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SUMMARY OF 125-126
Our first two sections, 125 and 126 are rather short and I really don’t do much with them. 127 and 128 really hold the meat of this week’s study. So I’ll just briefly summarize them here with a quick thought or two.
Section 125 is directed to the Saints that are settling in communities on the western or Iowa side of the Mississippi river from Nauvoo. It’s just another example of saints being commanded to gather. And why do they gather? So that they can be prepared for that which is in store for a time to come. Gathering prepares us for future blessings and instructions. That command to gather has continued to this day. The only difference is that we don’t gather geographically into one place like they did in the early days of the church. Instead, we gather to the stakes of Zion found all throughout the world. Bruce R. McConkie taught the following:
“[The] revealed words speak of … there being congregations of the covenant people of the Lord in every nation, speaking every tongue, and among every people when the Lord comes again. …
“The place of gathering for the Mexican Saints is in Mexico; the place of gathering for the Guatemalan Saints is in Guatemala; the place of gathering for the Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; and so it goes throughout the length and breadth of the whole earth. Japan is for the Japanese; Korea is for the Koreans; Australia is for the Australians; every nation is the gathering place for its own people”
Bruce R. McConkie (in Conference Report, Mexico, and Central America Area Conference 1972, 45).
And just like then, these gatherings help us to be prepared for future blessings.
Section 126 is a revelation to Brigham Young releasing him from future missionary travel abroad. The Lord tells him that his sacrifice is acceptable and is recognized for his dedication. That must have felt so good for Brigham to hear that from the Lord. He’s then told that his major priority now would be to his own family. I think this is a great verse for returned missionaries. Full-time missionary work is a worthwhile and vital work in the church. But it is not the only vital work. Creating and caring for our families is also critical to the future of the church and our own exaltation. When missionaries say that their mission years were the best two years of their lives, I hope they are only saying it in terms of their youth and the life they’ve lived up to that point. It’s not all downhill from there. Hopefully, their lives increase in meaning and value as they move forward into marriage and parenthood. Marriage and family are as rewarding as it is challenging. It must be a priority. Specific callings and full-time missions are temporary responsibilities but taking care of our families is eternal. We mustn’t lose sight of that bigger picture. Families are forever. We too must take “especial care” of each other. Perhaps you could ponder how you could better do this in your own family.
127-DEEP WATER
ICEBREAKER
There is an object lesson that I really love to use when introducing section 127. And what you need is a transparent jar of dry beans or popcorn kernels and a ping pong ball. Here’s a picture of the one I use. I have a big one, but it still works just fine with a smaller mason jar if you like. I start by showing them the ping pong ball and saying that this represents them. Then you place it in the jar, screw the lid on and say: Have you ever felt like life did this to you? And then I turn the jar upside down and thump it on to the table. Everyone will nod in agreement. Then I ask: Have you ever felt like everything came crashing down around you? Like the weight of the world landed on your shoulders. Have you ever had a day like that? A week? A year? What can we do when we feel buried by life’s problems, challenges, and misfortunes? Section 127 can help us out. Then I leave the jar on the table upside down and tell them we’ll come back to it later in the lesson.
TRANSITION
Well, Joseph Smith had a life much like this. He spent a lot of time with the weight of the world crashing down on him. His life was full of trials and adversity. In fact. Let’s do a quick brainstorming activity. Let’s make a list of as many different trials that we can think of that Joseph endured in his short 38 years of life. Here’s a possible list of things your students could mention.
· Endured a painful bone surgery as a child which was performed without anesthesia. He then had to walk with crutches for much of his childhood.
· Made fun of, ridiculed, ostracized by his community since age 14
· His beloved older brother Alvin died when he was a teenager
· People published lies about him his entire life
· Uprooted from his home time and time again, forcing him to restart again and again
· He will bury six of his children.
· Betrayed by friends
· In one instance he was painfully beaten, tarred, and feathered, which left him scarred for the rest of his life.
· Lived most of his life in poverty and his family seemed to face financial ruin over and over again.
· Sentenced to death by a firing squad.
· Thrown into prison under miserable conditions for months in Liberty Jail.
