Temple Work for the Dead

Chapter 8 of the Teachings of George Albert Smith deals with Mormonism’s emphasis on doing temple work for the dead.  As this chapter points out, this isn’t restricted to baptisms for the dead, but includes all the ordinances that the living participate in.  There is so much that could be commented on but I will restrict my thoughts to three things.

First is the utter lack of biblical support for this.  In the entire chapter President Smith only cites one Bible passage, 1 Corinthians 15:19.  And that one is taken completely out of context!  Even a cursory reading of the context shows that it is talking about the resurrection and how we would have no hope in eternity if Christ had not been raised.  It is stressing the fact that Christ’s resurrection is the basis for our entire faith.  It is, as Paul says in Romans 4:25, the proof that Jesus had done everything for our being justified, acquitted, forgiven by God.

But President Smith applies it to eternal marriage!  He said:  “Grateful should we be for a knowledge of the eternity of the marriage covenant. If in this life only had we hope, we would indeed be of all men most miserable [see 1 Corinthians 15:19]. The assurance that our relationship here as parents and children, as husbands and wives will continue in heaven, and that this is but the beginning of a great and glorious kingdom that our Father has destined we shall inherit on the other side, fills us with hope and joy.”

The bottom line is that there is no biblical support for this practice.

The second point is his portrayal of how others view eternity.  He writes:  “If I were to think, as so many think, that now that my beloved wife and my beloved parents are gone, that they have passed out of my life forever and that I shall never see them again, it would deprive me of one of the greatest joys that I have in life: the contemplation of meeting them again, and receiving their welcome and their affection, and of thanking them from the depths of a grateful heart for all they have done for me.”

He doesn’t specifically say this is how Christians believe, but I have had numerous Mormons tell me that is what they think I believe.  Just to set the record straight.  The Bible teaches that we will be together forever with all our believing loved ones.  I expect not only to see them again but to live with them for all eternity.  The Bible does talk about an eternal family –God’s eternal family made up of all believers.  I will be spending eternity in this wonderful family – because Jesus did the necessary work for me.  Through Jesus’ perfect law-keeping for me; through his atoning death for all my sins, I and all my believing loved ones have been adopted into the greatest eternal family, heavenly Father’s family.  That is the family unit that will exist for all eternity.

Finally, I found the way he motivates members to do this work quite interesting.  More than once he talks about the blessings people forfeit by not doing this work.  For example he writes, “Our Heavenly Father told the people through Joseph Smith that, unless we performed the work for our dead, we would lose our own blessings, and we would be cut off.”   He then goes on to tell the story of two brothers: one who did temple work for the dead and the other one who didn’t.  The one who didn’t wasn’t received well in heaven.  He then asks: “What will be your reception when you go on the other side? Will you be the one they will reach out to and bless throughout the ages of eternity, or will you be like the brother who was selfishly working out his problems here and letting those who could not help themselves go on without his help?”

Does this mean that for some, being part of their eternal family won’t be pleasant?  Will it be like attending a family reunion where everybody shuns you?  That surely is the impression given.  That doesn’t sound like heaven to me.

But even more enlightening is again how, even here, the way that Mormonism motivates people to do work is by focusing on what they get out of it.  I went through the chapter again searching for any mention of doing this out of love for people.  But I couldn’t find that motivation mentioned.

How starkly different that is from how the Bible motivates believers.  There it is all about love.  Just this point alone illustrates again the great gap that exists between Mormonism and the Bible.  This again shows how they operate on two completely different wave lengths.

TEMPLE REQUIREMENTS: WORTHINESS OR PERFECTION

    In the latest (August 2010) edition of the Ensign (the official magazine of the LDS Church) both the First Presidency message and the article on its beliefs focus on the Temple and especially the requirement to be worthy.  In just a few short pages various forms of the word worthy appear over 15 times.  If there is something the LDS Church emphasizes, it is that a person must be worthy to enter the temple.  (By the way, many Christians are surprised to learn that many Mormons don’t meet the requirements – that they are not temple worthy.)

