THE REORGANIZED CHURCH

VS.

SALVATION FOR THE DEAD

By Elder Joseph F. Smith, Jr.

1905


And Saviors shall come up on Mount Zion tojudge the Mount of Esau; and the 
Kingdom shall be the Lords.  Obediah, 21st verse.

THE "REORGANIZED" CHURCH VS. SALVATION FOR THE DEAD

Copyright, 1905, by Joseph F. Smith, Jr.

The so called "Reorganized" church, which is so bitter in its antagonism 
towards the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has claimed from its 
beginning to be teaching and practicing the doctrines of the Gospel as they 
were revealed from God through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Its officers declare 
that they are walking in the footsteps of the martyred Seer; hewing closely to 
the line, and observing in all things the commandments which were given from 
God through his instrumentality, without variation, change, or loss of power 
from all that pertains to the salvation of the human family in this 
dispensation of the fullness of times.

Their foundation is built upon the absurd and misty claim that the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which was established April 6, 1830, 
through the labors of Joseph Smith the prophet and the will of God, was 
"rejected with its dead for transgression of its members," and that the 
"Reorganized" church is a "new organization"* which God raised up to succeed 
the original -- but as they would have us believe, "rejected" -- Church.

*In a number of articles by Zenas H. Gurley, one of the founds of the 
"Reorganized" church, in the Saints Herald, Vol. 1, the "Reorganization" is 
referred to as "a new organization of the Church."  This agrees with the 
statement of the president of that church, in the Saints Herald, Feb. 17, 
1904.  Said he:  "The Church, using the word to mean the Church rejected, has 
not been again received."

It is not my purpose to discuss the foolish question of the "rejection of the 
Church," but to examine the Reorganite position in regard to salvation for the 
dead; and to show their lack of harmony with the teachings of the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pertaining to the dead, as those teachings 
have been revealed through the latter-day Prophet.

It stands to reason that if the Lord rejected His Church with its dead because 
of transgression, or any other cause whatever, that He would not raise up a 
substitute church to carryon His work on earth and stillkeep the dead -- who 
could in no wise be held responsible for the rejection -- in suspension, and 
deny to them the privilege of receiving the ordinances of the Gospel by proxy 
according to the revealed plan of God as it was ordained from before the 
foundations of the world were laid, as a means of salvation to those who die 
without a knowledge of the Gospel.  To any reasonable mind this truth would 
need no argument.  Yet the "Reorganized" church declares that the lord did 
this very thing; and in the light of the revelations given to the Prophet 
Joseph Smith as well as those in the ancient Scriptures, which bear on this 
subject of salvation for the dead, their declaration is fatal to their 
organization; it stamps it as fraudulent and theirofficers as imposters.  A 
church without salvation for the dead, according to the revealed will of God 
tothe Prophet Joseph Smith, cannot be the Church of Christ.

When the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith on the night of September 21, 
1823, he imparted to the youthful Seer many truths of the greatest importance 
pertaining to the restoration of the Gospel and the establishment of the 
Church which, the angel said, was about to take place.  These instructions 
were of such weight that they were repeated twice more that night and again 
the following day, in order that this young man, upon whose shoulders the 
burden of the latter day work should rest, might be sufficiently impressed 
with the greatness and importance of his mission.  Among the instructions 
given by the angel at this time, the doctrine of salvation for the dead had an 
important part. This heavenly messenger said that the prophecy of Malachi the 
Prophet was about to be fulfilled, and he quoted the fourth chapter of 
Malachi, but with this variation:

"For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, 
yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall 
burn them, saith the lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor 
branch. ... Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of 
Elijah the prophet, before the coming of that great and dreadful day of the 
Lord.  And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to 
their fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers; if 
it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."  
(History of the Church, Vol. 1, page 12)

At that time the full meaning and glory and significance of this instruction 
were not understood by the Prophet, although it made a deep impression on his 
mind.  On the 3d day of April, 1836, it was fulfilled, for Elijah the Prophet 
appeared in the Kirtland Temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, and 
conferred upon them this Priesthood and the keys of the salvation for the dead 
stating that --

"Behold the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, 
testifying that he (Elijah) should be sent before the great and dreadful dayof 
theLord come.  To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the 
children to their fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse.  
Therefore the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands, and by 
this ye may kow that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at 
the doors."  (Doc. and Cov. 110:13-16.  History of "Reorganized" Church, Vo. 
2, page 47)