· Sued unjustly and brought to court on many occasions
· Killed at Carthage Jail
As you can see, Joseph went through more than his fair share of challenges in his life. Physical, emotional, and spiritual pain followed him wherever he went. You could imagine somebody in even much better circumstances becoming very jaded, discouraged, and skeptical in the face of such adversity. He could have given up on God. He could have thrown up is hands and said “Why me? All I ever do is try to be obedient to your will, God, and this is how you reward me?” Many might say that he would have been justified in wallowing in self-pity for the rest of his life. But Section 127 shows you Joseph’s attitude towards adversity. It’s amazing and inspiring, especially considering what he went through. Joseph is going to teach us the admirable attitude to adversity. He writes section 127 while he’s in hiding from his enemies from Missouri who are intent on arresting him. That’s what verse one explains. But, then he tells us how he feels about all the trials of his life that he’d faced up to that point. As I read this, I want you to pick out the phrase that impresses you most. The phrase that teaches you something about facing the adversity of mortality. Here we go:
2 And as for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was ordained from before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God knoweth all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.
3 Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for Israel's God is their God, and he will mete out a just recompense of reward upon the heads of all their oppressors.
4 And again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on, and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven.
There is so much to digest here. These verses are evidence that Joseph learned something from Liberty. He came out of that experience so much stronger and wiser. Allow me to walk you through some of these power phrases.
As for the perils which I am called to pass through, they seem but a small thing to me.
Now look back at that list we made earlier. Are these small things to pass through? No. These are huge trials. But Joseph’s outlook shrinks them. He views them as small. I don’t know about you, but I often do the opposite. I take really small things and blow them out of proportion. How often do we complain about our first world problems? When our internet connection goes out, or we get a flat tire, or our food is slow in coming to us at the drive thru. Do we wring our hands and get frustrated and let it ruin our whole day? Where we are more apt to make mountains out of molehills, Joseph did just the opposite. He made molehills out of mountains. I imagine that if we could learn to do the same, our quality and enjoyment of life would multiply.
Next, two phrases I’ll combine here:
The envy and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life.
And then later, deep water is what I am wont to swim in. It has all become a second nature to me.
Sometimes I have to explain to my students the meaning of that sentence. Joseph isn’t saying that he wants to swim in deep water, like he’s actively looking for trouble. But it’s “deep water is what I am wont, W O N T, to swim in. It means that he is accustomed to swimming in deep water. He’s used to it. I love that. He says these phrases so matter-of-factly and coolly that it’s almost funny. He’s like “you know, I’ve been through all this before. Nothing surprises me or discourages me anymore. I’ve been swimming in the deep waters of adversity my entire life. So you’re going to ridicule me and tell lies about me, I’ve been facing that since I was 14. You want to make false accusations, take me to court, sue me? Go ahead, I’ve seen the inside of a courtroom before. You want to physically hurt me or beat me? Go right ahead. Been there, done that. I’m no stranger to pain. In fact, if you want to put me into hell itself and lock the door, I’ve been there and back. It was called Liberty Jail. I endured it and I can endure it again. There is nothing you can do to me that is going to be new. I’ve faced it all, and what’s more, with God’s help, I’ve triumphed over it all. God has never deserted me, and he never will. So when misfortune strikes, take it all in stride. Get accustomed to adversity.
I feel, like Paul,
Joseph had a hero. That hero, was Paul. I say that because he mentions Paul on a number of different occasions in the scriptures (JSH 1:24 D&C 18:9, D&C 128:13, D&C 128:16, Articles of Faith 13) Joseph saw a part himself in Paul. Paul too had had a vision. He too was persecuted for his beliefs. He too passed through incredible pain and hardship for Christ. And yet, he triumphed over it all and kept a positive attitude.
Joseph was able to draw strength from his scripture hero. Maybe we can do the same? Is there someone from the scriptures that inspires you? Think about them the next time you’re faced with adversity. I personally find great strength in the story of Joseph of Egypt. And Job. And Nephi. And also Paul and Joseph Smith. No wonder we are told to consistently study the scriptures. They give us mentors and role models to live up to. So seek strength in scripture stars, or heroes.
to glory in tribulation.
