From Richard: A person in my study group is having a little problem wrapping their mind around the term “proxy saviors.” It does appear to be a unique term as I’m not really able to find that exact term elsewhere. I realize that spiritual salvation is only from Jehovah or the Lord. So, does the term “proxy salvation” only refer to temporal salvation under the terms of the Davidic Covenant? Would the kings and queens of the Gentiles be considered proxy saviors? I would appreciate any clarification.
Answer: I refer you to chapters 4-6 of the book, Endtime Prophecy: A Judeo-Mormon Analysis, which explain the role of proxy saviors that is based on the terms of the Davidic Covenant. Under the Davidic Covenant, all proxy saviors fulfill their role of saviors of men—Jesus in a spiritual sense, and God’s servants in a temporal sense. It is in serving as proxy saviors of others that Latter-day Saints live the fulness of the gospel, as without this they are not living the fulness of the gospel but perhaps only its basic principles.
The role of proxy savior in a temporal sense is exemplified by King Hezekiah in the Book of Isaiah and by servants of God in the Book of Mormon through whom God’s people were delivered in different instances. We thus read in Doctrine & Covenants 103:9-10, “They [Latter-day Saints] were set to be a light unto the world and to be saviors of men. And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.”
In an endtime context, certain descendants of Ephraim who have come through the Gentiles lineages, and who are identified in the Book of Mormon as “the Gentiles” (cf. Doctrine & Covenants 109:60), assume Ephraim’s birthright role as proxy saviors to the house of Israel—the Jews, Ten Tribes, and Lamanites. By serving as spiritual kings and queens under the terms of the Davidic Covenant, they restore them to God’s covenant and deliver them to lands of inheritance as Isaiah and Book of Mormon prophets predict.
Over the years, several priesthood holders, including my husband, a bishop, a temple ordinance worker, and several other strong Latter-day Saint brothers have stood as proxy saviors for me at different times. The power of the Spirit has been all consuming. The Spirit has whispered the words to me “proxy savior” and reminded me that I have also been a proxy savior for many others as I have done family history research and ordinance work for many over the years. Different men were raised up to represent aspects of the Order of Melchizedek, the holy priesthood of God, the Order of Enoch and of Zion. These experiences, one by one, are what are called the mysteries of godliness and not to be written about in detail. But the sum total was the personal revelation of Jesus Christ to me in absolutely pure heart, mind, strength and might. The result of this POWER in the Spirit that descended and abode upon me was that I was able to reach out to others and radiate “this love” – the love spoken of in Moroni 7:48. “This love” is absolutely a gift of the spirit and comes from beyond ourselves. We must have and maintain a broken heart and a contrite spirit for “this love” to remain. Never does a person so endowed believe this power is of oneself. You absolutely know it is a gift from heaven and is the true, pure charity of Zion. I was totally changed. All fears fled. Purer revelation became my walk and way of life. The need for silence was revealed to me as a very precious, important gift! The gift of silence and of divine love.