Prev
Doctrine and Covenants
Next
D&C 128
As
I
stated
to
you
in
my
letter
before
I
left
my
place,
that
I
would
write
to
you
from
time
to
time
and
give
you
information
in
relation
to
many
subjects,
I
now
resume
the
subject
of
the
a
baptism
for
the
dead,
as
that
subject
seems
to
occupy
my
mind,
and
press
itself
upon
my
feelings
the
strongest,
since
I
have
been
pursued
by
my
enemies.
2 I
wrote
a
few
words
of
revelation
to
you
concerning
a
recorder.
I
have
had
a
few
additional
views
in
relation
to
this
matter,
which
I
now
certify.
That
is,
it
was
declared
in
my
former
letter
that
there
should
be
a
a
recorder,
who
should
be
eye-witness,
and
also
to
hear
with
his
ears,
that
he
might
make
a
record
of
a
truth
before
the
Lord.
3 Now,
in
relation
to
this
matter,
it
would
be
very
difficult
for
one
recorder
to
be
present
at
all
times,
and
to
do
all
the
business.
To
obviate
this
difficulty,
there
can
be
a
recorder
appointed
in
each
ward
of
the
city,
who
is
well
qualified
for
taking
accurate
minutes;
and
let
him
be
very
particular
and
precise
in
taking
the
whole
proceedings,
certifying
in
his
record
that
he
saw
with
his
eyes,
and
heard
with
his
ears,
giving
the
date,
and
names,
and
so
forth,
and
the
history
of
the
whole
transaction;
naming
also
some
three
individuals
that
are
present,
if
there
be
any
present,
who
can
at
any
time
when
called
upon
certify
to
the
same,
that
in
the
mouth
of
two
or
three
a
witnesses
every
word
may
be
established.
4 Then,
let
there
be
a
general
a
recorder,
to
whom
these
other
records
can
be
handed,
being
attended
with
certificates
over
their
own
signatures,
certifying
that
the
record
they
have
made
is
true.
Then
the
general
church
recorder
can
enter
the
record
on
the
general
church
book,
with
the
certificates
and
all
the
attending
witnesses,
with
his
own
statement
that
he
verily
believes
the
above
statement
and
records
to
be
true,
from
his
knowledge
of
the
general
character
and
appointment
of
those
men
by
the
church.
And
when
this
is
done
on
the
general
church
book,
the
record
shall
be
just
as
holy,
and
shall
answer
the
ordinance
just
the
same
as
if
he
had
seen
with
his
eyes
and
heard
with
his
ears,
and
made
a
record
of
the
same
on
the
general
church
book.
5 You
may
think
this
order
of
things
to
be
very
particular;
but
let
me
tell
you
that
it
is
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
a
salvation
of
the
dead
who
should
die
without
a
b
knowledge
of
the
gospel.
6 And
further,
I
want
you
to
remember
that
John
the
Revelator
was
contemplating
this
very
subject
in
relation
to
the
dead,
when
he
declared,
as
you
will
find
recorded
in
Revelation
20:12—And
I
saw
the
dead,
small
and
great,
stand
before
God;
and
the
books
were
opened;
and
another
book
was
opened,
which
is
the
book
of
life;
and
the
dead
were
judged
out
of
those
things
which
were
written
in
a
the
books,
according
to
their
works.
7 You
will
discover
in
this
quotation
that
the
books
were
opened;
and
another
book
was
opened,
which
was
the
book
of
life;
but
the
dead
were
judged
out
of
those
things
which
were
written
in
the
books,
according
to
their
works;
consequently,
the
books
spoken
of
must
be
the
books
which
contained
the
record
of
their
works,
and
refer
to
the
a
records
which
are
kept
on
the
earth.
And
the
book
which
was
the
b
book
of
life
is
the
record
which
is
kept
in
heaven;
the
principle
agreeing
precisely
with
the
doctrine
which
is
commanded
you
in
the
revelation
contained
in
the
letter
which
I
wrote
to
you
previous
to
my
leaving
my
place—that
in
all
your
recordings
it
may
be
recorded
in
heaven.
