Does the Work of the Savior Continue in the Next Life?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 137-138 in a lesson titled “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

The revelations recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 137 and 138 are separated by more than 80 years and 1,500 miles (2,400 km). Section 137 was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1836 in the Kirtland Temple, and section 138 was received by Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, in 1918 in Salt Lake City. But doctrinally, these two visions belong side by side. They both answer questions that many people—including God’s prophets—have about life after death. Joseph Smith wondered about the fate of his brother Alvin, who had died without being baptized. Joseph F. Smith, who had lost both of his parents and 13 children to untimely deaths, thought often about the spirit world and wondered about the preaching of the gospel there.

Section 137 casts some initial light on the destiny of God’s children in the next life, and section 138 opens the curtains even wider. Together, both revelations testify of “the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:3).

The scripture block contains the following principles: (1) All of Heavenly Father’s children will have the opportunity to choose eternal life (Doctrine and Covenants 137; 138:30-3, 57-60). (2) Reading and pondering the scriptures prepares me to receive revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 138:1-11, 25-30). (3) The Savior’s work continues on the other side of the veil (Doctrine and Covenants 138:25-60). This essay will discuss the third principle about the work of the Savior continuing in the next life.

The Savior’s “work” consists of teaching and preparing all people to return to the presence of Heavenly Father and to become like Him. During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ taught His gospel for only three years and was able to teach His gospel to only a small group of people living in the Jerusalem area. After His death, His apostles took His gospel to a wider area. Now, His apostles and disciples take the gospel worldwide to every nation where allowed. Even with all this missionary work, only a few million people have been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth.

There are billions of people in the spirit world who have never been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. The vision given to President Joseph F. Smith and known as Doctrine and Covenants section 138 shares God’s plan for the salvation of all His children. The plan is based on all – every single one – of God’s children to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each child of God has the gift of agency or freedom to choose for themselves, and each must use that agency to hear the gospel choose for themselves whether to accept the gospel or reject it.

This brings us to the billions of people who have lived on earth without being taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the time that His body lay in the tomb, the spirit of Jesus Christ went to the spirit world where righteous spirits have waited for years and even centuries for Him to set them free. There in the spirit world, Christ organized missionary work among His righteous spirits to go among the wicked spirits to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Those who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ – have faith in Him and His Atonement, repent of their sins, are baptized by immersion for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost – are released from spirit prison and began to move forward with their eternal lives. Those who do not accept the gospel of Jesus Christ are “damned” or stopped in their spiritual progression until they do.

The spirit children of God can be taught and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit world, but all ordinances must be completed in mortality. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds temples – more than 200 are scattered across the world. The work of eternity takes place in temples.

Mortals are baptized and confirmed in baptismal fonts located in meetinghouses or in lakes, ponds, rivers, or other available bodies of water. Baptisms and confirmations for people who have died are performed in temples by proxies. Other ordinances can also be completed for them by proxies in a temple. Once the ordinances are completed, the person can use their agency to accept or reject the work that has been completed for them. If they accept, they can move forward in their eternal lives. If they reject the work, they are stopped in their eternal progress. It is their choice. They can choose what they want.

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life” (“Let Us All Press On,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 118-19). Let Us All Press On