One of the most precious doctrines of the Gospel is the doctrine of vicarious work for the dead. August 15, 1840 is when Joseph Smith publicly announced the principle of baptisms for the dead. What a tremendous blessing. Until that time, most Christian churches believed that if someone died, even a child, without being baptized, he was condemned to eternal damnation, or at least eternal exclusion from heaven. Even today, many churches believe the same thing. They do not accept any vicarious work for the dead, including baptism, even though the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:29, teaching about resurrection of the dead, "Otherwise, what shall they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they being baptized for them." Joseph taught, "If we can baptize a man in the name of the Father [and] of the Son and of the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins it is just as much our privilege to act as an agent and be baptized for the remission of sins for and in behalf of our dead kindred who have not heard the gospel or fulness of it."
The first baptisms for the dead in this dispensation were done in the Mississippi River near Nauvoo. In January, 1841, Joseph received a revelation that baptisms for the dead were intended to be performed in temples. "This ordinance belongeth to my house," the Lord told Joseph. He commanded them then, to build a temple in Nauvoo. From that time on, members of the Church have flocked to the temples to give their kindred dead the gift of salvation. Our children and grandchildren have particularly enjoyed performing that great service for those who cannot do it for themselves. These are some of the pictures I have of children at the temples. I know more of you have performed that great ordinance, but I don't have all the pictures. If you have one that you want me to include, please send it and I will put it on. It will be good to have in the blog book for 2020.
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