Following the bestowal of this Priesthood with its keys, the spirit of 
salvation for the dead was poured out in abundance upon the heads of the 
Prophet and his people whose hearts began to turn toward their dead fathers.  
After the Church settled in Nauvoo, baptism for the dead was instituted, the 
Lord, at first, permitting the ordinance to be performed in the mississippi 
river, but later revealing to the Saints that the proper place for this and 
other rites for the salvation of the dead, must be performed in a Temple built 
purposely for such ordinances, and that only in times of their extreme poverty 
could these ordinances be performed elsewhere by His people.  Such a Temple 
the Saints were commanded to build, and on the 21st of November, 1841, 
baptisms for the dead, which had been discontinued in the river at Nauvoo by 
command of God, October 3, 1841, were resume din the font of the Lord's House, 
which had been dedicated for that purpose.*  These ordinances continued to be 
performed until the Temple was completed and the Saints were driven from 
Nauvoo.  The spirit of Elijah's work, which had rested somightly upon the 
Prophet Joseph, continued with Brigham Young and the "Mormon" people during 
their travels in the wilderness, and when they arrived in the valleys of the 
Rocky Mountains, the first commandment to them from the Lord, was tobuild a 
Temple to His name, where the ordinances of salvation for the living and for 
the dead could be performed. this work was done as speedily as possible and 
from that day to the present the spirit of Temple building and of Temple work 
for the salvation of mankind has continued with the Church.

*The font was dedicated November 8, 1841, by President Brigham Young in the 
preence of and under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Millennial 
Star 18:744-745.

This action on the part of the Churchunder the leadership of the successors of 
Joseph Smith is in harmony with the Scriptures and the teachings and 
commandments given to the Prophet.  He declared that baptism for the dead -- 
the opening of the prison house to them that sit in darkness, and the 
proclamation of liberty to the captives -- was the most glorious of all 
subjects belonging to the everlasting Gospel, and so greatly was he wrought 
upon by this work that the subject occupied his mind almost constantly before 
his death.  Moreover, a short time before his martyrdom, the Prophet bestowed 
upon the Twelve Apostles -- who constitute the second quorum in the CHurch -- 
all the keys and all the ordinances and Priesthood necessary for them to hold 
in order to carryon this great and glorious work of universal salvation.

That the Twelve did receive these keys and powers, we learn from the following 
quotation from the Times and Seasons.  Orson Hyde, one of that quorum said:

"Before I went east on the 4th of April (1844) last, we were in council with 
Brother Joseph almost every day for weeks, said Brother Joseph in one of those 
councils, there is something going to happen; I don't know what it is, but the 
lord bids me to hasten and give you your endowment before the Temple is 
finished.  He conducted us through every ordinance of the Holy Priesthood, and 
when he had gone through with all the ordinances he rejoiced very much, and 
said, now if they kill me you have got all the keys, and all the ordinances 
and you can confer them upon others, and the hosts of Satan will not be able 
to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will be able to build it up; and now, 
said he, on your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people 
rest."  (Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, page 651).

This testimony is corroborated by the testimony of Elder Wilford Woodruff, 
which is found in the same volume, page 698, wherein he says:

"And when they (the Twelve) received their endowment, and actually received 
the keys of the kingdom of God, and oracles of God, keys of revelation, and 
the pattern of heavenly things; and thus addressing the Twelve (Joseph) 
exclaimed, 'Upon your shoulders the kingdom rests, and you must round up your 
shoulders and bear it, for i have had to do it until now.'"

Sister Bathsheba W. Smith, wife of George A. Smith, one of the Twelve to whom 
these keys were given, was present in the council meetings above referred to, 
and in an affidavit, dated November 19, 1903, says:

"In the year 1844, a short time before the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 
it was my privilege to attend a regular prayer circle meeting in the upper 
room over the Prophet's store.  There were present at this meeting most of the 
Twelve Apostles, their wives and a number of other prominent brethren and 
their wives.  On that occasion the Prophet arove and spoke at great length, 
and during his remarks I heard him say that he had conferred on the heads of 
the Twelve Apostles all the keys and powers pertaining to the Priesthood, and 
tht upon the heads of the Twelve APostles the burden of the kingdom rested, 
and that they would have to carry it."

Having shown the consistency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
Saints with regard to the doctrine of salvation for the dead; and having shown 
that the keys of this work, and all other keys pertaining to the salvation of 
mankind have continued with the Church, we will not consider the attitude of 
the "Reorganization" in relation to this grand and eternal principle of the 
redemption of the dead.

