Why Do Vicarious Work?

About a month ago I was asked by a lady to type out why we do temple work in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was kind of intrigued by the request and wrote this in about 20 minutes.  I gave it to her and haven't given in a second thought.  I want to post it for for anyone who wonders the same thing.  It also contains my testimony of the work and a little doctrine behind it.  This is just my own take on it so take it for what it's worth, not as an official declaration.

(Originally written) 6-18-11

Elder Brady Anderson

To whom it may concern:

I want to explain to you the basic need and reason for vicarious work done in temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  To comprehend it you must understand the eternal potential for the children of god, the Atonement of Christ and the ordinances necessary to partake fully in it, and the way established using the Priesthood authority of god to do these ordinances for both living and deceased persons. 

            God set up a plan for us before the foundation of the world in which we could come to earth, obtain a body, live and be tested, and come back to live with Him again.  If we follow the plan, we will come to recognize Jesus Christ as our savior and follow his teachings.  If we do this, we can return to live with God, have the full happiness promised, and live forever with our perfected body and with our families.  This is why we came to this earth.  We need a body and a knowledge of good vs. evil to fully understand and enjoy returning home to God.

            Christ’s atonement is essential to this plan.  Because He suffered for our sins, we can repent and be made clean, which is vital to entering into God’s kingdom; Because He died for us, the price has been paid to meet the justice of God; And because He rose the third day, we also will have our body’s reunited with our spirit and have the blessing of being judged.  There are three kingdoms of glory we can earn based on what we did in this life.  The kingdom we reach is determined at judgment.  To attain the highest kingdom, which is truly returning home, we must follow All of Christ’s teachings.  Those include faith in Christ, repentance, baptism by priesthood authority, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  All who do this will return home!  This is what God wants for every one of His children.

            To accomplish this plan God has continuously called a prophet and given him the Priesthood authority.  This authority is what allows a mortal man to officiate in an ordinance, or act, that is recognized on earth and in heaven.  These ordinances must occur on earth, in mortality, since a body is required for the ordinances to happen.  Those who die before they have the opportunity to do these things have not lost their chance to return home.  Because God wants every one of his children to return home, he has established temples, which are the only places on earth ordinances for the deceased can be done.  A man holding the Priesthood, and a person standing to represent the deceased person, do the ordinance here on earth.  The person who the ordinance is done for has the opportunity after this life to accept the ordinance and still return home to God.  This is what God wants, and this is why we do Temple Work.

            I know that this is the only way to return home to live with God.  I know that he loves us and has given every one of us the opportunity and way to make this possible.  I know that the Priesthood Authority is real and is on the earth today.  I know that those passed on are waiting for us to do their work in temples of God.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.