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?
No comments:
Post a Comment