Doctrine and CovenantsMormonism / Latter-day SaintsModern Religious TextEnglishShareDoctrine and Covenants 128LDS Documentation Project - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableLDS Documentation ProjectLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Doctrine and Covenants 1Doctrine and Covenants 2Doctrine and Covenants 3Doctrine and Covenants 4Doctrine and Covenants 5Doctrine and Covenants 6Doctrine and Covenants 7Doctrine and Covenants 8Doctrine and Covenants 9Doctrine and Covenants 10Doctrine and Covenants 11Doctrine and Covenants 12Doctrine and Covenants 13Doctrine and Covenants 14Doctrine and Covenants 15Doctrine and Covenants 16Doctrine and Covenants 17Doctrine and Covenants 18Doctrine and Covenants 19Doctrine and Covenants 20Doctrine and Covenants 21Doctrine and Covenants 22Doctrine and Covenants 23Doctrine and Covenants 24Doctrine and Covenants 25Doctrine and Covenants 26Doctrine and Covenants 27Doctrine and Covenants 28Doctrine and Covenants 29Doctrine and Covenants 30Doctrine and Covenants 31Doctrine and Covenants 32Doctrine and Covenants 33Doctrine and Covenants 34Doctrine and Covenants 35Doctrine and Covenants 36Doctrine and Covenants 37Doctrine and Covenants 38Doctrine and Covenants 39Doctrine and Covenants 40Doctrine and Covenants 41Doctrine and Covenants 42Doctrine and Covenants 43Doctrine and Covenants 44Doctrine and Covenants 45Doctrine and Covenants 46Doctrine and Covenants 47Doctrine and Covenants 48Doctrine and Covenants 49Doctrine and Covenants 50Doctrine and Covenants 51Doctrine and Covenants 52Doctrine and Covenants 53Doctrine and Covenants 54Doctrine and Covenants 55Doctrine and Covenants 56Doctrine and Covenants 57Doctrine and Covenants 58Doctrine and Covenants 59Doctrine and Covenants 60Doctrine and Covenants 61Doctrine and Covenants 62Doctrine and Covenants 63Doctrine and Covenants 64Doctrine and Covenants 65Doctrine and Covenants 66Doctrine and Covenants 67Doctrine and Covenants 68Doctrine and Covenants 69Doctrine and Covenants 70Doctrine and Covenants 71Doctrine and Covenants 72Doctrine and Covenants 73Doctrine and Covenants 74Doctrine and Covenants 75Doctrine and Covenants 76Doctrine and Covenants 77Doctrine and Covenants 78Doctrine and Covenants 79Doctrine and Covenants 80Doctrine and Covenants 81Doctrine and Covenants 82Doctrine and Covenants 83Doctrine and Covenants 84Doctrine and Covenants 85Doctrine and Covenants 86Doctrine and Covenants 87Doctrine and Covenants 88Doctrine and Covenants 89Doctrine and Covenants 90Doctrine and Covenants 91Doctrine and Covenants 92Doctrine and Covenants 93Doctrine and Covenants 94Doctrine and Covenants 95Doctrine and Covenants 96Doctrine and Covenants 97Doctrine and Covenants 98Doctrine and Covenants 99Doctrine and Covenants 100Doctrine and Covenants 101Doctrine and Covenants 102Doctrine and Covenants 103Doctrine and Covenants 104Doctrine and Covenants 105Doctrine and Covenants 106Doctrine and Covenants 107Doctrine and Covenants 108Doctrine and Covenants 109Doctrine and Covenants 110Doctrine and Covenants 111Doctrine and Covenants 112Doctrine and Covenants 113Doctrine and Covenants 114Doctrine and Covenants 115Doctrine and Covenants 116Doctrine and Covenants 117Doctrine and Covenants 118Doctrine and Covenants 119Doctrine and Covenants 120Doctrine and Covenants 121Doctrine and Covenants 122Doctrine and Covenants 123Doctrine and Covenants 124Doctrine and Covenants 125Doctrine and Covenants 126Doctrine and Covenants 127Doctrine and Covenants 128Doctrine and Covenants 129Doctrine and Covenants 130Doctrine and Covenants 131Doctrine and Covenants 132Doctrine and Covenants 133Doctrine and Covenants 134Doctrine and Covenants 135Doctrine and Covenants 136Doctrine and Covenants 137Doctrine and Covenants 138›Doctrine and Covenants 128Doctrine and Covenants 128ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1As I stated to you in my letter before I left my place, that I would write to you from time to time and give you information in relation to many subjects, I now resume the subject of the baptism for the dead, as that subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest, since I have been pursued by my enemies. 2I wrote a few words of revelation to you concerning a recorder. I have had a few additional views in relation to this matter, which I now certify. That is, it was declared in my former letter that there should be a recorder, who should be eye-witness, and also to hear with his ears, that he might make a record of a truth before the Lord. 3Now, in relation to this matter, it would be very difficult for one recorder to be present at all times, and to do all the business. To obviate this difficulty, there can be a recorder appointed in each ward of the city, who is well qualified for taking accurate minutes; and let him be very particular and precise in taking the whole proceedings, certifying in his record that he saw with his eyes, and heard with his ears, giving the date, and names, and so forth, and the history of the whole transaction; naming also some three individuals that are present, if there be any present, who can at any time when called upon certify to the same, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 4Then, 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. 5You 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. 6And 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. 7You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven; the principle agreeing precisely with the doctrine which is commanded you in the revelation contained in the letter which I wrote to you previous to my leaving my place--that in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven. 8Now, 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. 9It 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? 10And 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. 11Now 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. 12Herein 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. 13Consequently, 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: 14Howbeit 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. 15And 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. 16And now, in relation to the baptism for the dead, I will give you another quotation of Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:29: 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? 17And 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. 18I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. 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. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times. 19Now, 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! 20And 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! 21And 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! 22Brethren, 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. 23Let 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! 24Behold, 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. 25Brethren, I have many things to say to you on the subject; but shall now close for the present, and continue the subject another time. I am, as ever, your humble servant and never deviating friend, ‹Previous chapterDoctrine and Covenants 127Next chapterDoctrine and Covenants 129›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public-domain LDS Documentation Project scripture export