中英對照/教義和聖約/第128篇​

第一百二十八篇

Section 128

先知約瑟 • 斯密寫給耶穌基督後期聖徒教會的一封書信，包含關於代替死者洗禮的進一步指示，日期是一八四二年九月六日，在伊利諾，納府〔教會史，5:148–153〕。

An epistle from Joseph Smith the Prophet to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, containing further directions on baptism for the dead, dated at Nauvoo, Illinois, 6 September 1842 (see History of the Church, 5:148–53).

1–5，當地的和總紀錄員都必須為代替死者洗禮的事實作證；6–9，他們的紀錄要在地上和天上被約束和記錄；10–14，洗禮池是墳墓的象徵；15–17，以來加復興了有關代替死者洗禮的能力；18–21，過去各福音期的一切權鑰、能力和權柄都已復興；22–25，為活人和死者宣告喜樂而榮耀的信息。

1–5, Local and general recorders must certify to the fact of baptisms for the dead; 6–9, Their records are binding and recorded on earth and in heaven; 10–14, The baptismal font is a similitude of the grave; 15–17, Elijah restored power relative to baptism for the dead; 18–21, All of the keys, powers, and authorities of past dispensations have been restored;22–25, Glad and glorious tidings are acclaimed for the living and the dead.

1 正如我在離開我的住處之前，在信中對你們所說的，我要不時寫信給你們，並給你們關於許多主題的訊息，現在我就回到^ａ代替死者洗禮的主題，因為自我被仇敵追捕起，那主題就似乎佔據了我的意念，也帶給我最強烈的感覺。

1 As I stated to you in my letter before I left my place, that I would write to you from time to time and give you information in relation to many subjects, I now resume the subject of the^abaptism for the dead, as that subject seems to occupy my mind, and press itself upon my feelings the strongest, since I have been pursued by my enemies.

2 有關紀錄員，我曾寫了幾句啟示的話給你們。關於這件事，我有一些附帶的見解，現在就加以証實。那就是，在我上封信中提到要有一位^ａ紀錄員，他應是目擊證人，並要親耳聽到，好使他能在主前為事實作紀錄。

2 I wrote a few words of revelation to you concerning a recorder. I have had a few additional views in relation to this matter, which I now certify. That is, it was declared in my former letter that there should be a ^arecorder, who should be eye-witness, and also to hear with his ears, that he might make a record of a truth before the Lord.

3 那麼，關於這件事，要一個紀錄員在所有的時間都在場並要做所有的事情將會非常困難。為排除這種困難，可在市內每個支會指定一位紀錄員，他要完全合格來作正確的紀錄；他在記下整個程序時，要非常詳盡、精確，在他的紀錄中證明他親眼看見、親耳聽到，註明日期、姓名等等，以及整件事情的經過；如有任何人在場，還要寫下在場的三個人的姓名，在請他們為此事作證時，能隨時作證，憑兩三個人的口作^ａ見證，句句都可定準。

3 Now, in relation to this matter, it would be very difficult for one recorder to be present at all times, and to do all the business. To obviate this difficulty, there can be a recorder appointed in each ward of the city, who is well qualified for taking accurate minutes; and let him be very particular and precise in taking the whole proceedings, certifying in his record that he saw with his eyes, and heard with his ears, giving the date, and names, and so forth, and the history of the whole transaction; naming also some three individuals that are present, if there be any present, who can at any time when called upon certify to the same, that in the mouth of two or three ^awitnesses every word may be established.

4 然後，要有一位總紀錄員，好讓這些其他的紀錄，連同那些附有他們親自簽名，證明他們所作紀錄都是真實的證明文件都能交給他。然後這位教會總紀錄員就可把這紀錄寫在教會的總冊上，附上各證明文件及所有的在場證人，附上他自己的聲明，聲明根據他自己對教會的任命和這些人的一般人格的了解，他確實相信上述聲明和紀錄都是真實的。在教會總冊上完成這個之後，這紀錄就如同他親眼看見，親耳聽到，並在教會總冊上作了一份那教儀一樣神聖的紀錄，而且使那教儀一樣有效。

4 Then, let there be a general ^arecorder, to whom these other records can be handed, being attended with certificates over their own signatures, certifying that the record they have made is true. Then the general church recorder can enter the record on the general church book, with the certificates and all the attending witnesses, with his own statement that he verily believes the above statement and records to be true, from his knowledge of the general character and appointment of those men by the church. And when this is done on the general church book, the record shall be just as holy, and shall answer the ordinance just the same as if he had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears, and made a record of the same on the general church book.

