April 29 – Dead Works. Matthew 5:16; “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
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Ask your Mormon friends/loved ones –
How are they letting their light shine before men by performing proxy works for the dead in a non-public temple? What dead people are watching them? Who is applauding their efforts? Are the dead able to testify of the great things the Mormon god has provided for them? According to Ecclesiastes 9:5 the dead know nothing at all.
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General Conference, ‘Roots and Branches,’ April 2014; “The leadership of the Church has issued a clarion call to the rising generation to lead the way in the use of technology to experience the spirit of Elijah, to search out their ancestors, and to perform temple ordinances for them. Much of the heavy lifting in hastening the work of salvation for both the living and the dead will be done by you young people.” — Quentin L. Cook
Searching out ancestors and then performing baptisms on those same dead ancestors, is not only not necessary, but is described in the Bible as being evil. (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:9-14). Not only that, but the Bible clearly states that dead folks (died without Christ in their lives), know nothing after dying and are unable to make decisions, such as choosing to repent after having died without Faith in Jesus. . Dead people have no more reward and their very names are forgotten by God (Ecclesiastes 9: 5,6).
The Mormon belief in Baptisms for the Dead is entirely dependent on one particular Bible verse (1 Corinthians 15:29). In this verse, Paul wasn’t even talking of Baptisms for the Dead, but rather on people’s belief in false doctrine. Besides, reliance on a single scripture, is in of itself, contrary to God’s Word, about having two or three witnesses (Bible verse) before creating an entire belief system.
The belief in the opportunity to repent after death is very dangerous. It causes people to believe that they can live this mortal life without faith in Jesus Christ and still be able to achieve eternal life with God. Nonsense!! Mormons ought to devote an entire General Conference on reading from Luke 18:9-14. In that parable, the Lord talks about the rich man and Lazarus and how the rich man, after dying, realizes his mistake in not accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, while among the living. The rich man wishes, after dying, that he could go back and warn his family about the consequences of not accepting Jesus Christ while he was in the flesh,. The consequences of such a life without God, is eternal separation from God.
Great summary! It is dangerous indeed and as you stated, it can lead people to think they can live life without faith in Jesus.
I’ve had proxy work done on my behalf, and His name is Jesus. The truth is Jesus is our proxy. Not Joesph Smith or temple works. He took care of ALL of that on the cross. And Michelle made an excellent point, the temples are not available to everyone, not even all members are allowed in the temple. So, if temple work is so important to God, shouldn’t it be available to all?
And sorry, 1 Corinthians 15:29 is not a command from God to baptize for the dead. The passage is about denying the resurrection.
Oooh, I love your analysis on that one! 🙂