Church History Matters 171 - The Power of Temple Ordinances & Work for the Dead with Jonathan Stapley - E45C November 3-5
Oct 30, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Jonathan Stapley, an award-winning historian known for his work on Latter-day Saint rituals, delves into the significance of Nauvoo temple ordinances and baptism for the dead. He highlights how these practices shape beliefs about the afterlife and community connections. The conversation also uncovers the evolution of rites, including the roles of priesthood and adoption in forming heavenly relationships. Stapley's findings challenge traditional views and reveal the communal nature of worship, transforming how we understand faith and spirituality.
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Temple As Cosmology
- Joseph Smith reframed cosmology as an ordinance-driven worldview that makes relationships the structure of heaven.
- Temple ceremonies transform believers into a heavenly concourse of kings, queens, priests, and priestesses.
Heaven Is Constructed Relationships
- Joseph taught heaven is relational and built where eternal connections exist, while hell is solitary disconnection.
- The temple constructs those lasting networks; we must redeem relationships rather than escape them.
Origin Story Of Proxy Baptism
- Baptism for the dead began in Nauvoo in 1840 when Joseph Smith proposed it after seeing a grieving mother.
- Members immediately practiced it and Joseph later framed it as a foundational ordinance from before the world.
