THE PLAN OF SALVATION
WHAT ARE THE ORDINANCES OF SALVATION?
Those who die without hearing the gospel
can receive its full blessings through the faithful
works
of those who accept it in this life.
No one can be saved in the kingdom of God without receiving the ordinances
of salvation. Jesus taught that all men must be baptized(1)
or they could not enter into his kingdom.(2) Even He was baptized
to set the example.
"Jesus
answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee,
except a man be born of water and of the spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
John 3:5
Those who receive the gospel in the spirit world cannot be baptized
for themselves, but because He loves them, the Lord has provided a way
for them to receive the important ordinance of baptism.
"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
This is important to know because it means that members of your family
who have already died - parents, grandparents or others - can receive
the gospel in the spirit world.(3) Of course, the real blessing
is that someone living here in this life can be baptized in their name,
(by proxy), so that they can fulfill the requirements and receive the Lord’s
blessings. These sacred baptisms for the dead are performed only
in very sacred buildings called temples. This is a very special blessing,
the opportunity to help your ancestors qualify to enter God’s kingdom by
being baptized someday for them.(4)
WHAT ABOUT BABIES THAT DIE?
Little children cannot sin but are saved without baptism
through Christ’s atonement.
Another divine truth with the Lord revealed through the Book of Mormon
is that little children cannot sin, but are innocent before
him. They are saved because of the atonement of Christ.(5)
We have heard a story about a mother who lost an infant child and was
told by a spiritual leader that because the child had not been baptized
it would be condemned forever. Many religions believe this sad doctrine,
which is not in tune to the loving nature of our Heavenly Father.
The Lord, Jesus Christ, has a special affection for little children
as he said in St. Matthew 18:14, "Even so it is not the will of
your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."
Little children will be saved in the Lord’s kingdom and they need no
baptism.(6) Children, when they die, go to the spirit world
and receive all the blessings of the gospel. The Lord provides for
the salvation of little children who die in infancy and before the age
of accountability.
10. "Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach
repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and
capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they
must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as
their little children, and they shall all be saved with their
little children.
11. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.
Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the
commandments unto the remission of sins.
12. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the
foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and
also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how
many little children have died without baptism!"
Moroni 8:10-12
We lived as spirits in the premortal existence with
God, and while we were there we accepted God’s plan for us. We then came
to this earth to obtain bodies, to learn to
have faith, and to keep the commandments so that we can return to live
with God. God wants to save all of his children, and he has prepared
a way for all of them, including those who
die as infants, to hear and accept, or reject, the gospel.
If you would like to find out more about
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints
go to: www.lds.org
Receive a Free
copy of The Book of Mormon
(1) Matthew 3:15-17
(2) 3 Nephi 11:33 |
(3) Psalms 142:7
(4) Malachi 4:5-6 |
(5) Moroni 8:22
(6) Mosiah 3:16 |
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