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Temples: Administration of Temples [The Mormon OTHER WORLD Series]
Encyclopedia of Mormonism (BYU) ^ | Robert L. Simpson

Posted on 10/31/2014 5:12:21 AM PDT by Colofornian

Baptisms for the dead often involve young people, ages twelve to seventeen. By appointment, they will spend two to three hours in the temple baptistery area, each person being baptized typically, for a score or more deceased persons. They dress in all-white baptismal clothing, attend a brief worship service, and then participate in the proxy baptisms. Those performing the baptism often include the adult male supervisors traveling with the group.

It is understood that in the spirit world all persons for whom temple work by proxy is performed will have heard of the gospel and its ordinances

(Excerpt) Read more at eom.byu.edu ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Other non-Christian; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: baptismsofdead; inman; lds; mormonism; mormontemples
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From the article: Baptisms for the dead often involve young people, ages twelve to seventeen. By appointment, they will spend two to three hours in the temple baptistery area, each person being baptized typically, for a score or more deceased persons.

Latayne Colvett Scott, an ex-Mormon who wrote The Mormon Mirage: A Former Mormon Tells Why She Left the Church (Zondervan, 1979), tells on p. 194 her experience in the Mormon temple in the almost rote manner these baptisms of the dead were performed upon her as a teen:

"When my name was called, I went down into the water. The baptizing elder turned me around so that he could see a large screen, something like an electric football scoreboard, which he looked at over my shoulder. On top of the screen was my name, and below it a name I don't remember, but which I'll say was Elizabeth Anderson. 'Sister Celeste Latayne Colvett,' he said, looking at the screen, 'having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you, for and in behalf of Elizabeth Anderson, who is dead, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.' Then he quickly dropped his right arm from the square and lowered me beneath the water. As I was regaining my footing (you learn after the third or fourth time to put one foot slightly behind the other to help you get back out of the water) he had already begun the same prayer, inserting this time the name of another dead woman which had flashed onto the screen behind me. Fifteen consecutive baptisms were performed with me as proxy in a matter of about three minutes. As I left the font, another proxy was preparing to be baptized. Then I was led into a 'confirmation room' where a man sat on a high stool with a chair near his knees. I sat on the chair, my back to him, and he and several other elders placed heir hands heavily upon my head while he pronounced this prayer: 'Sister Celeste Latayne Colvett, in the name of Jesus Christ, we lay our hands upon your head for and in behalf of Elizabeth Anderson, who is dead, and confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints..." (The Mormon Mirage, p. 194)

(Of additional interest in the above-described "confirmation room" process Scott wrote about is that many Mormons have said that this proxy Baptism process offers a "choice" in which spirits on the other can reject becoming Mormons. Yet, an "automatic" confirmation process has been part and parcel of the proxy baptisms--indeed Lds leaders "confirm" dead souls as "members of the church." Which is it? Are these dead souls confirmed at a later point when deceased Lds missionaries present the Mormon proselytism offer to them, or upon the ritual process in the temple now?)

How many such "endowments for the dead" has the Mormon Church performed?

1870s-->1985: Almost 86 million

A. "Through 1985, a cumulative total of...almost 86 million endowments for the dead have been performed."

1985-1988: Another 14 million in just three years (100 million total)

B. 25 years ago today - 1988 Oct.1 [Lds complete 100 million endowments for the dead in temples]

1990-1996: Another 50 million (150 million total)

C. "A 1996 estimate by Richard Cowan states that around 150 million endowments have been performed, most of which were in behalf of deceased persons." (Endowment (Mormonism))

Almost a billion endowments for the dead thru 2014???

D. Projecting the above #...if Lds merely maintained its early 1990 growth figures, it has now performed 300 million endowments for the dead. More likely, due to the the fact that the Mormon Church went from 49 temples in 1996 to now 143 completed temples (almost quadrupled) -- with a staggering 48 completed in 1999 and 2000 alone -- and technological (digital) increasing genealogical information, it wouldn't surprise me to discover that Mormonism is on the cusp of its billionth endowment for the dead!