5 你們可能認為做這些事的次序非常詳細，但是讓我告訴你們，藉著遵從主在世界奠基以前，就為了那些沒有^ａ認識福音就死亡的^ｂ死者的救恩，而按立和準備的教儀和預備，這僅是符合神的旨意。

5 You may think this order of things to be very particular; but let me tell you that it is only to answer the will of God, by conforming to the ordinance and preparation that the Lord ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world, for the^asalvation of the dead who should die without a ^bknowledge of the gospel.

6 還有，我希望你們記得，當啟示者約翰宣告以下的話，即你們可在啟示錄二十章十二節的紀錄中找到的話時，他正在沉思這個有關死者的主題──我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在神前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑著這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。

6 And further, I want you to remember that John the Revelator was contemplating this very subject in relation to the dead, when he declared, as you will find recorded in Revelation 20:12—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were^awritten in the books, according to their works.

7 你們會在這段引文裡發現案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是^ａ生命冊；而死了的人都憑著這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判；因此，這裡所提到的案卷，一定是包含他們行為紀錄的案卷，意指在地上保存的^ｂ紀錄。而那本生命冊的案卷就是保存在天上的紀錄；其原則與我在離開我住處之前寫給你們的信中所包含的啟示所命令你們的教義完全一致──即你們所有的紀錄，都能記錄在天上。

7 You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the ^arecords which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the ^bbook of life is the record which is kept in heaven; the principle agreeing precisely with the doctrine which is commanded you in the revelation contained in the letter which I wrote to you previous to my leaving my place—that in all your recordings it may be recorded in heaven.

8 那麼，這教儀的本質就是在於聖職的^ａ能力，藉著耶穌基督的啟示，經由那能力而准許的是，凡你們在地上所^ｂ結合的，在天上也要結合，凡你們在地上所解開的，在天上也要解開。或者，換句話說，用另一觀點來看這譯文，凡你們在地上所記錄的，在天上也要記錄，凡你們不在地上記錄的，在天上也不記錄；因為你們的死者，都憑著這些案卷，照他們自己所行的受審判，無論是他們自己曾親身參與^ｃ教儀，或是按照他們所保存的有關他們的死者的紀錄，按照神在世界奠基以前就為他們的^ｄ救恩預備好的教儀，藉他們自己的代理人代理的方式。

8 Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the ^apower of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you ^bbind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ^cordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead.

9 我們談的，對某些人而言，似乎是非常大膽的教義──一種能在地上記錄或結合也能在天上結合的能力，然而，在這世界的各時代，每當主藉實際的啟示把聖職的^ａ福音期給任何人或任何一群人時，也總是會給這能力。因此，那些人藉著^ｂ權柄，奉主的名，確實而忠信地做的任何事，而且保存了那事的正確而忠實的紀錄，那就成為在地上和天上的一條律法，按照偉大^ｃ耶和華的命令，是不能取消的。這話是可信的，誰能聽呢？

9 It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven. Nevertheless, in all ages of the world, whenever the Lord has given a ^adispensation of the priesthood to any man by actual revelation, or any set of men, this power has always been given. Hence, whatsoever those men did in ^bauthority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great ^cJehovah. This is a faithful saying. Who can hear it?

10 還有，馬太福音十六章十八、十九節可當作前例：我還告訴你，你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石上；地獄之門不能勝過他。我要把天國的鑰匙給你，凡你在地上所結合的，在天上也要結合；凡你在地上所解開的，在天上也要解開。

10 And again, for the precedent, Matthew 16:18, 19: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this ^arock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

11 那麼這整個事件偉大而主要的祕密，這擺在我們面前整個主題的最大好處，就在於獲得神聖聖職的能力。對於那蒙賜這些^ａ權鑰的人，要獲得有關人類兒女、有關死者與活人的^ｂ救恩的各項事實的知識，是沒有困難的。

11 Now the great and grand secret of the whole matter, and thesummum bonum of the whole subject that is lying before us, consists in obtaining the ^apowers of the Holy Priesthood. For him to whom these keys are given there is no difficulty in obtaining a^bknowledge of facts in relation to the ^csalvation of the children of men, both as well for the dead as for the living.

12 這其中有^ａ榮耀和^ｂ榮譽、^ｃ不朽和永生──即藉水的洗禮教儀，^ｄ浸沒在其中，以符合死者的樣式，使一個原則能與另一個原則一致；浸沒在水中，然後從水中出來，就是死者從他們的墳墓中出來復活的樣式；因此，這教儀的制定，就是為了要與代替死者洗禮的教儀形成一種關連，因它有死者的樣式。

12 Herein is ^aglory and honor, and immortality and eternal life—The ordinance of baptism by water, to be ^bimmersed therein in order to answer to the likeness of the dead, that one principle might accord with the other; to be immersed in the water and come forth out of the water is in the likeness of the resurrection of the dead in coming forth out of their graves; hence, this ordinance was instituted to form a relationship with the ordinance of baptism for the dead, being in likeness of the dead.

