From the outside looking in, all religions have strange practices and beliefs. One of the unusual features of Mormonism is the idea that baptism and other physical acts are necessary, but they cannot be completed by the dead, whose body and soul have separated. So, a living person stands in for the deceased, who then has the opportunity to accept or reject the ordinance performed on their behalf.
The LDS Church agreed years ago to put a stop to proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims and others whose descendents objected, but the baptisms have continued, as have the objections. Some Latter-day Saints respond to the criticism by saying, “If you don’t believe in Mormonism, why would you object to a ritual done by Mormons?”
Read Full Article »