followHIM Voices of the Restoration #12 • Baptism for Our Ancestors, “a Glorious Doctrine” • Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat • Nov 3 - 9 • Come Follow Me
Nov 4, 2025
Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat, a historian and expert on early Latter-day Saint history, delves into the significance of baptism for the dead. He explains how Joseph Smith challenged Protestant beliefs by emphasizing baptism's necessity for salvation and the evolution of this doctrine. Dirkmaat shares compelling stories, including Joseph's vision of his brother Alvin in the celestial kingdom and the initial reactions to baptisms for the dead. He highlights the central role of temple work in LDS theology and emphasizes the joy found in performing these sacred ordinances for ancestors.
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Progressive Revelation Solves Doctrine Tensions
- Latter-day Saint doctrine unfolded "line upon line and precept upon precept," resolving apparent contradictions over time.
- Baptism for the dead emerged as the culmination that enlarged salvation beyond a single-life deadline.
A New View Of God’s Justice
- Baptism for the dead challenged every Christian assumption that death is the deadline for salvation.
- It reframes God as just and merciful by giving everyone an opportunity for exaltation beyond mortal life.
Phoebe Woodruff’s Joyful Letter
- Phoebe Woodruff wrote to Wilford in England describing the doctrine and the saints' joyful rush to perform proxy baptisms.
- Wilford immediately baptized for all his dead relatives and exclaimed "hallelujah" at the revelation.
