Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon contains a long parable about the "Lord's vineyard." This vineyard contains both tame and wild olive trees, which represent Israel and the gentiles. One theme to recognize in this parable is how people can be changed so that they who once rejected Christ might be ready for His Second Coming.
The entire chapter represents different time periods:
1. Before Christ (vs 4-15)
2. During the time of Christ (vs 16-28)
3. After Christ, during the Great Apostasy (vs 29-60)
4. The Gathering of Israel (vs. 61-77)
This whole chapter is so rich, but I want to focus on one particular phrase that caught my eye: to "lay up fruit against the season." I noticed this multiple times throughout the chapter, so I took some time to study what that means.
In Jacob 5:41-47 (the section describing the Great Apostasy, or the corruption of the gospel after the time of Jesus Christ), the Lord of the vineyard weeps because of the corruption of His vineyard. He asks multiple times,
"What more could I have done for my vineyard?"
In verse 46 He mourns:
"And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto the wild olive tree, and they are of no worth but to be hewn down and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose them."
In this context it seems that the Lord of the vineyard was trying to preserve good fruit despite the corrupt surroundings. He did all that He could to care for the trees in every part of the vineyard in order to produce good fruit. To me, this shows an unconditional love and desire that Christ has to bring us back to Him. He does everything He can to lead us to truth and peace, but ultimately it is our choice to follow Him.
Earlier in the chapter (verses 11-14, representing before the time of Christ), the Lord of the vineyard instructs his servant to graft in the natural branches of a tame olive tree into other trees of the vineyard:
"And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing.
"Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my words.
"And these will I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season, unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and the fruit thereof.
"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure."
The "grafting" that the servant of the vineyard refers to the steps that each person must take to receive the full blessings of the kingdom of God: the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Taking these steps allows people to be nourished by God's word and have a deeper understanding of His truth and His plan. As Jacob 5 illustrates, throughout time the world has gone through periods of corruption and periods of peace. But God has always provided ways for people to find the fulness of the gospel and to again be "grafted" into His family. Throughout time, God has "laid up fruit against the season" to preserve His gospel even during times of corruption.
I am grateful for God's unconditional love and for His desire to bring us back to live with Him again after this life. His main purpose is to help us achieve "immortality and eternal life" (Moses 1:39), and He provides us with a plan to achieve those!
Showing posts with label baptism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baptism. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Friday, July 25, 2014
What happens to people who die without baptism?
We are taught in the scriptures that baptism is an essential ordinance to return to live in God's presence. Baptism, along with other essential ordinances, prepares us to receive exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom of God. (See John 3:5; 2 Nephi 9:23; 2 Nephi 31:5-9, 17-21.)
There are millions of people who have died without the opportunity to be baptized, and there are many who will not have the chance to be baptized in their lifetime. What happens to those who were not able to participate in this essential saving ordinance?
In LDS Temples, we perform baptisms for the dead, or baptisms by proxy for those who were not baptized by proper authority in their lifetime. We do family history to find records and names of our ancestors who need these saving ordinances. D&C 128:16-18 explains why we do baptisms for the dead: "We without them [our ancestors] cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also." But even then, there are still many who have died for whom we do not have records saved. How can the proper saving ordinances be performed for them?
The scriptures prepare us for the time when Jesus Christ will come to earth again to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth (see Articles of Faith 1:10; Revelation 20:4; D&C 88:110). During this time, "all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time" (2 Nephi 30:18).
The Gospel Principles manual used in Sunday School discusses the work that will be done during the Millennium. The two main works we will do are missionary work and temple work. For one thousand years, mortals and resurrected beings who lived righteously will build temples and participate in ordinances of salvation. The lesson states, "There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records" ("The Millennium," Gospel Principles Manual, pp. 263-67; See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56], 2:167, 251-52.).
Every person will have a chance to receive all the ordinances of salvation before being sent to one of the three degrees of glory (see 1 Corinthians 15:40-42; D&C 76:50-112). God will provide a fair chance for everyone to receive those ordinances, but it is up to each individual to accept or reject them. After the Millennium, when all of the work has been done, the earth will be turned into a celestial kingdom (see D&C 29:22-29).
There are millions of people who have died without the opportunity to be baptized, and there are many who will not have the chance to be baptized in their lifetime. What happens to those who were not able to participate in this essential saving ordinance?
In LDS Temples, we perform baptisms for the dead, or baptisms by proxy for those who were not baptized by proper authority in their lifetime. We do family history to find records and names of our ancestors who need these saving ordinances. D&C 128:16-18 explains why we do baptisms for the dead: "We without them [our ancestors] cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also." But even then, there are still many who have died for whom we do not have records saved. How can the proper saving ordinances be performed for them?
The scriptures prepare us for the time when Jesus Christ will come to earth again to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth (see Articles of Faith 1:10; Revelation 20:4; D&C 88:110). During this time, "all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time" (2 Nephi 30:18).
The Gospel Principles manual used in Sunday School discusses the work that will be done during the Millennium. The two main works we will do are missionary work and temple work. For one thousand years, mortals and resurrected beings who lived righteously will build temples and participate in ordinances of salvation. The lesson states, "There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records" ("The Millennium," Gospel Principles Manual, pp. 263-67; See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56], 2:167, 251-52.).
Every person will have a chance to receive all the ordinances of salvation before being sent to one of the three degrees of glory (see 1 Corinthians 15:40-42; D&C 76:50-112). God will provide a fair chance for everyone to receive those ordinances, but it is up to each individual to accept or reject them. After the Millennium, when all of the work has been done, the earth will be turned into a celestial kingdom (see D&C 29:22-29).
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
3 Nephi 12:1 - What is the difference between baptism by water and baptism by the Holy Ghost?
In this verse, Christ says that the twelve disciples will baptize with water, and He himself will baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost. Why does He specify that the disciples will baptize the people by water and that Christ will baptize the people by the Holy Ghost?
The physical baptism by water could be performed by any person with the right authority. Perhaps this is why Christ specifies that "they" will baptize the people with water. Baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost is more of a spiritual and symbolic cleansing, so perhaps this is why Christ says that He himself "will baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost." He literally cleanses our spirit by sending the Holy Ghost to abide with us.
Christ calls apostles to help Him spread His church on the earth by teaching and baptizing. They need authority given to them from God in order to baptize people into His church. People cannot be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without the correct authority, and that authority comes from Jesus Christ. So in order to be baptized, there is a physical baptism by water, and a spiritual baptism of the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ.
The physical baptism by water could be performed by any person with the right authority. Perhaps this is why Christ specifies that "they" will baptize the people with water. Baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost is more of a spiritual and symbolic cleansing, so perhaps this is why Christ says that He himself "will baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost." He literally cleanses our spirit by sending the Holy Ghost to abide with us.
Christ calls apostles to help Him spread His church on the earth by teaching and baptizing. They need authority given to them from God in order to baptize people into His church. People cannot be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without the correct authority, and that authority comes from Jesus Christ. So in order to be baptized, there is a physical baptism by water, and a spiritual baptism of the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ.
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