BANCROFT 
 LIBRARY 
 
 o 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
SALVATION 
 UNIVERSAL 
 
 By 
 JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE GENEALOGICAL 
 SOCIETY OF UTAH 
 
 1920 
 
SALVATION 
 UNIVERSAL 
 
 By 
 JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH 
 1920 
 
THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH. 
 
 Organized November 13, 1894. 
 
 Anthon H. Lund, President; Charles W. Penrose, Vice Presi- 
 dent; Joseph Fielding Smith, Secy, and Treas.; Joseph Christen- 
 son, Librarian; Lillian Cameron and Nephi Anderson, Assistant 
 Librarians. 
 
 DIRECTORS: Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, 
 Joseph Christenson, Joseph Fielding Smith, Anthony W. Ivins, 
 Hyrum G. Smith. 
 
 Life Membership, $10, with two years in which to pay. An- 
 nual membership, $2 the first year, $1 yearly thereafter. 
 
 The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine. 
 
 Published by the Genealogical Society of Utah. 
 
 QUARTERLY, $1.50 PER ANNUM 
 Anthon H. Lund, Editor; Nephi Anderson, Associate Editor 
 
 Subscription price to life and paid-up annual members of the 
 Genealogical Society, $1.00 a year. Address all communications 
 to 
 
 GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH 
 47 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 
$0 7 
 
 Salvation Universal . 
 
 BY ELDER JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH 
 
 The greatest of all the gifts of God unto his children, is the 
 gift of salvation/' 
 
 The greatest of all his works, to bring to pass the immor- 
 tality and eternal life of man, which constitutes his glory. 6 
 
 For this grand and glorious purpose, worlds are cre- 
 ated by him and peopled with his children. He gives to 
 them his commandments, granting the power to choose 
 for themselves whether or not they will obey. Those who 
 obey him in all things he has promised great blessings, 
 they shall be added upon in his celestial kingdom for ever 
 and ever, and shall be crowned with the fullness of his 
 glory. But to those who reject laws, and become a law 
 unto themselves in unrighteousness, shall punishment be 
 meted out according to their evil deeds. 
 
 The plan of *alvation, or code of laws, which is 
 known as the gospel of Jesus Christ, was adopted in the 
 heavens, before the foundation of the world was laid. It 
 was appointed there that Adam our father should come to 
 this earth and stand at the head of the whole human 
 family. It was a part of this great plan, that he should 
 partake of the forbidden fruit and fall, thus bringing suf- 
 fering and death into the world, even for the ultimate 
 good of his children. By many he has been severely criti- 
 cized because of his fall, but Latter-day Saints, through 
 modern revelation, have learned that such was necessary 
 in order that man should have his agency and, through 
 
 "Doc. & Cov. 6:13. 
 &Book of Moses 1:39. 
 
4 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 the varigus vicissitudes he has to pass, reccjve a knowl- 
 edge of both good and evil, without Which it would be 
 impossible for him to gain the exaltation prepared for 
 him, 
 
 It was also necessary because of Adam's transgres- 
 sion for the Only Begotten Son of the Father to come to 
 redeem the world from Adam's fall. This also was a part 
 of the plan chosen before the earth was made, for Jesus 
 is called the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of 
 the world. He came and redeemed us from the fall even 
 all the inhabitants of the earth. Not only did he redeem 
 us from Adam's transgression, but he also redeemed us 
 from our own sins, on condition that we obey the laws 
 and ordinances of the gospel. d 
 
 "And now, behold," said the Prophet Lehi to his son 
 Jacob, "if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have 
 fallen; but he would have remained in the Garden of 
 Eden. And all things which were created must have re- 
 mained in the same state in which they were, after they 
 were created ; and they must have remained for ever, and 
 had no end. And they would have had no children ; where- 
 fore, they would have remained in a state of innocence, 
 having no joy, for they knew no misery ; doing no good, 
 for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been 
 done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam 
 fell that men might be ; and men are, that they might have 
 joy. 
 
 "And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that 
 he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And be- 
 cause they are redeemed from the fall, they have become 
 free for ever, knowing good from evil ; to act for them- 
 selves, and not to be acted upon, save it be by the pun- 
 ishment of the law at the great and last day, according to 
 the commandments which God hath given. 
 
 "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh ; and 
 all things are given them which are expedient unto man. 
 And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, 
 through the great mediation of all men, or to choose cap- 
 tivity and death, according to the captivity and power of 
 
 <Rev. 13:8. 
 
 <*Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21; John 1:3-6. 
 
SAt.A'AlION UNIVERSAL 
 
 the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable 
 like unto himself."' ' 
 
 The primary and fundamental principles of this plan 
 of salvation are : 
 
 First : Faith in God the Father, in his Son Jesus 
 Christ and in the Holy Ghost. We must accept them as 
 the presiding authority in the heavens, who govern and 
 control all things, who are omnipotent, just and true. 
 
 Second : We must accept the infinite atonement of 
 Christ, believing that he is the Redeemer of the world, 
 both from Adam's transgression and from our individual 
 sins on condition of our repetance. 
 
 Third : We must repent of all our sins, giving our 
 hearts to God, with the full intent of serving him. 
 
 Fourth : We must be baptized in water for the re- 
 mission of our sins, by one. who is called of God and 
 clothed with divine authority to administer in the ordi- 
 nances of the gospel. 
 
 Fifth : We must have the hands of those holding au- 
 thority placed upon our heads, and through their minis- 
 trations receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the spirit 
 of Truth and Prophecy that guides us in all truth. 
 
 Sixth : We must be willing to serve the Lord with 
 all our heart, mind and strength, keeping his command- 
 ments even- unto the end. 
 
 Upon these laws, salvation is based, and the promised 
 blessings are unto all men. These conditions arc not se- 
 vere, nor grevious, and are within the power of the weak- 
 est of the weak, if they will only place their trust in their 
 Redeemer. 
 
 All who repent and obey these laws, will be redeemed 
 and saved from the sins of the world ; but they who refuse 
 and repent not, will have to suffer for their own sins. The 
 Lord says : "He created man, male and female, after his 
 own image and in his own likeness created he them, and 
 gave unto them commandments that they should love 
 and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he 
 should be the only being whom they should worship. But 
 by the transgression of these holy laws, man became sens- 
 ual and devilish, and became fallen man. WkeTfcfore the 
 
 11 Nephi 2:22-27. 
 
6 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is writ- 
 ten in those scriptures which have been given of him. He 
 suffered temptations, but gave no heed unto them ; he was 
 crucified, died and rose again the third day ; and ascended 
 into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, 
 to reign with almighty power according to the will of the 
 Father, that as many as would believe and be baptized in 
 his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be 
 saved : not only those who believed after he came in the 
 meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the be- 
 ginning, even as many as were before he came, who be- 
 lieved in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as 
 
 Moreover, he further says: "And surely every man 
 must repent : or suffer, for 1 God am endless : * 
 Therefore I command you to repent repent, lest I smite 
 you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my 
 anger, and your sufferings be sore how sore you know 
 not! For behold, I, .God, have suffered these things for 
 all, that they might not suffer if they would repent, but 
 if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, 
 which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of 
 all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, 
 and to suffer both in body and spirit : and would that I 
 might not drink the bitter cup and shrink nevertheless, 
 glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my 
 preparations unto the children of men."*' 
 
 These principles were taught to Adam after he was 
 driven from the Garden of Eden, who repented and was 
 baptized in water for the remission of his sins, and re- 
 ceived the Holy Ghost. And Eve, when she heard the 
 gospel plan, rejoiced, saying: "Were it not for our trans- 
 gression, we never should have had seed, and never 
 should have known good and evil, and the joy of our 
 redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto 
 all the obedient. And Adam and Eve blessed the name 
 of God, and they made all things known. to their sons 
 and daughters."* 
 
 'Doc. &Cov. 20:18-23. 
 