     But, according to the LDS Church, they don’t have to be perfect.  “We are not expected to be perfect to enter the temple.  Rather, the purpose of the things we learn and the covenants we make in the temple is to help perfect us.  We must, however, be worthy to enter.”  (p.8) That same page states:  “The Lord has set the standards of worthiness to enter the temple, as expressed by the Psalmist: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?  or who shall stand in his holy place? ‘He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart.’ Psalm 24:3-4)”

    I find the contrast between those two statements interesting.  Isn’t a person with a pure heart describing more than just a “worthy” person?  Isn’t that a description of a perfect person?  Doesn’t this Scripture, which the LDS itself cites, contradict its statement that “we are not expected to be perfect to enter the temple”? 

    The Bible consistently sets perfection as the requirement for people to be in the presence of the Lord.  For example, Hebrews 12:14 states:  ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”  God doesn’t command us to be worthy – He commands us to be perfect.  “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  (Matthew 5:48)  By teaching that people are to be worthy but don’t have to be perfect to “stand in the holy place” the LDS Church severely lowers the requirements and is setting people up for a rude awakening.  Remember Hebrews 12:14:  without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

     Only holy and perfect people will be with the Lord.  That’s a sobering fact. That should drive everybody to despair of their own shabby worthiness and trust totally and completely in the holiness and perfection that is theirs through Jesus.  “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  (Hebrews 10:10)  “For by one offering he hath perfected for even them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)  Jesus’ perfection – and only Jesus’ perfection – enables us to be with the Lord.  It is my prayer that many Christians share this truth with their Mormon friends.  It further is my prayer that many Mormons abandon finding comfort in their worthiness and instead find joy in Jesus’ perfection for them.

Personal Revelation

 

     I recently received the May issue of the Ensign (the official magazine of the LDS Churchh) which contains the talks from last month’s General Conference of the LDS Church.  This is an important issue because General Conference talks are so important.  How important?

     Elder Mark E. Petersen, said:  “A general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is far more significant than most people realize. . .

      . . .it is one of the most important events of the present day.  Many do not regard it, even among the Latter-day Saints.  But for those who appreciate its true significance, it is of transcending importance, for in it PROPHETS OF GOD SPEAK, living prophets.

     When God gives a message to mankind, it is not something to be lightly cast aside.  Whether He speaks personally, or through His prophets, He himself said, it is the same.

     And in this conference HIS PROPHETS SPEAK!”   (Teachings of the Living Prophets, p. 63)

     Ezra Taft Benson said, “The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one living in our day and age. . .Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is that of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece.  That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words in current Church publications.” (Teachings of the Living Prophets, p.19)

     Because of the importance Mormonism places on these talks, I take extra time reading them.  I have just read the first few talks but what has already struck me is how much emphasis there is on the Holy Spirit and on receiving personal revelations from him. Mormonism teaches that personal revelations come through feelings and impressions and a person has to be worthy to receive them.

     For many Christians, this has always been a puzzling aspect of Mormonism because feelings are notoriously fickle.  How many times haven’t people, even with the best intentions, done something because it felt right, only to discover that it was the wrong thing to do?  Over the years I have asked numerous Mormons how they can determine if what they feel is truly from the Holy Spirit.  Has a feeling, which they thought was a personal revelation, ever led them astray? 

     The responses have been interesting to say the least.  Some have said their feelings have never led them astray.  Others admitted that their feelings had led them astray, but the problem was with them.  It has been interesting to see this topic being discussed on Mormon blogs with again differing reactions.

     More than one Mormon has told me that they felt sorry for me because the only revelation I had was the Bible.  I, however, would much rather rely on it.  It is perfectly sufficient for me. It especially reassures me that Heavenly Father considers me worthy to live eternally with him, not because of what I do, but because of what Jesus did for me.  It emphasizes that the temple work that needed to be done to live with Him was already done for me by Jesus when he was sacrificed for me.  It gives me great guidance for life.  It comforts me with tremendous promises of the Lord’s protection and provision.  I receive revelation not through feelings, but through His Word.  For me, that is much more solid ground to stand on.

