It's time to move on

Every fall I have the hardest time keeping up with this blog because there are so many other things going on.  But with this fall, I've felt that my lack of blogging is more than just busyness.  It feels like it's time for me to move on to other writing projects in my life.  I've never had a huge following for this blog and I'm good with that.  The purpose of this blog was never to become famous or the most followed or the most controversial or the most of anything.  It was mostly for me to keep up with scripture study that I find is crucial in my emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. I enjoyed every comment that was made and hoped that it was thought provoking to those who read, but most I hope it was something that helped people feel the Holy Spirit. If you even glanced at this blog, thank you.  I hope you take the initiative to find something that will help you with your spiritual well-being and journey. May God by with you in your journey, or rather, may you take the time to find God in your journey - the scriptures will help you do that.

Faith in Every Footstep

Readings:

1. 1. a. 
      Doctrine and Covenants 136.
   2. b. 
      Our Heritage, pages 71–77.

Section 136 in the Doctrine and Covenants is full of direction, both physical and spiritual direction.  Jesus Christ is the author of this (and of course all others) section and therefore helps me to know that he is aware of and can direct the physical, mental and emotional aspects of his church - a huge group of people, only to get larger.  If he is able to direct a huge group of people he can surely direct my puny little affairs.

The beginning of the section contains general directions on how the people should be groups and how they should care for each other, leaving the decisions of which captains and details of organization jobs to choose and such up to the called leaders (though they surely sought the help of God in making those decisions).

Then follows spiritual, which affects temporal, well-being:

19 And if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power, and his folly shall be made manifest.
 20 Seek ye; and keep all your pledges one with another; and covet not that which is thy brother’s.
 21 Keep yourselves from evil to take the name of the Lord in vain, for I am the Lord your God, even the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.
 22 I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; and my arm is stretched out in the last days, to save my people Israel.
 23 Cease to contend one with another; cease to speak evil one of another.
 24 Cease drunkenness; and let your words tend to edifying one another.
 25 If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt restore that which thou hast borrowed; and if thou canst not repay then go straightway and tell thy neighbor, lest he condemn thee.
 26 If thou shalt find that which thy neighbor has lost, thou shalt make diligent search till thou shalt deliver it to him again.
 27 Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward.
 28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.
 29 If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful.
 30 Fear not thine enemies, for they are in mine hands and I will do my pleasure with them.
 31 My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.
 32 Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear;
 33 For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly.

And then this last direction:

42 Be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you. So no more at present. Amen and Amen.

This seems like a lot to do, and quick frankly it is!  President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in the most recent General Conference of the church recited a list of things the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in his talk "Come, Join With Us."  He cited three possible reasons: First, directions we receive are from Jesus Christ, if we believe in Him we will gladly follow His direction. Secondly, when we believe in Jesus Christ we want to do more than just believe, we want to put our faith into practice. Thirdly, "walking the path of discipleship leads to precious blessings."

President Brigham Young Leads the Saints

Readings:

1. a. 
   Doctrine and Covenants 107:22–24.
2. b. 
   Our Heritage, pages 66–71.

After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the church went through an important lesson of how the Lord's church should be organized and operated.  What they learned about the succession of the presidency of the church is still in effect today, for it was ordained of the Lord to be so.  Before I summarize and explain what happened, I think I need to mention the scripture in the Bible where Jesus talks to Peter about the foundation upon which the church is built. Matt 16:13-19

13 ¶When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

This topic of this conversation between Jesus and his apostles is that Jesus affirmed that the apostles knew that He was the Son of the living God.  Continuing with that topic, Jesus expressly addresses Peter with the affirmation that upon the knowledge of Jesus being the Son of God, will the church be built - for it is only that fact, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against.  To assure this, Jesus gives Peter the keys of the kingdom, keys of truth and priesthood power, to be able to communicate with Jesus after He is gone and do His will, with His power and in His name.