 CQV. 19:4, 15-19. 
 of Moses 5:1M2. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 7 
 
 Thus the principles of the gospel were taught from 
 the beginning among the children of Adam. Some be- 
 lieved and accepted them, many others rejected them, 
 bringing down upon their heads the wrathi of God, for his 
 anger was kindled against them because of their rebellion. 
 In course of time, when the inhabitants of the earth were 
 sufficiently corrupt, he caused the floods to come upon 
 them, sweeping them off the earth. Noah, who was a 
 preacher of righteousness, continued to preach these sav- 
 ing principles. .The gospel was also taught to Abraham, 
 and has always been among men when they were pre- 
 pared to receive it. 
 
 Latter-day Saints have been severly criticised by 
 many professing Christians for believing it necessary to 
 comply with these first principles of the gospel. We are 
 told that such views make us narrow and illiberal, for we 
 reject and damn all who do not accept "Mormonism" and 
 the ministration of our elders, while they on the other 
 hand, give a broader interpretation of the scriptures, hold- 
 ing it but necessary to believe in Christ to confess him 
 with the mouth and to believe in the heart that Christ 
 was raised from the dead. 
 
 Or, as it is expressed, 
 
 Nothing, either great or small, 
 
 Remains for me to do; 
 Nothing Jesus paid it all, 
 
 All the debt I owe. . , 
 
 Nevertheless, there is but one plan of salvation, and 
 one door into the sheepfold, "He that entereth not by the 
 door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, 
 the same is a thief and a- robber."* 
 
 We have not made the way narrow nor the gate 
 strait, that few there be that find it! Nor was ours the 
 edict, "Not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter in- 
 to the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of 
 the father."' 
 
 The fact that certain laws must be observed, and 
 ordinances complied with, is not the ruling of the Latter- 
 day Saints, but the divine mandate of the Author of our 
 salvation, who has said he will judge all men according 
 
 'John 10:1. 
 
 'Matt. 7th chapter. 
 
8 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 ti> their works and opportunities. We are merely comply- 
 ing with the teachings of the Master which we have re- 
 ceived, and which are requisite to salvation. 
 
 If belief alone were sufficient, then even the devils, 
 who fear and tremble, would be saved. They recognized 
 the Savior and declared on several occasions that he was 
 the Son of God/ And the devils in the days of the sons of 
 Sceva declared that they knew Jesus and Paul, yet they 
 were far from the road to salvation.' 
 
 Notwithstanding the apparently narrow construction 
 of the Latter-day Saints pertaining to the scriptures and 
 we most emphatically declare that all men must obey 
 these laws if they would be saved, excepting those who 
 die without law, and therefore are not judged by law 
 we are broader and more liberal in our teachings than the 
 believers in the faith-only theory of salvation, who would 
 save all who profess a belief in the name of the Redeemer, 
 but reject all others, consigning them to everlasting de- 
 struction without one ray of hope, simply because they 
 did not confess that Jesus \vas the Christ. This view con- 
 demns all who lived at a time or place that the knowledge 
 of the Redeemer of the world could not reach them. They 
 would reject this vast majority of the human family, men 
 women and children, to eternal damnation, without the 
 fault being their own ! 
 
 With the Later-day Saints this is not so. While it is 
 true we teach that a man must comply with these prin- 
 ciples of the gospel in order to receive salvation and exal- 
 tation in the kingdom of heaven -which is proved by 
 many passages of scripture nevertheless, we hold out 
 the hope that all may be saved, excepting the sons of per- 
 ditiona class that wilfully rejects the atonement of the 
 Savior : for the Lord intends to save all the workmanship 
 of his hands, save these few who will not receive salva- 
 tion. Our doctrine consigns none others to perdition, but 
 holds forth the hope that all will eventually be saved in 
 the kingdom of God at some time and in some degree of 
 tf 1 >ry. 
 
 Little children are redeemed from the foundation of 
 
 5:2-9; Luke 4:33-34. 
 'Acts 19:15. 
 "Moroni 8:22. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 the world through the atonement, "Wherefore, they can- 
 not sin," the Lord has said, "for power is not given unto 
 Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become 
 accountable before me ; for it is given unto them even as 
 I will, according to mine own pleasure, that great things 
 may be required at the hand of their fathers. And again, 
 I say unto you, that whoso having knowledge, have I 
 not commanded to repent?"' 1 
 
 He that declares that little children are born in sin, 
 and therefore require baptism, denies the mercy of the 
 father and does .not understand" the nature and signifi- 
 cance of the atonement. The Savior said : "Suffer little 
 children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such 
 is the kingdom of heaven." The Prophet Mormon sums 
 the whole matter up in the following words: 
 
 Little children cannot repent; wherefore it is awful wicked- 
 ness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are 
 all alire in him because of his mercy. 
 
 And he that saith, that little children need baptism, dcnicth 
 the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of 
 him and the power of his redemption. 
 
 .Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and 
 endless torment. I speak it boldly, God hath commanded me. 
 Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the 
 judgment seat of Christ. 
 
 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and 
 also all they that are without the law. For the power of re- 
 demption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he 
 that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, 
 cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing. 
 
 But it is mockery before God. denying the mercies of Christ, 
 and the power of His Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead 
 works. 
 
 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance 
 is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse 
 of a broken law. 
 
 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism, and baptism 
 cometh by faith, unto the fulfilling of the commandments; and 
 the fulfilling of commandments bringeth remission of sins. . 
 
 The question naturally arises, if all must accept the 
 principles of the gospel and be baptized for the remission 
 of their sins, what of the dead who died without receiving 
 the remission of their sins, or accepting Christ while they 
 were in the flesh? They cannot be baptized in water now 
 
 "Doc. & Cov. 29:46-49. 
 Moroni 8:19-25 
 
10 SALVATION UNIVERSAL. 
 
 .and have hands laid on their heads for the gift of the Holy 
 Ghost, for these thing's of necessity pertain to this mortal 
 probation. Therefore, it would be impossible for them to 
 be baptized now or even after the resurrection, for they 
 would no longer be mortal, but subject to the laws and 
 regulations of that life which is to come. These ordi- 
 nances must be performed in this life, or, 'if for the dead, 
 vicariously by some one who is in mortality, the living 
 acting as proxy for the dead. Again we hear the objection 
 raised, that this is impossible ; that one man cannot stand, 
 or answer for another's sins; but that every man must 
 stand for himself. This is true so far as it is possible to 
 be done. But occasions have arisen where the man guilty 
 of transgressing the law was unable to redeem himself. 
 And punishment for sin, is for the propitiation of sin, and 
 in such cases there is nothing in the scriptures forbidding 
 one to stand vicariously for another when circumstances 
 render it. impossible for the first to comply with the law. 
 In ancient Israel they had the scapegoat. On the head of 
 this goat, Aaron placed both his hands and confessed over 
 him all the iniquity of the children of Israel, and all -their 
 transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the 
 head of the goat, and then sent him away "by the hand of 
 a fit man into the wilderness." And the goat bore upon 
 him all their iniquities into the wilderness /'unto a land 
 not inhabited :" p This was but one instance. In various 
 ways of vicarious offerings Irave been made and accepted. 
 Then why should it be considered a strange thing for the 
 Later-day Saints to believe that the children have the 
 privilege to stand vicariously for their dead fathers, and 
 by proxy perform these ordinances, that belong to this 
 life, in their behalf? 
 
