Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-07-21
A GLORIOUS AND SACRED SUB.
JECT.

JET.
There Ia no labor devolvlng upon the
Laiier.dAy Saints that Ia more impor.
tans and far.reAchlnR than IL the sacred
vicsrlous work on behalf Of the dead,
that they may be redeemed according
to the plan provided by the Almighty.
This IL n subject upon which the
Prophet Joseph dwelt with great
urgency and ardor during the last
years Of his life. This spirit Of Elijah,
who delivered the keys Of connecting
the children with the fathers to Joseph
Smith, rested nightly upon him, and
his statements on this grand theme
indicate the anxiety he felt
and tho depth OF his impress
sions concerning ~. Addfossing
the people on the nature aud extent Of
this exalted labor, he exclaimed, on
one occasion; at il not only necessary
that you should DO baptized for your
dead, but you will have TO go through
all the ordinances for them, the same
Ne you have gone through for your.
selves.p
Other expressions Of tho founder,
under, God Of the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of LNltet.dAy Saints, show that
he desired the people 10 understand the
result OF this magnAnimous labor
being neglected. In this connection
the following quotations from his
sayings are PERTINENT Those who
will not receive all tbs ordinances will
come short Of the fulnoss Of that glory,
II they do not lose the whole" And
hgalni "Those Saints who neglect the
ofdlaAnco OF baptism fof the dead, Ia
behalf Of their relatives, do II at the
peril OF their own salvation.O
No less emphatic lisa recent state.
msni by the present head Of
the Church on earth, Ptesi.
dent wilford Woodruff, whu said.
1--WE are blessed with power
and authority, holding tho Holy
Priesthood by commandment OF God,
10 stand upon the earth to redeem
both the living aud the dead. II we
did not DO II We should be- damned,
aud cut on from tho earth, aud the
God Of Israel would raise up another
people who would do IT,"
Each OF the Presidents Of the
Church In this dispensation-Jossp
smith, Brigham Young, John
Taylor and wlliorJ Woodruff
has shown by his labors aud
Manifestations associated with this sub.
lime department of the work OF God,
that he has been clothed upon with
the spirit Of Elijah, and has drawn
the attention OF the people to the great
responsibility resting upon them In
that connection. Tho Prophet Joseph
said; "rhose revelations which will
save our spirits will save our bodies.
God reveals them 10 us IN view OF no
eternal dissolution Of the body. or tabor.
naele. Hence the esponsibillty-the
awful responaibility-tha rests upon
W In relation 10 our dead; Tor all the
spirits who have not Obeyed the aof.
POL In the hssh must obey II in the
spirit or be- damneI." Aud then he
places this responsibility In the super.
lauve degree by this expressions 'rhe
greatest responsibility In this world
that God has laid upon US is too seek
after our dead"
The Saints, IN view OF what IL
divlnely required OF them, should seek
for the spirit OF Elijah anu operate
under the power which that great
Prophet communicated 10 the Church
through tho head OF this dispensa,ion.
Joseph sale; "lhis is the spirit OF
Elijah, that We redeem our dead, and
connect ourselves with our fathers
which are In heaven, aud seal up
our dead 10 come forth In tue
fHt resurrection; .nd here We want
the power Of Elijah to seal those WIN
dwell on earth to those who dwell IN
heaven. This IL the power OF Elijah
and tho keys ottho Elugdom VI Johg-
yab."
some Of the Saints ieel that their
circumstances have been Of such ID
character that they have boon deferred
from doing yiuarious labor for their
Kindred dead. Where this IL actually
tic case there is a degree Of jusuhca.
ton but the subject IL one which IL
worthy the consideration aud best
Efforts o: every genuine servant
aud handmaiden Of the LORD. Ia the
agricultural districts many OF the peo-
10 WIN, during the nrEs few weeks, be