John 3:5John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he water and of the Spirit, he

cannot enter into the cannot enter into the kingdom of God. kingdom of God.

Being baptized is Being baptized is one of the first one of the first steps toward steps toward returning to live returning to live with Heavenly with Heavenly Father and Jesus Father and Jesus Christ again. Christ again. People cannot People cannot enter the enter the kingdom of God kingdom of God unless they have unless they have been baptized.been baptized.

Many people have lived on the earth at times Many people have lived on the earth at times when baptism was not available or have died when baptism was not available or have died before they had a chance to learn about the before they had a chance to learn about the

true gospel and baptism by the proper true gospel and baptism by the proper priesthood authority.priesthood authority.

Since baptism is required of all people, how Since baptism is required of all people, how will these people be able to return to live will these people be able to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Heavenly Father loves Heavenly Father loves each of his children each of his children equally and wants equally and wants each one to have each one to have the opportunity to the opportunity to live again with him. live again with him. He has made it He has made it possible for possible for members of the members of the Church to help Church to help people who were people who were not baptized when not baptized when they lived on the they lived on the earth. We can do earth. We can do for these people for these people what they cannot what they cannot do for themselves.do for themselves.

In May 1842 the Saints living In May 1842 the Saints living in Nauvoo learned that in Nauvoo learned that Lilburn W. Boggs had been Lilburn W. Boggs had been shot and wounded in shot and wounded in Independence, Missouri. Independence, Missouri. Boggs had been the Boggs had been the governor of Missouri when governor of Missouri when the Saints lived there, and the Saints lived there, and he had issued the he had issued the “extermination order” “extermination order” forcing the Saints out of forcing the Saints out of Missouri. Boggs had many Missouri. Boggs had many political enemies who would political enemies who would have been likely suspects in have been likely suspects in the shooting, but Missouri the shooting, but Missouri authorities accused Joseph authorities accused Joseph Smith of trying to kill Boggs. Smith of trying to kill Boggs. Joseph knew that he was Joseph knew that he was innocent of this charge, so innocent of this charge, so he made a statement to a he made a statement to a newspaper editor and forgot newspaper editor and forgot the incident. the incident.

Two months later the Two months later the Prophet and Orrin Porter Prophet and Orrin Porter Rockwell, one of his Rockwell, one of his bodyguards, were arrested. bodyguards, were arrested. Boggs had formally Boggs had formally accused Porter Rockwell of accused Porter Rockwell of firing the gun and Joseph firing the gun and Joseph Smith of ordering him to Smith of ordering him to

do it. Under the laws of the do it. Under the laws of the United States, however, United States, however, the Prophet and Porter the Prophet and Porter Rockwell had been Rockwell had been improperly and illegally improperly and illegally arrested, so they were arrested, so they were released. Realizing that he released. Realizing that he was in danger, the Prophet was in danger, the Prophet went into hiding for the went into hiding for the next few months. next few months.

During this time of During this time of hiding, Joseph Smith hiding, Joseph Smith wrote two inspired wrote two inspired letters to the Saints letters to the Saints in Nauvoo. These in Nauvoo. These letters contained letters contained instructions given by instructions given by the Lord regarding the Lord regarding how baptisms for the how baptisms for the dead should be dead should be done. The letters are done. The letters are now published as now published as Doctrine and Doctrine and Covenants 127Covenants 127 and and 128128. .

Several years earlier, Several years earlier, in the Kirtland Temple, in the Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith had Joseph Smith had received a vision of received a vision of the celestial kingdom the celestial kingdom in which he saw his in which he saw his brother Alvin, who had brother Alvin, who had died before Joseph died before Joseph had received the gold had received the gold plates (see plates (see D&C 137D&C 137). ). Joseph was surprised Joseph was surprised to see Alvin in the to see Alvin in the celestial kingdom, celestial kingdom, because Alvin had not because Alvin had not been baptized before been baptized before he died. he died.

