Mormons have a bizarre ritual where they babtise people after they are deceased, would you want this done 2U?

Question

They babtised the holocaust victims (the Jews aren't too happy about that), Hitler and Stalin as well.

Answer 1

I think it's an awful practice, a complete insult to the deceased's religion. I absolutely would not want it to happen to me. My parents had me baptized once, I don't need their religion, mom gave me one of mine own.

Answer 2

Mormons believe that the only baptism that God will accept is one done by his priesthood authority, and that the Mormon church is the only church that has that authority. Mormons believe that all men should have the chance to accept the Gospel of Christ (Mormonism) and recieve baptism. They believe that after this life we go to a spirit world where we await resurrection and final judgement. In this spirit world, those who have not had the chance to accept or reject the gospel will have the chance to hear it there and decide whether or not you accept it.

If someone there accepts it then they need to be baptized. Since they are now a spirit then they cannot do it for themselves. That is why Mormons perform these baptisms on behalf of the deceased. It does not mean that we are forcing the dead to accept our beliefs or baptism, it is merely giving them the opportunity to accept it if they want it.

To you specifically I would say "when you go to the spirit world after you die, and you are taught the gospel (Mormonism) and you are asked if you accept it and want to accept the baptism that was done for you, then say 'no'. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to. We believe that God wants us to perform this for all mankind, so that ALL can have the opportunity to choose for themselves. But you don't have to accept it if you don't want to."

As far as holocaust victims being baptized:
The leaders of the Church made an agreement with Jewish leaders that no holocaust victims would be baptized, but apparently some members of the Church did it anyway. Whether it was done intentionally or not, is unclear. The Church is continuing talks with Jewish leaders about the appropriate course of action. You need to try to understand, thousands of baptisms for the dead are done daily, millions done every year. To check each one of those millions to see if they are Jewish is an impossible task.

The church is also developing database management to stop the same person from being baptized repeatedly (how many John Smith's were born in New York city in 1886, and how do you tell them apart with the limited historical information that we have?).

As for Hitler and Staling being baptized:
While it is pretty obvious that such tyrannical mass murderers likely won't accept the gospel, God did not tell us "just baptize those you think might accept the gospel". He told us to do it for EVERYONE. It is not our place to judge.

Answer 3

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding on this issue.

First off, baptism is not a first-class ticket to heaven. If you are not truly penitent, the full cleansing powers of baptism do not take affect. You are not instantly saved when you are baptized.

Baptism is a necessary ordinance for entrance into the kingdom of heaven if you have lived to the age that you are capable of understanding sin. We do not do proxy baptisms for those who died under the age of eight. Since not everyone has had opportunity to be baptized in this life, the ordinance is performed for the decease, and they have a CHOICE whether to accept it or not. Their free will is not taken.

Answer 4

They did for awhile in my family and we are Catholic and this was because we did not want our dead babies to end up in Limbo, but this was done away with after the 1960's because people began to realized that children are innocent and they cannot go to Limbo, since they have done nothing wrong. They are helpless. Mormons are way behind and do the things they do because their founder told them so and these so-called "Tablets" that they have received told them so, but here is my question? IHow come no one has seen these tablets and why did God take them back? Also did the Mormons not practice Polygamy for the longest time? This religion sounds just as flawed as the rest of the religions I see in this world.

Answer 5

By order of the prophet we ban that boogie sound. Degenerate the faithful with that crazy Casbah sound, but the Bedouin they brought out the electric kettle drum the local guitar picker got his guitar picking thumb. As soon as the sherif had cleared the square, they began to wail. The shareef don't like it, Rockin' the Casbah

Answer 6

Actually it is supported by the bible: 1 Cor. 15:29

Baptism for the dead is the proxy performance of the ordinance of baptism for one deceased. Joseph Smith taught, "If we can baptize a man in the name of the Father [and] of the Son and of the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins it is just as much our privilege to act as an agent and be baptized for the remission of sins for and in behalf of our dead kindred who have not heard the gospel or fulness of it" (Kenney, p. 165).

The first public affirmation of the ordinance of baptism for the dead in the Church was Joseph Smith's funeral sermon for Seymour Brunson in Nauvoo in August 1840. Addressing a widow who had lost a son who had not been baptized, he called the principle "glad tidings of great joy," in contrast to the prevailing tradition that all unbaptized are damned. The first baptisms for the dead in modern times were done in the Mississippi River near Nauvoo.

Revelations clarifying the doctrine and practice have been given from time to time:

1. This was a New Testament practice (1 Cor. 15:29; cf. D&C 128; see Baptism for the Dead: Ancient Sources).

2. The ministry of Christ in the spirit world was for the benefit of those who had died without hearing the gospel or the fulness of it (1 Pet. 4:6; see Salvation for the Dead).

3. Such baptisms are to be performed in temple fonts dedicated to the purpose (TPJS, p. 308; cf. D&C 124:29-35). In November 1841 the font in the unfinished Nauvoo Temple was so dedicated.

4. The language of the baptismal prayer is the same as for the living, with the addition of "for and in behalf of" the deceased.

5. Witnesses are to be present for proxy baptisms and a record is to be kept in Church archives (D&C 128:3, 8).

6. Women are to be baptized for women and men for men.

7. Not only baptism but confirmation and the higher temple ordinances may also be performed by proxy (TPJS, pp. 362-63).

8. The law of agency is inviolate in this world and the world to come. Thus, those served by proxy have the right to accept or reject the ordinances.

In the early years of the Church, proxy baptisms were performed only for direct blood ancestors, usually no more than four generations back. Today, Latter-day Saints are baptized not only for their own forebears but also for other persons, unrelated to them, identified through the name extraction program. The practice reflects the yearning of children for their parents and of parents for their children, and charitable feelings for others as well, that they receive the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In LDS perspective, whatever else one may do to mourn, give honorable burial to, cherish, or memorialize the dead, this divinely authorized ordinance of baptism is a demonstration of love and has eternal implications.

Answer 7

Were there even mormons in Russia to baptize Stalin? Or Europe??

Answer 8

They claim this is supported by the bible.

I guess it's true -- the bible has a justification for practically everything, if you dig deep enough for it and ignore everything else to the contrary.

Answer 9

Seems kind of silly, but no sillier than baptising babies. If you really believe in special water, it shouldn't matter whether it's dripped on a living or dead person.

Answer 10

Like, why have free will and choose how to live your life (good or bad) if they can merely bail you out after you're dead??? Makes no sense.