The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsTalmage, James E. (James Edward)
Religion
The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Talmage, James E. (James Edward)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
=32. The Labor for the Dead is Two-fold.=--That performed on earth
would be incomplete but for its supplement and counterpart beyond the
vail. Missionary labor is in progress there, whereby the tidings of
the gospel are carried to the departed spirits, who thus learn of the
work done in their behalf on earth. What glorious possibilities
concerning the purposes of God are thus presented to our view! How the
mercy of God is magnified by these evidences of His love! How often do
we behold friends and loved ones, whom we count among earth's fairest
and best, stricken down by the shafts of death, seemingly in spite of
the power of faith and the ministrations of the Priesthood of God! Yet
who of us can tell but that these may be permitted to minister in the
labor of redemption beyond, preaching perhaps the gospel to the
spirits of their forefathers, while others of the same family are
officiating in a similar behalf on earth?
=33.= As far as the Divine will has been revealed, it requires that
the outward ordinances, such as baptism in water, the laying on of
hands for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost, and the higher endowments
that follow, be attended to on earth, a proper representative in the
flesh acting as proxy for the dead. The results of such labors are to
be left with God. It is not to be supposed that by these ordinances
the departed are in any way compelled to accept the obligation, nor
that they are in the least hindered in the exercise of their free
agency. They will accept or reject, according to their condition of
humility or hostility in respect to things divine; but the work so
done for them on earth will be of avail when wholesome argument and
reason have shown them their true position.
TEMPLES.
=34. Temples or Other Sacred Places= are required for the performance
of these holy ordinances. Whenever an organization of the priesthood
has existed on earth, the Lord has required the preparation of places
suited to His use, where the rites of His Church could be performed.
It is but proper that such a structure should be the result of the
people's best efforts, inasmuch as it is made by them an offering unto
the Lord. In every age of the world, the chosen people have been a
temple-building people. Shortly after Israel's deliverance from the
bondage of Egypt, the Lord called upon the people to construct a
sanctuary to His name, the plan of which He minutely specified. Though
this was but a tent, it was elaborately furnished and appointed, the
choicest possessions of the people being used in its construction.[444]
And the Lord accepted this offering of His wandering people, by
manifesting His glory therein, and there revealing Himself.[445] When
the people had settled in the promised land, the Tabernacle of the
congregation was given a more permanent resting place;[446] yet it
still was honored for its sacred purpose, until superseded by the
Temple of Solomon as the sanctuary of the Lord.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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