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| An epistle from Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Latter-day Saints at Nauvoo, Illinois, containing directions on baptism for the dead; dated at Nauvoo, September 1, 1842. HC 5:142-144. | ||
5—12, Records must be kept relative to baptisms for the dead. | ||
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D&C 127:1 FORASMUCH as the Lord has revealed unto
me that my enemies, both in Missouri and this State, were again in the
pursuit of me; and inasmuch as they pursue me without a
acause, and have not the least shadow or coloring of
justice or right on their side in the getting up of their prosecutions
against me; and inasmuch as their pretensions are all founded in falsehood of
the blackest dye, I have thought it expedient and wisdom in me to leave the
place for a short season, for my own safety and the safety of this people. I
would say to all those with whom I have business, that I have left my
baffairs with agents and clerks who will transact all
business in a prompt and proper manner, and will see that all my debts are
canceled in due time, by turning out property, or otherwise, as the case may
require, or as the circumstances may admit of. When I learn that the storm
is fully blown over, then I will return to you again.
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D&C 127:2 And as for the aperils which I am called to pass
through, they seem but a small thing to me, as the benvy
and wrath of man have been my common lot all the days of my life; and for
what cause it seems mysterious, unless I was cordained from
before the foundation of the world for some good end, or bad, as you may
choose to call it. Judge ye for yourselves. God dknoweth
all these things, whether it be good or bad. But nevertheless, deep water is
what I am wont to swim in. It all has become a second nature to me; and I
feel, like Paul, to glory in etribulation; for to this day
has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me
from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for
the Lord God hath spoken it.
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D&C 127:3 Let all the saints rejoice, therefore, and be exceedingly glad; for
Israel's aGod is their God, and he will mete out a just
recompense of breward upon the heads of all their
coppressors.
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D&C 127:4 And again, verily thus saith the Lord; Let the work of my
atemple, and all the works which I have appointed unto you,
be continued on and not cease; and let your bdiligence, and
your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall
in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts. And if they
cpersecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and
righteous men that were before youa.
For all this there is a reward in heaven.
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4a so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men that were before you The hand of man's persecution as promoted by Satan has been a constant against the works of God and those righteous men and prophets who did carry it forth. This would be one of the surest signs of the Lord's Church, his people and kingdom upon this earth. It ever has been so. It is little wonder that the illegal and ruthless mobs did pursue after those of the restored church of Christ. If there were no such out and out persecution, then there would be some question as to whether the work was that of God. As it was that such strong forces did relentlessly seek to destory the church, may it be said that Lord's kingdom, even in the time of Jesus Christ himself, was the object of such unlawful and awful treatment by the hands of those inspired of the devil. | |
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D&C 127:5 And again, I give unto you a word in relation to the
abaptism for your dead.
D&C 127:6 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning your dead: When any of you are abaptized for your dead, let there be a brecorder, and let him be eye-witness of your baptisms; let him hear with his ears, that he may testify of a truth, saith the Lord; D&C 127:7 That in all your recordings it may be arecorded in heaven; whatsoever you bbind on earth, may be bound in heaven; whatsoever you loose on earth, may be loosed in heaven;
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D&C 127:8 For I am about to arestore many things to the
earth, pertaining to the bpriesthood, saith the Lord of
Hosts.
D&C 127:9 And again, let all the arecords be had in order, that they may be put in the archives of my holy temple to be held in remembrance from generation to generation, saith the Lord of Hosts.
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D&C 127:10 I will say to all the saints, that I desired, with exceedingly great desire, to have addressed them from the stand on the subject of baptism for the dead, on the following Sabbath. But inasmuch as it is out of my power to do so, I will write the word of the Lord from time to time, on that subject, and send it to you by mail, as well as many other things.
D&C 127:11 I now close my letter for the present, for the want of more time; for the enemy is on the alert, and as the Savior said, the aprince of this world cometh, but he hath nothing in me.
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D&C 127:12 Behold, my prayer to God is that you all may be saved. And I
subscribe myself your servant in the Lord, prophet and
aseer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
D&C 127:13 Joseph Smith.
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