Post-Mortal Repentance

Now that I've gotten this week's quizzes and exams out of the way, I can focus my thoughts on the Primary lesson I'm going to be teaching this next Sunday. The lesson will be on baptisms for the dead, and it involves the belief that people can learn and accept the gospel, change their lives, repent, be baptised, and receive all of the other ordinances as well, all after that person has died.

This is, in my opinion, one of the most important beliefs in Christendom. It means that those who had previously rejected that gospel, or who had never had a chance to accept it, would be given a(nother) chance. It means that the billions of people who never became members of Christ's church wouldn't just be automatically consigned to hell. It means that there is hope and a future for everyone, even those who had never heard of Jesus Christ or who had acted as though they never had. Post-mortal repentance is one of the most hopeful doctrines I've ever heard.

Of course, post-mortal repentance has its limitations. Those who procrastinate repentance until after their deaths, hoping to "live it up" while alive and still reap eternal rewards, may find that the repentance process is more difficult than they anticipate. And the sacred, saving, essential ordinances still need to be performed, even if only vicariously - hence the need for baptisms for the dead. But it is comforting to know that, even if it's difficult, and even if there are still a few hoops to jump through, it is possible for a person to repent and be redeemed, even after they've died. Deathbed repentance still isn't a good plan, but it's nice to know that God has a plan that goes even beyond that point, a point that many consider to be a point of no return.

The God we worship is a God of second chances, and third chances, and basically as many chances as He can justify giving us. Even if a person spent their entire life acting wickedly, God wants to give that person, and everyone else who ever lived, one last opportunity to repent. I expect that there will be many atheists who will be surprised and converted after their deaths, and many others who subscribe to different beliefs may become converted as well, and God has room in His kingdom for all of them as well as for all of us. God wants everyone to have the opportunity to live a celestial life, and I am so grateful that He keeps extending us those opportunities, even after death.