Baptism for Dead Built on Plagiarized OT Verse

 Doctrine and Covenants 128:18 “I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.”

Hebrews 11:40 ^“God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

A few days ago, a friend told me she’d been studying Hebrews chapter eleven and provided some much-needed insight I needed that day.

Admittedly, when she mentioned Hebrews 11, the first thing I thought of was the Mormon priesthood. After our conversation I was reading over the chapter and prayed for the Lord to open my heart to what He wanted to show me.

Later that evening I began reading this chapter once again and came across the very last verse and immediately, it caught my attention.

‘…they without us should not be made perfect’.

As you can see in the LDS reference above Joseph Smith’s tricks of the trade included his unbridled tongue. Plagiarizing God’s word and twisting it to suit evil intentions was a mainstay in Mr. Smith’s life.

Sadly, his shenanigans are continued today each time someone goes to the temple and are baptized for dead people.

This is a classic example of how cults will take one bible verse out of context, change a few words and then build an entire doctrine on it.

For a list of great commentaries on this verse see biblehub.com. The new thing I learned about the Lord today was the importance of how He’s worked with His creation throughout time. Hebrews 11:40 is a great example of those who had to live by faith and for us to be diligent which should be easier to do on this side of the cross!

Be sure to share this with the Mormon you know and lovingly explain this verse had nothing to do with baptizing dead people.

With Love in Christ —

Michelle

1 Corinthians 1:18