Why don't Mormons realize that baptizing for the dead is dead works?

Question

Jesus isn't going to give any reward for that.

Do you realize that rewards given to those redeemed by the blood of the lamb are works rooted in His Truth/Word & faith, hope & love?

The bible has a verse that ?s why some people who didn't believe in the resurrection baptized for the dead. Jesus Christ never taught baptizm for the dead, nor the OT or the NT early church. So, it is dead works.
It was a cult practice of those who didn't believe in the resurrection.

Answer 1

YOu have to understand that babtism for the dead is in the scriptures, but no one really understands what Paul is talking about when he says "Babtism for the dead" so the Mormons just think they know, they perform marriages and seal Children and perform Babtisms in the temple of dead people. They even get old parish records from other churches because they think they can get everyoen who is dead to still become a Mormon even after death. They have done this for all the dead presidents and said they showed up in the temple, as ghosts and thanked them. I believe that ghosts are demons, so anyghosts that show up in temple are demons.

Answer 2

Tamil, you seem to be sharing a lot of personal beliefs as authoritative fact. When you say, "Jesus never taught..." well, quite frankly, how do you know? Did you happen to be in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago and witness all of Jesus' teachings? Hmmmm.

What? Oh..., you mean the Bible doesn't teach this topic as clearly as you'd like? Ah, and you thought the Bible contains everything Jesus ever said or did. That's interesting. Why would you think that? I seem to recall a verse that states,

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21:25)

So were all of Jesus' teachings recorded in YOUR Bible? I think not.

Regardless of whether or not the early followers of Christ practiced vicarious baptisms - Paul seems to suggest they did (1 Cor 15) - you should try to avoid making opinionated claims as facts.

And... if you do try to argue with Mormons about their beliefs, keep in mind that they accept the Bible for what it is - a Testament of Jesus Christ; but they also believe in other scripture in addition to the Bible. Its like you holding a less than full deck of cards in your own hand and then complaining when someone lays down a card you don't have. Rather than focusing on "Hey, I don't have that - or - "I've never seen that before," you might want to ask the Mormons, "So where did you get that?" and then - if interested - listen. Who knows, you might even learn something.

Answer 3

We aren't baptizing the dead for our OWN salvation, we aren't expecting some reward for whoever does the most proxy baptisms...we do them to redeem the dead. We believe all must have the opportunity to either accept or reject the gospel AND the saving ordinances...we believe those who have passed on can still have a chance to accept it, that is why we perform by proxy their ordinances. It is then their choice whether or not to accept them.
The scripture I think you are referring to - "why do ye baptize the dead for the dead rise not at all"...
In that chapter, we learn WHY we do baptisms, besides the fact that we are commanded to...

In John 5:25
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Those that "hear" are those who accept of the fulness of the gospel and all the principles. One of the first principles of the gospel is being baptized, by the right authority.
We know that Christ preached to those souls who had passed on who were waiting in spirit prison and some probably accepted the gospel and some didn't. Now, since they were in spirit, separated from their body, how would they be baptized - that is the very reason we do the ordinances for them here.
Saying that the "dead" not need to be baptized also suggests that they will not "rise"...and if they do not rise, then Christ is not risen, which we know he is...so that must mean all of mankind will "rise" otherwise Christ is not risen and there is no gospel.

Answer 4

We have our faith and beliefs, you have yours - lets just live and let live okay?

We don't expect any reward for performing vicarious baptisms, it's considered an act of service for others. It gives people who never got a chance to be baptized in this life a chance to accept or refuse it in the after-life (it's still their personal choice).

Out of respectful curiosity, how does your religion interpret this verse:

1 Corinthians 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized bfor the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

What was going on here?

Answer 5

You seem to be asking a lot of questions about Mormons, have you tried asking their leaders about it? They would probably have more answers than most of the people on Yahoo answers. I've lived in the LDS church my whole life, and I still can't really answer some of your questions. If you really want to find out the answers to some of these questions, try asking some of the people who will know, not random people on the Internet. Go to www.mormon.org if you want to find some answers.

Answer 6

Uh, why don't we start with Jesus being the one true Lord and Savior? That's more important than baptism. First things first.

Answer 7

They would have to keep honest books then about who joined their beliefs, silly. And to the individual who makes Jesus the important one, he is important only in that we follow him and his messages.

Answer 8

Please read 1 Cor. 15:29 regarding baptizing for the dead. (10 points)?

Answer 9

What is your issue with Mormons? Not like their beliefs are any more out there than yours...

Answer 10

why do you think their religion is wrong.... your religion doesn't have any evidence besides a book either