To have the heavens opened was not a new experience to Joseph. He was not surprised at such a happening. Nor was the seeing of the Father and the Son a novel experience, for he had such experiences before. To see Adam and Abraham merits no special mention to him. The sight of his father and mother in the heavenly vision also seemed to have been most natural to his understanding. But on the other hand, the sight of his older brother Alvin caused him to marvel. Why?
Because Alvin died before John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood and the authority to perform legal and binding baptisms. The idea of teaching the gospel in the spirit world and the performance of vicarious ordinances had not occurred to him. It was at this point that the Lord chose to lift the veil and expand our understanding of the justice of God and the marvels of the plan of salvation. How sacred of an idea that people who died before the Restoration will still be given the same chance we're given to be taught and baptized, and how much cooler that I might get to be a missionary in the Spirit World and get to teach those who didn't have a chance to hear it on earth!!!!!!!! I love missionary work!!
"And this shall be the sound of his trump, saying to all people, both in heaven and in earth, and that are under the earth (meaning those in the spirit world)- for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever; for the hour of his judgement is come." D&C 88:104
Because Alvin died before John the Baptist restored the Aaronic Priesthood and the authority to perform legal and binding baptisms. The idea of teaching the gospel in the spirit world and the performance of vicarious ordinances had not occurred to him. It was at this point that the Lord chose to lift the veil and expand our understanding of the justice of God and the marvels of the plan of salvation. How sacred of an idea that people who died before the Restoration will still be given the same chance we're given to be taught and baptized, and how much cooler that I might get to be a missionary in the Spirit World and get to teach those who didn't have a chance to hear it on earth!!!!!!!! I love missionary work!!
"And this shall be the sound of his trump, saying to all people, both in heaven and in earth, and that are under the earth (meaning those in the spirit world)- for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess while they hear the sound of the trump, saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, forever and ever; for the hour of his judgement is come." D&C 88:104
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