Purpose
The LDS Church teaches that God loves all people, both those who are present on the earth, as well as those who have been on the earth previously. LDS theology holds that all people will be resurrected because of the atonement of Christ, however in order to gain exaltation there are certain ordinances a person needs which need to be performed while on the earth, including baptism, temple endowment, and temple marriage. The LDS Church believes that God will provide a way for those who have not received the required ordinances to have the work done for them. Human beings will not miss the chance to get into heaven due to failing to learn about or embrace Latter-day Saint teachings while alive. Through temple work done by living proxies and through missionary work taking place in the spirit world, the church claims that non-Mormons have the opportunity to accept these ordinances after they have died.
It is believed that those who have died who have not received these ordinances, or do not know or understand about Christ, will be taught in the afterlife. This work is done similar to missionary work is done in life. It is believed that in the afterlife, a person still retains their beliefs, knowledge and agency, and they will still be able to choose for themselves what they desire. Having the work done for them does nothing unless they desire it. It will not change their religion, beliefs, or feelings, unless they themselves decide to accept the work done for them.
Latter-day Saints currently perform this work by researching genealogical records for the names of deceased persons, performing ordinances such as baptism and marriage with living proxies in temple ceremonies. Latter-day Saints believe that those who have died who have also received these ordinances act as missionaries to the unconverted who have passed on in an effort to persuade them to accept the work done on their behalf and accept the parts of the gospel that they did not learn or accept in life. Latter-day Saints believe that this work will continue after the Second Coming, during a period Latter-day Saints refer to as the Millennium. The LDS Church teaches that Jesus Christ will return to the earth to prepare for ordinance and conversion work to be done for all people who have ever lived, as well as prepare the Earth itself for the completion of its mission as a testing ground for human souls.
Read more about this topic: Second Coming (LDS Church)
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