bondage of sin
Warning! This can be an emotionally charged subject. We all know people who are kind and good, yet still fall under the Lord’s definition of being under the bondage of sin. Let’s see if we can think this through.

Perspective

In Doctrine and Covenants 84, Jesus tells us the following:

49 And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin.

The “whole world”? That is a very broad and inclusive term to use. Aren’t there a lot of good people in the world? Aren’t there many out there who are being kind to others, reading their scriptures, going to church, supporting good causes, and loving their family? How are these people being included in the definition of being “under the bondage of sin”?

The Lord’s definition of the righteous and the wicked appears to be far less complicated than any definition we might come up with. We would want to find a way to include those who are trying to do good, but who are without the gospel and priesthood of God. This would include many religions, many Christian denominations, and even many non-religious people. But Christ’s definition is pretty simple. ‘If you are not a covenant maker – if you haven’t come to me through baptism by my authorized servants, you are one of the wicked who are laboring under the bondage of sin.’ Here are verses 50-53 of Doctrine and Covenants 84.

50 And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me.

51 For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin.

52 And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.

53 And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.

In earlier verses the Lord stated the definition of the righteous.

47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

48 And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world.

So by the Lord’s own definition, he considers only those to be righteous who “hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit,” for those who do listen to the voice of the Spirit come to Christ. And when they do, “the Father teacheth him of the covenant.” And at the time this revelation was given the only covenant they had received was that of baptism by proper priesthood authority.

How this fits in the plan

This doctrine that those who make covenants with God are righteous, and those who do not make covenants are not righteous, can be difficult to accept by today’s worldly standards of behavior. In Joseph Smith’s day, such beliefs were common. Almost all Christian churches taught that if you weren’t a Christian you would be damned. That was a very common idea. Today, people tend to be so obsessed with inclusion and tolerance that such notions as this doctrine can cause some emotional chafing until it is thought through and considered for a while.

Here are some scriptures that support this doctrine that only those who come to Christ through baptism can be considered righteous, and hence be saved.

Romans 6:11,23

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 3:14

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Reminder: the blessing of Abraham is the covenant of exaltation and eternal life.

Acts 15:11

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Helaman 5:9

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

There are many more of these scriptures found throughout the Standard Works. All of them convey the same message, that salvation comes only in and through Jesus Christ. It makes sense that if salvation comes ONLY through Jesus Christ and the gospel he has given us to live by then those who choose not to believe in it or who, for whatever reason, reject it, also reject that salvation which he offers them. This explains the doctrine given in verses 74 and 75 of Doctrine and Covenants 84.

74 Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am.

75 And this revelation unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the world, and the gospel is unto all who have not received it.

Spirit prison

I taught the Gospel Principles class for many years, and was surprised the first time I realized that the manual was stating that all those who reject the gospel message will suffer hell in the spirit world. This quote is found at the end of lesson 41.

The Apostle Peter referred to the postmortal spirit world as a prison, which it is for some (see 1 Peter 3:18–20). In the spirit prison are the spirits of those who have not yet received the gospel of Jesus Christ. These spirits have agency and may be enticed by both good and evil. If they accept the gospel and the ordinances performed for them in the temples, they may leave the spirit prison and dwell in paradise.

Also in the spirit prison are those who rejected the gospel after it was preached to them either on earth or in the spirit prison. These spirits suffer in a condition known as hell. They have removed themselves from the mercy of Jesus Christ, who said, “Behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:16–18). After suffering for their sins, they will be allowed, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, to inherit the lowest degree of glory, which is the telestial kingdom.

This is just another example where those who reject the covenant of baptism are referred to as the wicked. It makes sense that if we reject the very covenant that permits spiritual progress through repentance that we would be, by default, living contrary to the laws of God. Those who listen to the Spirit and come unto God live by His laws.

Personal note: To be fair to all, I know that in his book, Doctrines of Salvation, Joseph Fielding Smith taught that those who keep their covenants and lose a child to sin will be able to lay claim upon them in the next life. How the manual quoted above squares with this teaching of President Smith I cannot say. I have never heard anyone address this apparent difference in perspective. This issue personally affects our family, so we choose to trust that the Lord will be loving and fair to all. We will just put our hope in Christ that somehow our children can be reclaimed from the damaging choices they made in this life.

Final Thoughts

It is important to note here that the definition of who is righteous and who is wicked, or who has grace offered to them and who is laboring under the bondage of sin, has no effect on God’s love for all His children. He loves us all. But no amount of His love for us, or suffering done by Christ can change the requirements of the plan of salvation. In order to be saved we must listen to the Spirit and be baptized by one of Christ’s authorized servants. We then must live a life of obedience to his commandments. That is the only way to escape from laboring under the bondage of sin.

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Lords definition of the bondage of sin