The keys that were given to Peter, were lost as the apostleship after Christ death deteriorated because of unbelief and twisting of truths.  Over 1800 years later, the keys were restored by an angelic Peter, James and John to Joseph Smith.  The passing of these keys is an example that it was not Peter who was the rock the church was to be built upon, neither was it Joseph Smith who was the rock the church was to be built upon.  It has been and always will be Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, as the foundation and rock of the church.  Any man that claims other wise is false.  In the words of President Joseph Fielding Smith:

“No man of himself can lead this church. It is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; he is at the head. …
“He chooses men and calls them to be instruments in his hands to accomplish his purposes, and he guides and directs them in their labors. But men are only instruments in the Lord’s hands, and the honor and glory for all that his servants accomplish is and should be ascribed unto him forever.
“If this were the work of man, it would fail, but it is the work of the Lord, and he does not fail” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1970, 113; or Improvement Era, June 1970, 26).

In fact, after the death of Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, one of Joseph's counselors in the First Presidency of the church, proclaimed that no one could replace Joseph Smith and that there should be a guardian placed over the church and that it should be himself.  There were very few who received him as such.

Those who had been called to serve in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, by the Lord, through Joseph Smith, acted as a governing body to ask the Lord and determine the course that should be taken.  Brigham Young, the President of the quorum of the Twelve said only that he wanted to know "what God says."  In a meeting of the membership of the church Sidney Rigdon spoke for over an hour, but only received a few people in support of his views.  Brigham Young also spoke and this was the experience of George Q. Cannon:

Brigham Young then spoke briefly, comforting the hearts of the Saints. As Brigham spoke, George Q. Cannon remembered, “it was the voice of Joseph himself,” and “it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very person of Joseph which stood before them.” William C. Staines testified that Brigham Young spoke like the voice of the Prophet Joseph. “I thought it was he,” Staines said, “and so did thousands who heard it.” Wilford Woodruff also recalled that wonderful moment and wrote, “If I had not seen him with my own eyes, there is no one that could have convinced me that it was not Joseph Smith, and anyone can testify to this who was acquainted with these two men.” This miraculous manifestation, seen by many, made clear to the Saints that the Lord had chosen Brigham Young to succeed Joseph Smith as leader of the Church. 

The experience above is peculiar to the succession of the Presidency from Joseph smith to Brigham Young.  However, the Priesthood keys passed from Joseph Smith (before his death) to Brigham Young and the other 11 apostles is the same in our day.  When a prophet dies, the First Presidency is dissolved and the 12 apostles, along with the remaining members of the dissolved First Presidency, importune the Lord for direction in who the next prophet is to be.  President Gordon B. Hinckley explains this process:
Succession of Presidency

When a new prophet is called, each member of the church is encouraged to ask Heavenly Father in prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, if that man is indeed the man to lead the church and hold and operate ALL of the keys of the Priesthood.  As it was int he time of Joseph and Brigham, the Lord will testify through the Holy Spirit if the newly called prophet his new chosen mouth piece and instrument.

A note, aside from the formality of the succession of a prophet;  I do believe the Lord calls prophets to guide the church and even the world, to those who would listen.  because the man is called of God, I believe the prophet would never lead the people astray.  I trust him, along with his counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to establish and confirm eternal truths and doctrines that will help me have the most joy in my life.  I trust that because the ways of God are unchangeable, they will not sway to popular vote, social persuasion and political promptings.  If I believe God is in charge, and that He chooses which man, and men, to be his human mouth piece, his hands and exemplify His heart, so that the world can know God and know how to return to Him.

Here is one more short video about the necessity of a living prophet.

The Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith

Readings:

1. a. 
   Doctrine and Covenants 135.
2. b. 
   Our Heritage, pages 62–66.

I have been thinking a lot about Joseph Smith lately.  He was only 14 in 1820, when he asked God which church was right because there were so many that seemed to teach different views of the same doctrines in the Bible.  In answer to his prayer, God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ appeared to him to tell him that none of the churches at that time had the full doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  From then on, Jesus Christ directed Joseph in bringing eternal truths to light that had been lost since he was on the earth.  Doctrines came line upon line and precept upon precept; such as, proper authority to act in the name of God, proper baptism, the bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost, the necessity of a prophet and 12 apostles, the nature of the Godhead, our relationship to God, a plan of salvation and much more.  He endured awful persecution because he would not deny these experiences, revelations and truths.