8 Now,
the
nature
of
this
ordinance
consists
in
the
a
power
of
the
priesthood,
by
the
revelation
of
Jesus
Christ,
wherein
it
is
granted
that
whatsoever
you
b
bind
on
earth
shall
be
bound
in
heaven,
and
whatsoever
you
loose
on
earth
shall
be
loosed
in
heaven.
Or,
in
other
words,
taking
a
different
view
of
the
translation,
whatsoever
you
record
on
earth
shall
be
recorded
in
heaven,
and
whatsoever
you
do
not
record
on
earth
shall
not
be
recorded
in
heaven;
for
out
of
the
books
shall
your
dead
be
judged,
according
to
their
own
works,
whether
they
themselves
have
attended
to
the
c
ordinances
in
their
own
propria
persona,
or
by
the
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.
9 It
may
seem
to
some
to
be
a
very
bold
doctrine
that
we
talk
of—a
power
which
records
or
binds
on
earth
and
binds
in
heaven.
Nevertheless,
in
all
ages
of
the
world,
whenever
the
Lord
has
given
a
a
dispensation
of
the
priesthood
to
any
man
by
actual
revelation,
or
any
set
of
men,
this
power
has
always
been
given.
Hence,
whatsoever
those
men
did
in
b
authority,
in
the
name
of
the
Lord,
and
did
it
truly
and
faithfully,
and
kept
a
proper
and
faithful
record
of
the
same,
it
became
a
law
on
earth
and
in
heaven,
and
could
not
be
annulled,
according
to
the
decrees
of
the
great
c
Jehovah.
This
is
a
faithful
saying.
Who
can
hear
it?
10 And
again,
for
the
precedent,
Matthew
16:18,
19:
And
I
say
also
unto
thee,
That
thou
art
Peter,
and
upon
this
rock
I
a
will
build
my
church;
and
the
gates
of
hell
shall
not
prevail
against
it.
And
I
will
give
unto
thee
the
keys
of
the
kingdom
of
heaven:
and
whatsoever
thou
shalt
bind
on
earth
shall
be
bound
in
heaven;
and
whatsoever
thou
shalt
loose
on
earth
shall
be
loosed
in
heaven.
11 Now
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
powers
of
the
a
Holy
Priesthood.
For
him
to
whom
these
keys
are
given
there
is
no
difficulty
in
obtaining
a
knowledge
of
facts
b
in
relation
to
the
salvation
of
the
c
children
of
men,
both
as
well
for
the
dead
as
for
the
living.
12 Herein
is
a
glory
and
honor,
and
immortality
and
eternal
life—The
ordinance
of
baptism
by
water,
to
be
b
immersed
therein
in
order
to
answer
to
the
likeness
of
the
dead,
that
one
principle
might
accord
with
the
other;
to
be
immersed
in
the
water
and
come
forth
out
of
the
water
is
in
the
likeness
of
the
resurrection
of
the
dead
in
coming
forth
out
of
their
graves;
hence,
this
ordinance
was
instituted
to
form
a
relationship
with
the
ordinance
of
baptism
for
the
dead,
being
in
likeness
of
the
dead.
13 Consequently,
the
a
baptismal
font
was
instituted
as
a
similitude
of
the
grave,
and
was
commanded
to
be
in
a
place
underneath
where
the
living
are
wont
to
assemble,
to
show
forth
the
living
and
the
dead,
and
that
all
things
may
have
their
likeness,
and
that
they
may
accord
one
with
another—that
which
is
earthly
conforming
to
that
which
is
b
heavenly,
as
Paul
hath
declared,
1
Corinthians
15:46,
47,
and
48:
14 Howbeit
that
was
not
first
which
is
spiritual,
but
that
which
is
natural;
and
afterward
that
which
is
spiritual.
