Addressing
whether those who will inherit the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms require
water baptism (whether in this life or via proxy), Owen K. Peterson,
challenging the popular (but seemingly, errant) view of many, argues “yes”:
The current orthodox view among the brethren
and other gospel writers is that baptism is for entrance into the celestial
kingdom only . . . D& 88:21-24 is
frequently cited [to support this view]. The “law of Christ” is generally
understood to be equivalent to the “doctrine of Christ” or the “new and
everlasting gospel,” therefore this passage appears to exclude the lesser
kingdoms from being subject to the gospel. And yet it is clear from verse 99
that those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom “receive the gospel” so that
they may “be judged according to men in the flesh” . . . Clearly there is a
difference between the “law of the celestial kingdom” and the laws of the
lesser kingdoms (D&C 88:22-24). It appears that in this case, the reference
to the “law of Christ” in verse 21 is synonymous with the “law of the celestial
kingdom” referred to in verse 22. To be sanctified through the law of the
celestial kingdom requires more than baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Such sanctification also includes the fullness of the Priesthood which involves
the higher ordinances of the temple in order to enter into the presence of the
Father. From this we can conclude that entrance into the lesser kingdoms
requires the gospel ordinances of baptism and the laying on of hands for the
gift of the Holy Ghost, whereas entrance into the celestial kingdom requires
the higher ordinances of the temple in addition to the basic ordinances of the
gospel . . . George Q. Cannon said: “The time will come when those who do not
at first accept the gospel even in the spirit world will, through the
experience which they will have to suffer, be willing to bow the knee to King
Emmanuel and acknowledge him to be the Lord, to the glory of God, the Father,
and every ordinance performed for them will stand in its place and effect its
object at some period or another” (CR,
April 1918).
Charles W. Penrose said: “The gospel is to be
preached to every responsible and accountable creature. They who do not hear it
while in the body will hear it in the spirit world, and even those who through
folly and darkness received it not will, after having been beaten with “many
stripes” and having paid the “uttermost farthing” of the debt thus incurred,
have mercy extended to them when justice has been satisfied, and at length
through the ministrations of the holy priesthood of God of the race of Adam
will come forth from the grave; and finally ‘every knee shall bow and every
tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ to the glory of God the Father’” (Rays of Living Light from the Doctrines of
Christ, 169-70, emphasis added) . . . Brigham Young declared the saints to go
and perform the ordinances of the house
of God for those who have passed their probation without the Gospel, and for all who will receive any kind of
salvation; bring them up to inherit the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial
kingdoms” (Discourses of Brigham
Young, p. 407, emphasis added). He also said, “I will now tell you
something that that ought to comfort every man and woman on the face of the
earth. Joseph Smith, junior, will again be on this earth dictating plans and
calling forth his brethren to be baptized
for the very characters who wish this was not so, in order to bring them into a kingdom to enjoy, perhaps, the presence
of angels or the spirits of good men, if they cannot endure the presence of the
Father and the Son; . . . It is his mission to see that all the children of
men in this last dispensation are saved, that can be through the redemption.” (Journal of Discourses 7:289, emphasis
added)
B.H. Roberts wrote: “The work done by Elijah
was to open the door of salvation for the dead. From that event comes the
knowledge of the principles by which the saving power of the Gospel may be
applied to men who have die without receiving its benefits in this life . .
.[F]rom this mission of Elijah’s there comes the power to apply the principles
and ordinances of salvation to all the children of men (save the sons of
perdition; and these, thank God are but few) in all ages of the word, and
whether living or dead! (HC, 7 volumes.,
introduction and notes, 2:, p. xxix-xxxi). (Owen K. Peterson, The Joy of our Redemption: An LDS Scriptural
Journey [4th rev.; 2017], 140, 141, 142)