When was Baptism for the Dead instituted?

[Prodigal_Son]

I've been researching for hours, looking for a reference to when this ordinance was established.

We know that it existed at Christ's time; and we know that Peter was given the Keys of Sealing...

But did Christ institute the practice? Or was it a component of the Mosaic Law that was lost to history?

Just looking for some definitive explanation, if it exists. Thanks all.

[Justice]

Good question.

I'd say it was instituted shortly after Christ's death and resurrection. I'd wager it was part of what He taught His apostles during His on and off 40 day ministry to them after His death.

When Christ died He entered the spirit world and bridged the gap between Paradise and Prison so that a teaching effort could commense to those who died not having accepted Christ. It seems there was little need to baptize for the dead before that time if there was no teaching effort.

[BenRaines]

True since there had been no resurrection until Christ was the first resurrected. If he had not resurrected no need for any kind of baptism.

Ben Raines

[bytebear]

Baptism was not instituted at the time of Christ. It was practiced prior to his Birth by the Nephites (1 Nephi 20), and evidence of baptisms (sacred washings) was done by Jews prior to Christ's appearance (Isaiah 48). They may have been a symbol of what was to come and may have had a different understanding of the purpose, but the practice or some similar practice did exist. As for Baptism for the Dead. I don't know.

[tubaloth]

I'm not sure if bytebear meant there was no Baptism before Christ?

As far as I know the LDS believe there has always been Baptism. We learn in Moses I think Chapter 6 could be 5 of how Adam was baptised. So the practice was around, but as bytebear points out is pretty much lost in the Old Testament.

As far as baptism for the dead we don't know for sure when it started in the Bible. It Happen after Christ had visited spirit world. What I have always learned is Christ set up some missionary program for spirits to visit those in spirit world.

To what extent they in Bible times had Baptism for the dead we don't know. We do know more about when it was started in the Latter Days.

I don't want to derail this thread, but I often wonder, because there was no temple work done prior to Christ's death that pretty much means everybody that died before Christ didn't have the Gospel needs there Temple work done. (Correct?).
What I'm wondering is what is taught? Those at that time lived the law of Moses (that was the law over the earth for a good Chunk of time). So are people taught the law they would have had during there earth life? Or the current teaching (ie, higher law). Are those that died with Law of Moses required to take out there endoments (which I assume wasn't practiced until after Christs ressurection)?

Just wondering?

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by tubaloth

As far as I know the LDS believe there has always been Baptism.

Good point Tubaloth. Can you imagine all those people in the Indus, Huang, Nile and Fertile Crescent river valleys and areas not practicing baptism with all that life sustaining water?

If I were living on one of those ancient Aegean islands, then I would go swimming every morning. The Aegean Bishop would see me and baptism would not be far behind.

[Just_A_Guy]

Re the O.P.: A dispensation where the Melchizedek Priesthood is generally lacking, logically, would not be able to administer any temple ordinances including (as I understand it) baptism for the dead.

Originally Posted by tubaloth

I don't want to derail this thread, but I often wonder, because there was no temple work done prior to Christ's death that pretty much means everybody that died before Christ didn't have the Gospel needs there Temple work done. (Correct?).

I wouldn't be quite so sweeping. The Mosaic dispensation didn't include an endowment (as we understand the term). But what of the preceding dispensations of Adam, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham? They certainly did.

Those at that time lived the law of Moses (that was the law over the earth for a good Chunk of time).

We may want to be careful about placing undue emphasis on the law of Moses here. The Mosaic dispensation lacked the M.P. (with some exceptions), but that was only one of seven dispensations lasting around thirteen hundred years of the earth's (recorded, as far as the Gospel is concerned) seven-thousand year history.

So are people taught the law they would have had during there earth life? Or the current teaching (ie, higher law). Are those that died with Law of Moses required to take out there endoments (which I assume wasn't practiced until after Christs ressurection)?

We're taught that the temple endowment, along with baptism et al., are "saving ordinances". If they're necessary for those who lived after the Great Apostasy (when the endowment had been lost), why wouldn't they be necessary for those who lived after the apostasy that resulted in the loss of the endowment after Abraham's day?

[Prodigal_Son]

The Jews used their Mikvehs for ritual cleansing. Whether that was meant as a baptismal rite, I can't say. Perhaps it once was, but the tradition was lost.

But it's easier just to point to John the Baptist as a predecessor of Christ who was incorporating the ordinance in Jewish culture.

But I'm just interested in Baptism for the Dead right now...

[Just_A_Guy]

I'm thinking Nephi's modifications to Isaiah insert a reference to baptism. Can't recall exactly where, though. Isn't there also a scripture out there that says the Israelites under Moses were baptized in the Red Sea?

Nephi obviously knew about baptism--see, e.g., 2 Nephi 31.

[Moksha]

Originally Posted by Prodigal_Son

But I'm just interested in Baptism for the Dead right now...

There was and continues to be ceremonies that disinter the dead to honor, celebrate and let them see what is going on topside.