SALVATION FOR THE DEAD.
Through the Prophet Joseph Smith was revealed the doctrine of salvation for the dead, a doctrine that had not been understood in the world for many centuries until he taught it. It is nevertheless a scriptural doctrine, and is referred to by Peter:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (I Peter 3: 18-20).
It is also referred to by Paul:
"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?" (I Corinthians 15: 29).
Preaching the Gospel to the dead is referred to in several places in the scriptures. (John 5: 25, 28; I Peter 4: 6).
That one person can perform a Gospel ordinance for and in behalf of another accords with the teachings of the scriptures. Christ did vicarious work for all mankind when He atoned for the sins of the world. By that atonement He brought about the resurrection from the grave, and made man's eternal salvation possible, as declared by the Apostle Paul:
"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (I Corinthians 15: 22).
Also in these words:
"Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5: 9).
It is evident from the teachings of the Savior that there is a necessity for such a provision in the plan of redemption. Christ emphatically declared that a man cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without baptism. He said to Nicodemus,
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3: 5).
In sending His disciples to teach all nations, He commanded them to baptize those who believed. Many good people have died without baptism, not having had the privilege of being baptized in this life; as they cannot themselves attend to that ordinance after death, there is a way provided for them to receive admission into the kingdom of heaven. The Savior has declared, they cannot do so without baptism; therefore someone else must attend to that ordinance for them. Those who die without the privilege of receiving the Gospel will have an opportunity to hear and accept it in the spirit world, and the outward ordinances necessary to salvation can be attended to in their behalf by living persons.
Since this doctrine has been revealed, the hearts of the children have been turned to their fathers, for many thousands of those who have accepted the doctrine have manifested their solicitude for the welfare of their dead ancestors by having the necessary ordinances performed for them in the temples which the Latter-day Saints have built for that purpose.