Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-27
BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD

A week ago the DeseI't N''' 'NF
% some objections by an arohdeacoh VI
Tho Anglican church to the doctrine
Of preaching to the spirits in prison
mentioned by the Apostle Peter u ret
IA $500. We then demonstrated from
,be scrlptures that the Gospel OF Jesus
Christ was and is to be preached to the
dead as we'll as to the living. That 49,
10 the spirits Of the departed as wen
as to people in the aesh. Closely relat-
cd to that doctrine is the subject OF
baptism for the dead, We, therefore,
now meet some objections which have
been raised by modern preachers
against the evident meaning Of the Ian
guage Of the Apostle Paul
Else what shall they do which are
baptized for the dead II the dead rise
not at all? Why are they then pap
tied for the dead? Il Cor XIV, w
The directors use this singular argu-
ment: paul spoke Of those who prac-
tlced the rite in the third person, What
shall they DO who are baptized for the
dead? Not what shall We do?' The in
ference ls then drawn that those who
we're baptized for the dead were here
tics" That Is a most remarkable bit Of
reasoning Let us take some similar
references In the same chapter
Therefore whether II were or they
so we preached, and so ye believed.
Verse H."
But every man in his own order;
Christ the first fruits; afterwards they
that are Chrlsts at His coming Verse
49,
But some man will say how are the
dead raised up? And with what body
do they come" Verse 50,
"As IS the earthly such are they also
that are earthly; and as is the heavenly
such are they also that are heavenly,
Verse IS.
VIII anybody with ordinary sense
claim that the use Of the word they"
IN these passages, excludes the Apostle
and the faithful Saints to whom he was
writing? II this view were to be taken.
there would be far worse muddle in
the minds Of sectaran theologians
than prevails at present, and that
would indeed be monstrous
calamity But 1t is not to be supposed
that everybody in the Church at Cor
init or elsewhere attended to the rite
SPOKEN of by the inspired writer. He
referred to those who did attend TO it.
and did rot find fault with them. He
was reasoning on the reality Of the
resurrection from the dead, in opposl-
ton to tho notions entertained By some
persons who had been led away by
Greek philosophy. He denounced their
heresy, and In doing so he cited a well
Known fact which he did not denounce
or deprecate. II Is clear from his Ian
guage that baptism for the dead was
practiced in the Church, and Paul re-
ferred to 1t simply as an argument in
favor Of the resurrection.
Directors to the doctrine admit that
there is evidence Of the practice OF the
rite In the Church at a very early per-
Tod. Perverslons Of the doctrine which
occurred then and subsequently. form
no argument against IT, on the con-
trary the counterfeit is evidence IN IA
Vor Of the genuine. Il ls so with the
perversions Of the ordinance Of bap.
tism for the living The many spurious
forms bear witness in support Of the
faet that there is one true and valid
ceremony.
u Is further argued that baptism Is
an act o. voluntary obedience" and
ifon' thai the conclusion Is reached that
IT'S yicarious administration Is impos-
slble' Again the reasoning is faulty.
Apply 1t to the doctrine Of yicarlous
atonement, on which yicarious baptism
Is founded and see whether the argu-
ment Will hold good. Christ died for
sinners, the Just for the unjust" Their
obedience or consent had nothing TO do
win the vlcarious act. When they be-
come obedient they will obtain IT'S bene-
hts So with baptism for the dead. The
vicarious act is performed by the lly-
Ing and when those who are dead be-
come obedient through faith and repen-
lance, they will receive the benefits Of
the baptism performed in their behalf.
Rejection Of the doctrine OF yicarlous
ordinances, involves rejection Of the
doctrine Of yIcarious atonement. ON the
validity Of which depends the whole
Christian religion.
But the glorious doctrine Of baptism
for and the redemption Of the dead who
died without knowledge Of Christ. has
not been taken by the Latter-day
Saints from a mere passage or two OF
ancient scripture. 1t has come TO
them 10y the revelations Of God In the
nineteenth century. Reference is made
to the text In the Eplstle to the Co
rinthians, simply 10 show that the rite
was performed in the early Christian
Church, The manner Of its perform
ance, the persons who may attend TO
1t and those for whom It may be ad-
ministered, cannot be learned from the
dead letter Of apostolic writings.
Everything relating 10 Il has been
made known through modern revela-
ton. There is not any doubt con-
corning IT among those who have been
enlightened 10y inspiration in the
present times,
Proofs are not lacking OF the accept
snce Of the ordinances performed in
their behalf, by the spirits OF the de-
parted who have been ministered TO be-
hind the veil, and administered for by
their relatives IN the flesh. The glo-
rious work In the holy Temples In be-