 The fact is, the whole plan of redemption is based on 
 vicarious salvation, One without sin standing for the 
 whole human family, all of whom were under the curse. 
 It is most natural and " just that he who commits the 
 wrong should pay the penalty atone for his wrong do- 
 ing. Therefore, when Adam was the transgressor of the 
 law, justice demanded that he, and none .else, should 
 answer for the sin and pay the penalty with his life. But 
 Adam, in breaking and law, himself became subject to 
 
 p Leviticus 16:20-22. Sec also Leviticus chapters 4 and 5. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 11 
 
 the curse, and being under the curse could not atone, or 
 undo what he had done. Neither could his children, for 
 they also were under the curse, and it required one who 
 was not subject to the curse to atone for that original sin. 
 Moreover, since we were all under the curse, we were also 
 powerless to atone for our individual sins. It therefore 
 t)came necessary for the Father to send his Only Begot- 
 ten Son, who was free from sin, to atone for our sins as 
 well as for Adam's transgression, which justice demanded 
 should be done. He accordingly offered himself a sacri- 
 fice for sins, and through his <leath upon the cross took 
 upon himself both Adam's transgression and our individ- 
 ual sins, thereby redeeming us from the fall, and from our 
 sins, on condition of repentance. 
 
 Let us illustrate : A man walking along the road hap- 
 pens to fall into a pit so deep and dark that he cannot 
 climb to the surface and regain his freedom. How can he 
 save himself from his predicament? Not by any exertions 
 on his own part, for there is no means of escape in the pit. 
 He calls for help and some kindly disposed soul, hearing 
 his cries for relief, hastens to his assistance and by lower- 
 ing a ladder, gives to him the means by which he may 
 climb again to the surface of the earth. This was precisely 
 the condition that Adam placed himself and his posterity 
 in, when he partook of the forbidden fruit. All being to- 
 gether in the pit, none could gain the surface and relieve 
 the others. The pit was banishment from the presence of 
 the Lord and temporal death, the dissolution of the body. 
 And all being subject to death, none could provide the 
 means of escape. Therefore, in his infinite mercy, the 
 Father heard the cries of his children and sent his Only 
 Begotten Son, who was not subject to death nor to sin, to 
 provide the means of escape. This he did through his in- 
 finite atonement and the everlasting gospel. The Savior 
 voluntarily laid down his life and took it up again to satis- 
 fy the demands of justice, which required this infinite 
 atonement. His Father accepted this offering in the stead 
 of the blood of all those who were under the curse, and 
 consequently helpless. The Savior said, "I lay down my 
 life for the sheep. * * * Therefore, doth my Father 
 love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it 
 
12 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 up again. iNo.mau taketh it from m, but 1 l#y it dewn f 
 myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power 
 to take it again. This commandment have I received of 
 my Father.'"' 
 
 From this we see that he had life in himself, which he 
 received from the Father, being his Only Begotten Son 
 in the flesh. And it was this principle that gave him 
 power to atone for the sins of the world, both for Adam's 
 transgression and for our individual sins, from which we 
 could not of ourselves get free. Therefore, Christ died in 
 our stead, because to punish us would not relieve the situ- 
 ation, for we would still be subject to the curse even if 
 our blood had been shed, and through his death we re- 
 ceive life and "have it more abundantly." 
 
 The vicarious atonement was for all, both living and 
 dead, for as extensive as was the fall, of necessity must be 
 the atonement. There shall, therefore, be a resurrection 
 of the dead, both of the just and the unjust/ This is gen- 
 eral salvation. Our individual salvation, which determ- 
 ines our standing, or glory, in the kingdom of God, besides 
 depending on the atonement of Christ, also is on condition 
 that the laws and ordinances of the gospel are accepted 
 and lived by us, both by the living and the dead. 
 
 This vicarious salvation for the dead is not a new 
 doctrine. It is new and strange for this generation, it is 
 true, but only because of a lack of comprehension of the 
 revelations of the Lord. The Prophet Joseph Smith said 
 it is the burden of the scriptures. It has been taught 
 among the Lord's people from the earliest times. Enoch 
 saw in vision the kingdoms of the world and all their 
 inhabitants down even to the end of time. The Lord told 
 him of Noah and the flood, and how he would destroy the 
 people of the earth for their iniquity. Of these rebellious 
 one who rejected the truth and paid no heed to the 
 preachings of Noah and the ancient prophets, the Lord 
 said: "I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the 
 creations which I have made ; and mine eyes can pierce 
 them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands 
 
 T|ohn 10:15-18 
 24:15. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 13 
 
 there has not been so much wickedness as among thy 
 brethren. But, behold, their sins shall be upon the heads 
 of their fathers. Satan shall be their father, and misery 
 shall be their doom ; and the whole heavens shall weep 
 over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; 
 wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these 
 shall suffer? But behold, these which thine eyes are upon 
 shall perish in the floods ; and, behold, I will shut them 
 up ; a prison have I prepared for them. And That which I 
 have chosen hath plead before my face. Wherefore, he 
 suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in 
 the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, and until 
 that day they shall be in torment."* 
 
 From this we learn that the Lord has prepared a 
 prison for the souls of all those who rejected the testi- 
 mony of the antediluvian prophets, where they were to re- 
 main in torment until the time when Jesus should atone 
 for their sins. and return to the Father. Isaiah also says: 
 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall 
 punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the 
 kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be 
 gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, 
 and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days 
 shall they be visited/ This is spoken of those who keep 
 not the law who live in latter-days. Again, he says: 
 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord 
 hath anointed me. to preach good tidings unto the meek, 
 he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to pro- 
 claim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison 
 to them that are 'bound."" This was spoken of as the 
 mission of the Redeemer, both his work for the living 
 and the dead who were prisoners that were bound. When 
 the Savior commenced his ministry, he entered into the 
 synagogue in the city of Nazareth his home town on 
 the Sabbath day, the. book of Isaiah was handed him, he 
 turned to this passage and read, closed the book, handed 
 it back to the minister, and while the eyes of all the con- 
 
 Book *f Moses 7:36-39. 
 'IgUh 24:31, 22. 
 
 "Isaiah 61:1 and 42:7. 
 
14 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 gregatiou were riveted upon him, he said: "This day is 
 this scripture fulfilled in your ears.'"' But the Jews re- 
 jected him and his testimony, and with violence drove 
 him from the city. Nevertheless, he continued to proclaim 
 liberty- to the captives, declaring that he came not alone to 
 save the living but also to save the dead, 
 
 \Ye hear the objection made from time to time, that 
 Jesus did not come to save the dead, for he most emphat- 
 ically declared himself that there was an impassable gulf 
 that separated the righteous spirits from the wicked. In 
 defense of their position they quote the words in Luke, 
 16th chapter and 26th verse, which are : 'And besides all 
 this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so 
 that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: 
 neither can they pass to us that would come from thence." 
 These words, according to. the story, were spoken by 
 Abraham's spirit to the rich man who raised his eyes and 
 asked that Lazarus might go touch his lips and relieve his 
 torment. Abraham replied that it could not be for there 
 was a gulf fixed 'between them that the spirit of no man 
 could pass. Therefore, say the objectors to the doctrine 
 of universal salvation, "it is quite evident that the right- 
 eous and the wicked who are dead, cannot visit each 
 other, hence there is no salvation for the dead." 
 
