Baptism for the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:29 is today's scripture mastery.  It comes in the same chapter as yesterday's scripture mastery, which was on the resurrection.

 29 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?

In this verse, Paul teaches the Corinthians about the resurrection, and uses the argument of the practice of baptism for the dead to support his reasoning.  How do the two relate?  Well, if we will not be resurrected, we will have no need of being baptized.  Paul was arguing that the members of the church that were performing baptisms for the dead would be wasting their time IF the resurrection was not a reality.  This verse is very interesting for those who think that baptism for the dead is something the Joseph Smith made up--The practice of baptism for the dead was practiced by the ancient Christians, as referenced here by Paul.

Joseph Smith wrote a letter to the church on the subject of baptism for the dead.  It is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 128.  I won't quote it here, but you can click on the link if you would like to read what he said about the subject.

Some additional notes of importance with baptism for the dead.  All these requirements are given by revelation:
1)It must be performed by someone with the Priesthood of God
2)It must be performed in a very specific way(immersion), and in a specific place (a temple)
3)It is done by proxy (i.e. someone is baptized in the name of the person who had deceased, and is baptized for them)
4)The baptism must be recorded in the records of the church, and is witnessed by two witnesses
5)The sealing power of the Preisthood that makes this possible is the same sealing power that the prophet Elijah had(which he restored to the prophet Joseph Smith  recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 110:13-16).  It is the power to seal something on earth, and it is also sealed in Heaven.
6)Those who we are baptizing by proxy are NOT forced to accept the baptism--If they choose to accept it on their behalf, they can.  If they choose to reject it, they can.  It is done by our members as a service out of love for all mankind.  We do it, because of the requirement from God that everyone must be baptized, or they cannot return to live in the kingdom of God.

Death and the Resurection

Yesterday, I talked a little about sin and repentance.  The ability to repent is made possible by Jesus.  Today I talk a little about physical death and the resurrection.  Today's scripture mastery is 1 Corinthians 15:20-22:

 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Through the atonement of Christ, we have all been given a wonderful gift.  That is the gift of the resurrection.  This is a free gift to all of us, whether we choose to believe in Him and repent of our sins, or not.  If we were born here on earth, we will, because of Christ's resurrection, also be resurrected, and receive a glorified and immortal body.  These verses from the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 9:12-15) do a much better job of explaining this than I can.  This comes from a sermon that the prophet Jacob taught his people on this subject:

 12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

 13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

 14 Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

 15 And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God.

In summary--Christ has two gifts he is willing to give to us all.  These gifts allow us the ability to overcome death.  First is the gift to overcome spiritual death, which is caused by sin, and is our separation from God's presence, is given to those who repent of their sins and accept Christ.  Second, the gift to overcome physical death, which is the separation of our spirit from our body, is given to all without condition.  We will all be resurrected, and come before Christ to be judged in the final judgement.

Escaping Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 is today's scripture mastery.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I really like this promise!  I often feel very tempted, so this promise that God will not let me be tempted more than I am able to withstand is very helpful to me.  It gives me strength to try harder, and to pick myself up when I do fall in to temptation.  It helps me to repent, and to do my best to help those around me as well.

The other part of this verse that I like is the first part that says "no temptation...but such as is common to man."  In other words, the temptations that we each face are and have been faced by mankind since the beginning.  Satan knows how to tempt us, but God knows our limits, and protects us from Satan overcoming us.  We can overcome, with Christ's help!

In our church we often hear that this life is a test.  We don't expect to have an easy life.  We may not enjoy the challenges that we are given.  We may experience a lot of heartache and pain while here on earth.  God doesn't give us a test that He knows that we will not be able to pass however.  He sincerely loves each of us, and wants us to be able to return to Him.  He knows how to give us those things that He knows that we need--and in most cases we don't know why we have to go through the trials that we do until long after we have gone through them.

If we endure through this life, and remain faithful, we will receive the rest from the trials and troubles that we have suffered through.  Doctrine and Covenants 72:4 tells us:

4 For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father.

Just because we have been promised that we won't be tempted more than we can withstand doesn't mean that we should go looking for sin.  We should avoid temptation as much as we possibly can.  The less we have to repent because of sin, the better off we will be.

Christ himself taught that we should repent of our sins with these words (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-20)

 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

 18 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 body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

 20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.

Don't suffer more than is needful!  Christ has already suffered for, and paid for our sins!  All we need to do is to repent from our sins, and by His grace, we won't have to suffer for them as well.

I am not ashamed

Today's scripture mastery verse is from the letter of Paul written to the Romans.  It is found in Romans 1:16

 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

This is what we feel when we are truly converted.  I struggle with this at times.  It is not easy to "open your mouth"(Doctrine and Covenants 33:8-10) and share the gospel when we fear what others will think and say about us, or what they may do.  We must learn to overcome that fear (FYI, this blog is my attempt to do just that in my own life. . .)