Joseph is quoting Paul here and let me read you the specific verses. It comes from Romans 5:3-5. Paul says:
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
That’s the exact attitude evident in Joseph’s words here. Tribulation may not seem like a positive thing, but it develops patience within us., which is positive, as is experience, and hope. Hope brings confidence and opportunities for the love of God to be made manifest in our lives through the Holy Ghost. All of this is good! It takes a special kind of person to see things this way. To glory in tribulation. To delight in difficulty. To face it with a bit of a “bring it on” kind of attitude. This indicates spiritual maturity. Where most of us, including myself, pray constantly that God will remove our hardships, Joseph glories in them. He recognizes their necessity and value. This was one of the purposes of the plan—to experience the bad so that we could more fully comprehend the good. Remember back In Doctrine and Covenants 122 that God listed a litany of terrible things that could and did happen to Joseph and ended it with a “know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good”. Well, if trials bring experience and good, why wouldn’t we glory in them. These things are only going to make us better in the end. And yes. I understand that that is a difficult attitude to develop. I don’t think I’m quite there yet.
“For to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth, for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies.”
This shows Joseph’s Smith’s unshakeable faith in God. His did not allow his trials to weaken his faith. To the contrary, he allowed them to strengthen it. He didn’t just endure his trials, he endured them “well”—with his faith intact. Adversity has a way of revealing God to us. It’s at those times that we most acutely feel a need for Him and his guidance. Joseph was able to glory in his tribulations because they allowed him to see the hand of God in his life. He depended on God’s deliverance. And even though, in the end, his enemies would take his life, you could say that Joseph still triumphed over them. Those men that killed him felt that they had also killed the church that he started. Little did they know that they only strengthened it. That church has grown to over 16 million members and has expanded into almost all nations. Joseph really did triumph over all his foes in the end.
So what’s Joseph’s advice to all of us?
3 Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad
Be glad. Find happiness in difficulty. Find joy in suffering. Justice will be served in the end. There is no doubt about that. Forget about your enemies. Focus on what your hardships can do for you. Don’t just be glad but be exceedingly glad. I love this quote from Elder Holland. He said:
“In all of this, I suppose it goes without saying that negative speaking so often flows from negative thinking, including negative thinking about ourselves. We see our own faults, we speak—or at least think—critically of ourselves, and before long that is how we see everyone and everything. No sunshine, no roses, no promise of hope or happiness. Before long we and everybody around us are miserable.
I love what Elder Orson F. Whitney once said: "The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience." We should honor the Savior's declaration to "be of good cheer." (Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other!) Speak hopefully. Speak encouragingly, including about yourself. Try not to complain and moan incessantly. As someone once said, "Even in the golden age of civilization someone undoubtedly grumbled that everything looked too yellow."
I have often thought that Nephi's being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Laman and Lemuel's constant murmuring. Surely he must have said at least once, "Hit me one more time. I can still hear you." Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland's maxims for living—no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse.”
Jefferey R. Holland
(CR April 2007)
I agree wholeheartedly with Elder Holland. Facing life’s challenges with a positive attitude will most certainly make them easier to bear. Gladness not grumbling.
and he will mete out a just recompense of reward upon the heads of all their oppressors.
And speaking of our attitude towards our oppressors, let’s jump to this final phrase at the end of verse 4 that says:
And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven.”
So, God says, “You’re persecuted for doing what’s right? You’re hated for having faith? You’re despised for believing in the restored gospel. Guess what? They did the same thing to Moses, and Elijah, and Jesus, and Paul, and Abinadi, and Moroni, and Joseph Smith and Hyrum. That’s some really good company to be in. If you’re being persecuted, you must be doing something right”. The counsel in this verse is an allusion to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount as one of the beatitudes. He said:
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(Matthew 5:10-12)
Again, I admit, this is a hard attitude to develop. To rejoice in persecution. But those who can do this, reach a high level of spiritual maturity, and are greatly equipped to face anything that mortality can throw at them.
Nothing can hurt them. Nothing can scare them. Nothing can destroy their faith. They become spiritually invincible in a way. They have deeply grasped the full meaning and power of agency. To choose how they will react to anything that happens to them. It almost gets to the point where they don’t really have any more trials or difficulties, because they refuse to see them as such. They take all things, good and bad in stride.
I hope to one day reach this level. I’m know I’m not there yet, but I pray that one day I will.
