Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Baptisms for the Dead

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Last week my son (12) and daughter (14) were able to participate in Baptisms for the Dead at the Temple. This was my son’s first time participating. He was excited, but a little nervous about it. I couldn’t wait for him to get home so I could hear all about it. When he arrived home, he walked in the door with a big smile on his face. He said, “Mom! It was so much fun! I want to go back next week!!” He couldn’t stop smiling. I had a hard time getting him to go to bed because he just wanted to keep talking about it. :)

I also have fond memories of participating in Baptisms for the Dead as a youth. There is a special spirit there in the Temple, and to be able to be baptized by proxy for those who never had the opportunity in this life is a sweet experience.
Many people not of our faith are confused by this LDS practice. Why do we baptize for the dead?

We believe that Baptism by proper authority, is an essential earthly ordinance for our salvation in the next life. Though Baptism alone doesn’t save us, it is an essential step in accepting and following our Savior Jesus Christ. "Except that a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

Heavenly Father saw fit, for whatever reason, to put me personally here on earth in an environment where I could learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and be baptized. Well, what about everyone else that has lived on the earth? What of those that never had an opportunity to really learn and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ? And what about those who have lived and died without even hearing of Jesus Christ? So do I just have an advantage over them because of the particular circumstances that I was born in? Are they just damned because they never had the opportunity to be baptized? No. Absolutely not. This is what our church has to say about it:

“Many people have lived on the earth who never heard of the gospel of Jesus Christ and who were not baptized. Others lived without fully understanding the importance of the ordinance of baptism. Still others were baptized, but without proper authority.

Because He is a loving God, the Lord does not damn those people who, through no fault of their own, never had the opportunity for baptism. He has therefore authorized baptisms to be performed by proxy for them. A living person, often a descendant who has become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is baptized in behalf of a deceased person. This work is done by Church members in temples throughout the world.” (lds.org)

This is GREAT news! This shows the power of God’s grace and love!! God loves ALL of his children and will give everyone who has ever lived upon the earth the opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. If they didn’t have the opportunity in this life, they will have the opportunity to accept in the next life.

Unfortunately there are those not of our faith who are offended by the practice of Baptizing for the dead. Most often it is because they feel that we are forcing deceased persons to be baptized into the church. This is not true. We are only making the gift available to them. 

“Some people have misunderstood that when baptisms for the dead are performed, deceased persons are baptized into the Church against their will. This is not the case. Each individual has agency, or the right to choose. The validity of a baptism for the dead depends on the deceased person accepting it and choosing to accept and follow the Savior while residing in the spirit world. The names of deceased persons are not added to the membership records of the Church.” (lds.org)

I was reading in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 the other day. Paul was addressing the people who were saying that there is no resurrection. He says, "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

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" (vs. 12-15).

Paul then points out that there would be no purpose in baptizing for the dead if there indeed was no resurrection. "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?" (vs. 29)

Paul is right.  There would be no reason to do baptisms for the dead if there was no resurrection.  Paul testifies that the resurrection is real and that all will be resurrected. 

I also testify that Christ was indeed resurrected just as all of us will be someday.  I am grateful to know that God is a fair and just God and that through Baptisms for the dead the blessings of the gospel are available to all of God's children.

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