Part 1 – Why Search for Our Ancestors?

Have you ever wondered what happens to the billions of people who lived and died without ever hearing the name of Jesus Christ?

If Jesus Christ declared that baptism is required to enter the Kingdom of God, what happens to those who never had the opportunity to receive that ordinance?

This question has troubled Christians for centuries.

One of the most unique teachings restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith is the doctrine of salvation for the dead.

This doctrine teaches that God is perfectly just, perfectly merciful, and that every person who has ever lived will have a fair opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of the first steps in this work is genealogy.

Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recognized as the world leader in genealogical research. Yet many Christians point to the Apostle Paul's warning concerning genealogies.

1 Timothy 1:3-4

"...that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith..."

Paul was not condemning genealogy itself. Rather, he warned against becoming consumed with endless speculations and prideful discussions that do not strengthen faith.

In fact, the Bible contains numerous genealogies. Entire chapters are devoted to tracing family lines. If genealogies were unimportant, God would not have preserved them in scripture.

One striking example is found in Ezra.

Ezra 2:62

"These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood."

Here we learn that maintaining genealogical records was important enough to determine priesthood rights among the children of Israel.

Another fascinating passage is found in the final prophet of the Old Testament.

Malachi 3:16-18

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name... And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts..."

Notice that God specifically mentions a "book of remembrance."

• Could this book of remembrance include the records of God's family?

• Could genealogy be more than a hobby?

• Could it be part of God's plan to unite His children across generations?

These questions become even more important as we examine what happens after death.

Part 2 – Why Would God Care About the Dead?

Jesus taught that baptism is required for salvation.

John 3:5

"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

This raises an important question.

• What about the countless millions who never heard of Christ?

• What about those who died before His mortal ministry?

• What about those who lived in remote lands and never received baptism?

Would a loving and just God condemn them simply because they never had the opportunity?

The Bible gives a remarkable answer.

After His crucifixion, Christ went to preach to the dead.

1 Peter 3:18-19

"Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;"

The dead were not forgotten.

The Savior personally carried His message to them.

Jesus further declared:

John 5:25

"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."

And again:

John 5:28-29

"For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth..."

Peter provides even greater clarity.

1 Peter 4:6

"For 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."

• The gospel was preached to the dead.

• Not merely spoken about.

• Not merely announced.

• Preached.

The obvious question becomes:

If the dead can hear and accept the gospel, how do they receive the required ordinances?

Part 3 – Baptism for the Dead

The Apostle Paul gives one of the most intriguing statements in all of scripture.

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?"

Notice what Paul does not say.

• He does not condemn the practice.

• He does not correct the practice.

He simply acknowledges that Christians were being baptized for the dead.

Why would such a practice exist?

The answer is simple.

If baptism is required, and if the dead can still hear the gospel, then God must provide a way for them to receive the ordinance.

Joseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ restored this ancient practice through modern revelation.

In holy temples, living individuals act as proxies for deceased ancestors, allowing those ancestors the opportunity to accept or reject the ordinance in the spirit world.

This doctrine beautifully preserves both agency and justice.

No one is forced to accept the ordinance.

Yet no one is denied the opportunity.

Part 4 – The Promise They Never Received

The Apostle Paul provides another fascinating insight.

Speaking of ancient prophets and righteous men, he writes:

Hebrews 11:32-33

"And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises..."

Paul then speaks of another group.

Hebrews 11:39

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:"

These people were faithful.

They pleased God.

Yet they did not receive the promise.

Then comes one of the most remarkable statements in scripture.

Hebrews 11:40

"God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

Think about that.

How could the living help perfect the dead?

How could Paul's generation make any difference to people who had already died?

Joseph Smith taught that through priesthood authority and temple ordinances, the living can perform sacred ordinances on behalf of their deceased ancestors.

Without those ordinances, they cannot be made perfect.

Suddenly Paul's words take on a deeper meaning.

Part 5 – Binding on Earth and in Heaven

Jesus gave Peter a remarkable promise.

Matthew 16:19

"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..."

Later, Christ repeated the same principle.

Matthew 18:18

"Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven..."

Joseph Smith taught that this authority included the power to bind families together eternally.

Within temples, sacred ordinances are performed that unite husbands and wives, parents and children, not merely until death, but forever.

This is the doctrine of eternal families.

The family unit is not destroyed by death.

Through Christ and His priesthood authority, families may continue eternally.

Part 6 – A Perfectly Just God

The doctrine of salvation for the dead reveals a God of perfect fairness.

Imagine two men.

One lives in a Christian nation and hears the gospel.

The other lives and dies without ever hearing Christ's name.

Would God condemn one while saving the other simply because of circumstances beyond his control?

The restored gospel answers no.

Christ provided a way for everyone.

This was accomplished through His atoning sacrifice, His ministry among the spirits in prison, and the ordinances performed by proxy in holy temples.

Joseph Smith beautifully summarized this doctrine:

"A view of these things reconciles the scriptures of truth, justifies the ways of God to man, places the human family upon an equal footing, and harmonizes with every principle of righteousness, justice, and truth."

Few statements better explain the mercy and justice of God.

Part 7 – The Oil in Our Lamps

The Savior warned that only half of the ten virgins were prepared when the Bridegroom came.