One last phrase that I believe gives us some great advice on dealing with adversity.
“Let the work of my temple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled”
Now there’s a solution to adversity. Redouble your efforts. Just get to work. Forget about the things you have no control over, like the actions of others, and the weather, and life’s circumstances. Instead, just do what you can with diligence, and perseverance, and patience. Lying around discouraged, or complaining, or wallowing in self-pity will get us nowhere and usually only compounds the problem. This reminds me of the story of Nephi’s broken bow. There they are, in this tough situation, seemingly without a means to get food. The entire family just sits around murmuring and despairing. But what does Nephi do? He’s proactive. He goes out and makes his own bow. I’m sure he’d never done even done anything like that before. He didn’t have that skill. But he was willing to try something, anything, to help his family out of that situation. The murmuring got them nowhere, but Nephi’s willingness to act actually solves the problem. Perhaps we can do the same when our bows break. Triumph through toil!
TRUTH
Facing our trials with “Joseph’s Attitude” will make them far easier to bear.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
To help your students liken the scriptures you could do a brief application activity. You can give them the following handout. It asks them to think of a specific trial that they are currently facing in their lives. Then they select one of Joseph’s attitudes that they feel could help them most in their situation and how they could apply that attitude. If they feel comfortable enough, you could even ask for some volunteers to share what they wrote.
CONCLUSION
I want to conclude this portion of the lesson with one of my favorite quotes of all time from the prophet Joseph Smith. It’s indicative of this attitude that we’ve been studying here in section 127. He said,
"If I were sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top."
Joseph Smith
(George A. Smith Family, comp. Zora Smith Jarvis [Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1962], p. 54.)
At this point I’d like to return to the object lesson we started with. Do you remember the jar and the ping pong ball? What did Joseph do every time he was in this situation? And then I take the jar and I shake it up and down while saying that he “hung on, he exercised faith, and he kept up good courage”. So what was the final result? He came out on top. Always. And you’ll find that as you shake the jar, the ping pong ball almost magically rises through the beans and emerges at the top. And I really love the little Ping Pong ball that I’ve got because it has a smiley face on it. I say that he always came out on top, and still had a smile on his face. I love that quality about Joseph Smith. He found strength in Paul’s example, and I find strength in his. I want to have that “lowest pit, Rocky Mountains on top” kind of faith. I believe that attitude can get us through almost anything.
Joseph Smith spent his entire life in deep water. But you know what, the funny thing about deep water is that, if you know how to swim, it doesn’t matter how deep the water gets. 10 feet, or 1000 feet, you can stay above it all as long as you just keep swimming. Joseph was a swimmer. I pray that all of us can have his same swimming strength to rise above when our deep waters come, and still have a smile on our faces.
128-THE MOST GLORIOUS SUBJECT
ICEBREAKER
The rest of our lesson today revolves around one particular subject. And it just happens to be the most glorious subject of the gospel. What subject of the gospel do you think would receive that kind of description? Or hold that distinction? Joseph said that about a certain subject. I want you to guess what it is. Then we’ll go to section 128 to see if you got it right.
Usually, when I teach this lesson, I get a lot of different answers to that question. The atonement comes up frequently, celestial marriage, repentance, and forgiveness—all of which are very glorious subjects. But what is the most glorious? You’ll find the answer in 128:17. And what is it?
17 And again, in connection with this quotation I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his eye fixed on the restoration of the priesthood, the glories to be revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel, namely, the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th: 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.
It's baptism for the dead. Or, more generally speaking—vicarious temple work for the dead. Does that surprise you? Why would Joseph say that? What is so glorious about the work for the dead? Is it the most glorious subject of the gospel in our minds and should it be?
I hope that what we study today will help answer those questions in our minds.
LEGAL JARGON
The last portion of section 127, and the first half of 128 share a common theme and idea that I’d like to point out here. It all deals with the particulars of recording and keeping track of temple ordinances. We won’t go into great detail here but let me just highlight some of the language we find in this section. What do you see? There are certain words that come up time and time again and some very fascinating terms. I’m going to highlight some of them for you. If you were to pick a specific profession where these words would be most prevalent and most likely to be used, what profession would that be?
