Baptism for the Dead Misunderstandings Part 3

.1 Mormonism examines the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from a viewpoint when Mormonism is sponsored by Mormonism research ministry since 1979 Mormonism research ministry has been dedicated to equipping the body of Christ with answers regarding the Christian faith in a manner that expresses gentleness and respect. And now, your host for today's viewpoint on Mormonism.

Our thanks to Adams Road for that musical introduction welcome to this edition of viewpoint on Mormonism. I'm your host, Bill McKeever, founder and director Mormonism research ministry in with me today is Eric Johnson.

My colleague at MRM were looking at the subject of salvation for the living as well as the subject of salvation for the dead were looking at chapter 10. In the book doctrines of salvation. This is the sermons and writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, the book that was compiled by Bruce McConkie Joseph Fielding Smith, son-in-law. He says in this chapter that many Latter Day Saints seem to have false notions about salvation for the dead. And that's why we are looking at this chapter, hoping that Joseph Fielding Smith can perhaps explain for us what it is that Latter Day Saints are supposed to believe regarding this very unique doctrine. We began yesterday looking at chapter 10 and were going to continue looking at the third paragraph the Lord in his mercy grants to every soul the privilege of repentance and the blessings of the gospel. If men do not receive this privilege. Here they will receive it in the spirit world, for it must come to all. If they reject it here. They may not receive the fullness in eternity. That last sentence I think is what puts everything into perspective. If you look at the first part of that paragraph. It sounds very positive.

The Lord in his mercy grants to every soul the privilege of repentance and the blessings of the gospel, but then it goes on to say, if men do not receive this privilege. Here they will receive it in the spirit world, for it must come to all again. That sounds very positive. But then the next sentence if they rejected here. They may not receive the fullness in eternity. Another words they're not going to receive exultation. They will not become gods in the next life. They will not have the opportunity to be with their families that they were sealed to for eternity. During this mortality.

This is explained a little bit better in the very next paragraph at the bottom of page 181 that starts with the subheading. Those who have a future day of salvation. On January 21, 1836. Joseph Smith received the following revelation quote all who have died without a knowledge of the gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to Terry shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God. Also, all that shall die. Henceforth, without a knowledge of it. Who would have received it with all their hearts shall be heirs of that kingdom. For I the Lord will judge all men according to their works according to the desire of their hearts." The Mets found in the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 107 which happened to be compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, the very man whose book were looking at today. Notice what it says here and that paragraph on the bottom of page 181. Those who have a future day of salvation. This is going to describe who they are and as Eric mentioned, Joseph Smith received a revelation on January 21, 1836, all who have died with out a knowledge of the gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to Terry shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God. So if you go through this mortality and you never hear about Joseph Smith. You never hear about what they call the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. You've never even heard.

Let's say about the restored church and you die in that kind of ignorant bliss but embrace it after you die in the spirit world. You get a ticket to the celestial kingdom that we need to understand a little bit too of where this doctrine came from. Now this is from 1836, but it stems from the death of his oldest brother Alvin, who died November 19, 1823 at the age of 25 of mercury poisoning and a lot of speculation as to where Alvin went because he died in 1823 before the book of Mormon is printed before the church is founded. What happened to Alvin so this becomes a doctrine that is going to appease those who are Latter Day Saints, wondering what happened to my relatives who died before the gospel and so we have the salvation of the dead, and the baptism of the dead becomes a doctrine based on Alvin Smith and it was never intended for it to be something that after the gospel has been given and people receive the gospel that they would somehow have a second chance. It was initially made so that people like Alvin and others who died before the gospel was ever presented to them would have this one opportunity. It is this quotation that has caused me to say I still believe this wholeheartedly.

I even wrote an article on this matter. July August 2020 newsletter info Latter Day Saints really loves their fellow man. If that requirement allows a person to get into the celestial kingdom. Then why if you really love me, would you even tell me about this restored gospel, because once the missionary comes to your house. It would appear that now your culpable you are responsible for what the missionary has told you so, are you suggesting to help by what you just said that would be more loving for Mormon missionaries to stay home and not go out and perhaps give the gospel to people who otherwise would not of had it and perhaps had a better chance in the next life to be able to receive the gospel.

When people did the work for them on this earth. It would seem so. Course, there's always that little bit of a risk that even if you hear it after you die, you may rejected, but I would argue that if I was in a predicament where I found myself in a Mormon spirit world and I see Mormons coming to me telling me about Joseph Smith and the restored gospel. I would almost be a fool not to embrace it because it sounds like they're in control of the situation now where is my faith to believe there really isn't any faith.

