Temple White

 One of the challenges the missionaries received at last month's Mission Tour was to visualize each person they teach not just in baptismal white clothing, but in temple white clothing.  All people must be members for at least a year before they can go to one of the temples to be endowed with power and make additional eternal covenants with Heavenly Father; but if they are at least 12 years old, they can go immediately and perform vicarious baptisms.  This is a beautiful New Testament practice that has been restored in our day.  Peter taught, "Else what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?  Why are they then baptized for the dead?" 1Corinthians 15:29.  We know that life continues beyond mortality, yet there are so many who have lived on the earth without the opportunity to learn of Christ or to be baptized in His name.  In the temple, members can be baptized vicariously for those people.  Each baptismal font is patterned after the font in Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:23-25).  Of course, we don't know if those people who have passed on will accept the gospel and their baptism; it will always be their choice.  

This month Neil and I had the blessing of going with seven new members as they had the opportunity to give this selfless service for the first time.  When people have that mighty change of heart that leads them to make a covenant with God through baptism, they immediately want to share their joy with others, including those beyond the grave.  There were many smiles and much joy shared on this day! I should also mention that one of the members of our ward who came along was baptized for her mother, who passed away three years ago at the age of 100 but never had the gospel!  Now the gate is open for her, should she choose to accept.  It was a beautiful day at the Hartford Connecticut Temple!