You’ve got recorder, eyewitness, testify, order, records, archives, qualified, proceedings, certify, witnesses, judged, propria persona or (as your own person), authority, law, annulled, precedent, summum bonum (which means the ultimate goal), and facts.
What’s the profession? Law, right? Joseph Smith sure is throwing a lot of legal jargon around in these sections. What does that suggest about the work for the dead?
I believe it suggests its importance and seriousness—that it has to be done right, in a particular way. There is an order to these things. The temple is sometimes referred to as a house of order. This work we do in the temple is something that needs to be taken seriously and performed carefully.
Joseph even comments on this fact and says in verse 5: “5 You may think this order of things to be very particular; but let me tell you that it is only to answer the will of God, by conforming to the ordinance and preparation that the Lord ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world, for the salvation of the dead who should die without a knowledge of the gospel.”
See. God had this plan prepared way before he ever even sent Adam and Eve into the Garden of Eden. With his foreknowledge, God knew that there would be individuals who would not have the opportunity to be baptized into his kingdom while on earth. But the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. So he put a system into place that would assure justice and the opportunity for exaltation for all of his children. It needs to be fair. That’s what law and justice seeks to accomplish. To make things fair. So, he says, “Be sure it’s done correctly”. Have eyewitnesses and recorders and certificates and records to make sure that each soul is treated with the dignity and professionalism it deserves. Every person must be counted and numbered in his kingdom.
That’s one of the most wonderful things about being a member of this church. We recognize that all will have a fair shot at exaltation. Now maybe I’m ignorant on this, but I can’t think of any other religion or faith that provides for the possibility of exaltation to everyone, even those who never join that faith during their life. We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, are allowed to have hope for all people, not just some privileged or chosen few. All of God’s children have an equal opportunity to receive his highest honor and destiny. That is just. That is fair.
And what particular part of the plan of salvation do you think this section connects with most clearly? All of this legal jargon would suggest what event? What is the most “lawyerly” part of the plan of salvation? The final judgment, right?” Verse 6 says:
6 And further, I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12—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.
The work we do in the temple will hold great significance at the final judgment. The books will be opened. What are those books? The books of the records of our temple work.
Do you remember section 13 all those months ago? That was the section that described the restoration of the priesthood when John the Baptist conferred the Aaronic priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. There is a phrase in that blessing that often confuses people. It says:
“and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”
What is that offering that John the Baptist was referring to here? I’ve heard some suggest that it is a reinstatement of animal sacrifice, but I don’t think so. Look at verse 24 at the end of this section. It says:
24 Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.
The offering is a book. A book of the records of our dead and the work we have performed for them. Or maybe it will be a big stack of hard drives now. But it’s not just priesthood holders that make that offering. It’s all of us, as a church, and a people and as Latter-day Saints, that offer unto the Lord that offering in righteousness. Isn’t it interesting that the work for the dead is alluded to in that very short blessing that we find in the restoration of the priesthood? Almost as if to suggest that that is one of the major reasons we even have the priesthood. One of its highest purposes.
That book will be key to the proceedings of the final judgment. Records have been kept. And that which we have bound on earth with priesthood power and authority shall be bound in heaven. We will all be judged out of those books.
THEIR SALVATION IS NECESSARY TO OUR SALVATION
Where I would like to spend some extra time here is in verses 15-18. I would really want my students to study this section deeply, and to help them do that, you could give them a short study guide that will focus on some of the major truths that are taught here. Let’s go through these questions together.
When it comes to baptisms and work for the dead, whose salvation is at stake? (128:15)
The quick answer. Theirs AND ours.
If I were to ask your average member of the church the question, “Why is it so important that we do temple work for the dead?” More than likely they will say something like “Well because they need us to do their work so that they can be saved. They can’t be baptized as spirits, so we need to do that for them to give them the opportunity to accept or reject that work. They need us.” And you know what, that is a correct answer. They do need us. But look at what the Lord emphasizes in verse 15.
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.
This idea is reiterated again in verse 18 when it says:
For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect.
So yes, they need us, but more importantly, WE NEED THEM! We cannot be made perfect without our dead. Their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation.