 This was true before the days that Jesus atoned for 
 sin, which is plainly shown in the passage from the Book 
 of Moses previously quoted. And it was at this period 
 this event occurred. However, Christ came, and through 
 his death bridged that gulf, proclaimed liberty to the cap- 
 tives, and the opening of this prison door to those who 
 sat in darkness and captivity. From that time forth this 
 gulf is bridged so that the captives, after they have paid 
 the full penalty of their misdeeds, satisfied justice, and 
 have accepted the gospel of Christ, having the ordinances 
 atended to in their behalf by their living relatives or 
 friends, receive the pasport that entitles them to cross the 
 gulf. 
 
 The Lord speaks of this himself in the fifth chapter of 
 
 "Luke 4:16-21. 
 
SALVATION 1 T NIVKKSAL l.S 
 
 John, beginning with the twenty-fourth verse: "Verily, 
 verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and be- 
 lieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and 
 shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from 
 death unto life. 
 
 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming 
 and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son 
 of God ; and they that hear shall live." 
 
 And the Jews marveled. Perhaps they thought he 
 meant those who were "dead in trespasses and sins" 
 should hear his voice. At any rate they marveled. He 
 perceived it and said : 
 
 "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all 
 that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come 
 forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; 
 and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damna- 
 tion. 
 
 Peter tells us that Christ did this very thing: 
 
 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the 
 unjust, that he might brings 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 long- 
 suffering of 'God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark. was 
 a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved. 
 
 Why did he preach to these disobedient spirits? 
 Surely not to increase their torments, to taunt them for 
 not accepting' of his truth in the days of the prophets! 
 Was it to tantalize them, and make them more miserable 
 because of the blessings they had lost! Jesus was a mer- 
 ciful Redeemer, who suffered as no other man suffered 
 that he might save the children of his Father. He would 
 take no pleasure in the suffering of the wicked. It was his 
 nature to plead for them, to entreat his Fatther for mercy 
 in their behalf. Therefore, 'whatever his mission was, it 
 was one of mercy ancf comfort to those prisoners.. Peter 
 tells us that .the object of. his visit was that the gospel 
 might be preached also to the dead, "that they might be 
 
 >T Peter 3:18-20. 
 ' x l Peter 4:6. 
 
lo SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 jucfged according to men in the flesh, but live according 
 to God in the spirit. " J 
 
 What good reason can be given why the Lord should 
 not forgive sins in the world to come? Why should man 
 suffer throughout the countless ages of eternity for his 
 sins committed here, if those sins are not unto death? 
 There are many good, honorable men who have wilfully 
 wronged no man, have lived to the best of their opportun- 
 ities, righteously; yet have not received the gospel, for 
 one reason or another. Where would be the justice in 
 condemning them forever in hell, ''where the worm dieth 
 not and the fire is not quenched?" We learn from the 
 Doctrine and Covenants, that eternal punishment, or ever- 
 lasting punishment, does not mean that a man condemned 
 will endure this punishment forever, but it is everlasting 
 and eternal, because it is God's punishment, and he is 
 Everlasting and Eternal. Therefore, when a man pays the 
 penalty of his misdeeds and humbly repents, receiving the 
 gospel, he comes out of the prison-house and is assigned 
 to some degree of glory in the kingdom of God, according 
 to his worth and merit. 
 
 There are three degrees of glory in this kingdom, the 
 celestial, into which those who keep the whole law shall 
 enter; the terrestrial, in which are found the honorable 
 men of the world, and those who were blinded by the 
 craftiness of men, and were overcome by the things of 
 the world, and also those who have accepted Christ but 
 were not valiant in his cause, and -those who died without 
 law among the heathen : the third, or telestial, is that 
 glory which contains the great majority of mankind who 
 differ in their glory as the countless stars of heaven. 
 These are" the inhabitants of the earth who have been 
 unworthy, unclean, unfit for an exaltation in the other 
 kingdoms. And still there will be some who, because of 
 their filthiness and abominations in, the flesh, will be un- 
 worthy of a kingdom of glory at all. The sons of perdi- 
 tion, those who are lost, having rejected the atonement of 
 Christ and crucified him afresh to themselves, these will 
 be cast out of the kingdom into outer darkness. All the 
 
 x I Peter 4:6. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 17 
 
 rest shall be saved in some degree of glory in one of the 
 three grand divisions of the kingdom of God. A full dis- 
 cussion of this is found in Doctrine and Covenants, sec- 
 tion 76. 
 
 That sins are forgiven in the world to come, we need 
 only refer to the words of the Savior: 
 
 All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto 
 men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be 
 forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the 
 Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh 
 against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in 
 this world, neither in the world to come.* 
 
 This shows that some sins will be forgiven in the 
 world to come. We are also informed in First Corin- 
 thians, fifteenth chapter, that "if in this life only we have 
 hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." But 
 we have hope in Christ both in this life and in the life to 
 come. Salvation does not come all at once; we are com- 
 manded to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is per- 
 fect. It will take us ages to accomplish this end, for there 
 will be greater progress beyond the grave, and it will be 
 there that the faithful will overcome all things, and re- 
 ceive all things, even the fullness of the Father's glory.* 
 
 Salvation for the dead was understood in the days of 
 the primitive Christian Church, and to some extent bap- 
 tisms for the dead continued to be performed until A. D. 
 379, when the Council of Carthage forbade any longer the 
 administration of this ordinance and "holy communion" 
 for the dead. Paul uses baptism for the dead as an argu- 
 men^against the Corinthian Saints, who, even in that day, 
 were falling away from the true gospel. These. saints 
 understod the doctrine of baptism for the dead, yet they 
 doubted the general resurrection. Paul argues with them 
 thus : 
 
 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how 
 say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 
 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ net 
 risen. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, 
 and your faith is also rain. Yea, and we are found falie wit- 
 nesses of God; because we have testified of God that he railed 
 up Chritt: whom he raised not up, if o be that the dead rite not. 
 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ 
 
 *Matt. 12:32. 
 Doc. & Cov. 84:38. 
 
18 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then 
 they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in 
 this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most 
 miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become 
 the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death 
 by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam 
 all die; even so in Christ shall all be made alive. * * * * 
 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? 
 and why stand we in jeopardy every hour? a 
 
 Joseph Smith, the prophet, informs us that salvation 
 for the dead was introduced in the days of Christ who had 
 reference to this subject when, in addressing the Jews, he 
 said : 
 
 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon 
 the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel unto the blood 
 of Zacharias, son of Barachia's, who ye slew between the temple 
 and the altar. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come 
 upon this generation. 6 
 
 Commenting on this, the prophet said the reason that 
 generation would have to answer for the blood of the 
 righteous from Abel to Zacharias, was that in their day 
 the privilege of performing the ordinances in behalf of 
 the dead, was within their power, while it had been 
 denied anciently. 
 
