I'm Christian-My Friend is Mormon-My 13 yr old daughter died. My friend Want to "Baptize my dead Daughter".

Question

MORE INFO: My daughter 13 year old daughter died 1 year ago. My friend loved my daughter like her own daughter. She knew her for 10 years. They were very close. I'm a non-denominational Christian. My friend asked me if she could have my daughter Baptized. In a Mormon ritual called "Baptiziam for the Dead" I was very uncomfortable with this. I told her I would get back to her on this after I did some reserach on this. I found out this is not from the Bible, rather it comes from LDS - Modern Revelation which I assume is the book of Mormon. I'm confused what to do since my friend really means well & feels she is helping get my daughter a good place in heaven. But in my beliefs I know my daughter is already in heaven. I'm worried if I let her do it - it's sacraligious and I'm giving permission before GOD to do this to my daughter's soul. I want my friend to have comfort but not at a PRICE. I need advice from anyone who would be versed on these issues.

Answer 1

You can't baptize someone when they are dead...baptism is a choice for the living to make...the dead can't make it...and your friend can't make it for the dead either...it is too late for that...besides if you know shes already there, what is the point?

Tell your mormon friend to go and suck an egg for the dead as it will have about the same effect...

Answer 2

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Here is an explanation of the belief and where it comes from. This has a mentioned in the bible, but it is not a bibllical or christian teaching. The verse comes 1 Corinthians 15:29 which says "else what shall they do which are baptised for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptised for the dead?" The subject of this passage is ressurection not baptism. The whole of 1 COrinthian 15 gives a picture of christs resurrection and of our own ressurection, if we are christians. Paul is answering many questions about the ressurection. He says even those pagans who baptise for their dead, do so because they believe there is a ressurection of the dead. He mentions THEY (Sorry to use capitals but I dont have italics) His comments do not identify himself or any other christians with those who baptise for the dead. He is simply acknowledging that even pagans believe the dead will be ressurected. THere were two groups at pauls time that baptised for the cerinthians (not corinthians) and the marcionites. Christians did not and do not now baptise for the dead.The comment is a single reference which was used by Joseph smith to justify the baptism of the dead. Paul was making an illustration. It does not say that baptism of the dead helps them be saved or helped. The Bible makes it quite clear there is no chance to be saved after death. I hope this helps with some understanding about the issues. You could use this info as an explanation of our christian understanding of this teaching or passage.

Answer 3

As you can tell already there are some real ignorant, anti-religious views attacking the mormon church and the faiths therein.

As pointed out already, your daughter would have the choice to accept the baptism. There is nothing devilish about it. I've participated in many Baptisms for the Dead and had wonderful spiritual feelings from the experience.

As a side note, those who are not of the LDS (mormon) faith don't understand the doctrines of the church. Just like you wouldn't consider what a Ford dealer tells you about a chevy, don't listen to what ignorant people have to say about a religion. Only you can decide for yourself, but do so through prayer and study. You can ask your friend to tell you more about the ordinance or to have one of the church's ministers teach you more.

Good luck, and our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit loves you and your daughter.

Answer 4

1.Man must be baptized by his own faith and volition. Romans 6:3-4, 17-18; Acts 2:37-38
2. A man is "dead in sin" before he is baptized, hence is baptized for the old dead self. 1 Cor 15:29
Responsible only for deeds done in own body. 2 Cor 5:10
3. There is no secornd chance after death. Luke 16:19-31; Acts 17:31

Sorry for your loss but these are some scriptures that contradicts the belief of the mormons. Hope this helps. Tell your friend you appreciate all she is trying to do but you do not feel comfortable with what she is offering.

Answer 5

Well, she is you daughter and you have a choice whether or not that your child will get baptized or not and no it is not for the remains or anything like that but if you say yes your friend can get baptized for her and if you want to look into it why not look into the mormon religion and then tsee what you think. I promise you if you do some research or something than you would understand it alot more!!!

