Section 129

The Great Plan of Happiness outlined in the scriptures and revealed to Joseph Smith teaches us that there is life beyond the grave.  When we pass away we will go through what I will liken to a door.  Dying means our mortal body and our spirit separate.  The body is buried in the earth; the spirit lives on.  We leave mortality, but stay here on the earth passing through a door into a new dimension so pure and lovely that it is not visible to those who remain behind in mortality.  There we join our departed loved ones.  I often reflect on the reunion between my dad and mom and our dear Sam, who passed away at age five.  For about 50 years he was on their minds every day until the glorious day arrived and the door for my parents opened, and there waiting in the next room, was dearly beloved Sam.  It’s wonderful to ponder the great joy that was experienced first by Dad, and then two years later, by Mom.

Section 128

The facts of my baptism are in my mind stronger than the actual visual memory of it: I was baptized at age 8 by my father.  I was baptized by immersion in the same manner as Jesus.  My father held the proper priesthood authority.  He received that authority from his father, and he, in turn from his father. The line of authority traces to Joseph Smith who received his authority from John the Baptist, yes, that same person who baptized our Savior.  Later Joseph also received the higher priesthood from Peter, James, and John.  With that higher priesthood, my father confirmed me a member of the church and gave me the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Joseph Smith rejoiced that the priesthood power and authority had been restored again to the earth.  He especially pondered what should be done for the dead who had not received their ordinances. He found scriptural precedence for baptism for the dead and also the sealing ordinances.  He said:

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.

 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.

He further states regarding baptism for the dead and sealing ordinances:

It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect.

Joseph’s love for this great work is felt in his words:

 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!

 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?

Section 127

 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.

“Deep water is what I am wont to swim in.” The word “wont” means accustomed to or usual.  So Joseph is saying that his daily routine was fraught with high adventure and tribulation. He learned to embrace and even “glory” in the difficulties.