At first the founders of the "Reorganized" church appeared to favor it and 
declared that when the "Reorganization" was established that this principle 
would be practiced, for as the "rejection of the church produced an effect on 
the dead," said they, "as well as on the living, so will the reorganization."*  
But when the"reorganization" took place the change that was promised in regard 
to the dead was not fulfilled, and since that time to the present day -- over 
forty-five years -- baptism for the dead, Temple building and temple work, 
have never been, by that organization, practiced or entertained.  In fact they 
have turned about face and have rejected peremptorily the doctrine of baptism 
for the dead and now declare that it is not binding on them.

*History of "Reorganized" church, Vol. 3, page 245.

"In a resolutin adopted by that church, April 9, 1886, the following startling 
declaration was made:

"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 king 
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 rae 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 neither been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment.'"*

*Conference resolutions pamphlet of "Reorganized" church, page 82.

In February, 1904, the president of that "organization" declared that baptism 
for the dead was a permissive rite,* and that it was taken from the Church, 
"and if subsequently it was to be engaged in," said he, "and enjoyed by the 
same people, it must be restored again by revelation and command, and could 
not be assumed as being held over by suffrance.  We donot know of any 
revelation or command authoritatively promulgated renewing theprivilege."

*Editorial in "Saints Herals," Feb. 17, 1904.

His statement is a flat acknowledgment that he does not hold the keys of this 
work and that they can only be received by revelation.  That he does not hold 
the keys is true.  That he did not receive them from his father he admits,* 
and William Marks, William W. Blair and Zenas H. Gurley, who "ordained" him to 
his office of president of the "Reorganized" church, never held them.  They 
could only be obtained from the Prophet Joseph SMith, and from him, as has 
been shown, the Twelve received them in 1844.  "Young Joseph" might truthfully 
have gone further and declared that if the privilege was taken away, before it 
could again be practiced with authority and power that the keysof the 
Priesthood which were held by Elijah would again have to be restored.  His 
statement is an unqualified admission that the work of Elijah was performed in 
vain.  He challenges that prophet's statement, that the timehad fully come.  
He acknowledges that, in spite of all the efforts of the "Reorganization" in 
the attempt to save souls, the whole earth is in danger of being "smitten with 
a curse," and "utterly wasted" at the coming of the great and dreadful day of 
the Lord, which is "near, even at the doors."  If this statement of the 
president of the "Reorganized" church is true, then the members of his church 
stand in jeopardy every hour; darkness covers the face of the earth; there is 
no salvation for the children of men; the word of the Lord has failed, and 
destruction awaits the earth and her inhabitants.

*In his testimony before the Circuit Court, at Kansas City, in the "Temple 
lot" suit, he said:  "No, sir, I did not state that I was ordained by my 
father; I did not make the statement.  I was not ordained by my father as his 
successor; according to my understanding of the word ordain, I was not."  
Plaintiff's Abstract, page 79, paragraph 126.

In declaring that baptism for the dead was a permissive rite," he shows a 
willful lack of understanding pertaining to the great eternal plan of 
salvation which was revealed through his Prophet father.  In declaring that 
baptism was a local commandment to the Saints at Nauvoo, not binding on the 
members of the "Reorganization," the members of his church acknowledge that 
the hand of Jehovah is not guiding them; that they are floundering in the mire 
of unbelief and ignorance.  They make light of one of the "most glorious 
subjects belonging to the everlasting Gospel."

Yes, the authorities of the "Reorganized church have declared by conference 
resolution that baptism for the dead is not binding on them because it was a 
local commandment, and "has never been reiterated nor referred to as a 
commandment!"

Judged by the Reorganite standards of faith and doctrine will this statement 
bear the light of investigation?  Baptism a local commandment, not binding on 
the Saints!"  "Tothe law and the testimony," said Isaiah, "if they speak not 
according to this word, it is because there is nolightin them."

In section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants (sec. CX Reorganite edition), 
verse 17, in a revelation* to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we read the following:

*In a communication from the president of the "Reorganized" church, which is 
now in the hands of the writer, the statement is made that there is nothing in 
sections 127 and 128 (CIX and CX "Reorganite" edition) of the Doctrine and 
Covenants, "toindicate that they are revelations.  These articles refer only 
to the baptism of the dead."  The Prophet Joseph, however, in these articles 
on baptism for the dead declares that they are revelations.  See sec. 127, 
verses 4, 6, 8 and 10; also 128, verse 2.

