How Do Temple Ordinances Bring Blessings to Both the Living and the Dead?

             My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 125-128. The Saints had been driven from their homes in Missouri and across the river into Illinois. The good people of Quincy, Illinois, saw their suffering and showed mercy to them. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his companions were allowed to escape from jail in Missouri and joined the Saints in Illinois. From Quincy, they searched for another gathering place and found it in an area that they named Nauvoo – meaning “The Beautiful.”

            Nauvoo was not so beautiful when the Saints moved there because it was a swamp filled with mosquitos. Hundreds of the Saints became ill with malaria, including the Prophet Joseph Smith. Even though deathly ill, he arose from his bed and began to rebuke the disease by the power of the priesthood. The Saints recovered from the illness and proceeded to build their beautiful city.

            In August 1840, the Prophet Joseph Smith was speaking at the funeral services of his friend Seymour Brunson. A sister by the name of Jane Neyman attended the funeral and heard the Prophet speak. She was grieving for her teenage son Cyrus who had recently passed away, and was worried about his eternal soul. She was particularly concerned because she knew that he had not been baptized before he died.

            The Prophet Joseph Smith saw her in the audience and understood how she felt. He had felt the same way about his brother Alvin, who also died before being baptized. So, the Prophet shared with Jane and everyone else at the funeral what the Lord had revealed to him about those who died without receiving the ordnances of the gospel – and how we can help them. He taught them the ordinance of baptism for the dead, and the Saints rejoiced when they heard the message.

            Baptism for the dead takes place when a living person is baptized for the departed person. Baptisms for the dead usually take place in temples, but the Saints did not have a temple in which to do the baptisms for their departed loved ones. The Lord allowed the Saints to do the baptisms in the Mississippi River until they could build a baptismal font in the temple. Jane Neyman was the first person to be baptized for a departed person, and she was baptized for her son Cyrus.

            The Saints were instructed to do proxy baptisms for their own deceased ancestors, and the Saints of today are given the same instructions. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that as we participate in family history and temple service, our primary responsibility is to find our own ancestors and perform saving ordinances for them:

The Lord in initial revelatory instructions referred to “baptism for your dead” [Doctrine and Covenants 127:5; emphasis added]. Our doctrinal obligation is to our own ancestors. This is because the celestial organization of heaven is based on families [see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith [2013), 68]. The First Presidency has encouraged members, especially youth and young single adults, to emphasize family history work and ordinances for their own family names or the names of ancestors of their ward and stake members [see First Presidency letter, Oct. 8, 2012]. We need to be connected to both our roots and branches. The thought of being associated in the eternal realm is indeed glorious” (“Roots and Branches,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 45).

            Another Apostle, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the blessings that come to those who participate in the work of salvation for their ancestors:

I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see Doctrine and Covenants 124:28-36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.

As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives” (“The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 26-27).

            Early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejoiced to learn of the doctrine of baptism for the dead. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ today are reaping the blessings of this ordinance being performed for nearly 200 years. Members feel great peace in knowing that their families can be together in eternity.