BUSY

members of the church spend time researching names

and then attending the temple to do temple work?⁣

There’s all the technical doctrinal reasons.

The reasons that help explain this super unique aspect of our Christian religion.

In addition to baptizing people in behalf of those who have passed away, we also know that all temple ordinances are made available by proxy for people who have died. ⁣

“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?” (1 Corinthians 15:29)

But why do we continue to attend the House of the Lord?

I think the real answer is

Christlike love and compassion. ⁣

Have you ever thought about how that’s what temple work really is?⁣

We literally are spending time, effort, and often some amount of money in the form of gas, food, or childcare in order to show love and compassion for those who were not able to perform temple ordinances in their lifetime. ⁣

And, these deceased people might not even accept our work. ⁣

And yet, we still go. ⁣

We love them so much,

OR we at least understand that Christ loves them so much,

that we are willing to give up our time in order to give them a chance. ⁣

That is such extreme love and compassion. ⁣

And I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to go to the temple!

Even when it’s difficult.

We are developing a truly advanced ability to love others when we sacrifice so much for what may not be accepted at all. ⁣

In fact, that sounds an awful lot like what our Savior did for all of us. ⁣

When we attend the temple, we get to experience just a small portion of what He did as He sacrificed His comfort in order to give everyone the opportunity to develop spiritually. ⁣

I’m so grateful that attending the temple helps me become more Christlike, from the things that I learn as I worship in the House of the Lord, to the mere physical act of just being willing to attend.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Why do we do baptisms for the dead? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The idea that He is an understanding and compassionate God…

And the idea that He is a God of order and eternal laws.

I’ve seen this tension in my life a lot.

And two pretty dramatic instances of this jumped out to me in this week’s reading.

First, we have the Lord talking about baptisms for the dead.

The saints had heard Joseph preach about this idea, and immediately went to the river to get started!

The Lord shows these two tensions of understanding but still following eternal principles here:

“I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me; and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me.

“But behold, at the end of this appointment your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me”. D&C 124:31-32

Can you see both sides of God there?

An understanding of the saints condition: without a dedicated temple, and with a strong desire to perform proxy baptisms.

He didn’t tell them they weren’t allowed to do them anymore, or that none of them counted.

But then we also see the rule: the absolute minute a temple baptismal font is dedicated, they have to be done there.

Fascinating, right?!

Okay but just a few verses later, we get ANOTHER example of this tension!

In D&C 124:49, the Lord tells the saints that He is going to revoke His earlier commandment to build a temple in Far West, because wicked men had prevented it.… and then He commands them to build a temple in Nauvoo right away.

He didn’t make them stick to this previous commandment, and promise the saints that they would be protected while they went back to finish the Far West temple.

He saw that it was no longer reasonable, but then immediately commanded them to get to work on a Nauvoo temple, with no excuse for weariness or financial distress.

I see both sides in God.

I know there are eternal laws, commandments, and principles to follow.

And I know that He perfectly understands my personal situation.

But I don’t ever want to use His compassion as permissiveness.

And I sincerely pray that I will never misinterpret that balance.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God’s balance first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.