What is the Destiny of the Billions

What is the destiny of the billions
Who have lived and died without Christ?
They in the temple can be redeemed
As we proxy for the dead and are baptized


Our God is merciful and just
And has laid out a perfect plan
If we're obedient and trust
We can aid in the salvation of man

Jesus prophesied He would teach
Those in the spirit world when He died
There to organize the righteous to preach
Those in darkness and in need of His light

Like unto the living, the dead can increase in faith
Repent, be cleansed, and burn with the Holy Ghost within
It is their's to await vicarious work of the Saints
For the highest blessings of heaven to begin

With each husband and wife restored together
They are then sealed forever to their children
Till more and more family names do gather
Into an eternally welded link for heaven

Supplying labor for every time to embrace
Who will serve as an officiator?
And vicariously act in the Savior's place
Thus, to provide a way back to our creator

As an expression of our witness
Of the truthfulness of the gospel
We desire all to be humble in meekness
And accept the Atonement and be God's people

We are baptized for the dead
Because we know they will arise
Restored even to each hair on the head
As in Christ shall all be made alive

Our work is theirs to decide
As we've all free agency
In death or in life
Truth is for our accepting

Completing His mission of divine commitment
We benefit from the infinite reach of our Savior
Due to His perfect life and absolute Atonement
He is the sole source of our salvation and favor

And except a man be born
Of water and of the Spirit
His soul can not be reborn
And of judgment he will fear it

For straight is the way
And narrow is the gate
And those who'll know His grace
Will have been baptized in His name

Repent everyone
In the name of Jesus Christ
And follow Him, the very Son
With the Gift of the Holiness for light

Let the dead be freed from prison
To be judged according to the flesh
That the gospel may be preached for one reason
For the great Day when of God's hand we'll all confess

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Why Do We Baptize for the Dead?
New Era, Mar 2009, 2–5



From an October 2000 general conference address.