August 23 – Luke 9:59-60 “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”
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It’s interesting to see what Jesus thinks of the dead. Only those who are concerned about their dead relatives are themselves dead.
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”The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 356.)
The Prophet also said: This doctrine was the burden of the scriptures. Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation.” Elder Theodore M. Burton, August 8, 1966, BYU Speeches of the Year, 1966.
“And when they say, Seek unto them that have familiar (family) SPIRITS and unto wizards that peep (JS Peeping stones),and that mutter; should not a people seek unto God? for the living to the dead.”(Isaiah 8:19)
“For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything; neither do they have any more reward (2nd chance salvation from spirit prison); for the memory of them is forgotten.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
With all do respect…God doesn’t need our help. He is ALMIGHTY! If someone’s name is Not in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”, I’m confident there is a good reason. God is just and merciful.
1 Corinthians 15:29 is an open question, rhetorical, and possibly a bit sarcastic. In context…” if the dead rise NOT at all? Why are THEY baptized for the dead. You can’t help them, it’s entirely up to God.