As was prophesied, Joseph's name "should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people," (JS-H 1:33).  There are many good things spoken about him and many bad things spoken about him.  Here are my feelings: Joseph was a prophet, call by God himself and led by Jesus Christ himself and moved upon by the Holy Spirit to do the will of God and Jesus Christ.  When he received direct revelation and guidance from them, he did not act amiss.  He was strictly obedience in bringing forth the doctrines and truths that would help all of God's children return to him.  I will always be grateful to Joseph Smith for braving and enduring harsh persecution, that was violent enough to result in his death, as well as his brother's.  I am grateful especially for his diligence in translating The Book of Mormon, wherein I have learned about my Savior Jesus Christ with information that enhances what was preserved in the Holy Bible.

Knowing this information about Jesus Christ and the atonement he willingly suffered for my sins, helps me have peace about any of the evil things spoken about Joseph Smith.  There really are so many evil things said and circulated about him that it seems fruitless to try to prove them right or wrong.  Because while I believe that Joseph acted in complete obedience to what he was commanded by the Lord, I also believe that in other areas of life, he was a regular human being.  Whether information spoken against him is true or not, I believe that if the atonement of Jesus Christ covers my issues, sicknesses, failings, weaknesses, sins and thoughts, then the atonement covers Joseph's as well.  Eternal truths are eternal and unchangeable, aside from what prophet's choose to do in other areas of life.  I honor Joseph Smith for being strictly obedient in all that he was commanded.  I honor him for the courage it took to be human amidst all the expectation of perfect prophet.  I honor him for seeing past all the things that happened to him, things that were said about him then and now, knowing that he was fulfilling his perfect.  Elder Holland talked about God working with imperfect people in his last conference talk, and I believe Joseph Smith was no exception:

Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite fulness is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all. Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving.

Here is the full announcement of the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum as recorded in section 135:

1 To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls.
 2 John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe.
 3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!
 4 When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me—he was murdered in cold blood.”—The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:
 5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I … bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.
 6 Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.
 7 They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to “Mormonism” that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.

"Sealed. . for time and for all eternity"

Readings:  Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4; 132:4–33; 

The last post was about the necessity of baptism for all who live on the earth.  It is so important that baptisms can be performed by proxy for those who have died, just to make sure everyone gets a chance to receive the covenants made at baptism.  By the way, those who we do not have any record for on earth, will be accounted for in heaven, for God knows all of his children.  But all the people we can find while we are on earth will help them and us.

Baptism and other saving ordinances can hold effect in this life AND in the next life only if they are performed by someone holding the proper and authorized Priesthood. Here are the words of the Lord regarding the sealing power and authority given by God:

DC 132:7

7 And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.

Included in the saving ordinances is the ordinance of the marriage of a man and a woman. Like baptisms for those who have died, marriage can be performed by an authorized priesthood holder in a temple of God and is therefore in force both in this world and in the next.

DC 132:15, 19

15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.

 19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

So, marriage is not just a union on earth, but a union in heaven as well.  Or at least that's what God tells us he intended for marriage. If you believe in life after death, this may seem as second nature knowledge - of course I would be with my spouse after this life.  But as the scriptures state above, marriage needs to be performed by someone holding the Priesthood of God - given by God, in order to be in force after this life.  Why is this necessary or different that what we know as marriage by the state/government?  It occurs to me that one method is a top-down method and the other is a bottom up method.  Being married under the Priesthood given by God is doing it how God wants it.  Getting married by the state is doing it how humans want it.  One is saying I love, respect what God directs and will be obedient to Him.  The other is saying, God must honor what we deem at marriage.  This is not to say that marriage by the state/government is not important, as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in obeying the laws of the land.  So with the proper paperwork, a sealed marriage, is also a marriage be the state (not sure about other countries though - I'll have to look it up, I'm sure it varies country by country).  I also do not mean to imply that a marriage by the state in not relevant, meaningful, fulfilling or less important.  Marriage between a man and woman is extremely important!  A sealed marriage though, is the extra step to ensure that a married man and woman will continue their marriage after this life.

