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“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us
to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and
preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering
of God waited in the days of Noah ...” (1 Peter 3:18-20)

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged
according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:6)

It’s amazing that Jesus preached also to the spirits of the disobedient. Appearantly we can repent
and accept Jesus even after death. All is not lost for those who lived without Jesus in their lives.
But there is a problem; how can they be baptized? For Jesus said that

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(Mark 16:16)

and

“... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

The solution to this problem is vicarious baptisms, where the living are baptized for the dead.
This was a common practice amoung the early saints. St. Paul tells us about it in the Bible.

“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are
they then baptized for the dead? (1 Cor. 15:29)

We know this was a common practice because Paul didn’t have to justify it, but rather, he justified
the rising of the dead by the vicarious baptisms. Clearly, St. Paul and the Corinthians considered
the practice of baptisms for the dead to be a normal part of the Gospel, otherwise there would have
been no justification in St. Paul’s argument.

Where do we see this practice today? Which Christian church loves the dead enough to be baptized
for them? As far as I know, all of Christianity simply ignore the dead. All except The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

"We know this was a common practice because Paul didn’t have to justify it, but rather, he justified the rising of the dead by the vicarious baptisms. Clearly, St. Paul and the Corinthians considered the practice of baptisms for the dead to be a normal part of the Gospel, otherwise there would have been no justification in St. Paul’s argument."

This wasn't a common practice in the early church, and LDS have taken this out of context. The reason real christians don't bother with the dead is...they are DEAD. Either they believed in Christ, and their spririt is present with Him, or they did not, in which case, they are eternally seperated from Him. We can't do anything for them.

Anyway, I thought the early church got it all wrong and JS had to restore the gospel. Did I miss something?

"What was being baptized for the dead? It is a mysterious passage, and there have been more than thirty different attempts to interpret it.
1. The plain meaning of the Greek in verse 29 is that some people are being baptized on behalf of those who have died—and if there is no resurrection, why are they doing this?
2. Either Paul is referring to a pagan custom (notice he uses they, not "we"), or to a superstitious and unscriptural practice in the Corinthian church of vicarious baptism for believers who died before being baptized.
3. Either way, he certainly does not approve of the practice; he merely says that if there is no resurrection, why would the custom take place?
The Mormon practice of baptism for the dead is neither scriptural or sensible. Baptism for the dead is a practice that was common in the pagan religions of Greece and is still practiced today by some cults; but it doesn't change a person's eternal destiny, for that is determined while he lives (Luke 16:26).

Read more here.

Which Christian church loves the dead enough to be baptized for them? As far as I know, all of Christianity simply ignore the dead. All except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

You are correct to say the Mormon church loves the dead....Christ said "Let the dead bury the dead"...

Further.... In reference to IPeter4:6....The reason referred to is expressed in the latter part of the verse (so that) not in the proceeding verse.

"...was preached even to those who are now dead."... This preaching was a PAST event. The word "now" does not occur in the Greek, but it is necessary to make it clear that the preaching was done NOT after the people died, but while they were still alive..... Heb 9:27 "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that FACE JUDGEMENT"...

There is no "apparently people can be saved after death" as you stated..it is affirmed... There will be NO opportunity for people to be saved after death. again Heb 9:27

Additionally it was the Corinthian church who continued to infiltrate pagan rites into the Christian church...just as was done in Rome during the dark ages...Baptizing the dead was a pagan practice done before pagan Gods. The Corinthian church had many problems which Paul continually had to address as they were "worldly" and "infants" in the things of the Lord. Baptizing the dead is a Pagan practice which was rooted out of the early church for obvious reasons....it was NEVER part of the Gospel and never shall be. It is a sacrilegious satanic occult practice...and straight out of the pits of hell.

As for John 3:5 The context of this was discussion of fleshly birth and spiritual birth.....not water baptism. Before a child is born the mothers "water breaks" before the child is delivered ("born of the flesh")...

Christians do not at all ignore the dead. They honor and mourn them in burial... and move on in the Life Christ has given them trusting those who are in Christ are safely home.

I see you as a Mormon align yourself and Mormonism to the Christian church.....sorry bub...LDS is not Christian no matter how you cut it and the Christ they serve is an impostor of the highest rank.

Where do we see this practice today? Which Christian church loves the dead enough to be baptized for them? As far as I know, all of Christianity simply ignore the dead. All except The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

The mormon church loves the dead because the proxy baptism brings believers into the temple, a temple recommend is required to enter the temple, payment of a full tithing is required to receive a temple recommend, the tithing dollars flow into the corporation coffers to fund projects like the billion-dollar mall in Salt Lake City...it's all about the dollar$.

Members are "encouraged" to visit temple$ "as often as possible". Parents and other family members are forbidden from entering the mormon temple to witness member's weddings unless they have this temple recommend (after paying the full tithe), for which applicants must satisfactorily answer these questions:

Newest Temple Recommend questions of the LDS church.

Must be answered succesfully in order to obtain a "temple recommend" in order to take part in rituals that will supposedly allow you to progress towards LDS "exaltation".

1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

5 Do you live the law of chastity?

6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinance$?

Feel the love!