"I will give you a quotation from one of the Prophets, who had his eye fixed 
on the restoration of the priesthood, the glories to be revealed in the last 
days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging 
to the everlasting gospel, viz.:  the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, 
last chapter, verses 5, 6, 'Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet, before 
the coming of the great and dreadful day of the lord; and he shall turn the 
heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their 
fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

Not only is the Priesthood which was revealed by Elijah the prophet, 
pertaining to the "most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting 
Gospel," but it is of the most importance, for the Prophet Joseph says:

"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us, is to 
seek after our dead.  The apostle says they without us cannot be made perfect.  
Now I will speak of them:  I say to you, Paul, you cannot be perfect without 
us; It is necessry that those who have gone before, and those who come after 
us should have salvation in common withus, and thus hath God made it 
obligatory to man.  Hence God said he would send Eijah."  (Times and Seasons, 
6:616)

Moreover, at the conference of the Church held October 3, 1841, he presented,

"Baptism for the dead as the only way that men can appear as saviors on Mount 
Zion.  the proclamation of the first principles of the Gospel was a means of 
salvation tomen individually, and it was the truth, not men, that saved them; 
but men by actively engaging in rites of salvation substitutionally, become 
instrumental in bringing multitudes of their kin into the kingdom of God. ... 
There is a way to release the spirit of the dead; that is by the power and 
authority of the Priesthood -- by binding and loosing on earth.

"This doctrine appears glorious inasmuch as it exhibits the greatness of 
divine compassion, and benevolence in the extent of the plan of human 
salvation.  This glorious truth is well calculated to enlarge the 
understanding, and tosustain the soul under troubles, difficulties, and 
distresses. ...

"This doctrine, he said, presents in a clear light the wisdom and mercy of 
God, in prepring an ordinance for the salvation of the dead, being baptized by 
proxy, theirnames recorded in heaven, and they judged according to the deeds 
done in the body.  This doctrine was the burden of the Scriptures.  Those 
Saints who neglect it, in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the 
peril of their own salvation."  (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, pages 577-578, 
also History of "Reorganized" Church, Vol. 2, pages 545-546)

Now, whom shall we believe?  The "Reorganized" church that has rejected 
baptism for the dead, declaring it to be a local commandment not binding on 
them, or the Prophet Joseph Smith who declares that it is the burden of the 
Scriptures, and that if we neglect it it is at the peril of our own salvation?

The significance of this principle is even more emphatically expressed in 
section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants (CX Reorganite edition).  Let me 
quote:

Verse 5:  "You may think this order of things to be very particular, but let 
me tell you, that they are only to answer the will of God, by conforming to 
the ordinance and preparation that the Lord ordained and prepared before the 
foundation of the world, for the salvation of the dead, who should die without 
a knowledge of the Gospel."

Verse 8:  "For out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their 
own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their 
own propria persona or by means of their own agents, according to the 
ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the 
foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept 
concerning their dead."

Verse 15:  "And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you 
that these are principles, in relation to the dead and the living, that cannot 
be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation, for their salvation is 
necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers, 
'that they without us cannot be made perfect.'"

Verse 18:  "It is sufficient to know ... that the earth will be smitten with a 
curse, unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between 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 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 fullness 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 present time; 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 the dispensation of the fullness of times."

From the original manuscript history of the Prophet Joseph Smith, now in the 
Historian's office, Salt Lake City, I obtain the following under date of 
January 20, 1844:

"Preached at the southwest corner of the Temple to several thousand people, 
although the weather was somewhat unpleasant.  My subject was the sealing of 
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to 
the fathers."

Of this discourse a synopsis was reported by Elder Wilford Woodruff, from 
which the Prophet Joseph records the following in that history:

"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 spiritof 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 head, in behalf of all their progenitors, who are 
dead, and redeem 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 the children to the fathers, 
which fulfills the mission of Elijah.  And I would to God that this Temple was 
now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and 
make use of the sals which they are on 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, before the earth 
will be smitten, and the consummation decreed falls upon the world.

I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might and gather together 
all theirliving relatives to this place, that they may be sealed and saved, 
that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes 
forth; and if the whole Church should go to with their might to sdave their 
dead, seal theirposterity, and gather their living friends, and spend none of 
their time in behalf of the world, they would hardly get through before night 
would come when noman can work."

On the 12th of May, 1844, the Prophet Joseph said: 

"It is not only necessary that you should be baptized for your dead, but 
youwill have to go through all the ordinances for them, same as you have gone 
through to save yourselves.  There will be 144,000 saviors on Mount Zion, and 
with them an innumerable host that no man can count."