When a man and woman are sealed in marriage, their children are also sealed to them, if their children are born after the marriage.  If children are born before a sealing takes place, they are able to take their children to the temple and have their family sealed together.  Thus, not only will the marriage last for eternity, but the family relationships will as well.

Revelation to begin baptisms for those who have died

Readings:

1.            a. Doctrine and Covenants 2; 124:25–55; 127; 128; Joseph Smith—History 1:36–39.


2.            b. Our Heritage, pages 58–61, information under “The Nauvoo Temple.”


Baptisms for the dead is one of the most curious and peculiar doctrines of the gospel taught within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  But it is one of the most beautiful, peaceful and relieving doctrines.  In one of the last book os the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi gives a prophecy about the "last days."  When the last prophet of The Book of Mormon visited Joseph Smith to help direct him in restoring truths of the gospel, he quoted Malachi:


JS-H 1:36-39

36 After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus:
 37 For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
 38 And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
 39 He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.

Joseph Smith came to find out that the promise made to Abraham, (that he would have many descendants, they would receive the gospel, and have the priesthood of God and through these things all people of the earth would be blessed and have the opportunity to receive salvation and eternal life) are available to all, but only through an authorized Priesthood holder.  By that Priesthood authorization, a man and woman can be sealed together in marriage and that sealing, because it is authorized by God, would hold force even after this life.  The children born to such a couple would be sealed to them and therefore that family would remain intact for eternity.  Thus, "the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers" and vice versa, and Malachi concludes that if we are not able to bind to each other in the way God intends, the purpose of the earth would be wasted.  But before these things can happen, those who over the age of eight (the age set by God as that of the ability to be accountable for ones own actions) must be baptized and enter into other covenants, also under the proper Priesthood authority.  Because the ability to have a relationship last both in this life and the next should not be taken lightly and is a heavy decision indeed when we consider the perspective of staying with one person - for eternity.  So God asks us for obedience and allegiance by using sacred covenants agreed to at baptism and other progressive covenants. The next post will address these progressive covenants, this one is about baptism.

DC 128:12-14

12 Herein is glory and honor, and immortality and eternal life—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 graves; hence, this ordinance was instituted to form a relationship with the ordinance of baptism for the dead, being in likeness of the dead.
 13 Consequently, the baptismal font was instituted as a similitude of the grave, and was commanded to be in a place underneath where the living are wont to assemble, to show forth the living and the dead, and that all things may have their likeness, and that they may accord one with another—that which is earthly conforming to that which is heavenly, as Paul hath declared, 1 Corinthians 15:46, 47, and 48:
 14 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the sealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the keys of the kingdom, which consist in the key of knowledge.

If a person believes that baptism is the only way to live with God again, that it is the gate by which we enter the path of God, then how will everybody have a chance to do that?  What if people don't ever hear the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ either because it's not available, it's prevented by tradition, it's shunned or some other reason?  The Lord has taken care of these worries and issues by revealing to Joseph Smith that those who have died can receive baptism by a worthy proxy, only if that baptism is performed by one holding the Priesthood of God, which is the only power that is efficacious on earth and heaven.

DC 128:8

 8 Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted 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, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead.

If a person on earth stands in as a proxy for a person who died and the baptism is performed by someone holding the priesthood, then the spirit of the person who died can choose to accept that baptism or not.  Let me emphasize that the baptism is only efficacious if the spirit of the deceased person chooses to accept it.  Many people assume the the proxy baptism is automatic, but God will not force a person to follow a certain path, as the whole purpose of this life is for us to choose and prove ourselves followers.

Baptisms take place in Holy Temple designated for making special covenants for the living and also for the deceased.  Temples are the ONLY place essential covenants besides baptism for living people, can be performed.  In addition to the requirement of location, each person, both living and deceased, committing to a covenant must be witnessed and their vital information recorded, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint keep records of ALL of these records, both as a record and as an effort to avoid duplication (for the deceased).

