Joesph Smith was a prophet, and he taught people about temple sealings, eternal families, baptisms for the dead, the concept of three kingdoms etc. My questions is, why didn't Jesus teach people about the things Joesph Smith taught? God knew these were apart of salvation, shouldn't Jesus have taught the people? Why did he need a prophet many years later? Or if not Jesus, why not a prophet of the Bible times? Thank you and God bless :)

Abby, 3/14/2010

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El Santo Gringo from La Jolla, California:




Hi Abby. I'm very happy that you feel comfortable asking your questions here! As you probably know, Mormons love the Bible. We believe that the Bible contains the sacred words of the ancient prophets and apostles, revealed to them by God. We study the Bible and we try to apply its teachings in our own lives. However, unlike some other Christian religions, we do not believe that God's words and His will are limited to the Bible alone. The Bible contains many of the teachings that Christ gave to his ancient apostles, but it does not necessarily contain all of His teachings. That's why modern-day revelation to a modern-day prophet is so important. God can clarify the Bible's teachings, and He can restore some of Christ's ancient teachings that did not make it into the Bible at all.

While the doctrines you mentioned may not be described in detail, the Bible does provide evidence that these notions were had among early Christians, likely because God had revealed them to ancient prophets and apostles. Here are some scriptural references you may find helpful:

Mormon Bride and Groom
A Mormon bride and groom pose outside the Salt Lake Mormon temple.
Temple sealings/eternal families: Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:9, Malachi 4:6, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18. Incidentally, extra-Biblical sources provide additional evidence that some early Christians believed in eternal marriage. In the third century, Origen, an early Christian scholar and theologian, reported that certain Christians believed in marriage after the resurrection. An early Christian text called the Gospel of Philip also provides evidence of eternal marriage.

Baptism for the dead: John 3:5, 1 Peter 3:18-20, 1 Peter 4:6, 1 Corinthians 15:29. Again, extra-Biblical sources provide additional details. The Marcionites (ancient Christians), for example, practiced vicarious baptism for those who had died. In fact, it was only in the late fourth century, long after the Bible was written, that the dominant Christian Church of the time officially forbid vicarious baptism. Baptism for the dead was, in fact, common among some early Christian groups prior to that official declaration.

Three kingdoms: John 14:2, 1 Corinthians 15:40-42, 2 Corinthians 12:2. The ancient Christian theologians Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Origen also believed in multiple degrees of glory in heaven.

Hope this information helps. I'm very grateful to belong to a church with modern-day apostles and prophets. God revealed many wonderful things to ancient prophets and apostles, and I'm grateful for the Bible, which contains many of their inspired words. I'm also grateful for the modern prophets and apostles who continue to receive revelation from God. Thanks again for your question!
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