We learn from the foregoing quotations the following important facts 
pertaining to the salvation of the dead:

1. Salvation in behalf of the dead is the binding or sealing of the hearts of 
the fathers and the children, the welding link.  (Doc. and Cov., 128:18, 
Reorganite edition CX:18)

2. It is the most glorious subject belonging to the everlasting Gospel.  (Doc. 
and Cov., 128:17, Reorganite edition CX:17)

3. It is the greatest responsibility in this world that God has laidupon us -- 
to seek after our dead.  (Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, page 616)

4. It is obligatory to man.  (Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, page 616)

5. Without it the whole earth and its inhabitants would be smitten with a 
curse.  (Malachi 4:6.  Doc. and Cov., 128:18, Reorganite edition CX:18)

6. It is an eternal doctrine prepared before the foundation of the world.  
(Doc. and Cov. 128:5, 8, 18, Reorganite edition CX: 5, 8, 18)

7. It is the burden of the Scriptures.  (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 578, 
Reorganite church history, Vol. 2, page 546)

8. If we neglect it it is at the peril of our own salvation.  (Times and 
Seasons, Vol. 2, page 578, Reorganite church history, Vol. 2, page 546)

9. Through it we become saviors on Mount Zion, and may save multitudes of our 
kin.  (Times and Seasons, Vol. 2, page 577, Reorganite church history, Vol. 2, 
page 545)

10. We without our dead and our dead without us cannot be saved with a perfect 
salvation.  (Doc. and Cov., 128:18, Reorganite edition CX:18)

11. We cannot lightly pass this doctrine over as pertaining to our salvation.  
(Doc. and Cov. 128:15, Reorganite edition CX:15)

12. The time granted to the Saints to redeem their dead and gather and seal 
their living relatives before the earth shall be smitten with a curse, is none 
too long."  (History of Joseph Smith, January 20, 1844)

Now, my Reorganite friends, in the face of this how dare you presume to 
circumscribe, limit and profane this doctrine of salvation for the dead?  Why 
do you call this eternal and most glorious principle a "permissive rite," a 
"local commandment?" and declare before God that it is not binding on you?  
God has declared it to be ordained before the foundations of the world were 
laid for the salvation of the dead who die without a knowledge of the Gospel -
- an eternal principle, the burden of the Scriptures, obligatory to man.  Are 
you in harmony with the word of God?  Were your leaders inspired to declare in 
the face of Jehovah's commands that this eternal principle was a "local 
commandment" not given to 	them as a commandment?  Binding only on the 
Saints at Nauvoo?  Do you not fear and tremble for your own salvation in 
neglecting the salvation of your dead?  If the Jews who lived in the days of 
Christ will have to answer for "all the righteous blood shed upon the earth 
from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zecharias, son of 
Barachias," because they neglected the salvation of their dead as well as 
their own salvation, pray tell, what will your punishment be?  (See Times and 
Seasons, Vol. 3, page 760-761)  Remember that you without your dead cannot be 
made perfect.

Confronted by this evidence, for you to declare that your leaders are inspired 
and that yours is the Church of Christ, is most preposterous!

That the salvation of the dead is a Bible doctrine practiced by the ancient 
Saints, we learn from the writings of Peter (1 Peter 3:18-20) and Paul (1 
Corinthians 15:29), and the Revelator John (Rev. 22:12).  Isaiah prophesied of 
it (Is. 42:6, 7 and 61:1, 2), and our Redeemer taught it to the Jews (John 
5:28, 29), not as a local commandment, but as an eternal Truth and a principle 
of the greatest importance to the whole human family.  And for that reason 
"Christ also hath suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might 
bring us to God, being put to deathin the flesh, but quickened by the spirit, 
by which also he went and preached (not in vain) unto the spirits in prison."

The keys of the Priesthood belong to the presiding officer of the Church and 
must be held in order that the ordinances of a perfect salvation may be 
administered to the Saints and in behalf of the dead.  The ksys of the 
Priesthood could only be received from the one who held them, the Prophet 
Joseph Smith, who received them from the heavens.  Any man claiming to be the 
President of the High Priesthood without these keys is an impostor.  We have 
been given a key by which the impostor may be detected, for we have the word 
of the Lord that,

"The great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the 
whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the power of the 
Holy Priesthood.  For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty 
in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children 
of men, both as well for the dead as for the living."  (Doc. and Cov. 128:11, 
Reorganite edition CX:11)

This declaration from the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith is most 
explicit.  We may ask:  Has the president of the 'Reorganized' Church obtained 
this Priesthood?  No, he has not!  Then there is no wonder that he cannot 
obtain "knowledge of the facts in relation to the salvation of the children of 
men, both as well for the dead as for the living."  If he had obtained the 
keys would it be possible for him to lead his people for more than forty-five 
yers without a knowledge of this power which the Lord through the Prophet 
declares is not difficult for him who holds the keys and the powers of the 
Holy Priesthood, and which is the "sealing and binding power, and in one sense 
of the word the keys of the kingdom which consists in the keys of knowledge?"  
If he held these keys would it be possible that this grand and glorious 
principle would have been neglected for so long a time when his father the 
Prophet declared that in this day there was "not too much time to save and 
redeem" the dead and gather the living relatives that they also may be saved, 
before the consummation decreed falls upon the world?  Would it be possible, 
if he held these keys, for him to declare that this doctrine was a local 
commandment, a permissive rite, not binding on the Saints?  Verily No!

