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We discuss the endowment that was received mid-week and then the visions recorded in Section 110 that occurred on the 8th day of the dedicatory period.
Exodus 24:10
D&C 97:15
D&C 98:16-17
Ephesians 1:10
Excellent points today. Section 128 lists many angelic visitors which came to Joseph Smith. They declared, but did not commit. They held forth that which is to come.
D&C 128:21. And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old Father Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, and at sundry times, and in divers places through all the travels and tribulations of this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! And the voice of Michael, the archangel; the voice of Gabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time, all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our hope!
Section 128:15 also says: 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.
He’s quoting the standard KJV of Hebrews 11:40 which says: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
This interestingly was changed in the JST to say: God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings; for without sufferings they could not be made perfect.
Section 128 also says that baptism was modeled after baptism for the dead not the other way around. I think these passages give us a hint of the actual purpose of these ordinances. And I agree with you Chris/Taylor that the Kirtland temple will play an important role hopefully soon.