13 所以，^ａ洗禮池被制定為像墳墓的^ｂ象徵，並被命令要置於活人慣於聚集的地方以下，以顯明活人和死者，使所有的事情都有他們的樣式，使他們彼此一致──使屬土的與屬天的一致，如保羅在哥林多前書十五章四十六、四十七、四十八節所宣告的：

13 Consequently, the ^abaptismal font was instituted as a similitude of the grave, and was commanded to be in a place underneath where the living are wont to assemble, to show forth the living and the dead, and that all things may have their likeness, and that they may accord one with another—that which is earthly conforming to that which is ^bheavenly, as Paul hath declared, 1 Corinthians 15:46, 47, and 48:

14 但屬靈的不在先，屬肉身的在先；以後才有屬靈的。頭一個人是出於地，乃屬土；第二個人是出於天。那屬土的怎樣，凡屬土的也就怎樣；屬天的怎樣，凡屬天的也就怎樣。正如那正確填寫的地上的紀錄與死者有關一樣，天上的紀錄也是如此。所以，這就是^ａ印證和結合的能力，而且，就某方面來說，就是國度的諸^ｂ鑰匙，那是由^ｃ知識的鑰匙組成的。

14 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as are the records on the earth in relation to your dead, which are truly made out, so also are the records in heaven. This, therefore, is the^asealing and binding power, and, in one sense of the word, the^bkeys of the kingdom, which consist in the key of ^cknowledge.

15 那麼，我最親愛的弟兄們和姊妹們，我要向你們保證，這些關乎我們的救恩的有關死者與活人的原則，是不能輕忽過去的。因為他們的^ａ救恩對於我們的救恩是必要而重要的，如保羅所說的關於祖先們的話──他們若沒有我們，就不能成為^ｂ完全──我們若沒有我們的死者，也不能成為完全。

15 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 ^asalvation 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 ^bperfect.

16 那麼，關於代替死者洗禮，我要向你們引用保羅的另一段話，哥林多前書十五章二十九節：不然，那些為死人受洗的，將來怎樣呢？若死人總不復活，因何為他們受洗呢？

16 And now, in relation to the baptism for the dead, I will give you another quotation of Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:29: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?

17 還有，關於這段引文，我要向你們引用一位先知的話，他把他的眼睛專注在聖職的^ａ復興、將在末世顯示的榮耀，和最特別的是屬於永久的福音的一切主題中，這個最榮耀的主題，即代替死者洗禮上；瑪拉基在最後一章，第五和第六節說：看啊，耶和華大而可畏之日未到以前，我必差遣先知^ｂ以來加到你們那裡去。他必使父親的心轉向兒女，兒女的心轉向父親，免得我來咒詛遍地。

17 And again, in connection with this quotation I will give you a quotation from one of the prophets, who had his eye fixed on the^arestoration of the priesthood, the glories to be revealed in the last days, and in an especial manner this most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel, namely, the baptism for the dead; for Malachi says, last chapter, verses 5th and 6th :Behold, I will send you ^bElijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

18 我本可把這段話作^ａ更明白的翻譯，但要達到我的目的，現有的譯文已足夠明白。在此情況下，知道在^ｂ父親與兒女之間，關於某種主題，除非有某種焊接鏈，否則遍地都會遭受咒詛，也就夠了。看啊，那主題是什麼？就是^ｃ代替死者洗禮。因為我們沒有他們，就不能成為完全，他們沒有我們，也不能成為完全。而他們或我們沒有那些死在福音裡的人，也不能成為完全；因為在建立圓滿時代的^ｄ福音期時（這個福音期現在正開始建立），從亞當的時代直到現代的諸福音期，諸權鑰、諸能力、諸榮耀的圓滿、完全而完美的結合與焊接，都必須要發生並被顯示出來。不僅如此，在這個圓滿時代的福音期，凡從世^ｅ界的奠基以來，從未被顯示，而且從聰明通達的人面前一直被隱藏的事，將向^ｆ嬰孩與吃奶的顯示。

18 I might have rendered a ^aplainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a ^bcurseunless there is a welding ^clink of some kind or other between the fathers and the ^dchildren, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the ^ebaptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the ^ffulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the ^gfoundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto ^hbabes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.

19 那麼，我們在我們已接受的福音中聽到什麼？喜樂的聲音！從天上來的慈愛的聲音；出自地下的^ａ真理的聲音；給死者的喜訊；給活人和死者的喜樂的聲音；大喜的^ｂ喜訊。那報好事的喜訊的，和那對錫安說：「看啊，你的神統治了！」那些人的^ｃ腳在山上何等美麗！如同迦密的^ｄ甘露那樣，神的知識也必這樣降臨到他們身上！

19 Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of ^agladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of^btruth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great ^cjoy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the ^dfeet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the ^edews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!