These numbers are mind-boggling considering:

The Mormon Church...   ...didn't even build temples for necro purposes until after 1840...  ...and didn't have an "endowment house" until 1855...  ...didn't really start endowments for the dead on any kind of broader scale til the late 1870s... ...and didn't have a temple outside of Utah until late 1919... 

1 posted on 10/31/2014 5:12:21 AM PDT by Colofornian
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To: All
The 2014 OTHER WORLD Series ... in case you've missed postings these past two weeks:

Scary Mormon Halloween Costumes, Ranked [The OTHER WORLD Series]
* Zombies: The Specter of Materialism [The Mormon OTHER WORLD Series]
* Seven Sub-Topical Samples Proving Mormonism's Occultic Origins [The OTHER WORLD Series]
* Demonic and Ungodly Names in the Book of Mormon 1 [The OTHER WORLD series]
* Demonic and Ungodly Names in the Book of Mormon 2 [The OTHER WORLD series]
* Demonic and Ungodly Names in the Book of Mormon 3 [The OTHER WORLD series]
* Lecture by Dr. Adam Miller, Professor of Philosophy: 'Zombies, Vampires, and the Book of Mormon'
* Mormon Vampires in the Garden of Eden [The OTHER WORLD series]

2 posted on 10/31/2014 5:13:10 AM PDT by Colofornian
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To: Colofornian

Building the “high places” that God condemned.


3 posted on 10/31/2014 5:17:55 AM PDT by high info voter
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To: high info voter
Building the “high places” that God condemned.

Indeed.

And...displacing the New Testament teaching of the Body of Christ -- flesh & blood people -- as the true "temple of the Holy Spirit." (see 1 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians; Ephesians)

4 posted on 10/31/2014 5:25:40 AM PDT by Colofornian
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To: high info voter

I thought the Vatican was catholic.


5 posted on 10/31/2014 5:30:16 AM PDT by Loud Mime (Liberalism cannot survive without conservatives to fund it.)
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To: All
For previous discussions linking the Mormon temple & the occult, see:
2013: * 15 occultic and controversial facts you may want to know about Lds temples [Vanity]
2013: * Reviews [The OTHER World Series: 'The eyes of the dead are upon us' - ex-LDS 'prophet']
2011: * Lds Temple Haunted? Did Declaration of Independence signers appear as ghosts to leader? [Vanity] (reposted in 2013)
* They See Dead People? (The OTHER World Series - LDS & Temple Hauntings)

**************************

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
2009 Even Mormon Sunday School material highlights spirit paranormal manifestations Lds.org Sunday School Chapter Detail: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual: See p. 2
Fall 2006 (and assumed other years' courses as well) BYU freshman course offering Religious Education class at BYU -- C261: Intro to Lds Family History (Genealogy): See 'Manifestations of the Spirits' section, pp. 57-58
1996 An official Mormon church publication -- even placed wholly as a digital publication for years -- highlighted such occultic communication allegedly occurring in 1884 and 1893 ... see chart below Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1996 pp. 99, 102
1983 An official Mormon church priesthood manual was encouraging such paranormal communication in citing an 1884 manifestation 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

6 posted on 10/31/2014 7:05:09 AM PDT by Colofornian
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To: Colofornian
The best experts on Mormons are not those who reject them.

It’s like trusting Nancy Pelosi is an expert on theTea-Party.

CAUTION!! CHRISTIAN BASHING THREAD!!
----------------This thread does not praise God. It weakens faith----------------

7 posted on 10/31/2014 7:16:11 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: Loud Mime

“I thought the Vatican was catholic.”

You probably thought that Jews were not gentiles too.


