". . .`You mean you are out to make baptism available for all men?
"And the answer is simply, `Yes. For we have been commanded to do so.'
" `You mean the entire human family? Why, that is impossible. . . .'
"To that we say, `Perhaps, but we shall do all that we can do.' "
From The Holy Temple, by Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve
The Church has reached a milestone in temple work by performing 100 million endowments for the dead, as of mid-August, according to Temple Department estimates.In reaching that milestone number of endowments - and baptisms - for the dead, the Church is beginning to gain on its monumental task of vicarious work, said Elder Wm. Grant Bangerter of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy and executive director of the Temple Department.
And although the 100 million-mark is miniscule compared with the estimated 75 billion in the whole family of man throughout history, it is an accomplishment, particularly considering that two-thirds of that total was completed in the past 18 years. This means, said Elder Bangerter, that while members obviously cannot afford to be passive in this responsibility, neither need they be discouraged.
Elder Bangerter estimated that the next 100 million endowments for the dead might be performed within 15 years or less as the Church grows, and as members become busier in temple work.
He explained that during recent years, Church members have numbered about one to every thousand non-members. Also in the past, the ratio of vicarious ordinances has been about the same: one performed to one thousand deceased people.
Now, ordinances are being performed for about one of every 750 deceased.
He emphasized, however, that mere numbers never have been the goal of temple work.
"We do temple work because it is a work of reality to bless and benefit those who are to receive it. Everyone . . . must pass through the temple to obtain the fullness of the promise of eternal life," said Elder Bangerter.
"If the Lord is to redeem all His people . . . it seems evident that all, when they have repented and accepted the gospel here or in the spirit world, will be baptized."
He said those who have performed temple ordinances for their ancestors "receive great personal satisfaction. And in connection with their service, they renew their covenants and draw near to the Spirit of the Lord, and remember the sacred nature of their membership in the Church and the covenants they've made, and their commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ."
He said that adult members - young and old, married and single - are actively performing temple work.
"Older and retired people have more opportunity to go to the temple, but members of elders quorums are generally very active in going with their wives to the temple. Many single people, particularly in student areas, feel the urgency and desire to go to the temple."
Some members may not be able to attend the temple as often as they desire, he said, mentioning a hypothetical situation: A young mother with five children may teach Primary, and her husband may be an elders quorum president.
"How reasonable is it to pressure them to go to the temple with great frequency? That isn't expected, as we understand from the Lord. But at the same time, they need it. So they ought to make time to go with some regularity, of reasonable frequency."
He suggested this could be accomplished if quorums organized and scheduled temple trips, and helped provide such services as transportation and babysitting.
The greater part of the Church's vicarious work is done in the large temples in the western United States: The Provo, Jordan River, Ogden, St. George, Salt Lake, and Los Angeles temples each has more than 300,000 ordinances performed annually.
He said the newer temples of the past 10 years were established more to benefit the living than the dead. And many benefits have been realized as young families with at least one returned missionary parent are "establishing their homes according to the covenant."
In Latin areas particularly, young leaders who attend the temple are "as efficient, effective and diligent and inspired as you would find anywhere."
Other faithful members bolstered by their temple covenants are providing additional important service.
Elder Bangerter said the urgency in accomplishing temple work has been emphasized by many prophets.
"The probability is that there are many of those who have died who are anxiously awaiting to be baptized and to be sealed in their families. These are the precious privileges that we feel here, and they the deceasedT would certainly feel the same."
He noted the scriptures encourage baptized members to "press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Ne. 31:19-20.)
