People who have died are very important to members of the Mormon Church. The dead are a very important aspect of the Mormon gospel. The sixth President of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, taught,

“We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission. The dead are not perfect without us, neither are we without them [see D&C 128:18]. We have a mission to perform for and in their behalf; we have a certain work to do in order to liberate those who, because of their ignorance and the unfavorable circumstances in which they were placed while here, are unprepared for eternal life; we have to open the door for them, by performing ordinances which they cannot perform for themselves, and which are essential to their release from the ‘prison-house,’ to come forth and live according to God in the spirit, and be judged according to men in the flesh [see D&C 138.-33-34].” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, 410)

In a Mormon Church manual produced for teaching children ages 8 through 11 (Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, 1997), children learn “Joseph Smith Teaches about Baptism for the Dead” (Lesson 34, 193-197. Thanks to Keith Walker for drawing my attention to this lesson).

The lesson teaches children both the historical background on the development of Mormonism’s baptism for the dead as well as the scriptures that Mormons understand to be support for the doctrine. As part of the lesson, the manual offers a few “enrichment activities” designed to enhance the children’s grasp of the importance of baptizing the dead. Two of the offered enrichment activities focus on telling the children what most of us would call ‘ghost stories.’

Brigitte and Carla met in the third grade in Europe. Carla had just been baptized and wanted everyone to know she was a member of the “only true church.” Some of Carla’s classmates made fun of her for saying this, but Brigitte became her friend.

Brigitte’s family was active in their own church, but they were respectful of other religions. Brigitte even went to Church activities with Carla a few times. Brigitte and Carla remained friends all through their school years. Then, at seventeen years of age, Brigitte died.

Two months later Carla awoke in the night to see Brigitte standing at the foot of her bed. She did not speak, and Carla wondered why she had appeared to her. The following year Brigitte visited Carla again, and she came a third time the next year.

Carla later moved to the United States and was married in the Salt Lake Temple. After Carla had been through the temple, Brigitte appeared to her more often. Then, a week before Carla and her husband were planning to go to the temple again, Brigitte appeared to Carla three nights in a row.

On the third night Carla woke her husband and told him about Brigitte’s visits. They both felt Brigitte had been taught the gospel plan in the spirit world and had accepted it. Now she wanted to be baptized. Carla and her husband prayed and asked the Lord how to obtain the necessary records. They were inspired to contact a researcher and were able to get Brigitte’s death certificate. Carla was now able to send in Brigitte’s name to the temple so her temple work, including baptism, could be done.

A few weeks later Carla again awoke to see Brigitte. This time Brigitte was dressed in a white gown and was standing in a place that looked like a baptismal room. The next morning Carla received a letter from the temple telling her that the baptism for Brigitte had been done. (See Carla Sansom, “From Beyond the Veil,” Ensign, Feb. 1978, pp. 49–50.)

The second enrichment story for the children is about the experience of a temple recorder in the Manti Temple:

Brother J. Hatten Carpenter, who served as a recorder in the Manti Temple, told of a patriarch who was watching baptisms for the dead being performed in the temple one day.

The patriarch saw “the spirits of those for whom they were officiating in the font by proxy. There the spirits stood awaiting their turn, and, as the Recorder called out the name of a person to be baptized for, the patriarch noticed a pleasant smile come over the face of the spirit whose name had been called, and he would leave the group of fellow spirits and pass over to the side of the Recorder. There he would watch his own baptism performed by proxy, and then with a joyful countenance would pass away [to] make room for the next favored personage who was to enjoy the same privilege.”

As time went on, the patriarch noticed that some of the spirits looked very sad. He realized that the people in the temple were finished with baptisms for the day. The unhappy spirits were those whose baptisms would not be performed that day.

“‘I often think of this event,’ says Brother Carpenter, ‘for I so often sit at the font, and call off the names for the ordinances to be performed which means so much to the dead’” (quoted in Joseph Heinerman, Temple Manifestations [Manti, Utah: Mountain Valley Publishers, 1974], pp. 101–2; see also The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine 11 [July 1920]: 119).

Mormons are inspired by these stories. Unlike Christianity, which recognizes a biblical prohibition against contact with the dead (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:9-14), Mormonism embraces it. Joseph Heinerman, whose book is quoted (above) in the Primary 5 manual, states,

“These temple manifestations signify God’s distinct approval of the temple labors performed by His people here upon the earth. Hopefully, these inspiring stories will edify the readers as they have me and motivate them to perform temple work more diligently on behalf of both the living and the dead.” (Temple Manifestations, Preface)

God says communication with the dead is a sin, yet Mormonism teaches little children to welcome necromantic contact, be inspired by it, and interpret it as God’s direction and/or approval of proxy ordinance work for the dead. Does anyone else find this troubling?

“…Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

Do Mormon leaders still encourage occultic temple communications?

