The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormon Church sends teams of missionaries all around the world to work on digitization programs of the records of dead. They are offering salvation through a controversial Baptism for the Dead process, regardless of whether someone is Mormon or not.
The records – 100 kilometers of paper, plus countless photographs and reels of film – are housed at an underground storage facility in North Melbourne. This facility contains birth and death registers, court decisions, criminal records, wills, and even historic photographs on glass-plate negatives and reel-on-reel of film.
Kathleen Bingham unwraps the record, pulling out any staples or pins, and flattens it. Bill Justus and Roger Bingham scan it using machinery the church has sent over from America. And then Nanette wraps it back up the same way it came. This entire job is the part of the church's global FamilySearch program, which sends volunteer archivists all about the world. And they explain it with the Bible.
First Corinthians 15:29 says: "Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?" (HCSB) This is a verse used by the Mormon Church to prove that their members can be baptized for their dead members. This is partly the reason they place such a premium on genealogies in their quest to find relatives who need baptism.
On the other hand, it is clear from Scripture that each person will account for his own conduct and life. He is not responsible for others. After our deaths there is a wide "chasm" separating believers from unbelievers. We are not able to cross over from one side to the other (according to Luke 16:26).
On The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s website, under the letter B, there is an explanation of Baptism for the Dead and it says:
Many people, however, have died without being baptized. Others were baptized without proper authority. Because God is merciful, He has prepared a way for all people to receive the blessings of baptism. 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.
According to the definition, a dead person can choose whether or not he or she accepts the “blessings of baptism.” And even if someone is atheist and after death receives this mercy, he/she would find salvation. So, don’t worry atheists, someone might baptize you and save your souls.
Photo Credits: LiveInternet