 Hence, as they possessed greater privileges than any other 
 generation, not only pertaining to themselves, but to their dead, 
 their sin was greater, as they not only neglected their own sal- 
 vation, but that of their progenitors, and hence their blood was 
 required at their hands/' 
 
 In this same article the prophet declared that Obe- 
 diah was speaking of salvation for the dead when he said, 
 "And saviors shall come upon Mount Zion, to judge the 
 Mount'Of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord's/* 
 
 The work of saving the dead has practically been re- 
 served for the dispensation of the fullness of times, when 
 the Lord shall restore all things. It is, therefore, the duty 
 of the Latter-day Saints to see that it is accomplished. We 
 cannot do it all at once, but will have the thousand years 
 of the Millennium to do it in. In that time the work must 
 be done in behalf of the dead of the previous six thousand 
 
 I Cor. 15:20-30. 
 -*Matt. 23:35-36. 
 c Times and Seasons 3:761. 
 "Obediah 21. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 19 
 
 years for all who need it. Temples will be built for this 
 purpose, and the labor in them will occupy most of the 
 time of the Saints. 
 
 One of the most important prophecies, pertaining to 
 the dead, is that of Malachi. He prophesied that the Lord 
 would send Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the 
 great and dreadful day. of the Lord, for the purpose of 
 turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the 
 hearts of the children to the fathers, lest the earth be smit- 
 ten with a curse, when the Lord should come. This pro- 
 phecy, which is not understood by the world, has come to 
 pass. When the Angel Moroni appeared to the Prophet 
 Joseph -Smith, September 21, 1823, among the passages of 
 scripture he quoted that were about to be fulfilled, was 
 this prophecy of Malachi's ; but he quoted it with this 
 variation: "Behold, I will reveal unto you the priesthood 
 by the hand of Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of 
 the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he shall plant 
 in the hearts of the children the promise made to the 
 fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their 
 fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be ut- 
 terly wasted at his coming." ' 
 
 From this, we see that Elijah's mission was to restore 
 that priesthood which would turn the hearts of the child- 
 ren to their fathers, according to a promise that had been 
 made to the fathers. That it was extremely important 
 and necessary, is^ shown in the fact that the whole earth 
 would be utterly 'wasted at the coming of the great and 
 dreadful day of the Lord, if this priesthood were not 
 restored. This quotation deeply impressed the prophet at 
 that time, although he could not understand it. Three 
 times that night it was repeated, and again on the follow- 
 ing day. Gradually, as link after link of the gospel chain 
 was revealed, and the keys and powers were bestowed, 
 the prophet increased in wisdom and knowledge. In time, 
 a temple was built in Kirtland, but in it there was no 
 baptismal font, or any other provision made for ordinance 
 work for the dead. The reason is that the doctrine had 
 not ben fully revealed. This temple, however, served the 
 purpose for which it was erected, a house of the Lord, 
 
 ^History of the Church, Vol. 1:12. 
 
21) SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 where he c^uld come, ami send his angels to bestow keys 
 and authority necessary in this dispensation. In this 
 temple, April 3, 1836, the Savior and many of the ancient 
 prophets appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery 
 and bestowed upon their heads the keys of the several 
 dispensations. Among these heavenly visitors came 
 Elijah, who placed his hands on the heads of Joseph 
 Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and gave them the priesthood 
 spoken of by Malachi. "Therefore," said he, "the keys of 
 this dispensation are committed into your hands, and by 
 this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the 
 Lord is near, even at the doors/ 
 
 What was the promise made to the fathers that was 
 to be fulfilled in the latter-days by the turning of the 
 hearts of the children to their fathers? It was the promise 
 of the Lord made through Enoch, Isaiah, and the pro- 
 phets, to the nations of the earth, that the time should 
 come when the dead should be redeemed. And the turn- 
 ing of the hearts of the children is fulfilled in the per- 
 forming of the vicarious temple work and in the prejpara- 
 tion of their genealogies. Up to the time of Elijah's 
 visit, there had been nothing done for the dead. The doc- 
 trine was not understood by the Saints, and there was no 
 temple built where the ordinances could be performed. 
 But as soon as this priesthood was restored, the hearts of 
 the children commenced turning toward their fathers. 
 
 The knowledge of temple building and temple work 
 was made known to the prophet from time to time subse- 
 quently to the 3rd of April, 1836, and he commenced to 
 reveal these things to the Saints. . In Nauvoo they were 
 commanded to build a temple to the Lord, for only in 
 temples can these ordinances be performed, excepting in 
 times of extreme poverty, when they cannot build temples 
 for that purpose. "For this ordinance belongeth to my 
 house," says the Lord, "and cannot be acceptable to me 
 (i. e., outside of the house) only in the days of your pov- 
 erty, wherein yt are not able to build * house unto me."" 
 As the Latter-day Saints were in thii poverty-stricken 
 condition when they settled at Nauvoo, the Lord granted 
 
 'poc. It Cov. U0:l$. 
 *Doc. fc C*v. 124:30. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 21 
 
 t*hem the privilege of baptising for the dead in tlje Missis- 
 sippi river, until a place could be prepared for the ordi- 
 nace in the temple. Just as soon as a font could be pre- 
 pared in the temple, the Lrd, by revelation, discontinued 
 t}aptisms for the dead in any other place. It was Octobei 
 3, 1841, when this revelation was given, and on the 8th of 
 the folowing month, the font in the temple at Nauvoo was 
 dedicated, and from that day, until the Saints were driven 
 from Illinois, that ordinance continued to be performed 
 by them in that house in behalf of their dead.* After 
 arriving in Salt Lake valley, the first commandment 
 
 *Some of those who would destroy the work of God, have 
 declared that the Church was rejected, with its dead, because the 
 tempi* at Nauvoo was not finished; and, say they, the Lord, in 
 this revelation, declared that he would give the Saints sufficient 
 time to build a house (temple) unto him, and if they failed to 
 build it in the sufficient time, they would be rejected with their 
 dead. The fact is, that the Nauvoo Temple was built, and many 
 of the Saints received their endowments in it, and labored for 
 their dead before they were finally driven from Nauvoo by their 
 enemies. But the meaning of this revelation is perverted; the 
 Lord did not say he would reject the Church, with its dead, if 
 they failed to build the temple, but that they would be rejected 
 if they did not perform the ordinances for their dead in the 
 temple when it was prepared for that purpose. Here is the com- 
 mandment in question (sec. 124:31-35): 
 
 "But I command you, all ye my Saints, to build a house unto 
 me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto 
 me, and during this time your baptisms [i. e. oulside of a temple] 
 shall be acceptable unto me. 
 
 "But, behold, at the end of this appointment [i. e. the suffi- 
 cient time] your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable 
 unto me [i. e. outside of a temple] and if ye do not these things 
 [i. e. temple ordinances] at the end of the appoinment, ye shall 
 be rejected as a Church, with your dead, saith the Lord your 
 God. 
 
 "For verily I say unto you, that after you have had sufficient 
 time to build a house to me, wherein the ordinances of baptizing 
 for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted 
 from before the foundation of the world, your baptisms for your 
 dead [i. e. in any other place than in a temple] cannot be accept- 
 able unto me, for therein are the keys of the holy priesthood or- 
 dained that you may receive honor and glory. 
 
