Overview of baptism for the dead - Revision history

SpencerMarsh at 15:35, 9 June 2026

2026-06-09T15:35:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:35, 9 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Main Page}}		<b><</b> [[Main Page\|<small><b><i>Back to FAIR Answers Index</i></b></small>]]
			__NOTOC__
	<h1><b>Baptism for the Dead</b></h1>		<h1><b>Baptism for the Dead</b></h1>
	{{Summary1}} The Latter-day Saint practice of baptism for the dead has been criticized on various fronts. First, critics allege that the practice is not biblical and that Latter-day Saints misinterpret the Bible to support it. Next, critics allege that the practice is a form of "ancestor worship." Some have taken issue with Latter-day Saints performing vicarious baptisms for those of the Jewish faith who died during the Holocaust.		{{Summary1}} The Latter-day Saint practice of baptism for the dead has been criticized on various fronts. First, critics allege that the practice is not biblical and that Latter-day Saints misinterpret the Bible to support it. Next, critics allege that the practice is a form of "ancestor worship." Some have taken issue with Latter-day Saints performing vicarious baptisms for those of the Jewish faith who died during the Holocaust.

SpencerMarsh at 20:12, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T20:12:23Z

@@ Line 174: / Line 174: @@
 </blockquote>
 </wt>
 }}
 {{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}

SpencerMarsh at 20:03, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T20:03:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 8 June 2026
Line 64:		Line 64:
	\| state = closed		\| state = closed
	\| content =		\| content =
			<wt>
	====There is considerable evidence that some early Christians and some Jewish groups performed proxy ordinance work for the salvation of the dead====		====There is considerable evidence that some early Christians and some Jewish groups performed proxy ordinance work for the salvation of the dead====

SpencerMarsh at 20:01, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T20:01:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:01, 8 June 2026
Line 136:		Line 136:
	\| state = closed		\| state = closed
	\| content =		\| content =
			<wt>
	====The Bible rejects the use of genealogies to "prove" one's righteousness, or the truth of one's teachings====		====The Bible rejects the use of genealogies to "prove" one's righteousness, or the truth of one's teachings====

Line 157:		Line 158:

	Since all these genealogies were either speculative or fabricated, they could cause endless, pointless debate.<ref>Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds., ''The Jerome Biblical Commentary'' (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968), 353.</ref> Rather Paul wants the faith (in Christ) which builds up ("edifying") testimonies and lives.		Since all these genealogies were either speculative or fabricated, they could cause endless, pointless debate.<ref>Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds., ''The Jerome Biblical Commentary'' (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968), 353.</ref> Rather Paul wants the faith (in Christ) which builds up ("edifying") testimonies and lives.
	}}
	{{To learn more box:Bible: genealogy condemnation}}		{{To learn more box:Bible: genealogy condemnation}}
	{{Critical sources box:The Bible/Condemnation of genealogy/CriticalSources}}		{{Critical sources box:The Bible/Condemnation of genealogy/CriticalSources}}
	</wt>		</wt>
	}}		}}

	{{CollapseHeaders		{{CollapseHeaders
	\| title = D. Todd Christofferson (1998): "The principle of vicarious service should not seem strange to any Christian"		\| title = D. Todd Christofferson (1998): "The principle of vicarious service should not seem strange to any Christian"

SpencerMarsh at 20:00, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T20:00:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:00, 8 June 2026
Line 157:		Line 157:

	Since all these genealogies were either speculative or fabricated, they could cause endless, pointless debate.<ref>Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds., ''The Jerome Biblical Commentary'' (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968), 353.</ref> Rather Paul wants the faith (in Christ) which builds up ("edifying") testimonies and lives.		Since all these genealogies were either speculative or fabricated, they could cause endless, pointless debate.<ref>Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds., ''The Jerome Biblical Commentary'' (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968), 353.</ref> Rather Paul wants the faith (in Christ) which builds up ("edifying") testimonies and lives.
			}}
	{{To learn more box:Bible: genealogy condemnation}}		{{To learn more box:Bible: genealogy condemnation}}
	{{Critical sources box:The Bible/Condemnation of genealogy/CriticalSources}}		{{Critical sources box:The Bible/Condemnation of genealogy/CriticalSources}}

SpencerMarsh at 19:58, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T19:58:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:58, 8 June 2026
Line 166:		Line 166:
	\| state = closed		\| state = closed
	\| content =		\| content =
			<wt>
	D. Todd Christofferson:		D. Todd Christofferson:
	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	The principle of vicarious service should not seem strange to any Christian. In the baptism of a living person, the officiator acts, by proxy, in place of the Savior. And is it not the central tenet of our faith that Christ’s sacrifice atones for our sins by vicariously satisfying the demands of justice for us? As President Gordon B. Hinckley has expressed: “I think that vicarious work for the dead more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any other work of which I know. It is given with love, without hope of compensation, or repayment or anything of the kind. What a glorious principle.<ref>D. Todd Christofferson, [http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/11/the-redemption-of-the-dead-and-the-testimony-of-jesus?lang=eng "The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus,"] ''Ensign'' (January 1998).</ref>		The principle of vicarious service should not seem strange to any Christian. In the baptism of a living person, the officiator acts, by proxy, in place of the Savior. And is it not the central tenet of our faith that Christ’s sacrifice atones for our sins by vicariously satisfying the demands of justice for us? As President Gordon B. Hinckley has expressed: “I think that vicarious work for the dead more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any other work of which I know. It is given with love, without hope of compensation, or repayment or anything of the kind. What a glorious principle.<ref>D. Todd Christofferson, [http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/11/the-redemption-of-the-dead-and-the-testimony-of-jesus?lang=eng "The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus,"] ''Ensign'' (January 1998).</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
			</wt>
	}}		}}
	{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}		{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}

SpencerMarsh at 19:56, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T19:56:40Z

Show changes

SpencerMarsh at 19:50, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T19:50:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 8 June 2026
Line 61:		Line 61:
	}}		}}
	{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}		{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}


	{{endnotes sources}}		{{endnotes sources}}

SpencerMarsh at 19:50, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T19:50:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:50, 8 June 2026
Line 60:		Line 60:
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
	}}		}}
	{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}~~{{blankline}}~~		{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}

	{{endnotes sources}}		{{endnotes sources}}

SpencerMarsh at 19:49, 8 June 2026

2026-06-08T19:49:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 8 June 2026
Line 60:		Line 60:
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>
	}}		}}
	{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}		{{Critical sources box:Latter-day Saint Temples/Baptism for the dead/Ancestor worship/CriticalSources}}{{blankline}}
	{{endnotes sources}}		{{endnotes sources}}