D&C 128

Refering back to a blog I wrote last Wednesday, the Prophet again wrote the word of the Lord -

"...I am about to restore many things to the earth, pertaining to the priesthood, saith the Lord of Hosts."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 127:8)

Suggesting that there was even more related to the priesthood and administration thereof that was yet to be revealed.  While in hiding, the Prophet wrote on the topic of baptism for the dead -

"...as that subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 128:1)

This is a pattern of revelation, as we ponder matters, the subject may occupy ones and press itself upon our feelings.  From such, many times the mind is quickened by the Holy Ghost and answers flow.

The Prophet then follows with that which pressed on his mind -

"...I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 128:6)

As his mind was enlightened, he explained -

"You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 128:7)


He then applies this to current matters of administration -

Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead.
9 It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a dispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?
10 And again, for the precedent, Matthew 16:18, 19: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 128:8 - 10)

He summarizes with -

"Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and the summum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the powers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a knowledge of facts in relation to the salvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 128:11)