Mormons, Bible reference for the baptism of the dead

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I do, too.

To show that even this other group believes in the resurrection.

yes

I say he was using a practice of another group as evidence of a divine truth.
I find it very interesting that you can draw this conclusion.
I would never think that a servant of the Lord would hold up heretical practice as proof of a divine truth. That is a little like: The Egyptians mumified their kings in preparation of the afterlife so that proves Jesus Christ’s teacing of the resurrection is true.
Just not seeing it.
 
Not by Christians. Paul said ‘they’ did it.
“They” is a very vague term to say if it was inclusive or exclusive. “They” could very easily mean those of our group that perform baptisms for the dead. And frankly, in the context it was used, makes better sense if it was referring to the group that was being addressed.
 
Yes, because we beleive that one must be baptised by ‘one who is in authority,’ and we don’t beleive anybody else has that authority.

**That might might be where the problem is…we believe the Catholic Church has the other as do other Protestant religions…we don’t recognize Mormon baptisms as Christian. **

As for whether the dead ‘want it,’ or not, Stormy…if they don’t want it, then they don’t need to accept it. It is entirely their choice. Unlike the Catholic baptism, which is done to infants will they, nil they and entirely without their (name removed by moderator)ut, and which is considered effective, leaving a ‘permanent mark’ upon the soul no matter what else happens, or what their subsequent life choices might be, LDS proxy baptism for the dead is utterly dependent upon the will and wishes of the person for whom it is done. Unless that proxy work is willingly and actively accepted, it means absolutely nothing…as if it had not been done. That is what WE believe about it.

**Ok, I understand that but why would you do proxy work for a devout Catholic, they have made their choice…isn’t it a bit of a waste of time…

Infant baptism began way back when, when many infants died and died quickly…and age 8 is not the age of reason either…8 yr olds don’t understand what is happening…many protestant churches wait until 14 or 15, my Presbyterian Church did…and even then I think that’s young for confirmation into any faith…

A permanent mark on their soul? I don’t understand that…what kind of mark does it leave except what Jesus told us to do…baptised by water…**

OF course, non-Mormons don’t beleive that the dead would even know about it in the first place to make such a choice, so…

Nobody but the person involved has a right to say whether he wants it or not, Stormy. You don’t get to decide for YOUR ancestors that they don’t want it. THEY do. WE, at least, believe in giving them the courtesy of that choice.

**There in lies the problem…living family should have that choice…I don’t want proxy work done for myself or my family…it shouldn’t be done…but I do realize that is your religious belief and you sure are entitled to your beliefs…

Now if they decide they want this…what happens then? I know from having been a Mormon what the living must do…but what about those baptised by proxy? What do they have to do to reach the Celestial Kingdon…are they eligible for this?
**

STormy, you might have a point if WE believed that what we do forces them in any way. However, I find it incredibly…ironic…that a group of people who practice infant baptism that is permanent and absolute (that permanent mark) has the chutspa to object to LDS proxy baptism, when our beliefs are so firm about this: the dead most certainly CAN say ‘no.’

Only if dead people can talk could they say no…and we don’t know if they can.

More importantly,it’s not a case of them saying ‘no.’ It’s a case of whether or not they say ‘yes.’
**I think this might of been more effective before information was readily available about all religions not just LDS…but now people can look up and learn for themselves…

stormy**
 
I find it very interesting that you can draw this conclusion.
I would never think that a servant of the Lord would hold up heretical practice as proof of a divine truth. That is a little like: The Egyptians mumified their kings in preparation of the afterlife so that proves Jesus Christ’s teacing of the resurrection is true.
Just not seeing it.
No, you’re not getting the point. Paul is not holdling up baptism for the dead as proof of the resurrection. He is simply pointing out how silly it is for this particular group of Corinthians not to believe in the resurrection at all. He is making a logical argument. A strong way of doing that is showing how rediculous it is for people to perform these baptisms if they don’t even believe in resurrection. He is making no comment on the validity of those baptisms.
 
