Now, is it not plain to see how important this doctrine is, and why
the Saints were to be rejected? But they were not rejected for they
performed the baptisms for their dead, and are today performing the
baptisms and the ordinances for and in behalf of their dead. Therefore
they are not rejected. Again, the Prophet says that the Saints have not
too much time to save and redeem their dead, and gather their living
relatives together that they may be saved also, before the earth will
be smitten, as revealed by Malachi. Therefore it is quite evident why
the Lord permitted them to baptize in the river, and not wait until
those ordinances could be performed in the Temple, and why He was so
anxious that they should hurry and prepare a place in the Temple, where
they could be performed in accordance with the plan from before the
foundation of the world.
Here is another statement that I wish to refer to. In an editorial
in the Times and Seasons written by the Prophet, in volume 3, pages
759-761, where he is speaking of the remarks made by the Savior to the
Jews, that upon them should come all the righteous blood shed upon the
earth from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias,
son of Barachias, who was slain between the Temple and the altar,
Joseph the Prophet declares in most emphatic terms that the reason why
this blood was to come upon these Jews was, that:
"They possessed greater privileges than any other generation, not
only as pertaining to themselves but to their dead, their sin was
greater as they not only neglected their own salvation but that
of their progenitors, and hence their blood was required at their
hands."
Now, if these Jews were to answer for the blood of their progenitors
because they neglected the salvation of their dead, then, may we not
ask; will not we have to answer for the blood of our dead if we neglect
these ordinances in their behalf? It matters not even if we have been
baptized and have had hands laid on our heads for the reception of the
Holy Ghost; if we wilfully neglect the salvation of our dead, then also
we shall stand rejected of the Lord because we have rejected our dead;
and just so sure their blood will be required at our hands.
Now, what is the attitude of the "Reorganized" Church in relation to
the salvation of the dead, the neglect of which the Church--yes, and
also the individual--was to stand rejected of the Lord? I have here a
copy of a resolution that was passed by the general conference of that
sect in 1886, at the time that Mr. Briggs withdrew. This resolution
is in reply to his charge that he could not accept the principle of
"baptism for the dead." Here it is:
"That as to the alleged Temple building and ceremonial endowments
therein, that we know of no Temple building, except as edifices
wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of
the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early Saints on
Pentecost day."
"'Baptism for the dead' referred to belongs to those local
questions of which the body has said by resolution:
"'That the commandments of a local character, given to the first
organization of the Church are binding on the Reorganization only
so far as they are either reiterated or referred to as binding by
commandment to this church. And _that_ principle has neither been
reiterated nor referred to as a commandment."
Just think of that! They declare that we were rejected because we
failed to build a house where these ordinances were to be performed,
and yet they actually have the audacity to say that the work of
salvation for the dead is not binding on them because it has not
been reiterated or referred to as a commandment binding on them.
Now is that consistent? They call it a local commandment, yet we
have seen that this commandment was the burden of the Scriptures and
the greatest responsibility that God has placed upon us, and we are
obliged to save our dead if we would ourselves be saved. And yet, this
commandment without which the whole earth was to be utterly wasted and
destroyed--this eternal commandment that had been prepared before the
foundation of the world--is not binding on them! "A local commandment!"
"A permissive rite!" My friends, from the teachings of Joseph Smith the
Prophet, which I have presented, you may well judge which is the Church
"rejected with its dead."[14]