What are we saying here then? Is it possible that I could live a totally righteous life, receive all the ordinances of salvation, serve faithfully in my church callings, but fail to do temple work for the dead, I could lose my exaltation? Yes. I think that’s exactly what it’s saying. We can’t get into heaven alone. We need them. In fact, it may be sobering to think for those that are converts to the church, that their ancestors may have accepted the gospel before they did.
There is a little parable that my father wrote years ago that I’ve found very effective in helping my students to understand this principle of our ancestor’s salvation being necessary to our own. If you don’t mind, I’d like to relate that story (with his permission) here. It goes like this:
Once there was a little boy and a little girl who loved Jesus very much, and he loved them. They were kind and always told the truth, and whatever Jesus wanted them to do they tried their best to do. "You may come to my house," Jesus told them one day, "and there I will give you a gift." They put on their best clothes, made sure they were clean, and went to Jesus' house. It was a beautiful house, and it made them feel beautiful too, just to be inside it. They met Jesus, and he gave them his gift. It was a key -- a wonderful key. "Take care of this key," he said. "Put it next to your heart. Don't let it tarnish or get rusty. Always keep it with you. One day it will open a wonderful door. Whenever you wish, you may return to my house, but each time I will ask to see the key." They promised him they would, and they went home. They returned often to Jesus' house, and each time he asked if they still had the key. And they always did. One day he asked if they would follow him. He led them to a hill covered with green grass and trees. On top of the hill was a mansion in the middle of a beautiful garden. Even in their dreams they had never imagined anything so magnificent. "Who lives here?" they asked him. "You may," he answered. "This is your eternal home. I've been building it for you. The key I gave you fits a lock in the front door. Now run up the path and put your key into the lock." They ran up the hill and through the garden to the front door. "If it's this beautiful on the outside," they said, "it must be even more wonderful inside!" But when they reached the front door, they stopped. It was the strangest door they had ever seen. Instead of one lock, the door was covered with locks, hundreds of locks, thousands of locks. And they had only one key. They put their key into one of the locks. It wouldn't fit. They put it into another. It didn't fit that one either. They tried many different locks. Finally they found the one that fit. They turned the key and the lock clicked. But the door wouldn't open. They ran back to Jesus. "We cannot open the door," they said. "It is covered with locks, and we have only one key." He smiled at them and said: "Do you think you will be happy living in your mansion all alone? Is there anyone you would like to live with you there?" They thought for a while and then answered, "We would like our families to live with us." "Go and find them," he said. "Invite them to my house, and I will give each one their very own key. Soon you will have many keys." They rushed out eagerly to find their families. They found their fathers and mothers, their brothers, and sisters, and all their cousins and brought them to Jesus' house. Just as he had promised, he gave each one a key. When all had been given a key, together they returned to the great door of the mansion. Now they had dozens of keys, but there were thousands of locks, and the door still wouldn't open. They needed more keys. Once again they returned to Jesus. "We have brought our families," they said. "But the door still won't open." "Do your parents have a mother and father and brothers and sisters?" He asked them. "Do you think they will be happy living in the beautiful mansion without them? If you look hard enough, you will find many, many people. Bring them all to my house, and I will give each one a key." They looked very hard, just as Jesus had told them. They found mothers and fathers. They found brothers and sisters. They found grandmas and grandpas and great-great-grandmothers and great-great-great grandfathers. They found aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews and cousins. They found them in big cities. They found them in tiny villages. Some lived by the seashore. Some lived on the open prairie. Some lived near the mountains. Some lived far across the ocean. And some lived close, just over the next hill. Some were blacksmiths and some were farmers. There were cobblers and tailors and fishermen. There were teachers and mechanics and shopkeepers. Some were tall with strange-looking hats. Others were short and wore wooden shoes. They spoke different languages and came from many different countries. They found some with long blond hair that hung far down their backs in braids. They found some with short red hair that stuck straight up and had to be hidden under a hat. The boy and girl searched until they had found everybody and all their families. They brought all the fathers and mothers, the brothers and sisters, the aunts and uncles, the nieces and nephews, the grandmothers and grandfathers to Jesus' house. Inside he gave each one his or her own key. Soon all the families were gathered before the great door. There was a lock for every key. They turned the keys, but the door remained closed. There was one final lock, a great big one right in the middle of the door, and no one had its key. The boy and girl returned to Jesus. "We have found all our families," they said. "But the door still won't open. We're missing a key and don't know where to find it." Jesus smiled, put his arms around them, and gave each one a kiss. "I have the last key," he said, and he held it up. It was bright and shining and beautiful. "This is the key of my atonement," he said. "Am I not a member of the family? Do you think you will be happy living in your mansion without me? Do you think I would be happy living without you? Now that you have found the whole family, all my brothers and sisters, all our Father's children, together we will enter our eternal home, for home will always be where families live and love together." He took their hands, and the whole family opened the door, entered the mansion, and spent an eternity of happiness together.