No, you’re not getting the point. Paul is not holdling up baptism for the dead as proof of the resurrection. He is simply pointing out how silly it is for this particular group of Corinthians not to believe in the resurrection at all. He is making a logical argument. A strong way of doing that is showing how rediculous it is for people to perform these baptisms if they don’t even believe in resurrection. He is making no comment on the validity of those baptisms.
Paul states he is talking to members of the Church here, not a pagan group or common Corinthians. Let us be careful in our apologetics that we stand on truth and not on misunderstandings of Holy Scripture.

The Christians at Corinth somehow had concluded that there was no resurrection. Of course, with no resurrection than the Atonement of Jesus Christ was of no merit; his strips would have not saved us. These Christians had seriously got their doctrines messed up. Paul spends his whole time in this chapter reconverting them to the truths of the Gospel of Christ.
 
That might might be where the problem is…we believe the Catholic Church has the other as do other Protestant religions…we don’t recognize Mormon baptisms as Christian.
I am quite aware of that, Stormy. We don’t return the favor, though. True, we don’t recognise Catholic baptisms, but we don’t kick you out of the Christian fellowship or declare that y’ll aren’t Christians.
Ok, I understand that but why would you do proxy work for a devout Catholic, they have made their choice…isn’t it a bit of a waste of time…
Our time to waste.
Infant baptism began way back when, when many infants died and died quickly…and age 8 is not the age of reason either…8 yr olds don’t understand what is happening…many protestant churches wait until 14 or 15, my Presbyterian Church did…and even then I think that’s young for confirmation into any faith…
It’s old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong. …and remember, we believe that infants are born utterly innocent and free of any sin. Therefore infants and children who die before the ‘age of accountability,’ we believe, go immediately to heaven to be with God and His Son.
A permanent mark on their soul? I don’t understand that…what kind of mark does it leave except what Jesus told us to do…baptised by water…
Don’t ask me, it’s your doctrine…and yes, it really is. The phrase ‘permanent mark’ is also Catholic doctrine. Actually, the catechism uses ‘indelible mark.’ From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1272: *Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated. *

This phrase is used several times in the catechism, and trust me, I wouldn’t be using the phrase myself if it were not only confirmed by the catechism, but also by almost every Catholic I have ever met.
There in lies the problem…living family should have that choice…I don’t want proxy work done for myself or my family…it shouldn’t be done…but I do realize that is your religious belief and you sure are entitled to your beliefs…
I guess that, given that y’all see absolutely no problem with baptising infants without consulting them (resulting in that ‘indelible mark,’) then I can see how you would think that the "family’ might have more ‘say’ about what members of that family do and think, religiously. It’s a paradigm shift that totally escapes me, though–and it is ironic. WE, after all, are the folks who think that families are forever, and y’all who think that all formal bonds are disolved at death; that salvation is strictly an individual thing.

Yet it is we who believe that the person whose salvation is at stake is the only one who has the right to make this decision, and y’all who seem to believe that you have the right to make that decision for your family members. It’s backwards.
Now if they decide they want this…what happens then? I know from having been a Mormon what the living must do…but what about those baptised by proxy? What do they have to do to reach the Celestial Kingdon…are they eligible for this?
Of course.
Only if dead people can talk could they say no…and we don’t know if they can.
…you don’t believe in an after life?
I think this might of been more effective before information was readily available about all religions not just LDS…but now people can look up and learn for themselves…
Yes, and I do wish that more people would do that, instead of relying on one’s cousin’s aunt’s brother’s pastor—or information from people whose entire purpose in diseminating such information is to defeat us. Wouldn’t you rather people like me got our information regarding Catholicism from the Catechism, rather than Jack Chick?
 
Hi all,

thank you for your interesting comments on my question.

