A Temple Motivated People
Based on President Howard W. Hunter’s Ensign address (Feb. 1995) — why temples are essential, what occurs within them, and why salvation for the dead is a doctrine of justice, not procrastination.
Are we a temple-centered people? Do we place attendance at the temple as the pinnacle of our worship of God? A non-member friend once asked me three questions that cut to the heart of this doctrine: Why do we need temples today? What do you do in them? And if the dead can hear and accept the gospel as you claim, aren’t you saying that men can do what they want in this life and repent later — isn’t that worse than death-bed repentance?
Today I would like to address each of those questions, share my testimony of the temple, and clarify the doctrine of salvation for the dead.
Why Do We Need a Temple Today?
The scriptures are clear: a knowledge of Jesus Christ and authorized ordinances are required for salvation.
John 17:3
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
John 3:5
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Moses 1:39
“For behold, this is my work and my glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
From these scriptures it is plain: (1) knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ is required; (2) all men must be baptized to enter the kingdom of God; (3) without authorized baptism, a man will not be saved. Yet only a small fraction of all humanity who have ever lived has had these opportunities. Does God select a few individuals by whim and save them alone? This is not the God we believe and adore. God is perfectly just, perfectly merciful, and all-knowing. His declared purpose is that all mankind may be saved. This demonstrates the importance of salvation for the dead — and in accordance with that, the need for temples.
The Bible Dictionary teaches: “A temple is literally a house of the Lord, a holy sanctuary in which sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the living and also in behalf of the dead… Whenever the Lord has had a people on the earth who will obey his word, they have been commanded to build temples in which the ordinances of the gospel and other spiritual manifestations that pertain to exaltation and eternal life may be administered.”
“From Adam to the time of Jesus, ordinances were performed in temples for the living only. After Jesus opened the way for the gospel to be preached in the world of spirits, ceremonial work for the dead — as well as for the living — has been done in temples on the earth by faithful members of the Church. Building and properly using a temple is one of the marks of the true Church in any dispensation.”
All mankind will eventually receive salvation and be heirs of salvation. Even those in the Terrestrial and Telestial kingdoms will receive a remission of their sins — though not exaltation (D&C 76:85–88, 106–107). Only the sons of Perdition have no salvation or redemption (D&C 76:36–39). Were it not for the doctrine of vicarious ordinances for the dead, we must conclude that God is a respecter of persons and not a just God.
What Do We Do in the Temple?
Baptisms for the Dead
1 Corinthians 15:29
“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?”
Some have said this refers to pagan practices. Yet taken in context, it is plain that the early saints performed baptisms for their dead. Vicarious work is not strange — the Savior himself vicariously atoned for the sins of all mankind. Ecclesiastical history confirms that baptism for the dead was practiced by early Christians. These ordinances for the deceased are performed only in the house of the Lord.
Endowments
The endowment consists of two parts: a series of instructions, and promises or covenants that the recipient makes — to live righteously and comply with the requirements of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The endowment is an ordinance for the great blessing of the Saints, both living and dead, performed by the living in behalf of deceased individuals for whom baptismal work has already been performed.
Celestial Marriage and Sealing
Civil marriages end at death; eternal marriages performed in the temple may exist forever. Children born to a husband and wife after an eternal marriage are automatically sealed to their parents for eternity. Children born before a temple sealing may be sealed vicariously to parents who have passed away.
Through these ordinances, individuals are washed clean through the atonement of Jesus Christ and sealed together as families. It is through these ordinances that God’s work and glory is made perfect and complete.
Does Salvation for the Dead Encourage Procrastination?
A careful consideration of the matter will show that this doctrine affords no reason for procrastination. To reject or ignore in any degree a gift of God is to forfeit to the corresponding extent one’s claim upon that gift (D&C 82:10). Amulek, a Nephite prophet, speaks plainly:
Alma 34:32–35
“For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.”
“I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.”
“For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.”
This is not a doctrine of procrastination. It is the doctrine of a fair and just chance — and of a merciful and kind God who desires all to be saved.
Conclusion
President Howard W. Hunter taught: “Let us truly be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. We should hasten to the temple as frequently, yet prudently, as our personal circumstances allow. We should go not only for our kindred dead but also for the personal blessing of temple worship, for the sanctity and safety that are within those hallowed and consecrated walls. As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience.”
“Let us share with our children the spiritual feelings we have in the temple. And let us teach them more earnestly and more comfortably the things we can appropriately say about the purposes of the house of the Lord. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing. Let us prepare every missionary to go to the temple worthily and to make that experience an even greater highlight than receiving the mission call. Let us plan for and teach and plead with our children to marry in the house of the Lord.”
“All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead lead to the holy temple. This is because the temple ordinances are absolutely crucial; we cannot return to God’s presence without them. I encourage everyone to worthily attend the temple or to work toward the day when you can enter that holy house to receive your ordinances and covenants. As the prophets have said, the temple is a place of beauty; it is a place of revelation; it is a place of peace. It is the house of the Lord. It is holy unto the Lord.”