The Lord explained to The Lord explained to Joseph that all people Joseph that all people who would have who would have received the gospel, received the gospel, been baptized, and lived been baptized, and lived righteously if they had righteously if they had been given the been given the opportunity will be able opportunity will be able to be in the celestial to be in the celestial kingdom (see kingdom (see D&C D&C 137:7137:7). Joseph later ). Joseph later learned that baptisms learned that baptisms for the dead could be for the dead could be done vicariously, using done vicariously, using people on the earth as people on the earth as proxies.proxies.

VicariouVicariouss

A person A person doesdoes something something

in place ofin place of someone else.someone else.

ProxyProxy

The The personperson

doing the doing the work or work or activity.activity.

In the temple we can In the temple we can be baptized for be baptized for people who died people who died without being without being baptized. We serve baptized. We serve as proxy for these as proxy for these people. We are the people. We are the ones who go down ones who go down into the water and into the water and are baptized, but are baptized, but they are the ones for they are the ones for whom the baptism whom the baptism counts. We are counts. We are participating in participating in vicarious baptisms.vicarious baptisms.

Everyone must be baptized Everyone must be baptized in order to enter the in order to enter the celestial kingdom. celestial kingdom. Because baptism is an Because baptism is an earthly ordinance, earthly ordinance, baptisms can be done only baptisms can be done only by people living on the by people living on the earth. While we are on the earth. While we are on the earth, we can help people earth, we can help people who have not been who have not been baptized by doing baptized by doing vicarious baptisms for vicarious baptisms for them.them.

Vicarious baptisms for the dead Vicarious baptisms for the dead were performed after Jesus were performed after Jesus Christ’s resurrection until Christ’s Christ’s resurrection until Christ’s church fell into apostasy and the church fell into apostasy and the priesthood was taken from the priesthood was taken from the earth.earth.

1 Corinthians 15:291 Corinthians 15:29

Else what shall they do which are Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? dead?

Before the Prophet Joseph learned about Before the Prophet Joseph learned about baptism for the dead, no one in his time baptism for the dead, no one in his time realized that vicarious baptism was a partrealized that vicarious baptism was a part

of the gospel of Jesus Christ. of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 1918 Joseph F. In 1918 Joseph F. Smith, the sixth Smith, the sixth President of the President of the Church, received a Church, received a revelation explaining revelation explaining more about what more about what happens to those happens to those who die without who die without baptism. This baptism. This revelation is revelation is published in published in Doctrine Doctrine and Covenants 138and Covenants 138..

Jesus organized his Jesus organized his followers to teach the followers to teach the gospel to people who gospel to people who had not had the had not had the opportunity to learn the opportunity to learn the gospel and be baptized gospel and be baptized before they died. This before they died. This teaching prepared the teaching prepared the people to accept the people to accept the vicarious baptisms that vicarious baptisms that would be done for would be done for them. them.

President Smith saw Jesus Christ President Smith saw Jesus Christ and some of his followers in the and some of his followers in the

spirit world.spirit world.

Why do we need to be baptized?Why do we need to be baptized?

What is baptism for the dead?What is baptism for the dead?

Why do members of the church perform baptisms Why do members of the church perform baptisms for the dead?for the dead?

Why are we Why are we baptized by baptized by immersion?immersion?

Coming out of the water is Coming out of the water is symbolic of our coming out of symbolic of our coming out of our graves in the Resurrection.our graves in the Resurrection.

The baptismal font is The baptismal font is usually placed in the usually placed in the basement or lowest basement or lowest part of the temple. part of the temple.

Why do you think the Why do you think the baptismal font is baptismal font is located in the lowest located in the lowest part of the temple? part of the temple?

Why did the Lord instruct the Why did the Lord instruct the Saints to keep careful records Saints to keep careful records

of the baptisms they of the baptisms they performed for the dead? performed for the dead?

