Check out part one of this article here.
The Lord was clear in proclaiming His exclusive authority over those processes by which we may return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. This ideal was clear in the minds of His apostles as well, and their preaching provided one way only for us to be saved. Over the centuries men saw that many never found that way. This became very hard to explain, and perhaps they thought it generous to admit there were other ways. So they tempered or tampered with the doctrine.
This narrow emphasis on “one Lord and one baptism” was thought to be too restrictive even though the Lord Himself described it that way, for “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life” (Matt 7:14). Since baptism is essential it’s an urgent concern to carry the message of the gospel to all the world, and this came as a commandment from Him. Many Christian churches adhere to missionary work, however most members are content to enjoy what they gain from membership in their church without any real effort to see that others hear about it. If someone asked members of my faith “Are you out to convert the entire world?” the answer would be, “Yes. We’ll try to reach every living soul.” Some may respond “Impossible! It cannot be done!” True disciples of Christ say “Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.”
What about the folks I alluded to at the conclusion of my last article, those who died without baptism? What happens to them? Think about it, this would include most of the human family that has ever lived, including innumerable infants and children. What power would establish one Lord and one baptism, then forbid most of the human race to ever come within its influence? It’s not right. If God is just and merciful, and I testify in the name of Christ that He is, where is justice or mercy in that? Reader, when you find the true church you will find the answer to that disturbing question. If a church has no answer for that, how can it lay claim to be His Church? Christ is not willing to write off most of humanity because they weren’t baptized. Let us recall Isaiah: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands” (Isa 49:15-16).
Since they had no answer to this, many Christians came to believe that baptism itself was not critical. As we touch on those who died without baptism we do so with the deepest reverence, for it touches on sacred work. This work is marvelous in its prospects, transcendent above what man might have dreamed of, supernal, inspired, and true. In it lies the answer. There is a scripture in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, ignored or overlooked by the Christian world in general. “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?”
Here then, was the answer. With proper authority an individual could be baptized for and in behalf of someone who never had the opportunity. Doing work for others that they cannot do for themselves is at the very heart of Christianity, and was embodied when our Lord vicariously suffered in our place for all of our sins. Isaiah puts it more beautifully than anyone else: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa 53:5). This is a reaffirmation of something that the Christian world believes, which is there is life after death. The great work of redemption goes on beyond the veil of this life as well as on earth.
The Lord said “Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25). The answer to this doctrine was revealed by revelation, for that is how the Lord works and it’s how He has always worked, namely Him “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (Jas 1:17). It is the only way this doctrine could be restored. Peter tells us, “For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Pet 4:6). An actual prophet living in the 20th century was pondering on that scripture when a marvelous vision was revealed to him. In it he saw concourses of the righteous, and Christ ministering among them. He saw also those who had not the opportunity, and those who had not been valiant, and he saw the work of their redemption. I quote part of his record of this vision: “I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; but behold, from among the righteous he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men. And thus was the gospel preached to the dead.”
Members of my church have been authorized to perform baptisms vicariously for our ancestors, so when they hear the gospel preached and desire to accept it, that essential ordinance will have been performed. They need not ask for any exemption from that essential ordinance. Indeed, the Lord Himself was not exempted from it. So, we gather the records of our kindred dead, the records of the entire human family, and in sacred temples in baptismal fonts designed as those were anciently, we perform these sacred ordinances.
“Strange,” one might say. Yes, it is passing strange; it is also transcendent and supernal. The very nature of our work testifies that He is our Lord, that baptism is essential, that He taught the truth. The question is asked, “You mean you are out to provide baptism for all who have ever lived?” The answer is simply yes. “That’s impossible. If preaching the gospel to all the living is extremely difficult, the vicarious work for all who have ever lived is totally impossible.” “Perhaps,” we would answer, “but we shall do it anyway.”
It is not a discouraging work either. Since nothing is being done for them elsewhere, the accomplishments of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have been pleasing to the Lord. Another question comes to mind, though. “What about those for whom no record was ever kept? Surely you will fail there.” The response is, “you have forgotten revelation.” When we have done all we can do, we shall be given the rest. The way will be opened up. Our Savior said anciently to Sarah, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen 18:14). Without this work, the saving ordinance of baptism would apply to so few who have ever lived that it could not be claimed to be true.
No point of doctrine sets The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints apart from other claimants to be the true church of the Lord as this one does. Without it we would, with all of the others, have to accept that the New Testament declares baptism to be essential and then admit almost none of the human family could ever have it.
I bear witness that this work is true, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and there is a prophet on this earth today to lead us. The Lord lives, and continues to pour out revelation in our day. Have miracles ceased because Christ has ascended into heaven? No, neither have angels ceased to minister unto men and women. If you desire to know for yourself what members of my Church believe and how the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored, click the link above or consider reading the book Our Search for Happiness. I do not receive anything for posting these links, I simply want to share it with you. I am indebted to the late Apostle Boyd K Packer, from which I derived most of the content for these articles.