So we know now: Baptism for the Dead is “mentioned” by Paul in the Letter to the Corinthians.
There are different interpretations. - I favor the idea that this was a heresy that had been crept in in the community of Corinth while other Corinthian Christians didn’t believe in the resurrection at all.
I do understand baptism for the dead from the LDS perspective (using the D&C which would be Sections 76 [celestial, terrestrial and telestial Glory; also partly Restored Gospel Classic Search”]Sec. 85], Secs. 107, 109 and 110 {last two only partly} - all Refernces are from the Community of Christ/RLDS Edition!]
I believe this verse is a reference to the belief in purgatory. The early Christians, just like the Jews, believed in praying for the dead so they could be freed from their sins. These Christians in Corinth thought that in addition to praying for the dead they could also baptize for the dead. Whatever the meaning it proves that the early Christians did not believe in only heaven and hell but a place in between which over time became called purgatory.

This practice of praying for the dead continued into the following centuries but the practice of baptizing the dead was obviously not practiced in the early Church.
I find it intersting that the LDS Church also has something like **purgatory **in their believe. - In the terrestrial glory Jesus preaches the gospel to the dead who have not heard the gospel on earth (D&C 76:6c, RLDS Edition).
So I guess if the souls in the terrestrial kingdom accept the gospel they are baptised by the living or so. At least this is how I believe baptism for the dead can be explained.
I mean, I haven’t read sections 107, 109+110 (RLDS Edition) because they are in the appendix in the RLDS D&Cs and I have one where the appendix has been removed entirely.

Esdra
 
Hi my dear LDS friends,

one of your brethren has written that baptism for the dead clearaly comes out of the Holy Bible.

For me it is an esoteric practice, as the RLDS writes: “Concerning such esoteric practices the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints declared as early as April 9, 1886, that “we know of no temple building, except as edifices wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early saints on Pentecost Day.” And also, “that baptism for the dead' belongs to those local questions of which the body has said by resolution: That the commandments of a local character, given to the first organization of the church, are binding on the Reorganization only so far as they are either reiterated or referred to as binding by commandments to this church.’ And that principle has neither been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment” (Conference Resolution 308, paragraphs 2, 3).” (RLDS D&C 107:Рreface) that is not Christian at all.
And this is only one of the practices in the LDS Church that are definetly not Christian…

So, please show me the bible reference for the Baptism of the Dead.

Esdra
Friend Esdra, the RLDS did have members and leadership that believed in baptism for the dead. The church was reorganized in 1860 under Joseph Smith III, baptism for the dead was still a belief held by many in the Reoganization…it fell out of practice by the beginning of the 20th century as all of the “old converts” had passed.

There are Latter Day sects, other than the Utah based Mormons, that practice b.o.d.

For some time the revelation from JS Jr concerning b.o.d. was printed in the D&C of the RLDS…I believe in the '80’s it was moved to the appendix of the D&C as an “historical document”…and finally the appendix was no longer included in the D&C…I have an RLDS D&C with the revelation concerning b.o.d. still in the main body of Sections.
 
am quite aware of that, Stormy. We don’t return the favor, though. True, we don’t recognise Catholic baptisms, but we don’t kick you out of the Christian fellowship or declare that y’ll aren’t Christians.

**You don’t recognize any other Christian baptism…and I certainly won’t say what the Catholic Religion and Church has been called by the LDS…because I don’t believe you support those words. To me you are very Christian like…kind, suppotive and willing to share your beliefs in a positive way…which is what we are all taught to do.

An indelible mark…of course baptism does that…Catholics believe in only one baptism…and there are very few they don’t accept and will not baptise you again.