The Lord declared in 1842, that He was about to restore to earth many things 
pertaining to the Priesthood (Doc. and Cov. 127:5, Reorganite edition CIX:5), 
and that only in Temples could the fullness of the Priesthood be restored 
(Doc. and Cov. 124:28, Reorganite edition CVII:10).  Did the word of the Lord 
fail?  If the contention of the "Reorganized" church is true, He did.  But 
Latter-day Saints know better.  On our part we will accept the word of the 
Lord.

Since the "Reorganized" church does not build Temples, and knows 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," it is to be expected that their president should be ignorant 
of the "fullness of the Priesthood" and therefore, experience great 
"difficulty in obtaining knowledge."  If the elders of that church had read in 
the CVII section of their Doctrine and Covenants (L.D.S. edition 124:39-42) 
they would have discovered that the doctrine of "ceremonial endowments" is 
there taught most plainly:

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, 
and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials 
for your sacrifices, by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most 
holy places, wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and 
judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and the foundation of Zion, 
and for the glory, honor and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by 
the ordinances of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build 
unto my holy name.

"And verily I say unto you, let this house (Nauvoo Temple) be built unto my 
name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein, unto my people; for I deign 
to reveal unto my CHurch, things which have been kept hid from before the 
foundation of the world; things that pertain to the dispensation of the 
fullness of times; and I will show unto my servant Joseph all things 
pertaining to this house and the Priesthood thereof."

Now, if all the foregoing passages are true -- and they must be if Joseph 
Smith was a Prophet of God, which he was -- then these things pertaining to 
the dead is just as binding on us and just as important as salvation for the 
living.  One depends upon the other, and they are binding on all the children 
ofmen.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot teach one 
without the other, for they are inseparable.  A house divided against itself 
cannot stand.

Repent, therefore, and receive the Gospel, save yourselves with your dead by 
becoming saviors on Mount Zion, before the consummation decreed falls upon the 
earth; and by hearkening to these things, you will not be "smitten with a 
curse", nor "utterly wasted" when the dreadful day of the Lord does come.

"Brethren shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Go forward and not 
backward.  Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!  Let your hearts 
rejoice and be exceedingly glad.  Let the earth break forth into singing.  Let 
the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath 
ordained before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out 
of their prison; for the prisoner shall go free!"  (Doc. and Cov. 128:22, 
Reorganite Doc. and Cov. 110:22)

AN EDITORIAL FROM THE TIMES AND SEASONS
WRITTEN BY THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH

The great designs of God in relation to the salvatin of the human family are 
very little understood by the professedly wise and intelligent generation in 
which we live; various and conflicting are the opinions of men concerning the 
plan of salvation; the requisitions of the Almighty; the necessary 
preparations for heaven; the state and condition of departed spirits; and the 
happiness, or misery that is consequent upon the practice of righteousness and 
iniquity according to their several notions of virtue, and vice.  The 
mussulman condemns the heathen, the Jew and the Christian, and the whole world 
of mankind that rejects his Koran as infidels, and consigns the whole of them 
toperdition.  The Jew believes that the whole world that rejects his faith, 
and are not circumcised are Gentile dogs, and will be damned.  the heathen are 
equally as tenacious about their principles, and the Christian consigns all to 
perdition who cannot bow to his creed and submit to his ipse dixit.  But while 
one portion of the human race are judging and condemning the other without 
mercy, the great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human 
family with a fatherly care, and paternal regard.  He views them as His 
offspring; and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the 
children of men, causes "his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends 
His rain on the just and the unjust."  He holds the reins of judgment in His 
hands; He is a wise lawgive, and will judge all men not according to the 
narrow contracted notions of men, but "according to the deeds done in the body 
whether they be good or evil"; or whether those deeds were done in England, 
America, Spain, Turkey, India:  He will judge them "not according to what they 
have not, but according to what they have"; those who have lived without law 
will be judged without law, and those who have a law will be judged by that 
law; we need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the great Jehovah.  He 
will award judgment or mercy to all nations according to their several 
deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by which they are 
governed; the facilities afforded them of obtaining correct information; and 
His inscrutable designs in relation to the human family:  and when the designs 
of God shall be made manifest, and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we 
shall all of us eventually have to confess, that the Judge of all the earth 
has done right.

