D&C 127

Section 127 is a letter from Joseph Smith to the saints, the IM gives background saying, “As early as 10 August 1840, in an address at the funeral of Seymour Brunson, the Prophet introduced the doctrine of baptism for the dead to a startled congregation of Saints. Thereafter it was frequently a topic of addresses of the Brethren, and baptisms for the dead were performed in the nearby Mississippi River. According to the minutes of the general conference of the Church held in Nauvoo on 2 October 1841, however, the Prophet declared it was the Lord’s will that baptisms for the dead stop until they could be performed in His house. The first baptisms for the dead in the uncompleted Nauvoo Temple were performed Sunday, 21 November 1841. By the summer of 1842 persecution had grown to the point that the Prophet Joseph Smith was forced into hiding. This revelation was given while he was staying in the home of Brother Taylor, father of John Taylor. The Prophet sent instructions by letter, as did ancient prophets, to the Saints as revelation was received, clarifying the order of baptism for the dead in the house of the Lord. Before the Prophet Joseph sent this revelation and Doctrine and Covenants 128 to the Saints, an unknown person made a serious attempt on the life of former governor Boggs of Missouri. Orrin Porter Rockwell, a Mormon, was accused of the crime, and Joseph Smith was named as his accessory. Residents of Missouri tried to compel the governor of Illinois, Thomas Carlin, to extradite Joseph Smith to Missouri to answer these false charges. ‘This was a conspiracy to get the Prophet back into the hands of the Missourian mobbers. Governor Carlin of Illinois had joined in this conspiracy contrary to every principle of correct law, as it was later shown in the trial which was held in Springfield (Illinois)… From his place of concealment the Prophet wrote these two letters (section 127 and 128).”

127:1 - I think that the most interesting part is that JS doesn’t say “anyone who pursues me” because what if he is guilty of what they are charging him with? He says “inasmuch as they pursue me without a cause.” He’s not saying that he isn’t capable of committing wrong, nor is he saying that if he does do something wrong he shouldn’t be punished, he’s only saying that if he is falsely accused. Most people who are trying to usurp power over others seem to make their followers believe that they are infallible, that they can do no wrong, I just think that it’s a really interesting that Joseph Smith is explicitly stating the difference.

127:2-4 – We see a dramatic shift in perspective from section 122 in 1838 from Liberty Jail where JS asked how long he had to endure these trials to now he says “It all has become a second nature to me; and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation.” Definitely a mindset shift over the years, he sees the divine purpose for trials and especially his trials. JS continues, “for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me out of them all, and will deliver me from henceforth; for behold, and lo, I shall triumph over all my enemies, for the Lord God hath spoken it.” JS doesn’t say “I will triumph over my enemies because I always have,” he says “so far God has delivered me… and I shall triumph over all my enemies” because God told me that I would. He’s not using past experience to guess what will happen in the future, he’s using faith in God’s promises to remain calm and to feel like everything will work out in the end. It’s a very eternal perspective that he’s citing here. The eternal perspective continues on into verse 4 when he says “and if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven.” JS also tells them that the Lord commanded them to continue to work on the temple. Why did they need to reminder? The IM gives interesting info, saying, “In 1842 the Saints were entering a time of persecution that could have given them cause to stop working on a temple that might never be used. In fact, final work was done on the temple after the decision was made to evacuate Nauvoo in 1846. During all of the persecution, the Saints received great blessings and endowments to sustain them in the years of suffering and death that lay ahead. In the pioneer period that followed, some of the temple ordinances were available in the Endowment House. But it would be thirty-one years before a temple of the Lord was dedicated again.”

127:5- - Concerning the baptisms for the dead, JS says that they are to record it because “all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven… For I am about to restore many things to the earth, pertaining to the priesthood, saith the Lord of Hosts.” The IM says, “During the Nauvoo period the Lord bestowed knowledge and keys for marriage for time and eternity, temples to house sacred ordinances, endowments, and baptism for the dead.” The IM had said before that the Nauvoo Temple was the first ordinance house. I remember hearing something that talked about when the doctrine of baptism for the dead was revealed that it was glorious for many people because so many people had children and parents and spouses who had died that they loved and they wanted for them to be able to have the gospel as well, and it makes sense.