When Richard Dawkins is Baptized

I look forward to the day, which is nigh at hand, when Richard Dawkins (prophet of the atheist religion and promoter of false scientific theories) will pass on from his mortal probation to the world of spirits where he will learn that he has wasted his life preaching the vain and foolish doctrines of men. 

Can you imagine the shock he will have when he realizes that death is simply the separation of the body and his eternal spirit and that he is still alive! 

The anguish that will fill his soul when he realizes how many he has led astray will likely be immense and yet even though I have been called and chosen as one of the Lords’s anointed it is not my position to judge his fate.  In fact as members of the one true Church it is our responsibility to ensure that salvation is made available unto him.  In the spirit world he will have the opportunity to hear and accept the simple truths of the gospel and here on earth we will ensure that work is done in our holy temples for the salvation of his soul. 

From the Gospel Principles manual we learn that “For those who died without baptism or the temple ordinances, the Lord has provided a way for this to happen. He has asked us to perform ordinances for our ancestors in the temples.”  This practice of redeeming the dead is one of the three great missions and responsibilities of our Church. 

Thus one year from the day of his death (after Richard has had time to ponder and no doubt accept the joyful message of the gospel) I will personally work with his LDS relatives and see to it that a worthy Church member will stand as proxy in his behalf to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Brother Dawkins will be happy to learn (if he reads this blog) that loving members of the Church will then ordain him to the priesthood.  I’m sure that never in his wildest dreams did Richard imagine he would one day achieve the status of being a priest unto the most high God.  

I should pause here to point out that this work is done for all mankind without regard for race, religion or earthly deeds.  Thus some time after his ordination to the priesthood as has been done for millions before him (including prominent historical figures such as past Popes and Adolf Hitler), Dawkins will follow in their footsteps by being washed, anointed and blessed that through his faithfulness he may become clean from the blood and sins of this generation.

Dawkins will be clothed in the holy undergarments of the priesthood and will then go on to receive his endowment ceremony where with a physical relative standing in his place he will take upon himself sacred temple covenants to obey the law of the gospel. 

Brother Dawkins if you are reading this I want to assure you that in the temple you will (as per *lds.org) “receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the keywords, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.”

Similar work will be completed for Brother Dawkins’ current and ex wives and his work will culminate in a ceremony in which he will be sealed to each one of them for eternity such that together they may enjoy eternal bliss.

Satan fights against the work of the Lord and stirs people up to the point where there are certain individuals and groups who attempt to oppose and thwart the work of the Lord claiming that they and their ancestors should be exempt from being baptized as Mormons.  I applaud the efforts of the public relations arm of the Church in dealing with these groups and the general public.  As Church members though we know that we must press forward in our sacred cause of redeeming the dead.   Our current manuals which are available for all to see on the official website of the Church proudly quote Boyd K. Packer’s words from General Conference which state that **“we are obligated to provide these ordinances vicariously for our kindred dead, indeed for the whole human family.” Note that he did not say nor do we teach our members that we are obligated to provide these ordinances vicariously for the whole human family, except for those who do not understand the importance of the work being performed!

In order to accomplish this essential work for the dead we are building temples at an ever increasing rate in locations all over the world.  Will there be opposition to the work? Of Course! But as a Stake President I want to assure you that no unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing; persecutions may rage, protesters may combine, calumny may defame, but baptisms for the dead will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

These thoughts I leave with you in the sacred and holy name of Him unto whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, even Jesus the Christ, amen.

* http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/come-to-the-house-of-the-lord?lang=eng

**http://www.lds.org/manual/duties-and-blessings-of-the-priesthood-basic-manual-for-priesthood-holders-part-b/lesson-8-our-temple-and-family-history-responsibilities?lang=eng

**http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/04/covenants?lang=eng