On Both Sides of the Veil

In his recent devotional with the youth, President Nelson said this, “When we speak of the gathering, we are simply saying this fundamental truth: every one of our Heavenly Father’s children, on both sides of the veil, deserves to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ…. Tonight, we want you to know that the gathering of Israel ultimately means offering the gospel of Jesus Christ to God’s children on both sides of the veil who have neither made crucial covenants with God nor received their essential ordinances.”  The idea that the work we are engaged in encompasses people both here on the earth and those who have passed away is one that President Nelson has emphasized over multiple times.  For example, in the most recent general conference President Nelson said, “Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life.”  Similarly, in general conference 2006 President Nelson said, “The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a sign to the entire world that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel and fulfill covenants He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  We not only teach this doctrine, but we participate in it.  We do so as we help to gather the elect of the Lord on both sides of the veil.”  And in a 1994 general conference he said, “For whom will such temple work be efficacious? Principles of agency pertain on both sides of the veil. There, in post mortal realms, personal choice and accountability will be of paramount importance.”  That the gathering of Israel is for all who have lived—not just those whom we can see here with us in mortality—is a fundamental principle of the gospel.  President Nelson is clearly concerned with the salvation of all of God’s children, not just those who are alive right now. 

            It was the Prophet Joseph who taught the importance of providing for the salvation of those who have already died.  He taught the Saints, “And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect” (D&C 128:15).  On another occasion the Prophet Joseph said, “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.”  He also said shortly before his death that “the greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.”  These two statements put together only make sense when we understand that the missionary work we do is indeed for people on both sides of the veil as President Nelson has taught.  Indeed, Elder Bednar suggested, “Missionary work and family history and temple work are complementary and interrelated aspects of one great work, ‘that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him’ (Ephesians 1:10).”  President Nelson told the youth that the gathering of Israel today—on both sides of the veil—is the “the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today.”  The work of the Lord is to bring salvation to all souls no matter when they lived or where they are now.