The
first
man
is
of
the
earth,
earthy;
the
second
man
is
the
Lord
from
heaven.
As
is
the
earthy,
such
are
they
also
that
are
earthy;
and
as
is
the
heavenly,
such
are
they
also
that
are
heavenly.
And
as
are
the
records
on
the
earth
in
relation
to
your
dead,
which
are
truly
made
out,
so
also
are
the
records
in
heaven.
This,
therefore,
is
the
a
sealing
and
binding
power,
and,
in
one
sense
of
the
word,
the
b
keys
of
the
kingdom,
which
consist
in
the
key
of
c
knowledge.
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
a
salvation
is
necessary
and
essential
to
our
salvation,
as
Paul
says
concerning
the
fathers—that
they
without
us
cannot
be
made
perfect—neither
can
we
without
our
dead
be
made
b
perfect.
16 And
now,
in
relation
to
the
baptism
for
the
dead,
I
will
give
you
another
quotation
of
Paul,
1
Corinthians
15:29:
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?
17 And
again,
in
connection
with
this
quotation
I
will
give
you
a
quotation
from
one
of
the
prophets,
who
had
his
eye
fixed
on
the
a
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,
namely,
the
baptism
for
the
dead;
for
Malachi
says,
last
chapter,
verses
5th
and
6th:
Behold,
I
will
send
you
Elijah
the
b
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.
18 I
might
have
rendered
a
a
plainer
translation
to
this,
but
it
is
sufficiently
plain
to
suit
my
purpose
as
it
stands.
It
is
sufficient
to
know,
in
this
case,
that
the
earth
will
be
smitten
with
a
b
curse
unless
there
is
a
welding
c
link
of
some
kind
or
other
between
the
fathers
and
the
d
children,
upon
some
subject
or
other—and
behold
what
is
that
subject?
It
is
the
e
baptism
for
the
dead.
For
we
without
them
cannot
be
made
perfect;
neither
can
they
without
us
be
made
perfect.
Neither
can
they
nor
we
be
made
perfect
without
those
who
have
died
in
the
gospel
also;
for
it
is
necessary
in
the
ushering
in
of
the
dispensation
of
the
f
fulness
of
times,
which
dispensation
is
now
beginning
to
usher
in,
that
a
whole
and
complete
and
perfect
union,
and
welding
together
of
dispensations,
and
keys,
and
powers,
and
glories
should
take
place,
and
be
revealed
from
the
days
of
Adam
even
to
the
present
time.
And
not
only
this,
but
those
things
which
never
have
been
revealed
from
the
g
foundation
of
the
world,
but
have
been
kept
hid
from
the
wise
and
prudent,
shall
be
revealed
unto
h
babes
and
sucklings
in
this,
the
dispensation
of
the
fulness
of
times.
19 Now,
what
do
we
hear
in
the
gospel
which
we
have
received?
A
voice
of
a
gladness!
A
voice
of
mercy
from
heaven;
and
a
voice
of
b
truth
out
of
the
earth;
glad
tidings
for
the
dead;
a
voice
of
gladness
for
the
living
and
the
dead;
glad
tidings
of
great
c
joy.
How
beautiful
upon
the
mountains
are
the
d
feet
of
those
that
bring
glad
tidings
of
good
things,
and
that
say
unto
Zion:
Behold,
thy
God
reigneth!
As
the
e
dews
of
Carmel,
so
shall
the
knowledge
of
God
descend
upon
them!
20 And
again,
what
do
we
hear?
Glad
tidings
from
a
Cumorah!
b
Moroni,
an
angel
from
heaven,
declaring
the
fulfilment
of
the
prophets—the
c
book
to
be
revealed.
A
voice
of
the
Lord
in
the
wilderness
of
Fayette,
Seneca
county,
declaring
the
three
witnesses
to
d
bear
record
of
the
book!
The
voice
of
e
Michael
on
the
banks
of
the
Susquehanna,
detecting
the
f
devil
when
he
appeared
as
an
angel
of
g
light!