Of course I believe in an after life…but according to my religion, there will be no marriages in the after life…will people walk around like we do now…probably not…will they sit and talk to each other…I have no idea…for me the afterlife will be being in the presence of God…the God in the Holy Trinity…I won’t become a God…that’s not possible, though I know what LDS beliefs say on this subject. That’s totally fine with me…those are your beliefs and if they give you comfort, go for it…

As far as good people in both religions…many, many good people…some believe more deeply than others…both religions do good works but we know that alone doesn’t guarantee salvation…

It seems like many paths for people to walk…and many of them believe their way is the best or only way. I guess we’ll have to wait for the Reserrection to see what the answer will be…no doubt it will be surprising to many of us…

stormy**
 
I find it very interesting that you can draw this conclusion.
I would never think that a servant of the Lord would hold up heretical practice as proof of a divine truth. That is a little like: The Egyptians mumified their kings in preparation of the afterlife so that proves Jesus Christ’s teacing of the resurrection is true.
Just not seeing it.
I would think if someone was trying to teach a universal truth, they would use various practices which point to that truth.

*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? **

There is life after death but not how the Egyptians understood it, so to use your example: Else what shall they do which mummify in preparation for the afterlife, if there is no life after death at all? why are they then preparing for the afterlife?
“They” is a very vague term to say if it was inclusive or exclusive. “They” could very easily mean those of our group that perform baptisms for the dead. And frankly, in the context it was used, makes better sense if it was referring to the group that was being addressed.
Yes, it is vague and it is clear ‘they’ are the people baptizing for the dead. Prior to ‘they’ Paul had used ‘we’ as the group being addressed. That is why I conclude that ‘they’ were not Christian. Because it is vague, it would seem to me if there were other evidence of this being a Christian practice ‘they’ could be a subset of ‘we.’*
 
Friend Esdra, the RLDS did have members and leadership that believed in baptism for the dead. The church was reorganized in 1860 under Joseph Smith III, baptism for the dead was still a belief held by many in the Reoganization…it fell out of practice by the beginning of the 20th century as all of the “old converts” had passed.

There are Latter Day sects, other than the Utah based Mormons, that practice b.o.d.

For some time the revelation from JS Jr concerning b.o.d. was printed in the D&C of the RLDS…I believe in the '80’s it was moved to the appendix of the D&C as an “historical document”…and finally the appendix was no longer included in the D&C…I have an RLDS D&C with the revelation concerning b.o.d. still in the main body of Sections.
Hi

yes, I think so too that in the beginnings of the CofC/RLDS baptism for the dead was practiced.
I mean it also was in the first D&C which the RLDS accepted.
However, already 1886 the RLDS declared:

“…]“we know of no temple building, except as edifices wherein to worship God, and no endowment except the endowment of the Holy Spirit of the kind experienced by the early saints on Pentecost Day.” And also, “that baptism for the dead' belongs to those local questions of which the body has said by resolution: That the commandments of a local character, given to the first organization of the church, are binding on the Reorganization only so far as they are either reiterated or referred to as binding by commandments to this church.’ And that principle has neither been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment” (Conference Resolution 308, paragraphs 2, 3).” (Preface to D&C 107, RLDS Edition)

Up to 1970 it was kept in the D&C because of custom and 1970 at the World Conference it was put as “a piece of History” into the Appendix, as Appendix A.
Finally 1990 the whole Appendix was removed and since the 1990 version below Sections 107, 109, 110 and 113 stands: “PLACED IN THE APPENDIX BY ACTION OF THE 1970 WORLD CONFERENCE;
SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED BY THE 1990 WORLD CONFERENCE”

Esdra 🙂
 
Rebecca, I am mystified by you thinking I am proselyting. Please clarify what part of my post you think it is.
That is how I see your answers.
It sounded like you thought Baptism for the dead was required for everyone, so I was only clarifying.
It isn’t required for anyone.
And what of all the people that have never heard the gospel of Christ? They did not get a chance in this life to beleive or be baptized so tough luck for them? No second chances, but what about first chances?
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation. (CCC 847)
 
Paul states he is talking to members of the Church here, not a pagan group or common Corinthians. Let us be careful in our apologetics that we stand on truth and not on misunderstandings of Holy Scripture.

