In their favor, they do have wonderful, and free, resources for tracing ancestors. Does being added to some data base really reflect on the deceased? [Az_gila]
Az_gila -- Lds do more than "genealogize" -- they ritualize...the dead in their temples.
But let's look @ genealogy for a moment -- as to what can become objectionable about it from a Biblical standpoint.
Millions of Mormon man-hours -- Genealogy -- is rooted in baptizing dead people. Now, genealogy for "roots-searching" is fine, but when "genealogy as ultra time consuming religious obsession" takes over, wouldn't you say it might be good to consider what the apostle Paul has to say about this?
Or do you all just ignore the New Testament?
...stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths AND ENDLESS GENEALOGIES. THESE PROMOTE CONTROVERSIES RATHER THAN GOD'S WORK—which is by faith." (1 Timothy 1:3-4)
But AVOID FOOLISH CONTROVERSIES AND GENEALOGIES...because these are unprofitable and useless. (Titus 3:9)
(Paul says it's useless, provokes controversy, and is not faith-promoting. So even the controversy ignited by protagonist Mormons is distracting)
As for the question, "Does this 'hurt' anyone?" yes it does -- in two prominent ways...one of which I covered last post.
THE OTHER WAY IT HARMS?
It hurts the living because over-focusing on the dead distracts what we can do in relating to & in caring for the living!.
We can all agree that Jesus talked much about serving the living -- the poor, the widow, the orphan, the lost sheep, right?
So what would happen in the world if all religions obsessed with the dead as much as Mormons do? Obviously, we're not going to "end poverty in our lifetime" (Jesus said, "the poor will always be with you")...but since countless LDS leaders have called the Mormon people self-saviors and saviors of the dead, it's not only a distraction from the poor but delusional.
I respectfully disagree with your sentiments. On a planet of 6 billion people, I cannot be bothered to ensure I object to whatever practices are being carried out by believers of other faiths. Is my failure to call out some tribal ritual in central Africa jeopardizing my salvation? I would rather focus my attentions on calling out the true enemies of God, who are themselves focused on killing me and my brethren. Those who are focused on ensuring my salvation get a better shake.