Judge for yourself:

DATE	Occultic Communication Encouraged	SOURCE
Open House start date April 3, 1993 San Diego, CA Temple	Visitations by the dead: Prior to the dedication of the San Diego temple, local Mormon families were given a packet entitled Family Temple Preparation Material. Included in this written material were about seven pages devoted to "true stories" of temple patrons who were visited by the dead	They See Dead People?
Aug. 12, 1949 -- republished by Mormon church in its Deseret Book Co. publishing, 1972	"I haven't actually seen any of them, but sometimes when I have finished an endowment or a sealing session in the Salt Lake Temple my bosom has burned, and I have known keep within me that those persons for whom I have officiated have accepted that work."	Bountiful Second Ward Chapel, "Disembodied Spirit Life" section of Life Eternal: A Series of Four Lectures Lynn A. McKinlay, Deseret Book Co. 1972, p. 206
1980	Lds "apostle" Boyd K. Packer: "On many occasions I have been present -- when sealings were to be performed, when temple ordinance work was being done, when funeral sermons were being preached --in circumstances when the veil was very thin. The gratitude of those who have gone beyond found its way through the misty barrier and was communicated as spiritual things are communicated."	The Holy Temple, Bookcraft, 1980, p. 267

Documentation of Occultic Mormon 19th-Century History

YEAR	JOSEPH SMITH or LDS Leader 'Revelation' or Mingling with the Dead Episode	SOURCE
1830s
1831	”The records of early Mormonism are replete with accounts of activity from the spirit world. According to John Whitmer, who was the official Church Historian in Joseph Smith's time, some converts to the new religion would 'act like an Indian in the act of scalping,' or would 'slide or scoot on the floor with the rapidity of a serpent....' During the ordination ceremony of Harvey Whitlock as a high priest in 1831, he was seen to have 'turned as black as Lyman was white,' his fingers 'were set like claws,' and, unable to speak, he went about the room with eyes 'as the shape of oval Os....' On another occasion, one man, who weighed over 200 pounds, was thrown through the air by an unseen force, and another 'began screaming like a panther....'	46. John Whitmer, John Whitmer's History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Modern Microfilm Company, n.d.), Chapter Six and 47. Max H. Parkin, Conflict at Kirtland: A Study of the Nature and Causes of External and Internal Conflict of the Mormons in Ohio Between 1830 and 1838 (Salt Lake City: Max Parkin, 1966), pages 79-80 – both as cited in GOD-MEN AND SPIRITUAL VEGETABLES:The Occult Worldview of Mormonism
1831 [Source is much later from Whitmer is describing 1831 manifestations]	”John Whitmer wrote: 'Some had visions and could not tell what they saw, some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it as expert as a light dragoon; some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping; some would slide or scoot on the floor with the rapidity of a serpent, which they termed sailing in the boat to the Lamanites, preaching the gospel. And many other vain and foolish maneuvers that are unseeming and unprofitable to mention. Thus the devil blinded the eyes of some good and honest disciples. I write these things to show how ignorant and undiscerning children are, and how easy mankind is led astray, notwithstanding the things of God that are written concerning his kingdom.'	“Church History,” Journal of History, Jan. 1908, p. 55 – as quoted by a href=”http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3085089/posts”>D&C Student Manual
June 3, 1831	The Mormon priesthood being conferred corresponds EXACTLY with the manifest revelation of “the man of sin”: “...the Elders from the various parts of the country where they were laboring, came in; and the conference before appointed, convened in Kirtland; the Lord displayed His power to the most perfect satisfaction of the Saints. The man of sin was revealed, and the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the elders.”	History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 175-176
Aug. 12, 1831	Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, on the bank of the Missouri River, McIlwaine’s Bend, August 12, 1831. On their return trip to Kirtland, the Prophet and ten elders had traveled down the Missouri River in canoes. On the third day of the journey, many dangers were experienced. Elder William W. Phelps, in a daylight vision, saw the destroyer riding in power upon the face of the waters.	Lead-in intro to Lds 'scripture' D&C 61
March 27, 1836 and continuing into next year	Joseph Smith observed: “Soon after the Gospel was established in Kirtland, and during the absence of the authorities of the Church, many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild, enthusiastic notions were entertained: men ran out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them; one man pursued a ball that he said he saw flying in the air, until he came to a precipice, when he jumped into the top of a tree, which saved his life; and many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the Church of God..."	Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons 1 April 1842, p. 747, cited at D&C Student Manual
July 30, 1837	Eventual first president Heber C. Kimball, who would become second counselor to Brigham Young, demon possessed and other Lds missionaries attacked by demons in Preston, UK	Discovering LDS Preston – Satanic attack
1840s
Aug. 10, 1840	Joseph Smith uses macabre setting – a funeral sermon – to first introduce the doctrine of necro-baptism	”I first mentioned the doctrine in public when preaching the funeral sermon of Brother Seymour...”	BYU Family History Lab
