“[Joseph] went on to say that people could now act for their friends who had departed this life, and that the plan of salvation was calculated to save all who were willing to obey the requirements of the law of God.” — Simon Baker¹

In the summer of 1840, during a funeral for Seymour Brunson, Joseph Smith introduced the doctrine of baptism for the dead, offering comfort to grieving families like that of Jane Neyman, whose son Cyrus had died unbaptized.^2,3 Joseph cited 1 Corinthians 15:29 as evidence that living individuals could be baptized vicariously for deceased loved ones, extending the benefits of baptism to them.^1,4 This doctrine emphasized God's desire to save all willing souls, even those who had not known the gospel in life.⁵ Shortly after this teaching, Jane Neyman was baptized for her son Cyrus in the Mississippi River, marking the first recorded instance of this ordinance.^2,3 It would eventually be revealed that proxies needed to be of the same gender as the deceased person.² Joseph Smith gave lengthy instructions about baptisms for the dead in a letter to the Church that is now Doctrine and Covenants 128.⁴

1. Simon Baker, “15 Aug. 1840 Minutes of Recollection of Joseph Smith’s Sermon”

2. “Baptism for the Dead,” churchofjesuschrist.org

3. Jane Neyman statements, 1854 November 29, catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org

4. Doctrine and Covenants 128

5. Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 35, 421-422