Question
In Sunday School the teacher stated that only those who are baptized into the church would have their sins taken away through Christ’s atonement. Non members, even if they repented and changed their lives to what they believed Christ wanted would still have to pay in full for those sins if they are never baptized properly. While I can see what he is saying seems to be true yet something doesn’t quite resonate with me. What am I missing?
Melanie
Answer
Melanie,
We believe that a person must be baptized by proper authority in order to “see” and “enter” into the kingdom of God. This baptism will either happen in this life, or by proxy as performed in our temples.
Non-members who died will have the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel in the next life. Those who accept the gospel and lived lives worthy of exaltation will find themselves covered by the atonement of Jesus Christ and will not have to suffer for their own sins as instructed in Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-16. We understand, those who receive the temple ordinance and do not accept it will suffer for their own sins.
What may not be setting right with you is the idea that we have good brother’s and sister’s who have never heard of the gospel, they receive the gospel with all their hearts in spirit prison, and enjoy the same blessing as you and I.