January 1841-->Summer 1843	Joseph Smith becomes obsessed with the dead: "The Prophet Joseph Smith...had received the revelations (sections 124, 127, 128, and 132) which pertain directly to this work.” [Re: the dead] “And during the last part of his life he said, 'This subject was upon my mind more than any other.'"	Lds “apostle” Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, p. 191 1980 Bookcraft
April 1842	”...who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints?”	Joseph Smith, The Prophet's Editorial in the Times and Seaons, as found in History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 573
April 7, 1844	It's less than three months before Joseph Smith's death. And, like he did with a Baptism of the Dead doctrinal unveiling, Smith chooses yet another funeral sermon to unveil one of the most controversial Mormon doctrines: That men can become gods (and that God was once a man).	The King Follett [funeral] sermon
1850s
April 6, 1853	”How do the Saints expect the necessary information by which to complete the ministrations for the salvation and exaltation of their friends who have died? By one holding the keys of the oracles of God, AS A MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH THE LIVING CAN HEAR FROM THE DEAD. Shall we, then, deny the principle, the philosophy, the fact of communication between worlds? No! verily no! The spiritual philosophy of the present age was introduced to the modern world by Joseph Smith. The people of the United States abandoned him to martyrdom...simply because a medium of communication with the invisible world had been found, whereby the living could hear from the dead. ...an obscure boy and his few associates, in the western wilds of New York, commenced to hold CONVERSE WITH THE DEAD...ONE OF THE LEADING OR FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF "MORMON" PHILOSOPHY, viz. - "That the living may hear from the dead."... ...we...call attention to the means of discriminating or judging between the lawful and the unlawful mediums or channels of communication...the holy Prophet...remind us that a people should seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead! ...the Lord...has committed to this Priesthood the keys of holy and divine revelation, and of CORRESPONDENCE, OR COMMUICATION BETWEEN angels, SPIRITS, AND MEN... ...all the most holy CONVERSATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH God, angels, and SPIRITS, shall be had only in the sanctuary of His holy Temple... Ye are assembled...and have laid these Corner Stones, for the express purpose that the living might hear from the dead, and that we may prepare a holy sanctuary, where "the people may seek unto their God, for the living to hear from the dead"...	Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pp. 44-46
1860s
1868	Re: former early cohort of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon (who left Smith's group): ”Sidney Rigdon was Prophet, Seer and Revelator for a small group of Mormons in New York. In his capacity as prophet, Rigdon regularly received revelations, often directed at specific followers. His revelations include channeling of the dead. He recorded these revelations and sent them to his follower Stephen Post. The resulting compilation of revelations (in Rigdon’s handwriting) are available today in the Stephen Post Collection at the University of Utah, where they are stored as Copying Book A & Book of the Revelations of Jesus Christ to the Children of Zion Through Sidney Rigdon Prophet & Seer & Revelator. Essentially this scripture can be viewed as The Doctrine and Covenants Part II.”	Sidney Rigdon: Channeling The Dead
1870s
Early 1877	In the last two weeks before he left the St. George, Utah temple, we have at least four accounts that claim that the spirits of the signers of the Declaration of Independence -- with George Washington -- having appeared to Woodruff. Is the temple haunted? Were these indeed ghosts of the signers? Could they have been demons in disguise as ghosts?	Lds Temple Haunted? Did Declaration of Independence signers appear as ghosts to leader? [Vanity]
1880s
Oct. 10, 1880	Fourth Lds "prophet" Wilford Woodruff reveals that during the late 1840s or sometime during the 1850s he: "I have had many interviews with Brother Joseph until the last 15 or 20 years of my life; I have not seen him for that length of time." One of the top three-ranked Mormon leaders, Lds "apostle"/First President Heber C. Kimball also claimed: "Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped."	Journal of Discourses 21, pp. 317-318; source for Kimball's quote: Deseret Weekly News, 53:112, Temples of the Most High, 1896, p. 345
May, 1884	The Haunting of Bishop Ballard's Neighborhood by Elderly Newspaper Delivery Boys Ghostly newspaper delivery "boys": "In May 1884, Bishop Henry Ballard of the Logan Second Ward was signing temple recommends at his home. Henry's nine-year-old daughter, who was talking with friends on the sidewalk near her home, saw two elderly men approaching. They called to her, handed her a newspaper, and told her to take it to her father. The girl did as she was asked. Bishop Ballard saw that the paper, the Newbury Weekly News, published in England, contained the names of more than 60 of his and his father's acquaintances, along with genealogical information. This newspaper, dated 15 May 1884, had been given to him only three days after it was printed. In a time long before air transportation, when mail took several weeks to get from England to western America, this was a miracle. The next day, Bishop Ballard took the newspaper to the temple and told the story of its arrival to Marriner W. Merrill, the temple president. President Merrill declared, 'Brother Ballard, someone on the other side is anxious for their work to be done and they knew that you would do it if this paper got into your hands.'" (Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1996, p. 99) Ballard was then quoted by Bryant S. Hinckley in Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard, Deseret Book Co, p. 249, as saying: "Elder Melvin J. Ballard testified that 'the spirit and influence of your dead will guide those* who are interested in finding those records."