 "And after this time [when a house is prepared] your bap- 
 tism for the dead, by those who art scattfed abroad, are not 
 acceptable unto rn<e, saith fhe Lard." fBWId lac-i? Stid brackets af 
 mine." J. F. S j 
 
24. SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 President Young received from the Lord was to com- 
 mence to build a temple where this work could be con- 
 tinued. The members of , , the Church responded, and 
 temples have been built, where the living now go to offi- 
 ciate for the dead. 
 
 The restoration of Elijah's priesthood accomplished 
 more than the turning of the hearts of the members of the 
 Church to their fathers, -for the spirit of his mission spread 
 forth and took hold of the hearts of the honorable men 
 and women in the world who have been directed, they 
 know not why/ to spend their time and means in prepar- 
 ing genealogies, vital records and various other genealog- 
 ical data, which they are publishing at great labor and 
 expense. 
 
 It is a curious' and interesting fact that the year fol- 
 lowing the coming of Elijah, the British government 
 passed laws requiring the proper recording' of records, 
 and the filing of them in one central place. In the year 
 1844, the New England Historical and Genealogical So- 
 cieyt was organized in Boston; in 1869 the New York 
 Genealogical and Biographical Society was incorporated 
 in New York. Other societies have been organized from 
 time to time in America, principally in the New England 
 States, and they are publishing .quarterly genealogical 
 
 And if ye do not these things at the end of the appointment, 
 
 obviously does not mean "if ye do not build a temple at the end 
 of the appointment," as our critics infer it does, but it refers to 
 the ordinances that were to be performed in the temple, and the 
 failure on the part of the Saints to perform these ordinances for 
 their dead was the thing that would cause their rejection with 
 their dead, and not the failure to build the temple, which was 
 merely the edifice in which the saving principles were to be per- 
 formed. This is in harmony with the teachings of the Prophet 
 Joseph Smith, who said that if we neglect the salvation of our 
 dead "we do it at the periol of our own salvation! Why? Because 
 we without them cannot be made perfect." (Doc. & Cov. sec. 
 28:15.) 
 
 The virtue of salvation for the dead is not in the structure of 
 the temple, but in the ordinances which are performed in the 
 temple. The temple is to the -ordinances just what the vessel is 
 to the life-giving nourishment it contains. Those who would re- 
 ject us on a technicality, because, as they say, " .we did not finish 
 the temple," neither build temples nor perform the ordinances 
 for the dead, wherein they prove their rejection by the Lord,, ac- 
 cording to the revelations of Joseph Smith, the prophet. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL . 23 
 
 magazines and registers, family records, etc. ; and are con- 
 tinually disseminating information regarding our ances- 
 tors, that is useful to the Latter-day Saints. The New 
 England Society is publishing, as they express it in their 
 magazine, "by a fund set apart from the bequest of Robert 
 Henry Eddy," to the society, the vital records (births, 
 marriages and deaths) of towns in Massachusetts, whose 
 records are not already printed from the beginning to the 
 year 1850. This is a tremendous work, many volumes of 
 these records have been published, and others are in 
 course of preparation. 1 Eventually they wall be printed 
 by this and other similar societies in Massachusetts, a 
 state that has set the pace for her sister states to follow. 
 There, and in other parts, these societies are protected 
 and encouraged by legislative enactment. Besides these 
 numerous societies engaged in this noble work, there are 
 multitudes of individual laborers who are publishing at 
 their own expense family genealogies and vital records 
 that extend back for hundreds of years. 
 
 In Great Britain the work is carried on by the Har- 
 
 *Other societies in Massachusetts are also preparing vital 
 records, among them are the Topsfield Historical Society, the 
 Essex Antiquarian Society, the "Systematic History Fund," 
 Franklin P. Rice, trustee. Of this work Mr. Rice, who is a pio- 
 neer in genealogical research, says: 
 
 "I hope sometime to give in detail an account of the various 
 undertakings in the line of record preservation with which I have 
 been connected since I began, in the early seventies, with the 
 idea, crude and imperfect, of subjecting to classification, for easy 
 reference, manuscript materials in public depositories, many of 
 which were then hidden or unknown, and in many places prac- 
 tically inaccesible. * * * * Thirty-five years ago the inter- 
 est in such matters was mainly antiquarian, and the few exam- 
 ples in print in this line had been inspired from that standpoint. 
 Genealogical research was not the powerful factor it is today. 
 As the idea expanded and developed, I came to regard the work 
 chiefly in its practical and scientific aspects, and I applied the 
 term "Systematic History" as the best explaining its purpose, to 
 meet the necessities of al enquirers and investigators. * * * 
 I formulated a plan sometime before 1890 to require the towns 
 in Massachusetts to print their records, but this met with little 
 "favor. Its substantial features are embodied in the Act of 1902. 
 * * * - Pursuing the work since 1898 under the operation of the 
 Systematic History Fund, I have been able to secure copies and 
 to print the vital records of more than thirty towns in central 
 Massachusetts." 
 
24 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 Idan Society, the Genealogist Society, Phillimore & Com- 
 pany, the Lancashire Parish Register Society, the York- 
 shire Parish Register Society, and similar societies in 
 nearly all of the counties of Great Britain. These societies 
 publish the parish registers of the several parishes in Eng- 
 land, and to an extent in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. 
 There is also in Great Britain Lodge's, Debrett's and 
 Burkes' Peeages and Visitations which are invaluable to 
 the searcher of genealogical information in those lands. 
 These numerous societies and individuals in the world, 
 upon whom the spirit of Elijah has fallen to this extent at 
 least, are compiling, printing and distributing these re- 
 cords of the dead, faster than the Saints can, with their 
 present facilities and understanding of the work, obtain 
 them. In fact, they have far outstripped us in the race, 
 and while we sometimes are given to boasting of the 
 great work we are doing for the dead, it is as nothing, a 
 mere drop in the bucket. These people and societies are 
 helping us, should we not take every advantage of their 
 labors and stand in the forefront, magnifying our calling 
 and proving our birthright as the children of Ephraim? 
 
 Thus the hearts of the children are gradually, but 
 surely turning towards their fathers. The spirit of this 
 work is now taking hold of the hearts of the people of 
 Germany, Scandinavia and the continent of Europe. And 
 why are they doing this? Because their hearts have been 
 drawn out to their fathers, through the restoration of the 
 keys of salvation for the dead, and they are energetically 
 and faithfully laboring, but all the while unconscious of 
 the full significance and worth of their labors, simply be- 
 cause the work appeals to them and they are fascinated 
 by it. Surely they shall receive their reward. 
 