The situation of the Christian nations after death is a subject that has 
called forth all the wisdom and talent of the philosopher and the divine; and 
it is an opinion which is generally received, that the destiny of man is 
irretrievably fixed at his death; and that he is made either eternally happy, 
or eternally miserable, -- that if a man dies without a knowledge of God, he 
must be eternally damned, without any mitigation of his punishment, 
alleviation of his pain or the most latent hope of a deliverance while endless 
ages shall roll along.  However orthodox this principle may be, we shall find 
that it is at variance with the testimony of holy writ; for our Savior says 
that all manner of sin, and blasphemy shall be forgiven men wherewith they 
shall blaspheme; but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be 
forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come; although the sin of 
blasphemy cannot be forgiven.

Peter also in speaking concerning our Savior says that "He went and preached 
unto spirit sin prison, which sometime were disobedient, when once the 
longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah."  1 Peter 3:19, 20.  Here 
then, we have an account of our Savior preaching to the spirits in prison; to 
spirits that had been imprisoned from the days of Noah:  and what did he 
preach tothem? that they were to stay there?  Certainly not; let his own 
declaration testify:  "He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach 
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at 
liberty them that are bruised."  Luke 4:18.  Isaiah has it:  "To bring out the 
prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness from the prison 
house."  Is. xlii:7.  It is very evident from this that he not only went to 
preach to them, but to deliver, or bring them out of the prison house.  Isaiah 
in testifying, concerning the calamities that will overtake the inhabitants of 
the earth says:  "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall 
be removed like a cottage; and the transgressions thereof shall be heavy upon 
it; and it shall fall and not rise again.  And it shall come topass in that 
day, that the Lord shall punish the hosts 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 prison, 
and after many days shall they be visited."  Thus we find that God will deal 
with all the human family equally; and that as the antediluvians had their day 
of visitation, so will those characters referred to by Isaiah, have their time 
of visitation and deliverance, after having been many days in prison.

The great Jehovah contemplated the whole of the events connected with the 
earth, pertaining to the plan of salvation, before it rolled into existence, 
or ever the "morning stars sung together for joy," the past, the present and 
the future, were, and are with him one eternal now; He knew of the fall of 
Adam, the iniquities of the antediluvians, of the depth of iniquity that would 
be connected with the human family; their weakness and strength, their power 
and glory, apostasies, their crimes, their righteousness and iniquity; He 
comprehended the fall of man and their redemption; He knew the plan of 
salvation and pointed it out; He was acquainted with the situation of all 
nations and with their destiny; He ordered all things according to the counsel 
of his own will, He knows the situation of both the living and the dead, and 
has made ample provision for their redemption according to their several 
circumstances and the laws of the kingdom of God, whether in this world, or in 
the world to come.  The idea that some men form of the justice, judgment and 
mercy of God, is too foolish for an intelligent man to think of; for instance 
it is common for many of our orthodox preachers to suppose that if a man is 
not what they call converted, if he dies in that state, he must remain 
eternally in hell without any hope: --

Infinite years in torment must he spend
And never, never, never, have an end."

And yet this eternal misery is made frequently to rest upon the merest 
casuality, -- the breaking of a shoe-string, the tearing of a coat of those 
officiating, or the peculiar location in which a person lives may be the means 
indirectly of his damnation, or the cause ofhis not being saved.  I will 
suppose a case which is not extraordinary:  Two men who have been equally 
wicked, who have neglected religion, are both of them taken sick at the same 
time; one of them has the good fortune to be visited by a praying man, and he 
gets converted a few minutes before he dies; the other sends for three 
different praying men, a tailor, a shoemaker and a tinman.  The tinman has a 
handle to solder on to a can; the tailor a button-hole to work on some coat 
that is needed in a hurry; and the shoemaker has a ptach to put on somebody's 
boot; they none of them can go in time, the man dies and goes to hell; one of 
these is exalted to Abraham's bosom; he sits down in the presence of God, and 
enjoys eternal, uninterrupted happiness, while the other who was equally as 
good as he, sinks to eternal damnation, irretrievable misery and hopeless 
despair; because a manhad a boot to mend, the button-hole of a coat to work, 
or a handle to solder on to a saucepan.  The plans of Jehovah are not 
sounjust; the statements of holy writ so visionary; nor the plan of salvation 
for the human family so incompatible with common sense; at such proceedings 
God would frown with indignation, angels would hide their heads in shame; and 
every virtuous, intelligent man would recoil.  If human laws award to each man 
his deserts, and punish all delinquents according to their several crimes; 
surely the lord will not be more cruel than man, for He is a wise Legislator 
and His laws are equitable, His enactments more just and his decisions more 
perfect than those of man; and as man judges his fellow man by law, and 
punishes him according to the penalty of that law, so does the God of heaven 
judge "according to the deeds done in the body."  To say that the heathen 
would be damned because they did not believe the gospel would be preposterous; 
and to say that the Jews would all be damned that do not believe in Jesus 
would be equally absurd; for "how can they believe on him of whom they have 
not heard; and how can they hear without a preacher; and how can he preach 
except he be send;" consequently neither Jew nor heathen can be culpable for 
rejecting the conflicting opinions of sectarianism, nor for rejecting any 
testimony but that which is sent of God, for as the preacher cannot preach 
except he be sent, so the hearer cannot believe without he hears a sent 
preacher; and cannot be condemned for what he has not heard; and being without 
law will have to be judged without law.