8 posted on 10/31/2014 8:56:50 AM PDT by Graybeard58 (Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Eccl 12 V.13)
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To: laotzu
BTTT

I usually skip these hate-spam threads. Every once in awhile, however, I lift up the rock to see what's crawling beneath.

9 posted on 10/31/2014 9:01:37 AM PDT by Dagnabitt
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To: Dagnabitt
There is fun to be had watching satan pontificate on who is and is not a real Christian.

Next up, watching Jane Fonda pontificate on who is and is not a real Conservative, and then Chris Matthews will decide who is authentically black.

10 posted on 10/31/2014 9:16:13 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: laotzu
The best experts on Mormons are not those who reject them.

Mormonism is a flaky religious cult whose true-believing members are as brainwashed as any member of Scientology. You would get more honest information from any Christian or former member of the cult than you would from the inside.

11 posted on 10/31/2014 10:28:39 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: laotzu
There is fun to be had watching satan pontificate on who is and is not a real Christian.

Christianity has been defined for a very long time. The Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, members of Bahai, Armstrongites, and on and on and on, can beat on the gates to heaven all they want. God will simply say, "I never knew you."

12 posted on 10/31/2014 10:30:36 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Dagnabitt
I usually skip these hate-spam threads.

Very rarely do atheists, Mormons, or other cultists ever do anything except "spam hate" in defense of their brethren. I've never gotten a straight answer out of any of them on this forum about the teachings of Mormonism and its history. They can only mock, and if they try to get into specifics, it is they who get squished like bugs.

13 posted on 10/31/2014 10:33:10 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

I am a Protestant Christian, and I stand with my Mormon brothers and sisters in Christ.


14 posted on 10/31/2014 10:34:11 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: laotzu
I am a Protestant Christian, and I stand with my Mormon brothers and sisters in Christ.

No, you are either a Mormon or an infidel posing as a Christian. Let's experiment to see if I am right:

1) Do you believe in the Trinity?

2) Does it bother you that Joseph Smith had something like 20 wives, and publicly lied, claiming he only had one?

3) Do you believe salvation is through arcane temple rituals and obedience to the Mormon high command?

Let's see how you do.

15 posted on 10/31/2014 10:37:12 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
I've never gotten a straight answer out of any of them

I have had many informative and friendly conversations with Mormons here and enjoyed a much different experience.

Perhaps if you didn't lead off calling them cultists and liars.

16 posted on 10/31/2014 10:37:59 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: laotzu
I have had many informative and friendly conversations with Mormons here and enjoyed a much different experience.

Of course you did, you don't challenge them on their religion and you consider them "brothers" in Christ. Challenge them on their religion, and you'll have the experience I am about to have with you.

17 posted on 10/31/2014 10:40:01 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
No, you are either a Mormon or an infidel posing as a Christian.

Now you are attacking my faith. As described above, this thread does not praise God, it weakens faith.

Also; I don't take homework assignments from you.

18 posted on 10/31/2014 10:41:06 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: laotzu
Now you are attacking my faith. As described above, this thread does not praise God, it weakens faith.

Compare your statement to this:

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

You are just a relativist who does not know the scripture.

Also; I don't take homework assignments from you.

Like I said, It's like pulling teeth to get a direct and honest answer out of any of the cultists or their defenders on this forum. When I condemn them, I'm only speaking the truth. It's up to them to take up the challenge and face the scripture, and if they can't overcome it, they must submit to it. After death, God won't be accepting the excuse of "Oh, he was so mean to me, and that was why I didn't fulfill my duty to 'test the spirits' as the scripture commands."

Well, I hope you like hot places.

19 posted on 10/31/2014 10:46:28 AM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
No, you are either a Mormon or an infidel posing as a Christian

Your are calling me a liar and an infidel.

Personal ad hominem attacks instantly qualify your argument as the loser.

If you have honor and wish to apologize, it would be welcomed. Otherwise, we are done here.

20 posted on 10/31/2014 12:42:11 PM PDT by laotzu
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