The Book of Life

The scriptures speak of the “book of life” in a few places.  The Bible Dictionary suggests that there are at least two interpretations of this phrase.  One is that the book represents “the sum total of one’s thoughts and actions” while on the earth.  The second is that it is a “heavenly record is kept of the faithful, whose names are recorded, as well as an account of their righteous deeds” (Book of Life).  Whether the book is a physical record or merely symbolic is probably much less important to us than the simple principle that we have no thought or action that is secret to God. 

                Several references refer to the book of life as simply the recording of the names of the righteous.  Paul referred to those whom he obviously revered speaking of his “fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:3).  Speaking of the last days, Daniel wrote that the people of the Lord “shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).  Jesus told the Seventy after they returned having performed miracles, “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).  Alma told the people of Zarahemla, “For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand” (Alma 5:58).  Our ultimate goal in life should be to get our names in this book of life! 

                Other scriptures imply that there is a “book of life” which contains more than just our names for it is a record of our actions on earth.  In John’s vision he saw this: “Another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12).  This suggests that the dead will be judged out of the book of life which contains the record of our works on earth.  Speaking of this verse in Revelation, Joseph Smith said, “And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven” (D&C 128:7).  The Lord also told Joseph and those assembled with him, “The angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Saboath, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified” (D&C 88:2).  I’m not sure exactly what the “alms of our prayers” are, but it seems to be a combination of both our prayers and actions and confirms the idea that God takes note of everything that we do.  One of our popular hymns confirms the same idea: “Angels above us are silent notes taking of every action; then do what is right!” (Do What is Right).   It is certainly humbling to think that our actions here are being noted in heaven.  What is being put in our book of life?