Why do Mormons baptize themselves for the dead?

Question

In the bible it says that God is a God of the living not of the dead. It also says "Why do you baptize yourselfs for the dead when it is of naught?".
I don't believe in The Book of Mormon, but I do believe in the Bible, Mormons beleive in the bible too, don't they?

Answer 1

Mormons believe in the Bible - as far as it is translated. The verses they see for this are in 1 cor 15. I am not a Mormon, so thus far I am parrotting back what they say.

It seems that you have read the passage in context and seen Paul's argument that if Christ didn't rise from the dead, that all of us are baptized in vain.

The Bible is of course correctly translated and there are no problems like that. Manuscript evidence shows that the original Greek text can be ascertained what is in it.
The reason that Mormons favor Baptism for the dead is they teach that there was no salvation from about 60AD until 1830AD. That meant that Jesus saying the gates of Hell DID prevail against the church. The vicarious baptism was set forth as an option to counteract this idea.

Answer 2

Yes we believe in the Bible, and we use the King James Version - I'm not sure what version of the Bible you're using, so the obvious answer is probably in the differences of the verse you're quoting. It looks what you quoted comes from 1 Corinthians 15:29, which in the King James Version says:

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

The KJV gives this verse a very different meaning from what you quoted. Paul was actually using the practice of baptism for the dead as a solid argument for the resurrection. It was something Christians practiced and understood back then - they clearly understood it even better than the resurrection for Paul to use it as a basis of his argument.

I hope that helps.

Answer 3

You have misinterpret what Jesus Christ said.
Jesus Christ is teaching the people about resurrection, that all men will be resurrected, obviously he is a God of living souls and not dead people.

31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
(New Testament | Matthew 22:31 - 32)

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.
(New Testament | John 5:25)

And since all men need to be baptized to enter into the kingdom of God:-

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
(New Testament | John 3:5)

What of those who died without baptism??? Don't they get a fair chance to Heaven????

This leads to what Paul said:-

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


If you believe in resurrection of man,as taught by Jesus Christ, then you will know that Paul is saying, we baptized for the dead, because the dead will be resurrected.

Answer 4

As former Mormon I went to temple twice to do baptize for the dead its weird experience. I don't believe this is right. The Bible doesn't teach this.
Paul asking why do you baptized for dead. The bible is against this practice. He talking to people who doing this practice in the new testament. Which wrong in the eyes of god.

Answer 5

well they believe that in the next life those who were not members of the mormon church have the option of becoming members if people here on earth go thru the ceremony for them. Then in the afterlife they have the choice then to accept the "membership" that was gained for them by the living person being baptized on their behalf

Answer 6

Mormons believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are. . .
1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
2. Repentance
3. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins
4. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Mormons believe that all people whether living or dead will have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as theri savior or not. They do baptism for the dead by proxy, because they believe that there are people in the spirit world who have accepted the gospel, and are waiting for someone to do their ordinances for them, because baptism has to be done in the flesh.

Answer 7

If you read 1Corinthians, you see that Paul was speaking to people who didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead. What he actually said was Why are you baptised for the dead, IF THE DEAD DO NOT RISE?

Answer 8

because the dead cant do it for themselves so we do it for them. in heaven, after we've been baptised for them, they have the opportunity to choose whether or not they will accept it. yes we believe in the bible, but its the king james version. and i dont even know what that means. NE mormons know why its called the king james version? all i know is it hasnt been made so you can read it easier.