Doctrine & Covenants 127:6-Doctrine & Covenants 127:6-7,97,9

Doctrine & Covenants 127 Doctrine & Covenants 127   

6 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning your 6 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning your dead: When any of you are baptized for your dead, let dead: When any of you are baptized for your dead, let there be a recorder, and let him be eye-witness of your there be a recorder, and let him be eye-witness of your baptisms; let him hear with his ears, that he may testify baptisms; let him hear with his ears, that he may testify

of a truth, saith the Lord; of a truth, saith the Lord;

  7 That in all your recordings it may be recorded in   7 That in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven; whatsoever you bind on earth, may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you bind on earth, may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed

in heaven; in heaven;   

  9 And again, let all the records be had in order, that   9 And again, let all the records be had in order, that they may be put in the archives of my holy temple, to be they may be put in the archives of my holy temple, to be

held in remembrance from generation to generation, held in remembrance from generation to generation, saith the Lord of Hosts.saith the Lord of Hosts.

Revelations 20:12Revelations 20:12

And I saw the dead, small and great, And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book were opened: and another book was opened, which is was opened, which is the bookthe book of of life: and the dead were judged out life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written of those things which were written in the books, according to their in the books, according to their works.works.

What did Joseph F. Smith see What did Joseph F. Smith see in his vision of the spirit world? in his vision of the spirit world?

Doctrine & Covenants 138:11-19, 28-Doctrine & Covenants 138:11-19, 28-3535

What happens to people who die What happens to people who die without being taught the gospel?without being taught the gospel?

Doctrine & Covenants 138:31-33Doctrine & Covenants 138:31-33

Why is it important for each of Why is it important for each of us to make sure our ancestors us to make sure our ancestors

have had the ordinance of have had the ordinance of baptism performed for them? baptism performed for them?

Doctrine & Covenants 128:15Doctrine & Covenants 128:15

Other ordinances, Other ordinances, such as temple such as temple marriage, can also marriage, can also be performed for be performed for the dead by proxy. the dead by proxy. This way all the This way all the members of our members of our family can be family can be sealed together for sealed together for eternity. All our eternity. All our righteous ancestors righteous ancestors can be part of our can be part of our eternal family.eternal family.

Brigitte and Carla met in the third Brigitte and Carla met in the third grade in Europe. Carla had just been grade in Europe. Carla had just been baptized and wanted everyone to baptized and wanted everyone to know she was a member of the “only know she was a member of the “only true church.” Some of Carla’s true church.” Some of Carla’s classmates made fun of her for saying classmates made fun of her for saying this, but Brigitte became her friend. this, but Brigitte became her friend.

Brigitte’s family was active in their own Brigitte’s family was active in their own church, but they were respectful of other church, but they were respectful of other religions. Brigitte even went to Church religions. Brigitte even went to Church activities with Carla a few times. Brigitte activities with Carla a few times. Brigitte and Carla remained friends all through and Carla remained friends all through their school years. Then, at seventeen their school years. Then, at seventeen years of age, Brigitte died. years of age, Brigitte died.

Two months later Carla awoke in the Two months later Carla awoke in the night to see Brigitte standing at the night to see Brigitte standing at the foot of her bed. She did not speak, and foot of her bed. She did not speak, and Carla wondered why she had appeared Carla wondered why she had appeared to her. The following year Brigitte to her. The following year Brigitte visited Carla again, and she came a visited Carla again, and she came a third time the next year. third time the next year.

Carla later moved to the United States and Carla later moved to the United States and was married in the Salt Lake Temple. After was married in the Salt Lake Temple. After Carla had been through the temple, Carla had been through the temple, Brigitte appeared to her more often. Then, Brigitte appeared to her more often. Then, a week before Carla and her husband were a week before Carla and her husband were planning to go to the temple again, Brigitte planning to go to the temple again, Brigitte appeared to Carla three nights in a row. appeared to Carla three nights in a row.

