Wow. I didn't know that. That seems to fly in the face of the immediate need for Salvation. The whole point of the message is that we should be Saved before we die because there is a point of no return. How is that concept different from Purgatory? Also, forgetting the fact that I don't think Mormons believe in Salvation outside the Mormon Church. Otherwise, how would you know if your ancestors were Saved?
The Elders come by every year. I should ask them this stuff.
First, I don’t speak Greek, pick one set of scriptures, preferably English from which to quote.
>> I'm using Modern King James. I find the King James sometimes guesses at meaning.
I know what you mean…
>> It almost sounds like "who does baptise for the dead if the dead do not awaken?
>>Why is it done?"
The Pharisee’s were baptizing for the dead by proxy for a long time before Christ’s ministry, their doctrine is clearly recorded. Christ directly referenced the Pharisees in Mathew 22: 31..33
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
This is not open to some complicated interpretation of what he might have meant. His meaning is plain when you look at whom he was speaking to, and it was a masterstroke of communication.
You are right, some early Christians also baptized for the dead, just as Paul mentions in Corinthians.
>> So Jesus used an ad homonym argument, Mat_12:27
What does Matthew 12:27 “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.” Have to do with baptisem for the dead?
The need is simple, your test is through, you must have the ordinances performed for you, in order to obtain any rest in the kingdom of god (In my father’s house are many mansions…) Mormons believe that there are many degrees of Glory, and that men will be judged according to their understanding of god’s laws. (Unto whom much is given, much is required)
Please ask the elders, they can help far more in person than I can from a distance, not to mention, I travel a lot so my ability to respond on FR is spotty
AppyPappy,
You seem to know a lot of resources; do you know any good electronic sources for books from the apocrypha? English, downloadable, preferably HTML, or PDF, if you please. (Maybe I presume too much, but you never know until you ask.)
Thanks in advance, and do ask the Missionaries, they would be thrilled to answer the “tough questions”, I know I was when I was a missionary.