Today I read Doctrine and Covenants section 138, the last official section in the Doctrine and Covenants and the only recorded revelation given to the prophet Joseph F. Smith, the son of Hyrum Smith, Joseph's older brother who was martyred with him at Carthage. This revelation was given to Joseph F. Smith when he was pondering on some verses he had read in the New Testament in the book of 1 Peter concerning Christ's visit to the dead.
When Christ was crucified, he was dead for 3 days and 2 nights I believe it was. During that time, His spirit went where all the spirits of the dead go, the Spirit World, which is divided into Paradise, where the spirits of the just go, and prison where those who were not just and those who had not received saving ordinances go. Christ spent those days and nights among the spirits of the just in Spirit Paradise no doubt being ministered to in order to comfort Him as well as ministering to them.
Joseph F. Smith was pondering what had happened to those spirits that were in Prison. Did Christ go and visit them also. The answer is no, He did not. The scriptures teach us that those who have sin cannot abide the presence of Christ or Heavenly Father. So as far as we know, there is no way the Lord could have gone in person to those spirits of the dead who had not had the saving ordinances performed because they were all unclean because of their sins which they had committed in life. But this still leaves the question unanswered of how the Lord could preach to them who were dead that they might be judged according to the flesh, which Peter teaches us happened.
This vision tells us the answer. When Christ was in the spirit world, He gave to those who were righteous and had already had their saving ordinances performed power and authority to go to those who had not had the Gospel and preach it to them. They were taught the Gospel the same as if they had heard it in this life. And we know that the Saints in the days of Christ and His Apostles were performing baptisms for the dead after His resurrection because of Paul epistle to the Saints in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 15:29 states, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead baptized if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead" You'll notice that based on the way this question is phrased, Paul is assuming that baptism for the dead was a known, established fact. He is trying to prove the reality of the resurrection by citing a well know, probably by everyone, point of the Gospel.
As we discussed previously though, unfortunately, most of the spirits that were in the Spirit Prison probably did not accept the Gospel of Christ as it was preached to them. Because when we die, our same spirit and attitudes and everything that determine who we are are still there. Nothing has changed in us and the only thing we know differently at that point is yes we are still around after we die. But I'm sure a great many of them DID accept the gospel since there was no way they could have heard about it in their earthly lives and were grateful to have it.
I look forward to the Millennium, if it is to happen in my day, where we will know exactly who needs the work performed for them and who is taken care of already so that we can make sure everyone has the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Christ and the saving ordinances needed to return to live with Him. I don't understand how anyone who truly studies and learns about this Gospel can doubt its truthfulness when it is the only religion who can fully explain every question that we have about God and how to be saved. I am extremely grateful to know the Gospel of Christ and to be able to share it with others and I hope you all appreciate what a wonderful gift it is in your lives also. Until tomorrow.
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