1 Corinthians 15:29

“Why Are They Then Baptized for the Dead?”

Baptismal font in the Ogden Utah Temple.

Many of the Saints in Corinth participated in baptisms for their deceased ancestors, and yet some did not believe in the Resurrection of the dead. Paul helped them see that we do ordinances for the dead with faith that Christ will raise us all to live again in the Resurrection. This lesson is intended to help you desire and plan to participate more meaningfully in family history and temple work.

Providing opportunities for application. The purpose of gospel teaching is to help students think about and feel a desire to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and then to act on their desires. Give students opportunities in class to plan to apply the truths they learn in their lives. When they make plans to apply what they learn, students increase their ability to live the truths taught in the lesson.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share their family tree or to tell a story about an ancestor who did not have the gospel or access to ordinances of salvation and exaltation.

Possible Learning Activities

The importance of witnesses

The following activity is intended to be a light-hearted and fun way to help students think about the relationship between resurrection and work performed in the temple for those who have died. If necessary, adapt the first two sets of paired pictures so that they are culturally relevant and engaging to students.

Examine the following three sets of paired pictures. Contemplate the relationship between the two pictures in each set.

Set one

The Orchestra at Temple Square, May 2007. They are participating in the performance of the oratorio “Elijah” that took place in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Set two

Vegetables, tomatoes, broccoli an carrots

Set three

Jesus Christ’s empty tomb - set at Goshen, Utah

Daytime photo of the Guadalajara Mexico Temple.

How would you explain to someone the relationship between the Savior’s empty tomb and modern-day temples?

When the Apostle Paul learned that some individuals in Corinth were teaching that there was no resurrection, he pointed out that the Saints were already doing something that testified of the reality of resurrection.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:29, looking for the practice Paul referred to.

How would you restate in your own words what Paul is teaching in verse 29?
How are baptisms for the dead a testimony of the Savior, His Atonement, and the Resurrection?

If students need help answering the previous question, consider providing them with information from the “Commentary and Background Information” section at the end of this lesson.

Baptisms for the dead

One truth we can learn from 1 Corinthians 15:29 is that those who died without baptism may still receive this essential ordinance through work that is done in temples.

Consider inviting students who did the student preparation activity to share about their loved ones who died without baptism. Consider asking students to think about how these individuals have been, or could be, impacted by baptisms for the dead.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught about how participating in temple work can connect us with Jesus Christ:

I think that vicarious work for the dead more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any other work of which I know. It is given with love, without hope of compensation, or repayment or anything of the kind. What a glorious principle [fireside in Birmingham, England, 29 Aug. 1995].

(Gordon B. Hinckley, “Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, Jan. 1998, 73)

How can participating in baptisms and other temple work for the dead help us become more like the Savior?

Deepen your understanding

Imagine that at school one day, you and your friends discuss your plans for the weekend. One friend says that he is excited to go to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead with other youth in his ward. Another friend, Kaya, has a very confused look on her face and asks, “Baptisms for the dead? What are those?”

How confident would you be in answering this question in a way that Kaya could understand?

Take some time to deepen your understanding of the ordinance of baptism for the dead by choosing one or more of the following resources to study or by searching for your own resources. As you study, look for some things you might share with someone like Kaya who wants to better understand this practice.

Determine the needs of students. Rather than providing the following resources for students to study, it may be beneficial to let them search for and discover resources on their own, which can help them practice finding reliable sources of information.

Students may also benefit from studying the additional resources in the “Commentary and Background Information” section at the end of this lesson.

Topical Guide, “ Baptism for the Dead,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or see “Baptism for the dead” under “ Baptism, Baptize,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Gospel Topics, “Family History,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Leah Barton, “Three Facts about Temple Baptisms,” New Era, Sept. 2019, 22–23

In addition to asking students to share what they learned from their study, consider also giving them opportunities to practice explaining the doctrine of baptism for the dead to someone like Kaya who is unfamiliar with this ordinance. This could be done through a role play or by having students write their explanations and share what they wrote. Consider inviting students to work in pairs or small groups to allow for many to have the opportunity to explain, share, and testify. The following points might be used in their explanations:

What the ordinance of baptism for the dead demonstrates about how our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, feel about each of us.
Your own experiences participating in this ordinance.

Act on what you have learned

Think about your personal experiences with family history and temple work. Contemplate what has made these experiences meaningful and any obstacles you have faced. Then create a simple, personalized plan about how you will apply what you have learned and felt today. For example, you might consider making a plan related to attending the temple, obtaining a temple recommend, using FamilySearch to find names of your ancestors who need to receive the ordinance of baptism, doing something to make your temple experience more meaningful, or thinking of one of your own inspired ideas. Follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to create a plan that is right for you. Record your plan in your study journal.

Commentary and Background Information

How does baptism for the dead relate to Jesus Christ and His Resurrection?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Our anxiety to redeem the dead, and the time and resources we put behind that commitment, are, above all, an expression of our witness concerning Jesus Christ. It constitutes as powerful a statement as we can make concerning His divine character and mission. It testifies, first, of Christ’s Resurrection; [and] second, of the infinite reach of His Atonement. …

We are baptized for the dead because we know that they will rise.

(D. Todd Christofferson, “The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 10)

Did members of Christ’s Church in New Testament times perform baptisms for the dead?

Vicarious baptisms were performed only after Jesus was resurrected. The only Bible passage that mentions vicarious baptism for the dead is 1 Corinthians 15:29, although other ancient texts attest that baptism for the dead was practiced by early Christians.

“Jesus Christ taught that baptism is necessary to obtain eternal life (see John 3:5). Paul himself was baptized and taught that through this important ordinance we could ‘walk in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4; see also Acts 9:18). Yet millions of Heavenly Father’s children have died without gaining a knowledge of Jesus Christ or receiving the essential ordinance of baptism. Paul’s reference to baptism for the dead suggests that early Church members knew of God’s plan to redeem the dead (see also John 5:25, 28; 1 Peter 3:18–19; 4:6)” (New Testament Student Manual [2014], 385).

When did members of Christ’s Church in the latter days start doing baptisms for the dead?

To hear the history of the restored Church’s implementation of baptisms for the dead, consider watching the video “Glad Tidings: The History of Baptisms for the Dead” (6:55), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Glad Tidings: The History of Baptisms for the Dead
Joseph Smith's struggle with his brother Alvin's death led eventually to the introduction of baptisms for the dead. This new ordinance was embraced by saints in Nauvoo who did the first genealogical and family history research in Church history.

Where can I learn more about baptisms for the dead?

“What Are Baptisms for the Dead?” (1:22), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org

What Are Baptisms for the Dead?
Mormons, or more properly, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perform baptisms for the dead on behalf of their ancestors so they, too, can accept Jesus.

“Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple” (11:31; watch from time code 1:23 to 4:13)