Early Teachings
Joseph Smith first taught about baptisms for the dead at this event for Seymour Brunson.
His funeral
In January 1841, the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that the ordinance of baptisms for the dead “belongeth” in this place.
The Lord’s house (temple)
In 1842, at a small gathering of Relief Society sisters, Joseph Smith shared that this must be present at every proxy baptism.
A recorder
The first recorded proxy baptism was performed by Harvey Olmstead at this place.
Mississippi River
The ordinance of baptisms for the dead was introduced to help these individuals.
Those who died unbaptized
In 1836, Joseph Smith saw this place in a vision, during which he was taught about salvation for those without knowledge of the gospel.
Celestial kingdom
The first temple baptismal font was made of this material.
Wood
Joseph Smith said the Lord had revealed to him the necessity of baptisms for the dead to be recorded in this place.
Baptisms for the dead began shortly after the Saints moved to the future site of Nauvoo, in this year.
1840
Joseph agonized over the fate of his beloved brother Alvin for this reason.
Alvin died unbaptized
In October 1841, Joseph Smith announced that no further baptisms for the dead would be authorized until the font in this temple was complete.
Nauvoo temple
The baptismal font was enclosed in this part of the Nauvoo temple.
Basement
These two sections in the Doctrine & Covenants are epistles from Joseph Smith that contain directions on baptisms for the dead.
Sections 127 and 128
This temple first housed a permanent baptismal font.
Nauvoo Temple
Who was Joseph referring to when he said: “For we without them, cannot be made perfect. Neither can they, without us, be made perfect.”
Our unbaptized ancestors who need temple ordinances
2 parts: 1) this section contains Joseph Smith’s first letter on baptisms for the dead. 2) in the scriptures, this is another name for a letter.
1) Section 127
2) Epistle
In 2017, Church leaders made this special announcement about baptisms for the dead.
Young men holding the office of priest in the Aaronic Priesthood could perform baptisms for the dead.
The ordinance of baptism for the dead is available to the spirits of those 1) who have passed away and 2) who make this choice.
To accept the ordinance
LDS youth started going on ward temple trips for proxy baptisms in this decade.
1920s
This is something that youth members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can do to connect the living and the dead.
Temple work (proxy baptisms)
Joseph taught that baptisms for the dead create necessary and eternal bonds between generations, and the earth will be smitten unless there is this type of link between fathers and their children.
Welding link
After Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, this Church leader said men should be baptized for men and women for women.
Brigham Young
In Section 128, the Prophet Joseph gave a detailed record-keeping proposal that included compiling all ward records into this book.
“General Church Book”
This controversy in the 1990s prompted the Church to issue new guidelines on proxy baptisms.
Baptizing non-ancestors (such as celebrities and Holocaust victims)
What is your plan to attend the temple and do baptisms for the dead?
(That’s between you and the Lord)