 While many honorable men and women in the world 
 are accomplishing a great work in searching out and com- 
 piling genealogical data, their labors serve only as the 
 means to the end. The greatest work, after all, devolves 
 on the members of the Church wlio have the priesthood, 
 power and privilege, to go into the temples, taking the 
 names from these compiled records and from all other 
 authentic sources and performing the ordinances in be- 
 half of their dead. We live in the greatest dispensation 
 f the \vnrld'$ history, that of fhe ful'lfie's* rf rimes, .when 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 25 
 
 all things are to be gathered and restored to their proper 
 order, ushering in the millennial reign of the Redeemer 
 and the righteous. Do we Latter-day Saints fully realize 
 the importance of the mighty responsibility placed upon 
 us in relation to the salvation of the world? We are doing 
 a great deal in the attempt to convert and save a perverse 
 and wicked generation ; we are sending hundreds of mis- 
 sionaries into all parts of the earth, and are spending 
 hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in this very 
 necessary labor, with results that are not so very start- 
 ling. We are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars 
 in the building of meetinghouses, church schools and 
 other buildings, and in the education of the youth of 
 Israel, in developing and improving our lands, building 
 cities and increasing our communities, publishing periodi- 
 cals and magazines, and in every way diligently striving 
 to improve our own people, and disseminate knowledge 
 that wil convert the world to the gospel; but what are we 
 doing for the salvation of our dead? Many there are, it 
 is true, who comprehend this greater work, and are faith- 
 fully discharging their duties in the temples of the Lord, 
 but of others this cannot be said. The temple in Salt 
 Lake City has for many months been so crowded with 
 anxious, earnest workers, that it has been necessary many 
 times to turn large numbers away because there was not 
 suficient room. This is a good sign, showing the willing- 
 ness and activity of the Saints. But this condition does 
 not relieve from responsibility the inactive, dilatory mem- 
 bers, who are doing nothing for their dead. These per- 
 sons cannot expect to receive credit for what others may 
 be doing. The responsibility rests with equal force on all 
 according to our individual ability and opportunities. It 
 matters not what else we have been called to do, or what 
 position we may occupy, or how faithfully in other ways 
 we have labored in the Church, none are exempt from this 
 great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as 
 the humblest elder. Place or distinction, or long service 
 in the Church, in the mission field, the stakes of Zion, or 
 where or how else it may have been, will not entitle one 
 to disregard the salvation of one's dead. Some may feel 
 that if they pay their tithing, attend their regu.Jar meet- 
 ings and other duties, give of their substance to the poor, 
 perchance spend one, two or m$re years preaching in the 
 
26 SATA r AT10N UNIVERSAL 
 
 world, that they are absolved from further duty. But the 
 greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead. 
 \\ e may and -should derail these other things, for which 
 reward ..will be given, but if we neglect the weightier priv- 
 ilege and commandment, notwithstanding all other good 
 works, we shall find ourselves under severe condemna- 
 tion. And why such condemnation? Because "the great- 
 est responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us, 
 is to seek after our dead;" J Because we cannot be saved 
 without them, "It is necessary that those who have gone 
 before and those who come after us should have salvation 
 in common with us, and thus hath God made it obligatory 
 to man," A says the Prophet Joseph Smith. From this, 
 then, we see that while it is necessary to preach the gospel 
 in the nations of the earth, and to do all other good works 
 in the Church, yet the greatest commandment given us, 
 and made obligatory, is the temple work in our own be- 
 half and in behalf of our dead. 
 
 Again the Prophet says : 
 
 Baptism for the 'dead is the only way that men can appear 
 as saviors upon Mount Zion. The proclamation of the first prin- 
 ciples of the gospel was a means of salvation to man individual- 
 ly, but men, by actively engaging in rites of salvation substi- 
 tutionally, become instrumental in bringing multitudes of their 
 kin into the kingdom of God. * * * This doctrine appears 
 glorious inasmuch as it exhibits the greatness of divine compas- 
 sion and benevplence in the extent of the plan of human salva- 
 tion. This glorious truth is well calculated to enlarge the un- 
 derstanding, and to sustain the soul under troubles, difficulties, 
 and distresses. * * * This doctrine presents in a clear light 
 the wisdom and mercy of God, in preparing and ordinance for the 
 salvation of the dead, being baptized by proxy, their names re- 
 corded in heaven, and they judged according to the deeds done 
 in the body. This doctrine was the burden of the scriptures. 
 Those Saints who neglected it, in behalf of their deceased rel- 
 atives, do it at the peril of their own salvation. l 
 
 The reason our own salvation stands in jeopardy is 
 because it is necessary that the parents and children not 
 only receive the ordinance of baptism, but they must be 
 
 -'Joseph Smith in Times and Seasons 6:616. 
 
 fc lbi'd. 
 
 'Times and Seasons 2:545-6. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 27 
 
 joined together from generation to generation. It is neces- 
 sary for us to go into the temples, be baptized, confirmed, 
 and receive all the ordinances for our dead, just as we- re- 
 ceive them for ourselves."' 
 
 It is sufficient to know that the earth wil Ibe, smitten with 
 a curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, 
 betwen the fathers and the children upon some subject or other, 
 and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead 
 For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they 
 without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made 
 perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it 
 is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness 
 of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that 
 a whole and complete and perfect union and welding together 
 of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take 
 place, and be revealed, from the days of Adam even to the pres- 
 ent tirrie' and not "only this but those things which never have 
 been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been 
 kept hid from the wise and prudent shall be revealed unto babes 
 and sucklings in this dispensation of the fulness of times." 
 
 Again, quoting from the prophet: 
 
 The Bible says, I will send you Elijah the prophet before 
 the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he 
 shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the 
 hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the 
 earth with a. curse. 
 
 Now, the word turn here should be translated bind or seal. 
 But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to 
 be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah 
 is to come, the gospel to be established, the Saints of God to be 
 gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on 
 Mount Zion. 
 
 But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By 
 building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going 
 forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, 
 washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their 
 heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and re- 
 deem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection 
 and be exalted to thrones of glory with them, and herein is the 
 chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and 
 children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. And 
 I' would that this temple were now done, that we might go into 
 
 '"History of the Church, May 12, 1844. 
 "Doc. & Cov. 128:18. 
 
28 SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 it, and go to work and improve our time, and make use of the 
 seals while they are en earth. 
 
 The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their 
 dead, and gather together their living relatives, that they may be 
 saved also, be-fore the earth wil be smitten, and the consum- 
 mation decreed falls upon the world. 
 
 These passages emphasize the importance of the 
 work for the dead, for we cannot be saved without them, 
 nor can they be saved without us. Our salvation cannot 
 be accomplished unless the fathers and the children are 
 joined together, bound, sealed in perfect family order. 
 Husbands must be united by authority to their wives ; 
 children to their parents, until there is one grand family 
 composed of all the faithful from the beginning to the end 
 of time, with Adam, our progenitor standing in his calling 
 as the father of us all. 
 
 How great is the responsibility of the Latter-day 
 Saints! No wonder the theme occupied the prophet's 
 mind so constantly, just before his death, for upon the 
 Saints devolves the labor of this universal redemption ! 
 Is not this the greatest, most glorious duty in the world? 
 How terrible would be the consequences should we fail! 
 The earth would be smiten with a curse, and utterly 
 wasted. The work of all the dispensations would be lost, 
 the dead as well as the living would be denied salvation. 
 Anarchy, confusion, even chaos, would reign supreme: 
 for this salvation must come by our endeavors, and we 
 cannot fail. Individuals may fail to do their part, and be 
 rejected for their failure, but the work of the Lord shall 
 go on and increase from day to day, until redemption of 
 the dead shall be accomplished. 
 
 If all the righteous blood from the days of Abel to the 
 days of Zacharias, was required of the Jews in the days 
 of Christ, because they neglected to do their duty in this 
 regard, is it unreasonable to suppose that the blood of all 
 the righteous from the beginning to the present day will 
 be required of this generation? For our privileges are. 
 greater than these of the Jews in the meridian of time. 
 Therefore it behooves each one &f us to rid our garments 
 
 "History of the Church. Jan. 20, 1844. 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 29 
 
 of the bluotj of this generation by performing aM our 
 duties required in the gospel. 
 