Does that help you to understand the principle that’s being taught here in section 128? This work is absolutely essential. No wonder the church spends so much time and resources gathering up records and census’s and birth certificates. No wonder we are one of the world’s leading sources of genealogical information. This work is vital to our exaltation.
Next question: Where can we find a verse in the Bible that speaks about baptism for the dead? (128:16)
The answer can be found there in verse 16. 1 Corinthians 15:29.
29 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?
Sometimes people of other faiths are surprised to see a biblical precedent for the practice of baptism for the dead. Now granted, this verse can be a little hard to understand out of context. It almost sounds like a disavowal of baptism for the dead. But it’s not. The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is Paul’s defense of the doctrine of resurrection. So here he is saying, look, if there’s no resurrection then what is the use of doing baptisms for the dead, if they rise not at all, baptism for the dead is pointless, why are they then baptized for the dead? The point being, “yes, there is a resurrection, and therefore, baptism for the dead makes sense”. You might wonder what other Christian religions do with this verse. The answer, they don’t really know what to do with it. I have a copy of the Oxford Study Bible, and the footnote to this verse says:
“Apparently Christians underwent baptism vicariously for previously deceased loved ones to insure their resurrection.”
They’re like, yeah, apparently they did this back then. Hmmm. Interesting. Well, anyway. Moving on.
Well, this is a real faith builder for me personally. The only Christian faith that I know of that practices baptism for the dead is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Next question: If we, as a church, do not engage in this work for the dead, what will be the consequence, according to Malachi? (128:17)
It says, “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse”. Without this work, the whole earth would be cursed. It would make for an unfair world. Billions of our Heavenly Father’s children would not have a chance to be saved. And with that, we could not be saved. God sent us to this earth as families. Indeed, we are all one great family of man. Some may think it strange that members of the church often refer to one another as Brother and Sister. But that’s how we see things. We are all family. The restoration of the keys of work for the dead opens in our hearts a desire to bless all of God’s children. Our hearts turn to our fathers, and theirs turn to us.
Next question: What is the object that Joseph alludes to in 128:18 to describe what needs to form between us and our ancestors? (He doesn’t actually name this object in this verse, but it is implied)
The answer is a chain. Joseph speaks of a welding link between the fathers and the children. As an object lesson I would pull out a chain to illustrate that truth. Each link represents a generation. God wishes that we connect ourselves to them. We need to be welded together. Such a strong word and image. A weld basically makes two objects into one. We’re not tied together, or stuck together, or taped together, we are welded as one. God doesn’t want just single links; he wants the whole chain. Temple and family history work make this possible.
So our final question: Why do you think the Lord would describe baptisms for the dead (temple work) as the most glorious subject of the gospel?
Well, you tell me. What makes it so glorious? Why would Joseph say that? Certainly it is a worthwhile work, and we do a great good when we do temple work for any of God’s children--even when we do the work for names that the temple provides. But there is something special and different when the work is done for our own ancestors. I know I’ve felt that. I also know that when I learn about the sacrifices, and the lives, and the faith of my ancestors, my own faith is strengthened.
I find strength and glory in knowing that my Waldensian ancestors persevered in their faith even though they faced stiff persecution.
I find strength and glory in knowing that my Danish great, great grandfather chose to be baptized into the church even against the wishes of his family because he knew the gospel to be true.
I find strength in hearing the story of a different great, great grandfather who walked across the plains as a nine-year-old boy.
I find strength in hearing the story of my Italian ancestor Jean Combe who while on his death bed said to his daughter “The old folks may not, but the young will see the day when the gospel shall be restored in its purity and power; and in that day, remember me!” Jean Combe died before being able to receive the ordinances of salvation. Isn’t it glorious that my family, as his descendants can fulfill that wish to “remember him” and take his name to the temple and perform that great act of service for him.