20 還有，我們聽到什麼？來自^ａ克謨拉的喜訊！^ｂ摩羅乃，一位來自天上的天使，宣告先知們的預言應驗──有本^ｃ書要顯示。賽尼卡郡，^ｄ菲也特的曠野中主的聲音，宣告三位證人要為這本書^ｅ作見證！蘇克含納岸邊^ｆ米迦勒的聲音，查出魔鬼正裝作^ｇ光明的天使顯現！曠野中^ｈ彼得、雅各、約翰的聲音，在蘇克含納河上，在蘇克含納郡哈茂耐與布魯郡考斯威爾之間，宣告他們擁有國度和圓滿時代福音期的各^ｉ權鑰！

20 And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from ^aCumorah!^bMoroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the ^cbook to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to ^dbear record of the book! The voice of ^eMichael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the ^fdevil when he appeared as an angel of ^glight! The voice of ^hPeter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the ⁱkeys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!

21 還有，在賽尼卡郡，菲也特，^ａ惠特茂老伯房間內，和在這耶穌基督後期聖徒教會所經歷的一切旅程和苦難中、各時間、各地點的神的聲音！和天使長米迦勒的聲音；^ｂ加百列、^ｃ拉斐爾和各^ｄ天使的聲音，從米迦勒或^ｅ亞當直到現在，每一位都宣告他們的^ｆ福音期、他們的權利、他們的權鑰、他們的榮譽、他們的高貴與榮耀，以及他們聖職的能力；給我們律上加律，^ｇ令上加令；這裡一點、那裡一點；藉著宣布即將來臨的事給我們安慰，證實我們的^ｈ希望！

21 And again, the voice of God in the chamber of old ^aFather 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 ^bGabriel, and of Raphael, and of divers ^cangels, from Michael or ^dAdam down to the present time, all declaring their ^edispensation, their rights, their ^fkeys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, ^gprecept upon precept; here a little, and there a little; giving us consolation by holding forth that which is to come, confirming our ^hhope!

22 弟兄們，我們豈不要為了如此偉大的偉業而繼續？前進不要後退。勇敢吧，弟兄們；向前、向前直到勝利！你們的心要快樂，而且非常喜樂。讓大地突然^ａ歌唱。讓死者向^ｂ以馬內利王高呼永恆讚美的樂章，祂在未有世界以先就已按立那使我們能從^ｃ監獄中^ｄ救贖他們的方法；因為被囚的將被釋放。

22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. ^aCourage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into ^bsinging. Let the ^cdead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the ^dKing Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to ^eredeem them out of their ^fprison; for the prisoners shall go free.

23 讓^ａ群山因喜樂而歡呼，你們各山谷高喊；你們各海洋與陸地述說你們永恆之王的奇妙！你們河流、溪水和細流，喜樂地流吧。讓森林和田野的一切樹木讚美主；你們堅固的^ｂ磐石因喜樂而哭泣！讓太陽、月亮和^ｃ晨星一齊歌唱，讓神所有的兒子因喜樂而歡呼！讓永恆的創造永永遠遠宣告祂的名！還有，我說，我們聽到的從天上來的聲音是多麼榮耀啊！在我們耳中宣講：榮耀、救恩、榮譽、^ｄ不朽、^ｅ永生；國度、公國和能力！

23 Let the ^amountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid ^brocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the ^cmorning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and ^dimmortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!

24 看啊，^ａ主的大日子近了；祂來的日子，誰能^ｂ當得起呢？祂顯現的時候，誰能立得住呢？因為祂如^ｃ煉金之人的火，如漂布之人的鹼；祂必坐下如^ｄ煉淨銀子的，必潔淨^ｅ利未人的子孫，熬煉他們像金銀一樣，使他們能在正義中向主獻^ｆ祭。所以，身為一個教會、一群人民，以及身為後期聖徒，我們要在正義中向主獻祭；當聖殿完成時，我們要在祂神聖的殿中，呈上一本包含我們死者的^ｇ紀錄的案卷，那將是配得一切悅納的案卷。

24 Behold, the great ^aday of the Lord is at hand; and who can^babide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a ^crefiner’s ^dfire, and like fuller’s soap; and he shall sit as a ^erefiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of ^fLevi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an ^goffering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the ^hrecords of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.

25 弟兄們，關於這個主題，我有許多事要告訴你們；但目前這時候要結束了，下次再繼續這個主題。我永遠都是你們謙卑的僕人、永不離異的朋友，

25 Brethren, I have many things to say to you on the subject; but shall now close for the present, and continue the subject another time. I am, as ever, your humble servant and never deviating friend,

約瑟 • 斯密。

Joseph Smith.