PRIESTHOOD AND SACRIFICE

 

     As I stated in my last post, in the Bible the main function of a priest was to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people.  The Old Testament temple worship revolved around two altars:  the bronze altar in the temple courtyard where animals were offered and the altar of incense within the Temple where incense was offered up. 

     The Bible keeps that emphasis on offering sacrifice when it talks about Jesus and the Melchizedek priesthood.  The book of Hebrews, the only place in the New Testament that describes Jesus as a priest, centers on the idea of sacrifice and that he, by offering himself, offered the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin.  (See my last post for one small example of that.)  But not once, in the entire book, does it even mention, much less elaborate, on priesthood authority. 

     This connection between priesthood and sacrifice cannot just be flippantly ignored. This holds true especially because Mormonism says that, through Joseph Smith, the priesthood was restored.  Restoring implies that the same thing is involved.  I don’t build an airplane and call it a restored car. 

      This is my question.  Just for the sake of discussion, assume that I accept the premise (which most of you know I don’t) that many things about the priesthood have been lost – wouldn’t it still be true if the priesthood was restored that a major function of it would be sacrifice?  If not, then wouldn’t it be true that not only would I have to believe that many things about the priesthood had been lost, but everything the Bible says about the priesthood is wrong?  What function of the priesthood that the Bible connects to priests does Mormonism still retain?  (It doesn’t connect baptism with the priesthood.  James 5:14 doesn’t mention priests either.)

Godly Boldness

 

     I have sometimes wondered what the Old Testament high priest was thinking when he woke up the morning of the Day of Atonement.  He had to be excited seeing what a special day it was.  It was the only day of the year that he could enter the Holy of Holies in the temple.  And he was the only person who could enter it!  One man – one day a year.  It had to be one of the most highly restricted areas in the history of the world.

    There was only one object in the Holy of Holies – the Ark of the Covenant.  The Ark symbolized the presence of God.  By so severely restricting access to the Holy of Holies God was teaching a valuable lesson – that sin had separated man from God.  This was emphasized by the fact that anybody, including the high priest, who entered the Holy of Holies on any other day would die.  Even on the Day of Atonement, when the high priest could enter, he had to do so by sprinkling blood before him.  The blood “gained” him access. 

     Imagine being that high priest that morning.  Excited, but probably also a little apprehensive.  Especially when, according to tradition, a rope was tied around one of his legs to drag him out in the event he would die.  I have to imagine he didn’t go very boldly through the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place.

     The writer to the Hebrews had that background in mind when he penned this most amazing section.  “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus.  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (10:19-20).  Now we have access to God!  Now we can approach God confidently and boldly.  All because of Jesus.  His blood gained access for us.  That is the significance of the veil of the temple tearing in two at the moment of his death.  The Holy of Holies of God’s presence is no longer highly restricted.

     Over the years, numerous Mormons have been puzzled and even taken aback by how confident I am that I am going to live with Heavenly Father forever.  Some have questioned me about it – some have flat out told me I was dead wrong.  Not that many identified with me.  I would say that most felt that my confidence bordered on being naïve. 

     In contrast, many Christians identify with that confidence and exhibit that same confidence in Christ. 

     The contrast between the two is, for me, a striking evidence of the differences between Mormonism and Christianity.

The Temple

 

     One of the most important aspects of Mormonism is the temple.  It often refers to the temples of Bible times and implies that the modern-day LDS temples are continuations of those biblical temples.  But there is nothing similar between the two.

     Consider first who could enter the temple.  In biblical times, only the priests could enter it.  And priesthood was determined by genetics.  Only the men from the house of Aaron could be priests.  In Mormonism, both priest holders and non-priest holders can enter the temple.  And LDS priesthood is not determined by genetics. 

     Even more striking was the fact that only one man, the high priest, could enter the inner part of the temple, the Holy of Holies.  And he could only do that on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement. 