DC 128:4-6

 4 Then, let there be a general recorder, to whom these other records can be handed, being attended with certificates over their own signatures, certifying that the record they have made is true. Then the general church recorder can enter the record on the general church book, with the certificates and all the attending witnesses, with his own statement that he verily believes the above statement and records to be true, from his knowledge of the general character and appointment of those men by the church. And when this is done on the general church book, the record shall be just as holy, and shall answer the ordinance just the same as if he had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears, and made a record of the same on the general church book.
 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.
 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.

As I said in the beginning of the post, this is a very unique and peculiar doctrine in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Joseph Smith addresses this:

DC 128:9-11

9 It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?
 10 And again, for the precedent, Matthew 16:18, 19: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
 11 Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living.

The rock upon which the Lord's church is not Peter himself, but the Priesthood of God, which he held.  Through this Priesthood, all people of the earth can be blessed and salvation and eternal life are made available through baptism of both the living and the dead.  Great hope and joy abound from these principles.

For more on the restoration of the Priesthood see this chapter a manual called "Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood." I've also written posts about the priesthood.

Building good things amid trials

Readings:

1. a. 
   Doctrine and Covenants 124:1–21, 87–90, 97–110; 126.
2. b. 
   Our Heritage, pages 51–52, 55–58, 61–62.

The readings above are during the time when the Prophet Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail and could not physically help the saints with the persecution they were experiencing. But they did receive direction to move to Illinois, where they could establish a city of their own.  Brigham Young, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve and other leaders helped many Saints relocate.  It certainly wasn't easy, but some felt it was preferable to the persecution they were receiving from people around them.  Amid all the moving, walking, sickness, rebuilding and reestablishing, the Saints were directed by the Lord revealed some great organizations and measures of support and relief.

Once there was some establishment in Nauvoo, the Lord started asking men to go to other areas of the land and even across the ocean to spread His gospel.  Many men heeded the call because they loved the Lord, the gospel and felt the urge to help other people understand the love and peace they did.  They did so even though they had families and very little finances and resources, with the faith that the Lord would provide for their needs.  He did.  These men did not leave without promises of comfort and peace:

DC 124:12-14

12 And again, verily I say unto you, let my servant Robert B. Thompson help you to write this proclamation, for I am well pleased with him, and that he should be with you;
 13 Let him, therefore, hearken to your counsel, and I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings; let him be faithful and true in all things from henceforth, and he shall be great in mine eyes;
 14 But let him remember that his stewardship will I require at his hands.

DC 124: 16-17

16 Again, let my servant John C. Bennett help you in your labor in sending my word to the kings and people of the earth, and stand by you, even you my servant Joseph Smith, in the hour of affliction; and his reward shall not fail if he receive counsel.
 17 And for his love he shall be great, for he shall be mine if he do this, saith the Lord. I have seen the work which he hath done, which I accept if he continue, and will crown him with blessings and great glory.

DC 124:18-19

 18 And again, I say unto you that it is my will that my servant Lyman Wight should continue in preaching for Zion, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world; and I will bear him up as on eagles’ wings; and he shall beget glory and honor to himself and unto my name.
 19 That when he shall finish his work I may receive him unto myself, even as I did my servant David Patten, who is with me at this time, and also my servant Edward Partridge, and also my aged servant Joseph Smith, Sen., who sitteth with Abraham at his right hand, and blessed and holy is he, for he is mine.

DC 124:103-104

103 And again, verily I say unto you, if my servant Sidney will serve me and be counselor unto my servant Joseph, let him arise and come up and stand in the office of his calling, and humble himself before me.
 104 And if he will offer unto me an acceptable offering, and acknowledgments, and remain with my people, behold, I, the Lord your God, will heal him that he shall be healed; and he shall lift up his voice again on the mountains, and be a spokesman before my face.

These blessing were contingent upon their faithfulness.  While they were faithful, they were blessed.  But some of them apostatized from the church and did not endure their trials with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore forfeited their promised blessings.

