t e r e d in h i s holy temples. These are specially built edifices, such as the tabernacle built by M o s e s in the w i l d e r n e s s or the m o r e elaborate temple built by Solomon. Not every
p e r s o n c o u i d enter those t e m p l e s bec a u s e of thoir sacred nature. Hence, m e m b e r s of the Church of j e s u s C h r i s t t o d a y s t r i v e to live righteous lives according to the commandments of the Lord, so that they may qualify thems e l v e s to enter the H o u s e of the Lord and there be sealed as families. Thus, e v e n t u a l l y the whole family of man can be tied together into one great family of God through Jesus C h r i s t if its m e m b e r s elect to r e c e i v e these o r d i n a n c e s . F o r this p u r p o s e m a n y t e m p l e s have been built in centers of Latter-day Saint population t h r o u g h o u t the world. Joseph S m i t h , the Jirst of the m o d e r n d a y p r o p h e t s , s a i d of the importance of this w o r k : T h e g r e a t e s t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y in t h i s w o r l d that G o d h a s l a i d u p o n u s is to s e e k a f t e r o u r d e a d . ( T e a c h i n g s of the P r o p h e t J o s e p h Smith, c o m p . Joseph Fielding Smith, [ S a l t L a k e C i t y : D e s e r e t B o o k C o l . 19:iHj. p. ;!,56.) T h i s d o c t r i n e [of s a l v a t i o n for the d e a d j w a s the b u r d e n of the s c r i p t u r e s . T h o s e S a i n t s w h o neglect it i n b e h a l f of t h e i r d e c e a s e d r e l a t i v e s , do it at the p e r i l of t h e i r o w n s a l v a t i o n . ( I b i d . , p. 193)
T h i s w o r k is t a k e n so s e r i o u s l y that the Church and its m e m b e r s have sought to g a t h e r together the family records of the past. E v e r y m o d e r n method is used to m a k e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n available for use. Records of our deceased ancestors can thus be compiled into family units in order to tie together o u r pedigrees, which will e v e n t u a l l y u n i t e e v e r y a n e of us w i t h i n the family of God. The s o l e p u r p o s e of this w o r k is to perp e t u a t e family life in all eternity and to g a t h e r family m e m b e r s together i n t o the v e r y p r e s e n c e of o u r Heavenly Father, w h o m w e love, honor, a n d revere. W e i n v i t e y o u to p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h i s effort.
TEMPLES OF T H E CHURCH OE JESU
Los Angeles. C a l i f o r n i a
Laie. Oahu,
Washington, D.C.
Provo,
Hawaii
Utah
Presently (1979), other temples have been built or are under construction in Sao Paulo, B r a z i l ; T o k y o , Japan; Seattle, Washington; and e l s e w h e r e .
CHRIST OF L A T T E R - D A Y SAINTS
Oakland, Cali/ornia
Logan, Utah
London, England
S a l t L a k e City,
Utah
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â&#x201E;¢ C H U R C H OF l E S U S CHRIST Of LATTER-DAY SAINTS