baptisms for the dead?

Question

Doesnt the bible state that any attempt to communicate with the dead will get you a one way ticket into the lake of fire?

I have been researching the Mormon religion and I am now convinced that millions of people are being deceived in this world.

and what about all of these GREAT and powerful cities mentioned in the BOM.. where did they go? and the idea that Native Americans are ancient Israelites who crossed the Pacific Ocean in a boat.... DNA evidence and HISTORY shows that they crossed the Bering Strait into America.

I am in no place to judge another person's religion, that would be a sin, but I just cant buy into it. my wife's family are morman and it is really hard to ask them anything without feeling like I offended them. I just want some answers.. thanks guys

Answer 1

Logic and rational thought disqualifies anyone for membership in mormonism. That's worse than murder, rape, or drinking coffee.

Actually you questions are valid, and have been answered by Great Mormon Hobbiest Jeff Lindsay and by the Prophet-Controlled Maxwell (House of Cards) Institute. Both rely on the Scholarly Approach to Science with the result already decided, then attempt to support it faulty logic and strawman arguments that make it a "Fact", although nothing ever appears in peer journals or treatises.

Once you show the TBMs how flawed the BoM, BoA and the 'unapproved' history of Smith and the church are, it won't matter, because the spirit already told it's sooooo true. It's called Magical Thinking, and once that's in place, rationality is banished forever.

At least *you* know the truth, and have been set free. You have been touched by his Noodly Appendage, which is way more fun than the 'whispering moron'.

Answer 2

To answer your first question, no the Bible doesn't state that. It does say that you should not go to witches and spiritualists who attempt to talk to the dead. But Jesus himself communicated with the dead when he called Lazarus forth from the grave!

Baptism for the dead is not communicating with the dead. Mormons obtain names and birth dates and the living are baptized for and in behalf of the dead person, without any attempt to contact that dead person. Paul made reference to this practice in 1 Corinthians 15:29 "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?" It wasn't wrong at the time of Paul, and it isn't wrong today. The question is, why do the other Christian churches not practice baptism for the dead as it was done at the time of Paul?

You see, far from condemning the practice, the Bible supports it.

There are many ancient ruins in America that you can still see today. Some of them are from Book of Mormon times.

The Book of Mormon does not claim that Native Americans are soley descended from Israelites. The DNA evidence is inconclusive, and rather limited. This is a new area of science, and the perimeters are not fully understood.

History does not say that all those who came to America crossed the Bering Strait. They weren't keeping records back then, so the extent of crossing is subject to debate.

Keep asking questions. No harm in that. Just keep an open mind and remember that some of the people who want you to disbelieve in the Mormon Church have a personal motive, and are not above dishonesty when they do so. Many are misguided and repeat the negative things they have heard, without checking them out first.

Answer 3

Baptism for the dead, we don't make contact WITH the dead. We don't talk TO them or anything. What we do is, someone is baptised, not for themselves, but for and in behalf of, someone else, who is dead. That's it. We beleive that, in the next life, the dead know what we did and the person who was baptised vicariously is given the choice of accepting or rejecting that baptism. We don't know who did or didn't accept it, or even if they WERE given the choice (some won't).

so, we are not talking to the dead, communicating with them, TRYING to communicate with them, etc.

As for the Book of MormOn; Lehi and his family came in 600 B.C. It ends about 421 A.D. That about 1000 years. And in that millenium, lots of changes occured. I think even an civilization or two were destroyed. And Joseph Smith didn't find the plates until 182something, which was another, what, 1400 years. Look at EVERYTHING that's happened, just since Joseph Smith found the plates! That wasn't even 200 ears ago!

When you move into a new house, that you bought, do you leave it EXACTLY like the last people had it? Or do you make your own changes, personalize it so to speak?

In the 2400 years since the start of the Book of Mormon, do you think that NOTHING changed at all? Unlike the Middle East (Bible), many different peoples from different parts of the world, came thru and I bet many of them tore down, rebuilt, etc. Redesigned. Renamed. Plus, a lot of the climate of the western hemisphere is not as conducive to the preservation of things as the middle east.

So, that, along with the evidence that IS there for the Book of Mormon, tells me that I have nothing to worry about.

Answer 4

We don't communicate with the dead. We believe in Baptism for the dead so those who had not the chance to accept the Gospel in their life times.

If you read 3 Nephi chapter 8 you will see that most of them were destroyed at the death of Christ. then they rebuilt their society and now you look at the Americas, there are large amounts of ancient cities that still exist. Evidently you haven't studied enough ancient american text because there is written evidence of such things taking places.

The bering strait theory is slowly but surely be debunked.

Don't be afraid to ask questions to your wifes family.

One last thing it is MORMON, not MORMAN.

peace

Answer 5

The Bible tells of only one example of someone speaking to the dead. It does not mention going to hell because of it.
Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."
"There is one in Endor," they said.

8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."

9 But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?"

10 Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"
"Bring up Samuel," he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

13 The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?"
The woman said, "I see a spirit [a] coming up out of the ground."

14 "What does he look like?" he asked.
"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"
"I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?

Answer 6

That is sick and wrong. Yes mormons baptize the dead in an attempt to 'increase their numbers'. Luckily God knows who is His, and maybe someday they will figure that one out.

Answer 7

As far as I know, they aren't really communicating with dead people. They are just offering up a baptism to anyone who has passed on who didn't get a chance to do it in this lifetime.

Answer 8

Here is more info http://www.angelfire.com/ms/seanie/mormon/index.html
Remember to just be a witness to your faith, you are not to coherse or condemn-God Bless