     Another difference is their structure.  In the Bible, the temple consisted of only two rooms:  the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.  There were no sealing rooms or celestial room as there are in LDS temples.

     Most striking is the difference in activities between the two.  Biblical temples revolved around sacrifice.  It sounded and smelled like a slaughter-house.  For example, when it was dedicated King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats!  Each day afterward daily sacrifices both for the nation and for individuals were offered.  The book of Hebrews wonderfully explains all this as it talks about how these sacrifices and all that blood prefigured Jesus’ sacrifice for us.  The activity of biblical temples was one striking and repeating object lesson: “without shedding of blood is no remission.”  (Heb. 9:22)

     The activity within LDS temples is completely different.  In it people receive endowments for themselves and vicariously for the dead; are married for eternity and are vicariously married for the dead, and are baptized for the dead. There the emphasis is on how people can redeem the dead, one of the three main missions of the Mormon Church.  That is in striking contrast to how biblical temples pointed ahead to Jesus’ redeeming us by the shedding of his blood.

     Instead of connecting Mormonism to the Bible, LDS temples strikingly show the difference between the Bible and Mormonism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     One of the most important aspects of Mormonism is the temple.  It often refers to the temples of Bible times and implies that the modern-day LDS temples are continuations of those biblical temples.  But there is nothing similar between the two.

     Consider first who could enter the temple.  In biblical times, only the priests could enter it.  And priesthood was determined by genetics.  Only the men from the house of Aaron could be priests.  In Mormonism, both priest holders and non-priest holders can enter the temple.  And LDS priesthood is not determined by genetics. 

     Even more striking was the fact that only one man, the high priest, could enter the inner part of the temple, the Holy of Holies.  And he could only do that on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement. 

     Another difference is their structure.  In the Bible, the temple consisted of only two rooms:  the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.  There were no sealing rooms or celestial room as there are in LDS temples.

     Most striking is the difference in activities between the two.  Biblical temples revolved around sacrifice.  It sounded and smelled like a slaughter-house.  For example, when it was dedicated King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats!  Each day afterward daily sacrifices both for the nation and for individuals were offered.  The book of Hebrews wonderfully explains all this as it talks about how these sacrifices and all that blood prefigured Jesus’ sacrifice for us.  The activity of biblical temples was one striking and repeating object lesson: “without shedding of blood is no remission.”  (Heb. 9:22)

     The activity within LDS temples is completely different.  In it people receive endowments for themselves and vicariously for the dead; are married for eternity and are vicariously married for the dead, and are baptized for the dead. There the emphasis is on how people can redeem the dead, one of the three main missions of the Mormon Church.  That is in striking contrast to how biblical temples pointed ahead to Jesus’ redeeming us by the shedding of his blood.

     Instead of connecting Mormonism to the Bible, LDS temples strikingly show the difference between the Bible and Mormonism.

Why Mormons emphasize Genealogy Work

Why Mormons emphasize Genealogy Work

 

 

Have you ever wondered why researching family history is so important to your Mormon friends?  Genealogy work is tied to one of the three main missions of the Mormon church, namely, redeeming the dead.

 

Mormonism teaches that its members can help people who have died.  They help them by receiving temple ordinances in their names.  In Mormon temples, not only are Mormons baptized for the dead, they also receive other ordinances.  They go through the endowment ceremony for those who have died and also are married vicariously for the dead.  They believe that, until the dead receive these vicarious ordinances, they will not be able to progress in the afterlife.  That is why one of the three main missions of the Mormon church is to redeem the dead.

 

In order to do this temple work, however, they need to do the genealogical research necessary to identify the people they will help in this way.  Thus, the importance of researching their family history.

 

The belief that people have opportunities to be “redeemed” even after they have died lessens considerably the sense of urgency for some Mormons.  The truth we need to tell them is that this lifetime, and this lifetime alone, is the time God has given them to trust in Jesus and he alone for salvation.  Warning them that their time is running out is the loving thing to do.

 

My name is Mark Cares, encouraging you to speak the truth in love to Mormons.