No wonder the temple is referred to as a house of glory. We should try not to forget that we don’t do temple work for names. But for real people, who had real lives, who desire exaltation as much as any in the realm of the living. They may be dead to this world, but they are very much alive in the world of spirits.
TRUTH
They (our ancestors) cannot be saved without us, neither can we be saved without them!
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Have you ever had a “glorious” experience with family history or temple work?
If you don’t mind, I would like to share one of my own.
My father has always been dedicated to family history and temple work. I remember one time that he had been doing research on our family line and was dismayed to discover that we Virginia slave owners in our ancestry. Which was a little disappointing to be honest. Here our ancestors were responsible for perpetuating an institution that we found reprehensible. In his research he discovered the wills of some of these ancestors and in them, the names of their slaves were mentioned. My dad got an idea. Perhaps it would be appropriate for us to be baptized for these individuals as well. To do the work for our ancestors slaves. Perhaps, in a small way, it would help to right their wrong. So we took those names to the temple and I was to have the opportunity to be baptized for some of them. I remember that as we sat in the chapel, waiting to go into the font, a temple worker came over to me and my siblings and knelt down in front of us. Now, he had no idea about who we were coming to be baptized for, but the Spirit did, and he said something to us that I will never forget. He said “Many of these people for whom you will be baptized lived hard and bitter lives. I am sure that many died thinking God had forgotten them. But you will show them today that he has not forgotten them, that he never forgets a single child. For the first time in many, many years, their names will be spoken again, here in the Lord’s house, and they will know of his eternal love for them. And you will show them, also, your own love for them” That is one of the most beautiful truths that the work for the dead shows us.
CONCLUSION
The fact that we do temple work for the dead stands as a great testament to the worth of the human soul. We work and search and study to find the names of people who may have lived and died hundreds of years ago. People we’ve never met in the flesh. And hours of work are done for them within the walls of the temple. We do that work for them one by one. Temples stand as a great symbol to the fact that God does not forget his children. We “remember them” and through that remembrance are welded to them in one great family chain.
Gordon B. Hinckley once said, “If there is any work in all the world that demonstrates the universality of God’s love, it is the selfless work that goes on in these sacred houses”. (Conference Report, October 1985)
128-THE PSALM OF THE RESTORATION
Well, as Joseph teaches these truths from section 128, the glory of the subject seems to overwhelm and sink deep into his heart. It is such a glorious subject to him that he almost can’t hold back his enthusiasm and joy and he launches into this section that I like to call “The Psalm of the Restoration”.
There is a piece of classical music that reminds me of these verses. Maybe you’ve heard of it. It’s called Bolero. In that piece of music a single instrument is heard playing the melody of the song. It is very quiet and soft. As the music progresses, however, new instruments are added little by little until by the end the full orchestra is playing, and the volume is loud and powerful.
That’s the sense that I get from these verses. It begins with a single voice singing the glory of the restoration. Then, more and more voices are added, then more, and more until finally, even the mountains and the rivers and the trees can’t hold back their voices. I’d like to read this section with you as I would encourage you to do with your classes. But they have to be read with a spirit of joy and passion and fervor to really have the desired effect. I mean, look at all the exclamation points in these verses. This may not be the best time to ask a student to read. Because I’m sure you know how they read sometimes.
Now what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness. A voice of mercy from heaven.
No, it’s got to be read with the proper voice. It says:
19 Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!
20 And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna County, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!
21 And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!
22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
23 Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Do you sense the power and glory emanating from those verses? It is a wonderful and exciting thing to be a member of this Church. When we consider our membership in Christ’s church, it shouldn’t be with a voice of obligation, or dreariness, or apathy. But a voice of gladness. To really sink this feeling deep into the hearts of my students, I like to ask them to share something about the gospel and the church that makes them glad. What is a doctrine, or belief, or part of the church that brings you joy?
Is it repentance and forgiveness? Is it that families can be together forever? Is it temple work? Is it the scriptures?
CONCLUSION
There are so many wonderful things about the gospel. Hopefully we feel that voice of gladness deep within us when we consider our membership in Christ’s church.
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