Saturday, June 29, 2019

Baptism and those who will Inherit the Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms in LDS Theology


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)