General Chat

Hi just wondered if I was over reacting. Had contact with someone concerning my husbands tree. Her connection is very obscure to say the least however the thing that got to me, she is a member of the Mormon church and any names she gets she automatically rebaptises them in the Mormon faith.
All his ancestors were Church of Scotland and go back over 200 years
they are all now baptised. Apparently she says this is normal procedure. I think it's unethical.

So am I uptight over nothing?
Pat

If anyone objects to this thread please let me know and I will delete don't want to cause upset.

Pat ,
Wouldnt worry over it,,,how can you bapt a dead person,?

and yes its normal procedure to their faith,,as they gather new names of connection,

I would be quite happy for them to baptize me
into their church -
(1) I would be dead anyway
- and
(2) you never know - maybe they are
the One True Faith! lol

xxxx mick

Hi Pat

She is only doing what her religion decrees. The Mormons think they are the ones to get to Heaven, so in a way they are trying to do all dead people a favour by baptising them Mormon, so that they get to Heaven. I can't remember the name of the service offhand, but it is standard practice in that religion, so your husband's relation is not doing anything out of the ordinary. All our relations are baptised Mormon after death whether we know about it or not.

Dianne xx

Seriously though-
I believe they get Brownie Points from their God
for the numbers of rellies they baptize-
- not conducive to rigourous objective research
in my opinion.

That's the way they work, I'm afraid. Personally it doesn't bother me too much.

Years ago when I lived in Liverpool I had the pleasure of visiting the Mormon community at their church - at the time they banked at the branch I worked at and we got to know their treasurer very well.

A nicer bunch of people you could not wish to meet. Yes some of their ways may seem a little odd, but they do not try to force them on others.

Thanks guys I just feel so protective of the ancestors but you have explained things quite clearly. If I am baptised again after death do I get to come back LOL
Pat

Pat I agree with you I think it is wrong!

Having said that, my belief is that you cannot change or do anything to a dead body you have to be alive to be baptised and taken into a faith. How can a dead body ask of God to forgive them their sins and accept it into their Church?

The mind boggles. Have you thought of writing to the Church (of Scotland) in your case asking their views? I would be interested to learn their response.

Tina xx

I wouldn't worry too much Pat.
The IGI Family Search is run by the Mormons and they have baptised everyone on there.
There are a couple of religions that don't agree and haven't allowed them to look at their records.
But lets face it where would we be withoutFamily Search.
It is just their religion and they think it is the right one as we all do for our own.
Germaine
x

I would not worry about it. If they did not follow this practice we would be nowhere near as far forward with our research. Everyone who uses the IGI owes them a debt. and, as far as I can see it does no harm.

Ann
Glos

Pat not unless you are related to Joseph Smith.......:}}}

I personally am grateful for all their baptisms - makes my research a lot easier. lol

The Mormons baptise ancestors to bind families together for eternity. This is called "Sealing" and is one of the ordinances of the LDS church.

They also believe that those baptised after death can refuse the baptism in the afterlife, so your CoS ancestors will be able to turn down the offer and remain within their faith. (If the LDS is right in its beliefs)

My gt gt grandfather's brother converted to the LDS and moved to Utah in 1868 so many of my ancestors have been baptised and sealed.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Gwynne

I cant see that it makes a great deal of difference.

Personally, as long as its not me that has to wear their magic underpants, I 'm not bothered.

They are *sealing *a name not the person.that person is dead,and can only be resurected in name only,

Sorry but I can not see a problem with it,,our ancestors arent going to come back and complain,

I will!

ha ha,mick..

well the dead belong to no one,,,,!

I think I agree with Pat and would not be happy, although uptight is perhaps a bit strong for my feeling.
If ancestors are sealed I understand the Mormons reasoning but when it comes down to people I actually knew, eg. my parents, brother, grandparents, etc. I wouldn't like them being baptised into a group that I know they would not have joined in life.

Gwyn

Well said Gwyn. "Would not like them being baptised into a group that they would not have joined in life". Excellent answer.

That sums it up nicely, for me, anyway.

Tina

I'm not sure how G G Granny feels about being "Sealed" to G G Grandad when all evidence says that they hated one another.

"Sealing – This ordinance is used to seal husbands and wives as well as their children together forever in an eternal marriage. This means that marriages that are performed in LDS temples, using the sealing power of the priesthood, are not just for this life, but also for time and all eternity. Within Mormon temples sealings are performed for both the living and vicariously for the dead. "