On the third night Carla woke her On the third night Carla woke her husband and told him about Brigitte’s husband and told him about Brigitte’s visits. They both felt Brigitte had been visits. They both felt Brigitte had been taught the gospel plan in the spirit taught the gospel plan in the spirit world and had accepted it. Now she world and had accepted it. Now she wanted to be baptized. Carla and her wanted to be baptized. Carla and her husband prayed and asked the Lord husband prayed and asked the Lord how to obtain the necessary records. how to obtain the necessary records.

They were inspired to contact a researcher They were inspired to contact a researcher and were able to get Brigitte’s death and were able to get Brigitte’s death certificate. Carla was now able to send in certificate. Carla was now able to send in Brigitte’s name to the temple so her temple Brigitte’s name to the temple so her temple work, including baptism, could be done.work, including baptism, could be done.

A few weeks later Carla again awoke to A few weeks later Carla again awoke to see Brigitte. This time Brigitte was see Brigitte. This time Brigitte was dressed in a white gown and was dressed in a white gown and was standing in a place that looked like a standing in a place that looked like a baptismal room. The next morning baptismal room. The next morning Carla received a letter from the temple Carla received a letter from the temple telling her that the baptism for Brigitte telling her that the baptism for Brigitte had been done. had been done.

(See Carla Sansom, “From Beyond the (See Carla Sansom, “From Beyond the Veil,” Veil,” Ensign,Ensign, Feb. 1978, pp. 49–50.) Feb. 1978, pp. 49–50.)

Brother J. Hatten Carpenter, who served Brother J. Hatten Carpenter, who served as a recorder in the Manti Temple, told as a recorder in the Manti Temple, told of a patriarch who was watching of a patriarch who was watching baptisms for the dead being performed baptisms for the dead being performed in the temple one day. in the temple one day.

The patriarch saw “the spirits of those for whom they The patriarch saw “the spirits of those for whom they were officiating in the font by proxy. There the spirits were officiating in the font by proxy. There the spirits stood awaiting their turn, and, as the Recorder called out stood awaiting their turn, and, as the Recorder called out the name of a person to be baptized for, the patriarch the name of a person to be baptized for, the patriarch noticed a pleasant smile come over the face of the spirit noticed a pleasant smile come over the face of the spirit whose name had been called, and he would leave the whose name had been called, and he would leave the group of fellow spirits and pass over to the side of the group of fellow spirits and pass over to the side of the Recorder. There he would watch his own baptism Recorder. There he would watch his own baptism performed by proxy, and then with a joyful countenance performed by proxy, and then with a joyful countenance would pass away [to] make room for the next favored would pass away [to] make room for the next favored personage who was to enjoy the same privilege.” personage who was to enjoy the same privilege.”

As time went on, the patriarch noticed As time went on, the patriarch noticed that some of the spirits looked very sad. that some of the spirits looked very sad. He realized that the people in the temple He realized that the people in the temple were finished with baptisms for the day. were finished with baptisms for the day. The unhappy spirits were those whose The unhappy spirits were those whose baptisms would not be performed that baptisms would not be performed that day. day.

“ ‘ “ ‘I often think of this event,’ says Brother I often think of this event,’ says Brother Carpenter, ‘for I so often sit at the font, Carpenter, ‘for I so often sit at the font, and call off the names for the ordinances and call off the names for the ordinances to be performed which means so much to to be performed which means so much to the dead’ ”the dead’ ”

(quoted in Joseph Heinerman, (quoted in Joseph Heinerman, Temple ManifestationsTemple Manifestations [Manti, Utah: [Manti, Utah: Mountain Valley Publishers, 1974], pp. 101–2; see also Mountain Valley Publishers, 1974], pp. 101–2; see also The Utah The Utah Genealogical and Historical MagazineGenealogical and Historical Magazine 11 [July 1920]: 119). 11 [July 1920]: 119).