The Christians at Corinth somehow had concluded that there was no resurrection. Of course, with no resurrection than the Atonement of Jesus Christ was of no merit; his strips would have not saved us. These Christians had seriously got their doctrines messed up. Paul spends his whole time in this chapter reconverting them to the truths of the Gospel of Christ.
You are correct, Paul is speaking to the Christian community in Corinth. My point was that at least a group of these Corinthian Christians for whatever reason no longer believed in the resurrection. I did not mean to imply Paul was speaking to pagans.
 
Hi all,

thank you for your interesting comments on my question.

So we know now: Baptism for the Dead is “mentioned” by Paul in the Letter to the Corinthians.
There are different interpretations. - I favor the idea that this was a heresy that had been crept in in the community of Corinth while other Corinthian Christians didn’t believe in the resurrection at all.
I do understand baptism for the dead from the LDS perspective (using the D&C which would be Sections 76 [celestial, terrestrial and telestial Glory; also partly Restored Gospel Classic Search”]Sec. 85
], Secs. 107, 109 and 110 {last two only partly} - all Refernces are from the Community of Christ/RLDS Edition!]

I find it intersting that the LDS Church also has something like **purgatory **in their believe. - In the terrestrial glory Jesus preaches the gospel to the dead who have not heard the gospel on earth (D&C 76:6c, RLDS Edition).
So I guess if the souls in the terrestrial kingdom accept the gospel they are baptised by the living or so. At least this is how I believe baptism for the dead can be explained.
I mean, I haven’t read sections 107, 109+110 (RLDS Edition) because they are in the appendix in the RLDS D&Cs and I have one where the appendix has been removed entirely.

Esdra
Just a little bit of clarification…
I cannot speak for the RLDS scriptures, but the LDS scriptures have it this way:
71 And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.
72 Behold, these are they who died without law;
73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.
77 These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.
Notice the past tense of “visited” and “preached”. The Terrestial kingdom is not where Christ teaches or preaches, that is done in Spirit Prison or Paradise. The Terrestrial kingdom is the final destination of those described in verses 74 & 75.
 
Just a little bit of clarification…
I cannot speak for the RLDS scriptures, but the LDS scriptures have it this way:
Notice the past tense of “visited” and “preached”. The Terrestial kingdom is not where Christ teaches or preaches, that is done in Spirit Prison or Paradise. The Terrestrial kingdom is the final destination of those described in verses 74 & 75.
Hi,

thank you, intersting.

In the RLDS Scriptures it also says: "76:6c Behold, these are they who died without law; and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, **whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, **that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; "

But I’ve always thought that the terrestrial kingdom and the Prison for the souls are the same.
Any refernce where it clearly says that the terrestrial kingdom is not the Prison for the souls?

Esdra
 
Hi,

thank you, intersting.

In the RLDS Scriptures it also says: "76:6c Behold, these are they who died without law; and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, **whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, **that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; "

But I’ve always thought that the terrestrial kingdom and the Prison for the souls are the same.
Any refernce where it clearly says that the terrestrial kingdom is not the Prison for the souls?

Esdra
This is taken directly off lds.org, it is the definition of spirit prison within the Gospel Topics section:
Spirit prison is a temporary state in which spirits will be taught the gospel and have the opportunity to repent and accept ordinances of salvation that are performed for them in temples (see D&C 138:30–35). Those who accept the gospel may dwell in paradise until the Resurrection. After they are resurrected and judged, they will receive the degree of glory of which they are worthy. Those who choose not to repent but who are not sons of perdition will remain in spirit prison until the end of the Millennium, when they will be freed from hell and punishment and be resurrected to a telestial glory (see D&C 76:81–85).
The Terrestrial kingdom is the “middle” kingdom of glory.
 
This is taken directly off lds.org, it is the definition of spirit prison within the Gospel Topics section:

The Terrestrial kingdom is the “middle” kingdom of glory.
…in fact, this idea of a ‘spirit prison’ is about as close to the Catholic purgatory as anybody else gets, though not an exact analog, of course.
 
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