The
voice
of
h
Peter,
James,
and
John
in
the
wilderness
between
Harmony,
Susquehanna
county,
and
Colesville,
Broome
county,
on
the
Susquehanna
river,
declaring
themselves
as
possessing
the
i
keys
of
the
kingdom,
and
of
the
dispensation
of
the
fulness
of
times!
21 And
again,
the
voice
of
God
in
the
chamber
of
old
a
Father
Whitmer,
in
Fayette,
Seneca
county,
and
at
sundry
times,
and
in
divers
places
through
all
the
travels
and
tribulations
of
this
Church
of
Jesus
Christ
of
Latter-day
Saints!
And
the
voice
of
Michael,
the
archangel;
the
voice
of
b
Gabriel,
and
of
Raphael,
and
of
divers
c
angels,
from
Michael
or
d
Adam
down
to
the
present
time,
all
declaring
their
e
dispensation,
their
rights,
their
f
keys,
their
honors,
their
majesty
and
glory,
and
the
power
of
their
priesthood;
giving
line
upon
line,
g
precept
upon
precept;
here
a
little,
and
there
a
little;
giving
us
consolation
by
holding
forth
that
which
is
to
come,
confirming
our
h
hope!
22 Brethren,
shall
we
not
go
on
in
so
great
a
cause?
Go
forward
and
not
backward.
a
Courage,
brethren;
and
on,
on
to
the
victory!
Let
your
hearts
rejoice,
and
be
exceedingly
glad.
Let
the
earth
break
forth
into
b
singing.
Let
the
c
dead
speak
forth
anthems
of
eternal
praise
to
the
d
King
Immanuel,
who
hath
ordained,
before
the
world
was,
that
which
would
enable
us
to
e
redeem
them
out
of
their
f
prison;
for
the
prisoners
shall
go
free.
23 Let
the
a
mountains
shout
for
joy,
and
all
ye
valleys
cry
aloud;
and
all
ye
seas
and
dry
lands
tell
the
wonders
of
your
Eternal
King!
And
ye
rivers,
and
brooks,
and
rills,
flow
down
with
gladness.
Let
the
woods
and
all
the
trees
of
the
field
praise
the
Lord;
and
ye
solid
b
rocks
weep
for
joy!
And
let
the
sun,
moon,
and
the
c
morning
stars
sing
together,
and
let
all
the
sons
of
God
shout
for
joy!
And
let
the
eternal
creations
declare
his
name
forever
and
ever!
And
again
I
say,
how
glorious
is
the
voice
we
hear
from
heaven,
proclaiming
in
our
ears,
glory,
and
salvation,
and
honor,
and
d
immortality,
and
eternal
life;
kingdoms,
principalities,
and
powers!
24 Behold,
the
great
a
day
of
the
Lord
is
at
hand;
and
who
can
b
abide
the
day
of
his
coming,
and
who
can
stand
when
he
appeareth?
For
he
is
like
a
c
refiner's
d
fire,
and
like
fuller's
soap;
and
he
shall
sit
as
a
e
refiner
and
purifier
of
silver,
and
he
shall
purify
the
sons
of
f
Levi,
and
purge
them
as
gold
and
silver,
that
they
may
offer
unto
the
Lord
an
g
offering
in
righteousness.
Let
us,
therefore,
as
a
church
and
a
people,
and
as
Latter-day
Saints,
offer
unto
the
Lord
an
offering
in
righteousness;
and
let
us
present
in
his
holy
temple,
when
it
is
finished,
a
book
containing
the
h
records
of
our
dead,
which
shall
be
worthy
of
all
acceptation.
25 Brethren,
I
have
many
things
to
say
to
you
on
the
subject;
but
shall
now
close
for
the
present,
and
continue
the
subject
another
time.
I
am,
as
ever,
your
humble
servant
and
never
deviating
friend,
Prev
Doctrine and Covenants
Next
This is not an official web site of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.