Answer 6

If you don't feel comfortable, then tell her. I'm LDS, and although to me, it would be a comfort to have someone ask this, to others outside the church, it can seem weird or wrong. Some of the answers on here have been very rude, and very non-understanding about this. To us, it is special. It is something that is held with great reverence and respect. Their names aren't added to the church's records. It is just marked as a baptism in the temple, nothing more.

I am terribly sorry for your loss, and I know she is with Christ in heaven. It doesn't matter what you decide. Your friend was just trying to show you respect and show your daughter love and gratitude. Just take what she asked as a gift, but let her know that you aren't comfortable with it. Maybe ask some questions about it, what it means, why she feels the need to do this. Maybe her explination will help you to understand.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss. Loosing a child is very difficult, and emotions are very strong, even to people who aren't in your family. It could just be a way to cope for her. Good luck to you!! Do what you feel is right. I'm sure your friend will love you just the same either way.

Answer 7

I am sorry that you have lost your daughter and that the misunderstanding of this doctrine is causing you further suffering. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well and can empathize with both you and your friend. I hope that my answer can help you understand why your friend is so hopeful that you will allow this baptism to occur.

As others have pointed out, there is biblical evidence of baptism for the dead in 1 Cor 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?" While this passage is usually skipped over by most Christian groups, it is nevertheless, evident that the practice of baptisms for the dead was occuring by the Corinthian Christians during Christ's time. So you do not need to fear that it is some how sacreligious. It is merely a sacred ordinance that was not widely described in the scriptures.

Others have pointed out John 3:5, where Christ tells Nicodemus that one must be baptized or he cannot be saved. This, obviously, is also biblical.

Since your daughter was Christian, why then does your mormon friend want her to receive this baptism? It is really a question of authority. We believe that the Priesthood power to perform these ordinances must be given by God and that a man cannot simply choose to have this power. In Matthew 16:19 Peter receives this power: I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and watsover thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Upon the death of the apostles, the church was scattered and the priesthood power lost. In roughly 325 AD, the catholic church came into existence and much, much later, many of the other Christian denominations. Where did their authority come from? We believe that the priesthood line was broken and was taken from the earth. We also believe that it could only be restored by God. We believe that Christ restored his Priesthood to the earth when he established his church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. This priesthood has been passed onto other worthy members who perform the sacred ordinances of the priesthood.

So, we believe that we have truly been given the Priesthood from God and have the authority to perform these ordinances. In your friends mind, receiving this baptism would be essential to her exaltation and the first step in helping you and your family to become an eternal family sealed through the priesthood power.

I know that it is true. I would suggest that you not listen to all of the answers that you receive here on this forum, including my own. Rather, I suggest that you ask of God. James 1:5 assures us that if we lack wisdom, that God will give to all men liberally. If, through prayer, you feel that it is God's will, then you will know that you are doing the right thing. You will find truth and peace if you trust in God.

Good luck and please feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions. [e-mail]

Answer 8

why did every one answer this question as if you don't believe in the Mormon baptism for the dead. You never really say you are against baptism for the dead. I wonder therefor if maybe she wasn't baptized.

Baptism was a requirnment set forth by Jesus Christ. He didn't say just do it if you want to, he said "You MUST be baptized" We are to obey our father in heaven. Jesus who was sinless got baptized. If he being sinnless was baptized, then how much more should each of us be baptized.

Let her do the baptism and your child will thank you in heaven.

Answer 9

Please allow me to say that I am sorry to learn of your daughter's death. We lost a daughter too.

Don't allow permission to do this. You should feel uncomfortable about this! They feel that your daughter needs an opportunity to become a Mormon by being baptized like this. They are trying to save her.
1 Corinthians 15 talks about baptism for the dead. It basically says that if Jesus did not raise, then our faith is in vain. That is the only reference to it.
There is nothing about this in the Book of Mormon.
If you want further information about this, please look at the following web sites and contact the people if you feel led to do it.

Answer 10

Baptism for the dead actually IS in the Bible.
Paul speaks of baptism for the dead in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15: 16, 29
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
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?