Former Mormon lifts the lid on church's 'creepy' baptisms for the DEAD that sees children being put through 'traumatizing' ceremonies to 'save' those who have passed away

Daily Mail UK ^ | March 17, 2024 | Lillian Gissen

[Morgana]

A former Mormon has lifted the lid on the church's bizarre 'baptisms for the dead' - revealing the temple sent her to a cemetery to take pictures of gravestones as a kid and then forced her to participate in a ceremony for the deceased.

Alyssa Grenfell, 31, who now works as an assistant principle in Austin, Texas, was raised in a 'devout Mormon family' in Utah, but decided to leave the 'controlling religion' in 2017.

She has since dedicated her life to helping others 'navigate their own way out of the LDS church' - releasing her own 'guide' called How to Leave the Mormon Church, while also becoming a viral social media star for sharing her experiences online.

Most recently, Alyssa spoke out about a 'creepy' process that saw the group baptize people who have passed away - even if they weren't members of the religion before their death.

In a video shared to her YouTube channel last week, where she has more than 85,000 subscribers, Alyssa announced: 'The Mormon church is baptizing your dead relatives.'

She explained that members of the religion believe that 'everyone must be baptized by the proper Mormon authority' to move on to 'Spirit Paradise' when they pass away.

'Essentially, when someone passes away, if they haven't had the chance to receive a Mormon baptism, they're not saved,' she said.

'So Mormons take the names of those who have not been baptized and take them to the LDS temple.

'They also believe that it's up to the person to accept or reject the baptism on the other side.

[Mark17]

It’s a useless, meaningless ceremony.

You are correct, MM.

[wgmalabama]

Any religion that teaches you will become God yourself over your own planet is not Christian. I assume you are Mormon to such nonsense.

[daniel1212]

Anyone who believes Jesus Christ and believes that Jesus is the redeemer is a Christian.

Nonsense. Many cults believe that, and yet are not that of the faith of the NT church, which is the definitive source of the term "Christians." Smith himself stated that "Moroni" said “that all their creeds [of the churches] were an abomination in his sight” (Joseph Smith-History 1:18–19).

Your Jesus, spirit brother to Lucifer, and with Father and a Goddess mother, is a different God/Jesus and Spirit.

Which means that Mormonism is indeed in the Bible:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2Co 11:3-4)

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2Co 11:13)

May God grant you “repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:25)

[Elsie]

Let's see how accurate the GREEN data is...

 

 

While the rosary, the Memorare, and other prayers are wonderfully powerful ways to intercede for others, Our Blessed Mother decided, in 1840, to help us get a little more creative in regards to how we pray for healing and spiritual conversion for the people in our lives.

 

 https://www.romancatholicman.com/guide-green-scapular-powerful-devotion-covert-operations/

 

Exactly six years later, Mary appeared again, and Sr. Justine asked her these important questions. Our Lady’s reply was surprisingly simple and rather intriguing:

“This scapular is not like others [it is not based on a religious habit] but merely two holy images on a single piece of material. Therefore, no special formula is required to bless it or enroll someone in its use. It suffices that it be blessed by a Catholic priest and worn by the one whom we desire to benefit by Our Lady’s intercession. If, on the other hand, the person is unable, or even unwilling, to wear it or carry it, it may even be slipped, unknown to them, into their clothes, possessions, home or work environments, etc."

 

 

 

 

 

[Mark17]

Are there 6 foot Quakers on the moon? 😆

[Elsie]

No Catholic is obliged to believe in any private revelation (revelation after the death of St. John, the last Apostle living on earth).

And yet SO many Catholics waste their time doing stuff AFTER that time.

 

 

   

Besides the Indulgences attached to the Rosary, Our Lady revealed to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche additional benefits for those who devoutly pray the Rosary.

Our Lady's promise is shown in bold, darker blue text. Additional explanation on and doctrinal connections to each promise is shown following in the smaller normal text font and color. 

Note that the Rosary is the prayer (non-Liturgical) with the most published Magisterial / Papal documents expounding on its excellence.

Vatican II's summary on Our Lady is contained in Lumen Gentium chapter VIII.