Another great thing that came out of the trials of moving from Missouri and established the city of Nauvoo is the the organization of women saints into a Relief Society.  While the temple in Nauvoo was being built a woman named Sarah Granger Kimball decided to donate cloth to make shirts for the men working on the temple.  A woman she hired, Margaret Cooke helped with making the shirts.  This cause soon caught on throughout many of the local women and a society was created, with Eliza R. Snow writing a constitution and bylaws for the group.  When asked to sign the bylaws and constitution, the Prophet Joseph Smith said it was the best constitution he had seen, but felt directed to have the women enlarge their vision.  Soon after they were organized as Nauvoo Female Relief Society, with Emma Smith (the prophet's wife) as the first president.

Joseph told the sisters that they would receive “instruction through the order which God has established through the medium of those appointed to lead—and I now turn the key to you in the name of God and this Society shall rejoice and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time—this is the beginning of better days to this Society.”9
Soon after the society came into existence, a committee visited all of Nauvoo’s poor, assessed their needs, and solicited donations to help them. Cash donations and proceeds from the sale of food and bedding provided schooling for needy children. Flax, wool, yarn, shingles, soap, candles, tinware, jewelry, baskets, quilts, blankets, onions, apples, flour, bread, crackers, and meat were donated to help those in need.
Besides helping the poor, Relief Society sisters worshiped together. Eliza R. Snow reported that in one meeting “nearly all present arose and spoke, and the spirit of the Lord like a purifying stream, refreshed every heart.”10 These sisters prayed for each other, strengthened each other’s faith, and consecrated their lives and resources to help further the cause of Zion.

The Relief Society is one of the largest women's organizations in the world today and continues to help others in need, both local communities and world wide.  A declaration of the purposes of Relief Society was given in 1999 by then President, Mary Ellen Smoot:

“We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:
“Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.
“Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
“Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.
“Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.
“Delight in service and good works.
“Love life and learning.
“Stand for truth and righteousness.
“Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.
“Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation” (Mary Ellen Smoot, “Rejoice, Daughters of Zion,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 92–93).

The Relief Society work in concert with men who hold the Priesthood of God to help bless those in need of spiritual and physical help.  These people are not educated professionals in social work or counseling, but are people who want to be kind as Jesus was kind, love as Jesus loved and strengthen and Jesus strengthened.  They are not perfect, we are not perfect, but we can help each other, even in our imperfections because the Lord will consecrate our efforts. I am a part of this great society of sisters and am so glad there is organization in efforts to care for those around me and when it comes my turn to be cared for I know other sisters will help me.  That's a relief.

"O God, Where Art Thou?"

Readings: 

Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–33; 122

The last post was about the trials and tribulations of the new Latter-day Saints as a group.  This post is a more personal take on how individuals can deal with the hard things that happen to groups and individuals.

Sections 121 and 122 were received by Joseph Smith while he was in Liberty Jail, awaiting a trial.  Although Joseph was in the company of friends within the jail cell, the conditions of the jail were deplorable and the treatment awful.  Joseph knew that the Saints were being driven from their homes by an extermination order from Governor Boggs.  They were to move from Missouri to Illinois while their prophet and other church leaders were in prison.  Joseph anguished over the plight of the saints and wondered why God was allowing such trial, pain and suffering among the people that had dedicated their life to Him:

DC 121:1-6

 1 O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?
 2 How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?
 3 Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?
 4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.
 5 Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.
 6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.

In our pleadings to God over our own dilemmas or the trials of those we care about, our thoughts can't be too far distant from what Joseph expressed.  Why do we have to go through so much torment and pain?  If you are God and are so powerful, why can't you alleviate this suffering? And not only alleviate our suffering, but destroy our oppressors?