* (As cited in Come Follow Me, Melchizedek Priesthood Personal study guide, 1983)	Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1996 p. 99; Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard, Deseret Book Co. p. 249, as cited in Come Follow Me, Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guide, , p. 162, 1983
Sept. 16, 1887	Fourth Mormon Prophet Wilford Woodruff tells followers, ”I feel to say little else to the Latter-day Saints wherever and whenever I have the opportunity of speaking to them, than to call upon them to build these Temples now under way, to hurry them up to completion. The dead will be after you, they will seek after you as they have after us in St. George. They called upon us, knowing that we held the keys and power to redeem them. I will here say, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them.”	Journal of Discourses 19:229
1888	Lds “apostle” Charles W. Penrose: "Knowledge that is needful concerning the spiritual sphere will come through an appointed channel and in the appointed place. The temple where the ordinances can be administered for the dead, is the place to hear from the dead. The priesthood in the flesh, when it is necessary, will receive communications from the Priesthood behind the vail." Later (1906) quote from Penrose: "...the Priesthood behind the veil will reveal to the Priesthood in the flesh in the holy Temples of God where these conversations will take place...work...not only going on here in the flesh, but it is going on in the world behind the veil among the spirits that have departed."	Quote 1: Lds "apostle" Charles W. Penrose, Mormon Doctrine, 1888, published through the Juvenile Instructor's office, SLC, pp. 40-41; Quote 2: Conference Reports, April 1906, pp. 86-87 See: We Believe: Doctrines and Principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Rulon T. Burton p D-129: 'Work for the Dead'; cf. The Facts on the Mormon Church by John Ankerberg, John Weldon, & Dillon Burroughs 1991/2009 Harvest House Publishers, p. 70
1890s
April 1, 1893	From a Mormon church LDS Sunday School Lesson: Suggestions for Lesson Development Attention Activity: As appropriate, share the following story or use an activity of your own to begin the lesson. Frederick William Hurst was working as a gold miner in Australia when he first heard Latter-day Saint missionaries preach the restored gospel. He and his brother Charles were baptized in January 1854. He LDS.org - Sunday School Chapter Detail - “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Thei... Page 1 of 6 http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=ce109207f7c2011... 12/4/2009 tried to help his other family members become converted, but they rejected him and the truths he taught. Fred settled in Salt Lake City four years after joining the Church, and he served faithfully as a missionary in several different countries. He also worked as a painter in the Salt Lake Temple. In one of his final journal entries, he wrote: “Along about the 1st of March, 1893, I found myself alone in the dining room, all had gone to bed. I was sitting at the table when to my great surprize my elder brother Alfred walked in and sat down opposite me at the table and smiled. I said to him (he looked so natural): ‘When did you arrive in Utah?’ “He said: ‘I have just come from the Spirit World, this is not my body that you see, it is lying in the tomb… I look to you to do the work for me in the temple. … You are watched closely.”	Diary of Frederick William Hurst, comp. Samuel H. and Ida Hurst [1961], 204 as part of.Lds Sunday School lesson from "Doctrine and Covenants and Church History," "The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers," pp. 1-2
April-->May, 1893	The Haunting of the Salt Lake City Temple opening: An official Mormon church publication claims that when the LDS opened their temple in the Spring of 1893, "Some Latter-day Saints saw...past Presidents of the Church and other deceased Church leaders."	Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1996 p. 102, referencing Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Every Stone a Sermon, 1992, pp. 71, 75, 80.
Jan. 1, 15, 1895	”Think of the affinity between the dead and us. They are looking to us for deliverance. Shall we not help them?”	Zina D.H. Young, Woman's Exponent, Jan 1, 15, 1895, p. 226 Note: Young was a polygamous wife of BOTH Joseph Smith & by

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Because the dead are such an integral part of Mormonism, it makes sense that Mormon children would be taught about the Church’s doctrine of baptism for the dead.

In a Mormon Church manual produced for teaching children ages 8 through 11 (Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants: Church History, 1997), children learn “Joseph Smith Teaches about Baptism for the Dead” (Lesson 34, 193-197. Thanks to Keith Walker for drawing my attention to this lesson).

Do Mormon leaders still encourage occultic temple communications?

Documentation of Occultic Mormon 19th-Century History

Do Mormon leaders still encourage occultic temple communications?