 

1.	Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces. Signal Graces are those special and unique Graces to help sanctify us in our state in life. See the remaining promises for an explanation for which these will consist. St. Louis de Montfort states emphatically that the best and fastest way to union with Our Lord is via Our Lady [True Devotion to Mary, chapter four].
2.	I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary. Our Lady is our Advocate and the channel of all God's Grace to us. Our Lady is simply highlighting that She will watch especially over us who pray the Rosary. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62) [a great more detail is available on this topic in True Devotion to Mary, chapter four, by St. Louis de Montfort]
3.	The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies. This promise, along with the next, is simply the reminder on how fervent prayer will help us all grow in holiness by avoiding sin, especially a prayer with the excellence of the Rosary. An increase in holiness necessarily requires a reduction in sin, vice, and doctrinal errors (heresies). If only the Modernists could be convinced to pray the Rosary! (see Lumen Gentium chapter V - The Call to Holiness #42) St. Louis de Montfort states "Since Mary alone crushed all heresies, as we are told by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary)..." [True Devotion to Mary #167]
4.	It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for Eternal Things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means. This promise, along with the previous, is the positive part, that being to live in virtue. Becoming holy is not only avoiding sin, but also growing in virtue. (see Lumen Gentium chapter V - The Call to Holiness #42)
5.	The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary shall not perish. Since Our Lady is our Mother and Advocate, She always assists those who call on Her implicitly by praying the Rosary. The Church reminds us of this in the Memorare prayer, "... never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided ..."
6.	Whosoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of Eternal Life. This promise highlights the magnitude of Graces that the Rosary brings to whomever prays it. One will draw down God's Mercy rather than His Justice and will have a final chance to repent (see promise #7). One will not be conquered by misfortune means that Our Lady will obtain for the person sufficient Graces to handle said misfortune (i.e. carry the Crosses allowed by God) without falling into despair. As Sacred Scripture tells us, "For my yoke is sweet and my burden light." (Matthew 11:30)
7.	Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church. This promise highlights the benefits of obtaining the most possible Graces at the hour of death via the Sacraments of Confession, Eucharist, and Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick). Being properly disposed while receiving these Sacraments near death ensures one's salvation (although perhaps with a detour through Purgatory) since a final repentance is possible.
8.	Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the Light of God and the plenitude of His Graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the Merits of the Saints in Paradise. Our Lady highlights the great quantity of Graces obtain through praying the Rosary, which assist us during life and at the moment of death. The merits of the Saints are the gift of God's rewards to those persons who responded to His Grace that they obtained during life, and so Our Lady indicates that She will provide a share of that to us at death. With this promise and #7 above, Our Lady is providing the means for the person to have a very holy death.
9.	I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary. Should one require Purgatorial cleansing after death, Our Lady will make a special effort to obtain our release from Purgatory through Her intercession as Advocate.
10.	The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of Glory in Heaven. This promise is a logical consequence of promises #3 and #4 since anyone who truly lives a holier life on earth will obtain a higher place in Heaven. The closer one is to God while living on earth, the close that person is to Him also in Heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states "Spiritual progress tends toward ever more union with Christ." (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2014)
11.	You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary. This promise emphasizes Our Lady's role as our Advocate and Mediatrix of all Graces. Of course, all requests are subject to God's Most Perfect Will. God will always grant our request if it is beneficial for our soul, and Our Lady will only intercede for us when our request is good for our salvation. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62)
12.	All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities. If one promotes the praying of the Rosary, Our Lady emphasizes Her Maternal care for us by obtaining many Graces (i.e. spiritual necessities) and also material necessities (neither excess nor luxury), all subject to the Will of God of course.
13.	I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death. Since Our Lady is our Advocate, She brings us additional assistance during our life and at our death from all the saints in Heaven (the Communion of Saints). See paragraphs 954 through 959 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
14.	All who recite the Rosary are my Sons, and brothers of my Only Son Jesus Christ. Since the Rosary is a most excellent prayer focused on Jesus and His Life and activities in salvation history, it brings us closer to Our Lord and Our Lady. Doctrinally, Our Lady is our Mother and Jesus is our Eldest Brother, besides being our God. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62)
15.	Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination. Predestination in this context means that, by the sign which is present to a person from the action of devoutly praying the Rosary, God has pre-ordained your salvation. Absolute certainty of salvation can only be truly known if God reveals it to a person because, although we are given sufficient Grace during life, our salvation depends upon our response to said Grace. (See Summa Theologica, Question 23 for a detailed theological explanation). Said another way, if God has guaranteed a person's salvation but has not revealed it to Him, God would want that person to pray the Rosary because of all the benefits and Graces obtained. Therefore the person gets a hint by devotion to the Rosary. This is not to say that praying the Rosary guarantees salvation - by no means. In looking at promises #3 and #4 above, praying the Rosary helps one to live a holy life, which is itself a great sign that a soul is on the road to salvation. (See also paragraphs 381, 488, 600, 2782 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.) In fact, St. Louis de Montfort says even more strongly that "an infallible and unmistakable sign by which we can distinguish a heretic, a man of false doctrine, an enemy of God, from one of God's true friends is that the hardened sinner and heretic show nothing but contempt and indifference to Our Lady..." [True Devotion to Mary, #30]

Reminder: these promises mean that, by faithfully and devoutly praying the Rosary,

Our Lady will obtain for us the necessary Graces to obtain said promises.