 If this work must be performed for the dead from the 
 beginning to the end of time, how is it to be done? It is an 
 exceptional case when a family record can be traced be- 
 yond the fifteenth century with any degree of accuracy, 
 and most all of those that can, merely give the name of 
 the Father and firstborn, son, or the name of the one in- 
 heriting the estate. In extent of time three or four hun- 
 dred years is but a moment. What, then, are we to do 
 for the great multitudes of our kindred who antedate the 
 fifteenth or sixteenth centuries, whose records were never 
 kept, and consequently we cannot obtain? Will the Lord 
 hold us accountable for these dead, and punish us for not 
 doing their work, when we are powerless to act? Not in 
 the least. The Lord requires of us that we do all we can, 
 no more than that. He will assist us if we will try, and 
 the way will be opened before us, as has been the case in 
 innumerable instances, so that we can accomplish a' great 
 deal more than we at first think we can. There is enough 
 that we can do for the dead, from the records which can 
 be obtained today, to fill a hundred temples daily, and 
 then we would not be through, at the rate we are working, 
 before Christ will come to reign. 
 
 We are expected to save as many as we possibly can 
 with the knowledge we possess, and when the Redeemer 
 corns to reign on earth, there will be a closer communica- 
 tion between the mortal and the resurrected Saints who 
 will work hand in hand in the redemption of the dead. 
 These who have pased beyond will then be in a position 
 to furnish to their mortal kin all necessary names for 
 temple work ; and thus the labor for their salvation will be 
 facilitated and more accurately done than it possibly can 
 be done today. 
 
 Even now hundreds of thousands of records have 
 been prepared, the names of many millions of souls have 
 been published and are accessible to the members of the 
 Church. Each year new genalogical records are being 
 prepared in vast numbers more rapidly than we can do 
 the work. And the Saints with all their diligence, are not 
 doing all that could be done. Comparatively, we are few 
 
.i<) . SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 in numbers, and the capacity of our temples, limited; but 
 we should increase the work by increasing the number 
 of workers. When the present temples will not accom- 
 modate all who desire to attend, the Lord will require that 
 other temples.be erected. 
 
 There are in the Church today (1910) over forty-one 
 thousand seven hundred men holding the Melchiz- 
 edek Priesthood, and every faithful elder has ac- 
 cess to the temples. Suppose that each of the 
 forty-one thousand seven hundred elders should 
 go to one of the temples one day each month 
 and where they cannot go, they might send and 
 have the work done for them -what .would be the result? 
 The work would be done for five hundred thousand each 
 year. If an equal number of sisters would do the same, 
 there would be one million souls endowed every year. If 
 we spent one day each month in the temples saving our 
 dead, just twelve days out of the three hundred and sixty- 
 five of the year, brethren and sisters., would any of us be 
 doing more than our share? Could we even feel that we 
 were doing our full duty, when the responsibility given us 
 is so great, and "the Saints have not too much time to 
 save and redeem their dead and gather together their 
 living relatives, that they may be saved also before the 
 earth will be smitten, and the consummation decreed falls 
 upon the world? Suppose we did all this each year, in the 
 course of a century we would have endowed one hundred 
 milion souls, which is. about the present population of the 
 United States, and a very small part of the work for 
 those whose records we may now obtain. In the library 
 of the Genealogical Society of Utah which society was 
 organized in 1894 as an aid to the Saints who desire to do 
 temple work situated in the Church Office Building, Salt 
 Lake City, we have on file thousands of records, contain- 
 ing millions of names that have been collected from the 
 parish registers and other records both in the United 
 States and Kurope. These are accessible, and many are 
 obtaining from them the names of their dead and per- 
 forming in the temples the work that will merit them a 
 place in the Kingdom of God. 
 
 Again, suppose each one of us should fill out one bap- 
 tismal blank of twenty names, and send it to the temple 
 cverv month, it would mean that over twenty million, six- 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 31 
 
 teen thousand baptisms would be performed each twelve 
 months. Suppose we sent such a list but twice a year, we 
 would then baptize three million, three hundred and 
 thirty-six thousand souls each year. Is this 'more than 
 wo ought to do? Is it more than we are capable of elding? 
 It certainly is a great deal more than we are doing; and, 
 too, there are many individuals who are baptizing more 
 than twenty every month. If a few can do it, why can not 
 more? The fact is, this question has not appealed to many 
 of us, we have been so busy in other pursuits, principally 
 in the accummulation of wordly goods that we cannot 
 carry with rs, that we have had no time or inclination to 
 do the work fur our dead. If one hundredth part" of the 
 energy expended by the members of the Church in other 
 ways were directed in the channels of temple work where 
 it properly belongs, we could accomplish a great deal 
 mure work than we are now doing for the salvation of the 
 dead. 
 
 But one will say: "1 have done the work for all my 
 ancestors of whom I have any knowledge. My genealogy 
 can only be traced to my great grandfather, beyond that 
 all is dark. How can I be baptized each year for twenty, 
 forty, sixty, or more of my dead when we haven't their 
 records?" To such a person I reply : If you have done 
 the work for all your known dead, and your record can- 
 not be traced but one or two generations, you still have 
 the privilege of assisting your neighbor who lacks suf- 
 ficient help and therefore cannot do the work for all 
 his dead. Assist him and assist the temples with your 
 financial as well as your moral support',, and the way 
 may be opened before you that you can 'obtain more 
 knowledge of your own dead. 
 
 There is one thing of importance, however, we must 
 keep in mind. Xo person has a right to select names pro- 
 miscuously of any family, and go to the temple to perform 
 the work for them. This cannot be tolerated, for it would 
 lead to confusion and duplication of work. Let each family 
 do the work for their own dead kindred, as they may have 
 the right, and if they do work for others, it must be at the 
 instance and with, the consent of the living relatives who 
 are immediately concerned. A few individuals have de- 
 sired to do the work for men of renown, generals, prosi- 
 
SALVATION UNIVERSAL 
 
 , magistrates, and others who have risen to prom- 
 inent itations in the world. One object they apparently 
 have in view is that they may say they have done the 
 work for such and such persons. But there is an order in 
 this work, as in all things pertaining to the gospel, and 
 in no case should work be done in this manner, unless the 
 circumstances are such that proper sanction of the temple 
 authorities can be given. 
 
 We are also troubled at times by what are known as 
 "link-men," individuals in the world who manufacture 
 names so that they can complete unbroken a family line. 
 This is done for the purpose of making money, and is, of 
 course, knavery of the worst kind. Those who are guilty 
 of this trickery do not understand salvation for the dead, 
 and may not fully realize the wickedness of such a course. 
 
 Latter-day Saints should be accurate in their record- 
 ing, and not depend entirely on the temple records for a 
 history of their work. Temple record books are prepared 
 for the use of the Saints so that each family may keep 
 their own record of their dead. This should be done that 
 the record may be handed down from generation to gen- 
 eration. Remember it is out of the records that the dead 
 are to be judged. We should be orderly in all things, and 
 strive to get the spirit of the work, live our religion and 
 work out our own salvation by assisting in the salvation 
 of our dead, for we without them cannot be made perfect. 
 
 In the words of the prophet, I shall conclude, 
 
 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go for- 
 ward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the 
 victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceeding glad. Let 
 the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth 
 anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath or- 
 dained before the world was, that which would enable us to re- 
 deem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.** 
 
 PDoc. & Cov. 128:22,