Now it's become pragmatic. I'm going to do it because if I don't accept this. I know that I'm going to end up in some lower heaven if I do accept it, then, is one who's never heard before I would go to the celestial kingdom. However, as were going to see throughout this series. If a person has heard about the restored gospel which we call Mormonism and they rejected.

They have forfeited any opportunity of getting into the celestial kingdom and that needs to be understood. Let's go back to Monday.

When I was telling the story of the two ladies walking toward me when I was standing in front of the San Diego Temple in 1993 she was under the impression that even though she had talked to her mother about what she believes to be true regarding the restored gospel. Her mother rejected the message and she felt that all she needed to do now was to wait for her to die than go to the temple, be baptized on her mother's behalf, and all will be well. But that's not what Joseph Fielding Smith thought, that's not what any Mormon leader has taught that I am aware of that were going to continue looking at page 182, of doctrines of salvation. The second volume and this is the subheading offer of salvation made either now or in spirit world, the justice of the Lord is manifest in the right. He grants to all men to hear the plan of salvation and receive it somehow that privilege in this life.

If they obey the gospel well and good if they rejected then in the spirit world.

The same opportunities with the same fullness do not come to them and notice he has the word not in italics so I think Joseph Fielding Smith is wanting to emphasize this. Don't think it's the same don't think you're going to receive the same benefits when he says, some have that privilege in this life. If they obey the gospel well and good. So here is the challenge. Once the missionaries come to your home or once your Mormon neighbor or your Mormon relative tells you about what they believe regarding Joseph Smith and the restored gospel you now become responsible now.

The obligation is placed on you to make sure you owe pay the gospel. You must do what you've been told is now necessary as a believer in this gospel quote unquote if you reject it as Joseph Fielding Smith says. Then, in the spirit world. The same opportunities with the same fullness do not come to them. This is why I say if a Latter Day Saints really loves their fellow man. They should be quiet, they should not tell them anything about Mormonism and allow them to die in ignorance, hoping for the better chance of embracing Mormonism in the spirit world. Would you agree or you probably have a better chance embracing Mormonism in the spirit world and you certainly do having to keep all the commandments during this life having doctrine and covenants section 1, verse 31 and 32 says, for I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven and as I said earlier. How many of those commandments have to be kept well.

According to Mormon scripture. All of them have to be. If you repent of something and then commit that sin again. It's as if you never really repented. The first time in D&C section 82 verse seven says that your former sins return.

If you send that same sin again. So the obligation of the latter-day St. to keep the commandments of God. It's an impossible gospel. He said he goes on in the next paragraph to see if they die without that opportunity in this life, it will reach them in the world of spirits the gospel will there be declared to them and if they are willing to accept it is counted into them just the same as if they had embraced it in mortality. It's not really just the same, though, because in the spirit world you're not obligated to keep all the commandments, no. So it's not really the same. He says in this way justice is meted out to every man. All are placed on equality before the bar of God.

The important point that you need to remember folks is once you've had the opportunity you become culpable you become responsible for that. This is why I personally don't think the Mormon missionaries are doing anybody a good service unless of course are coming over to your house to mow your lawn or to paint your house, but they're certainly not doing you any good service by telling you about the restored gospel. If you've never heard before. Because now you are just as responsible to keep all the commandments as they are but yet when you ask any Latter Day Saints if they're doing that. Of course they're not doing so. How can that possibly be considered good news tomorrow were going to continue looking at this chapter. Chapter 10 in volume 2 of the doctrines of salvation. The chapter title salvation for the living. No second chance for salvation and you're going to see as we again examine Joseph Fielding Smith's position on this that if you reject in this mortality and accepted in the next. The opportunity for celestial exultation has left you. Thank you for listening. If you would like more information when guarding his research ministry. We encourage you to visit our website www.mrm.org you can request our free newsletter Mormonism research. We hope you will join us again as we look at another viewpoint is have you ever wondered what life is like for women and children to attracting polygamy. If so, you're invited to hear from ministries aimed at reaching those in polygamy, as well as testimonies of former polygamist were now Christians. This is held in Sandy, Utah on Saturday, September 19 from 830 to 2:30 PM registration is $20 per person includes a continental breakfast and lunch for questions or to register, call Chris at 801-754-3636 again that's 801-754-3636