It is still up to each individual soul to respond to those Graces in order to obtain salvation.

---

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/prayer/15promise.htm

 

 

[Elsie]

No Catholic is obliged to believe in any private revelation (revelation after the death of St. John, the last Apostle living on earth).

It appears that YOU wear the brown because you 'believe' in it's powers:

 The Brown Scapular is by far the most widely worn scapular among Catholics.

It does NOT have to be blessed to be efficacious (though you certainly CAN get it blessed).

What is necessary is for the person wearing it to be enrolled (very short ceremony).

 

 

[Elsie]

Indeed it does!!

and lots of folks also agree...

https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/1-18.htm

[Tennessee Nana]

We used to commemorate each year on the anniversary of the day one of the Mormons called us the Flying Inmans and that we should be hosed like pigs

[Elsie]

The Mormon church is pivoting to a more progressive church.

It's too bad that the very definition of 'progressive' is also pivoting; but you are correct. Observe...

 

 

http://affirmation.org/

 

 

Results of the Affirmation Survey on the Impact of the LDS Policy on Gay Families

Responses showed significant emotional distress, dramatic loss of trust in Church leaders,

and a dramatic decline in Church Activity as a result of the policy.

Individual stories help us to understand where and how different LGBT Mormons find hope,

and why discussion about the Church can be so polarizing.

[daniel1212]

Was the Red Sea ‘baptism’ unnecessary, or was it real killer of torment?..they had to be ‘buried’ (baptized) at the Red Sea to be purged of the nagging curse of Pharaoh’s army (a type of sin).

Certainly there is the analogy, however it fails to support the premise that this was literally required for all subsequently, for this would require all those who were subsequently born to undergo this immersion.

And it is very clear that in the NT baptism is not essential for effectual, penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating faith, which is counted for righteousness, but it is to be concomitant with it.

[Fuzz]

lol.

Quoting your holy book doesn’t help.

[Dr. Sivana]

The efficacy comes from God. It is a form of prayer. Only God knows what it means to me. All the senses should be involved in prayer, not just sight (reading prayers), but incense and candles, Sacred hymns and Chant, postures (Every knee shall bend), hearing the Word taught, and even taste in Holy Communion. It is not just an intellectual exercise, but one that recognizes our bodies and senses as good things, especially when employed properly.

If I use the Brown Scapular as a “charm” and not just a piece of cloth representing a devotion, then I will certainly answer for that.

[daniel1212]

You know your post sounds just as loony to non Christians as Mormon posts sound to you, right?

They sound looney to me since, while purporting to flow from Biblical revelation, it is fundamentally contrary to it.

As for sounding loony to a non-Christian, I was not writing to one who claims to be one, while your estimation depends upon what your trusted source of Truth is. There are many types of non-Christians, thus your post sounds unspecific.

[Dr. Sivana]

And yet SO many Catholics waste their time doing stuff AFTER that time.

A lot of that happened because of various heresies that misrepresented or misunderstood Divine Revelation after the fact. So, when Arianism came along, the Divinity of Christ had to be be defined to correct the error. Similar effforts had to be made for the Nestorians, Monophysites, Monothelitists, Albigensians and Lutherans among others.

[wgmalabama]

Is/was God a man who just became his own god? Does you god have a wife and her name only used in your “temple”. Do you have to baptize the dead because the ritual of baptism itself have more meaning than believing and the Holy Spirit ? Why do they have an entire book about Jesus in America with some lost tribe not even mention the othe two books that add to the Bible?

Don’t get me wrong, I know some very nice people who have been led astray. Love them dearly but spiritually they have wandered way off the path.

[LadyDoc]

Some were doing this in the early Christian church, and it was condemned.

However, if you believe only the baptized are saved, you worry that your beloved ancestors might not be with you in heaven, so baptizing the dead is a ceremony that lets you help them.

It is a gift of mercy,

We Catholics believe in baptism of desire and praying for the dead. That drives the Baptists crazy too.

I don't agree with the LDS ideas of Jesus and heaven, but baptism of the dead is an act of charity not something bad.

as for being creepy, well all religions are creepy to outsiders, especially when zealots distort what is going on.

[Elsie]

I know - but what have I got after that? My OWN words?

WGAS!

[Elsie]

A lot of that happened because of various heresies...

And it is STILL around today!

Purge the church of useless albatrosses that encircle the necks of BELIEVERS!

[Elsie]

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/easter?lang=eng

Sounds good, but for a few little things...