God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. (St. Augustine)
I’ve always found it significant that we do vicarious baptisms for the dead one at a time. It would be so much more efficient if we could baptize dead people en masse, if we could perform all of the temple ordinances in bulk.
But we can’t.
Instead, we must patiently seek to identify each individual and then perform every ordinance separately for him or her.
Every person — every man, woman, and child who has ever lived — is of infinite worth to God. We aren’t mere numbers, even though there are vast numbers of us.
10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
(Doctrine and Covenants 18)
Posted from Rexburg, Idaho
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