When speaking about the blessings pertaining to the gospel, and the 
consequences connected with disobedience to its requirements, we are 
frequently asked the question, What has become of our fathers?  Will they all 
be damned for not obeying the gospel, when they never heard it?  Certainly 
not.  But they will possess the same privilege that we here enjoy, through the 
medium of the everlasting Priesthood, which not only administers on earth but 
in heaven, and the wise dispensations of the great Jehovah; hence those 
characters referred to by Isaiah will be visited by this Priesthood, and come 
out of their prison, upon the same principle as those who were disobedient in 
the days of Noah, were visited by our Savior (who possessed the everlasting 
Melchisedek Priesthood) and had the gospel preached to them by Him in prison; 
and in order that they might fulfil all the requisitions of God, theirliving 
friends were baptized for their dead friends, and thus fulfilled the 
requirement of God which says:  "Except a man be born again of water, and of 
thespirit he can in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven;" they were 
baptized of course, not for themselves, but for their dead.  Crysostum says 
that the Marchionites practiced baptism for the dead, "after a catachumen was 
dead they hid a living man under the bed of the deceased; then coming to the 
dead man they asked him whether he would receive baptism, and he making no 
answer, the other answered for him, and said that he would be baptized in his 
stead; and so they baptized the living for the dead."

The church of course at that time was degenerate, and that particular form 
might be incorrect, but the thinking is sufficiently plain in the Scriptures, 
hence Paul, in speaking of the doctrine, says, "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?"  1 Cor. 15:29

Hence it was that so great a responsibility rested upon the generation in 
which our Savior lived; for, said He, "that upon you may come all the 
righteous blood shed upon the earth fromthe blood of righteous Abel, unto the 
blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the 
altar.  Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this 
generation."  Matt. 23:35, 36

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 salvation but that of their progenitors, and hence 
their blood was required at their hands.  And now as the great purposes of God 
are hastening to their accomplishment and the things spoken of in th eprophets 
are fulfilling, as the kingdom of God is established on the earth, and the 
ancient order of things restored, the Lord has manifested to us this duty and 
privilege, and we are commanded to be baptized for our dead thus fulfilling 
the words of Obadiah when speaking of the glory of the latter day.  "And 
saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the remnant of Esau; and the 
kingdom shall be the Lord's."  A view of these things reconciles the 
Scriptures of truth, justifies the ways of God to man, places the human family 
upon an equal footing, and harmonizes with every principle of righteousness, 
justice and truth.  We will conclude with the words of Petre:  "For the time 
past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles. ... 
For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that 
they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God 
in the spirit." -- Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, pages 759-761.

What the Mormons believe is thus epitomized as formulated by the Prophet 
Joseph Smith:

ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

1. We belive in God the Eternal Father, and in His son Jesus Christ, and in 
the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's 
transgressions.

3. We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, 
by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are:  
First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by 
immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift 
of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by "prophecy and by the laying 
on of hands," by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and 
administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, 
namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, 
interpretation of tongues, etc.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated 
correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we 
believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to 
the kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of 
the Ten Tribes.  That Zion will be built upon this continent.  That Christ 
will reign personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and 
receive its paradisical glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the 
dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them 
worship how, where or what they may.

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, 
in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in 
doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of 
Paul:  "We believe all things, we hope all things," we have endured many 
things, and hope to be able to endure all things.  If there is anything 
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these 
things.

JOSEPH SMITH