I'm sure no one's listening, but the fact is, Baptisms for the dead are merely a gift. If the dead don't want the gift, they are free to reject it. If they want the gift, no other person should be free to reject it for them. It is a gift that means nothing to those who do not believe in it. But is a gift that means everything to those who are giving it. Whatever the case, there is no justification for rejecting such a well-meaning gift.

LDS claim the "gift" of baptism by proffer can be administered through a proxy on earth. What makes it so difficult for LDS to accept that this same "gift" can be rejected by a proxy on earth? Those of us who are either Jewish or Catholic have churches that stand for us for eternity too.

What is most annoying to non-LDS about LDS ordinances for the deceased? (1) Genealogical "records" are generated by "temple work", which are then widely circulated (yes, I'm referring to the IGI, but also to databases on Ancestry and other services)--but these records since 1991 have no sources, no attribution, no substance; if you have the courage of your convictions behind you, leave a paper trail, because history without a paper trail is BAD history. (2) The controlled extraction program, taking records of other religions for supposed preservation and indexing but batching the records through the temple, is duplicitous; records exist for many reasons. (3) TempleReady was a joke, easily defeated, and the source of more bogus "entry" to "temple work" than all the bad histories of time lumped together; mourn it not, for it is gone and darn well about time too.

Again, Holocaust denial is REAL. Add to that the paperwork generated through temple work and you have validation that the jew was never a jew but mormon.

The Jewish people are not playing victims but some even remain as living victims.

My mother is the daughter of a Jewish father and and a half Choctaw mother. I talked to this grandfather of mine, and though he did not believe as I do, he never the less felt anything that might help in the hereafter would only be of benefit. He was not only a victim of the holocost but lost many relatives there. Like him, I believe that all we can do to help one another either spiritually or mortally is important, and if you don't believe as I do, then again, what harm is it doing? Further, I have found it is only those we are related to that we do the work for, and what greater work can we do than for those we call family? Just my opinion.

What if you are a descendant of a jewish holocast victim? Can you do the work?

Wow, I've read a lot of silly things here. I stumbled on this page and have been reading comments - where to begin?!?
I'm an orthodox Jew so let me try to shed a little light in 2 parts.
1) We find ALL proselytizing offensive. It shows lack of respect. You can do a lot of good for people without trying to convert them. Become a doctor - I did!
2) The Holocaust was a national tragedy for our people. If you've converted and want to bless your ancestors, go for it - they are your ancestors and no one can deny that connection. Your church took an appropriate position in '95 against the practice but it should also be discouraged by your ministers. Michel probably feels that it's a case of the official position being one way but, wink, wink - you're being encouraged to keep doing it.

I am the child of Mormon parents, the sister of a BYU student and return missionary, and the wife of a Jew descended those who undoubtedly suffered in the Holocaust.

We have had this same argument in my family; I have asked my Mormon relatives to leave my husband's deceased relatives alone. To no avail, I have asked them to refrain from researching my husband's family, adding their names to lists or baptizing them in temple ceremonies. The last time we had this conversation, my brother refused, leading me to sob tears of frustration.

The core of the conflict in my view lies in two religions' views on religion and the duty to convert and spread the word. As my brother explained to me, were he to agree with my requests, he would be sacrificing the eternal salvation of these people, a heavy burden when one is convinced that they have the truth. As my husband explained, sees it, his relatives endured horific acts of violence and remained true to their faith and did not convert in order to avoid these acts. Baptism is thus extremely disrespectful.

Obviously, the church hasn't gone out of its way enough. They died as jews, they shall remain so. If they wanted to be mormons, they could have converted. Don't disturb the dead. How foul of anyone to think otherwise. Disrespectful. beyond disrespectful.