Before I move on to the answer Joseph received, I'd like to point out a few things from his pleading.  First, Joseph did not first ask: 'Is there even a God out there?'  Some people when confronted with horrific trials will conclude that there must not be a good God because if there were, He would not allow such torment.  Joseph remained faithful and expressed that he knew God was there and he knew that God is powerful in all things, including the ability to bring just judgements.  Joseph just wanted to know what the timing of the Lord was in delivering the faithful Saints from their current afflictions. "How long shall thy hand be stayed?" Then he offered pleading from his perspective - that the hand of the Lord will not be stayed any longer.  So at first glance, Joseph's prayer might seem a prayer of dwindling faith, but in fact it is a prayer is extreme faith.  He knew that God had complete control and power and knowledge of the situation, he just wanted to have a glimpse of the time table of the Lord, so that his will could be aligned with God's.

I cannot imagine the feeling Joseph received when he heard these words from the Lord:

 7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
 8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 All sorts of indications come from these few lines:
-Jesus Christ is the giver of peace
-Even during trial, you can have peace
-What we experience during our life is relatively brief compared to our time in the life after this.
-If we endure well the trials of this life, we will be exalted in the next
-We will eventually triumph over our enemies

The Lord continues by telling Joseph that those who contend against him and the Saints will get their just reward:

121:23-25

 23 Wo unto all those that discomfort my people, and drive, and murder, and testify against them, saith the Lord of Hosts; a generation of vipers shall not escape the damnation of hell.
 24 Behold, mine eyes see and know all their works, and I have in reserve a swift judgment in the season thereof, for them all;
 25 For there is a time appointed for every man, according as his works shall be.

The Lord knows the works of the just and the unjust and the laws and violation of laws will stand as a witness to people, for good or bad.

Section 122 is an even more personal answer to Joseph in particular, but most of it applies to every human being as well.  The Lord informs Joseph that there will be many that will ask about him, many who make fun of him or persecute him in person or name. But that there will be those who are pure in heart, wise, noble and virtuous who will seek counsel from him or his works and receive a blessing because they do so.  He is also informed that his troubles are not over and proceeds to list the many possible trials ahead of him (much of it actually did happen to Joseph after the reception of this revelation).

But then the Lord says, even after (as well and during) all these possible difficulties, you need to remember four things:

122:7-9

know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
 9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

1. All of these trials give you experience and opportunity to prove yourself faithful.
2. You have not experienced anywhere near the pain, anguish, torment, sorrow, despair, and all other emotions, of what the Savior of the world has experienced, and even with all the Savior experienced, the Father had to leave him alone for a bit to experience it.
3. God knows your life.  He knows your days and years and the timing of all that happens in your life.
4. "Fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." So many of our sorrows and pains come from fearing what man can do.  To be truthful, man can do quite a bit to hurt us and those around us, and it can really hurt.  We don't like hurting so we become afraid of being hurt and afraid of other people and then we let that fear rule our behavior, attitudes and choices.

But, what if we were not afraid of being hurt? How would that be and how would we even do that?  Maybe it starts with the answer that Joseph received:

1. Jesus Christ is the giver of peace, and can be, because he is the one who transcended all the hard experiences available and can offer the peace that our limited desire and experience cannot fathom or achieve alone until we access his atonement.

2. Your experiences are for a reason: to test your endurance by using faith in Jesus Christ. You can better understand the reasons for your experiences by asking for the help of the Savior to endure them.

3. There is a greater life than the one we see in front of us right now. "If thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high."

This things are hard to remember all the time, and especially if our hurting is so real and so very now.  But we have been given tools to help us remember these things: prayer and  the word of God.  The scriptures are here to remind us of these three things and many other truths that bring us into an eternal perspective, not just a moment to moment perspective.  When we forget to pray or read the word of God, we become unfamiliar with who the Savior is, we forget to find real purpose in our lives and we only live for the present.  This is a recipe for an unhappy state of being.  God is with us forever and ever and He tells us all the time, but if we choose not to listen to how He tells us, we will never really know.  And that is when we despair and that is when we are afraid of hurt, when we do not know God.

Joseph Smith continued to suffer, even until he was murdered.  But he got to the point where he didn't fear what man could do to him because he knew the giver of peace and knew that what he experienced now had purpose and he knew that God would help his through it all, even help him into the next life.  He was quoted before going to his death, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am as calm as a summer's morning."  The same peace and calm is available to us, if we seek it.