I like this promise found in 1 John 4:18

 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

This is something I believe that even the apostle Peter struggled with.  Jesus taught him personally to overcome that fear by telling him this: (John 21: 15-17)

 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 If we have a perfect love for God, and for our fellow man, we will have a desire to feed Christ's sheep (i.e. share the gospel, and lift and help each other)

Steven sees Christ standing on the right hand of God the Father

Today's scripture mastery I actually referenced in yesterday's post.  It is Acts 7:55-56.  This is the story of Steven seeing Christ standing on the right hand of God, just before he was stoned to death.

 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

I mentioned yesterday that there have been many people who have seen God.  The scriptures have listed many people who have seen God face to face.

Here are just a few:
Moses (Exodus 33:11).  Moses saw the Lord while he was in the tabernacle.
Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5).  Isaiah saw the Lord when he was first called to be a prophet.
Nephi and Jacob (2 Nephi 11:3).  Nephi teaches that both he and his brother Jacom have seen God.
King Lamoni (Alma 19:13).  He was taught the gospel by a missionary named Ammon.  He had a wonderful vision where he saw Christ.
The brother of Jared (Ether 3:15).  I like this one.  The brother of Jared first saw the finger of the Lord, and was very surprised, as he didn't know that God had a body.  He was then shown Christ's whole body.  It was explained that we are, indeed created after the image of God--not in a figurative sense, but literally.
I mentioned Joseph Smith yesterday.  Here is another time that he saw him: (Doctrine and Covenants 110:2-4).  This sighting happened during the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, and is a very detailed description.

For more references of people who have seen God, see this list of scripture references: (Topical Guide- God, Privilege of Seeing)

I particularly like this reference, as it could apply to each of us.  This one comes from Christ's "Be attitudes" sermon (Matt 5:8):

 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

If we become pure in heart, we have been promised that we too can see God!

Eternal Life

John 17:3 is today's scripture mastery:

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

This scripture is part of the prayer that Christ said just before He suffered for the sins of the world in the Garden of Gethsemane, and afterwards was crucified on the cross in the garden of Gethsemane.

In this verse, Christ teaches some very important things.  First, we have another example of Christ and the Father being separate persons (otherwise why would Christ be praying to Himself, and referring to Himself in both first and second person. . .)  A few (of the many) other examples of the fact that they are separate are when Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:55), and Joseph Smith seeing God the Father, and the Son, Jesus Christ (Joseph Smith-History 1:17)

Second we learn that to gain Eternal Life, we must know God the Father, as well as Christ, his Son.

How can we do that?  Well, as we learned in yesterday's post, the more we keep the commandments of God, the more we will be blessed, and, as another bonus, we will come to know Him more and more.

John teaches us a little more on how in (John 14:8-12)

 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

 Basically, it boils down to following the example of Christ.  Christ always did what the Father wanted him to do.  We should do what Christ wants us to do.  The more we do that, the more we come to know Christ, and the more we know Christ, the more we come to know the Father.

The more Christlike we become, the closer we come to gaining Eternal Life.  If we gain Eternal Life, we will actually come to know Christ and the Father in a very real way.  We will be welcomed back in to their presence with a hug, and will hear directly from them "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23)  That will make all the trials and troubles in life be well worth it!  Can you imagine the joy and peace that will bring?

If ye love me, keep my commandments

Today's scripture mastery is a short one.  It is John 14:15.  I actually already quoted the entire verse in the title of this post, but here it is again:

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Though the verse is very short, it is very profound.  We show our love for Jesus by keeping His commandments. 

What are the commandments that we should keep?

To answer that question, let me answer by repeating the verses found in Matthew 22, where a lawyer asked Jesus what the "great commandment" (meaning the most important commandment) is.  He responded with these verses:

 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 38 This is the first and great commandment.

 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

If we love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, we are willing to give to Him the only thing that is truly ours to give--our free will.  God has given to us everything that we have.  The air we breathe, our lives, and  all the beautiful things in the world are ours only temporarily.  If we give to him our heart, mind, and soul by obeying him, we are giving to the Lord the only thing that He will never take from us by force.

I can't explain this concept as well as king Mosiah did.  He was a righteous king who taught his people about this concept.  He explained it this way (Mosiah 2:21-26):

 21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

 22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

 23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

 24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

 25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.

 26 And I, even I, whom ye call your king, am no better than ye yourselves are; for I am also of the dust. And ye behold that I am old, and am about to yield up this mortal frame to its mother earth.

It is amazing to me how much love Christ constantly shows to me! When I keep his commandments to show my love for Him, He turns the table on me!  He blesses me much more than I deserve... 

I would like to finish today's post by quoting one of my favorite Hymns.  It is called "I Stand All Amazed"(click the link to hear the music of the hymn as well)

1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

[Chorus]
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.