Matthew 25:10-12

"And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut... Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

The question naturally arises:

What is the oil?

Many interpretations have been offered.

• Could part of that oil include our faithfulness in doing the work God has assigned us?

• Could it include remembering our ancestors?

• Could it include participating in the work of salvation for the dead?

Consider again the words of Malachi.

Malachi 3:16-18

"A book of remembrance was written before him... And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts..."

God specifically connects this book of remembrance with those who belong to Him.

Could there be a connection between the Book of Remembrance and preparation for the coming of Christ?

The Bible leaves us to ponder these questions.

Summary

Through the teachings restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith, we learn that God's plan extends far beyond mortal life.

We lived with our Heavenly Father before coming to earth.

We came here to:

1. Receive a body of flesh and bone.

2. Exercise faith in Jesus Christ.

3. Repent of our sins.

4. Receive baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. Keep God's commandments.

6. Receive sacred temple ordinances.

7. Be sealed to our families for eternity.

8. Endure faithfully to the end.

9. Become perfected through Jesus Christ.

10. Assist in the salvation of our ancestors.

This was not only Heavenly Father's plan.

It was our desire as well.

Before coming to earth, we rejoiced in the opportunity.

Job 38:4,7

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?... When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

The doctrine of salvation for the dead teaches us that God's work is not limited by death.

His purpose is not merely to save individuals.

His purpose is to save families.

Through Jesus Christ, both the living and the dead are offered the opportunity to receive the gospel and its ordinances.

Genealogy is not simply a record of the past.

• It is a work of love.

• It is a work of mercy.

• It is a work of salvation.

And it stands as one of the greatest evidences that God truly is the Father of us all.

The Biblical Support Challenge

Throughout this chapter and the entire Plan of Salvation series, we have examined many teachings that Joseph Smith restored and compared them directly to the Bible.

Many Christians are taught that these doctrines are uniquely Mormon and cannot be found in scripture.

Yet as we have seen, the Bible repeatedly supports these teachings.

Consider the evidence for yourself.

The Biblical Support Chart

1. Does the Bible teach that receiving a body of flesh and bone is an essential part of God's plan? YES

2. Does the Bible teach that faith in Jesus Christ is required for salvation? YES

3. Does the Bible teach that repentance is necessary? YES

4. Does the Bible teach that baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost are required ordinances? YES

5. Does the Bible teach that Christians should keep strict adherence to God's commandments? YES

6. Does the Bible teach the principle of tithing? YES

7. Does the Bible teach health laws and caring for our bodies as temples of God? YES

8. Does the Bible teach moral standards concerning sexual conduct? YES

9. Does the Bible teach sacred ordinances involving anointings and temple worship? YES

10. Does the Bible teach that priesthood authority can bind on earth and in heaven? YES

11. Does the Bible teach the possibility of eternal family relationships? YES

12. Does the Bible teach that Christians must endure faithfully to the end? YES

13. Does the Bible teach that Christ preached to the dead? YES

14. Does the Bible mention baptism for the dead? YES

15. Does the Bible teach the importance of genealogy and a Book of Remembrance? YES

If your answer to these questions is "Yes," then another question naturally follows.

The Real Question

If these doctrines are taught in the Bible, why are they often rejected when taught by Joseph Smith?

If Joseph Smith merely invented these doctrines, why do so many biblical passages support them?

Could it be that Joseph Smith restored truths that had been lost, forgotten, or misunderstood?

As always, I encourage you to be like the Bereans.

Acts 17:11

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

• Do not take my word for it.

• Do not take your pastor's word for it.

• Open your Bible.

• Read the scriptures.

• Search diligently.

Then ask yourself:

Which church today teaches and practices all of these biblical principles?

One Final Challenge

Throughout this series, we have examined Joseph Smith's teachings concerning the Plan of Salvation and compared them directly with the Bible.

The Apostle Paul gave a very serious warning regarding doctrine.

Galatians 1:8-9

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

This is one of the strongest warnings found anywhere in scripture.

Paul taught that anyone who teaches a different gospel than the one taught by Christ and His apostles would be under a curse.

That presents an important question.

After examining the scriptures presented throughout this chapter, has Joseph Smith taught "another gospel"?

Or has he taught the very same principles found throughout the Bible?

In fact, Joseph Smith and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are teaching the same gospel taught by Christ, Peter, John, and Paul, then the curse spoken of by Paul cannot apply to Joseph Smith.

The greater question becomes this:

If these doctrines are taught in the Bible, why are so many churches rejecting them today?

Conclusion

We have seen that God has provided a way for every person who has ever lived to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and receive the ordinances necessary for salvation. Through genealogy, baptism for the dead, endowments, and family sealings, the living can assist in extending these blessings to their ancestors.

But this raises another important question.

If these ordinances are so sacred and so essential to God's plan, why are they performed in temples?

Why did God command His people throughout biblical history to build temples?

Why did Jesus worship in the temple?

And why did Joseph Smith place such importance on building temples in the latter days?

To understand the answers, we must now turn our attention to one of the most distinctive features of the restored gospel—the holy temples of God.

In Chapter 14a, b, and c, we will discuss the background of temples, their modern day purpose, the actual ordinances performed in the temples and go in deep on the temple garments…what some people call our magic underwear!

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