Posthumous baptism

It is a truly strange theology, isn't it? But of course the LDS church does not need to find Biblical warrant, as they use the Book of Mormon as "inspired" scripture as well as the Bible. I am doing family history study as a hobby, and am therefore both astounded and grateful that the LDS church has done so much to preserve genealogical records ... the millions of dollars they have spent on temples, vaults, family history centers, filming, etc.! Of course, with my name I cause something of a stir when I sign in at the Mormon Family History Center near where I live!

 

They use....or rather misuse

Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
1 Corinthians 15:29

The theology is that everybody who dies goes to paradise not heaven until Jesus returns. When in paradise you can choose to believe in the Mormon doctrine of salvation and be saved or not. If you choose yes then somebody on earth needs to be baptized in your name or proxy. That way you can get the regeneration and go to heaven.

They also get married by proxy. If your spouse dies and he/she would not marry you in the temple on earth then you can get somebody to stand in their place for the temple marrage. Or if your great grandparents were not Mormon after you baptize for them you can go to the temple and get married in their name.

When my wife was younger she was baptized dozens and dozens of times in a day. They would read a name, dunk, read another name, dunk and so on. She regrets it now she has been saved.

 

If one prays a deceased out of purgatory into heaven, does that mean you then have to go to the mormon church to get them baptised as a sign of their newfound eternal life in heaven, or must they be baptised before they get there?

 

The Mormon church has been in conflict within itself over "Baptism for the dead".

At first it was taught by Joseph Smith himself that this baptism was for all the dead. Of course he didnt come up with this until 1840. Mnay years after his originall so caled vision.

But since his proclamation Joseph F Smith and Spencer Kimball both Mormon Presidents changed this doctrine to baptism isnt for all the dead, but only for those who never had a chance to hear the gospel.

There are actually two verses Mormons use to justify their "Baptism for the Dead" one is

Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
1 Corinthians 15:29

And the other is

Hebrews 11:40
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect

With this last verse they make two claims:

1. man cannot be saved without following the "sacriment" of Baptism for the dead

2. Baptism for the dead will make you their "Savior".

The Mormon Presidents of past history justify the lack of scripture on this subject by saying that this doctrine was so well known that it wasnt necessary for Paul to write about it.