LDS Church Performs Proxy Baptisms of Dead Holocaust
Victims Without Families' Permission
 In
1995, the Jewish community learned that the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints was researching the names of the Jews murdered
during the Holocaust in World War II. Mormons were then having
a person stand in for each dead Jew and baptizing them by proxy
into the Mormon church. This practice greatly upset the Jews,
as it did many other groups since it is done without consent from
the descendants of the dead. As a result of a threatened lawsuit
by the Jewish community, the Mormons officially agreed to remove
the approximately 380,000 Jewish names from their lists and cease
the vicarious baptisms. In 1999, it was discovered that proxy
baptisms of the Jews were still taking place contrary to the agreement.
This re-ignited anger from the Jewish community. Once again the
LDS church would agreed to cease this practice and remove the
names already baptized by proxy.
However, in December 2003 a Jewish group discovered that this
posthumous baptizing of many Jews, especially the Holocaust victims,
continued. The current list has such people as philosopher Theodor
Herzl, Anne Frank the teenage diarist, and David Ben-Gurion, the
first prime minister of Israel. The Jewish community is considering
legal action to stop this practice once and for all.
The Mormon church is not going to ask living descendants for
permission to baptize the dead. They know that Jewish families
will never give their permission. To the Mormons it's not a matter
of simply wanting the name to build an ancestral record for research
purposes. Doctrine & Covenants 128:15 says, "And now, my dearly
beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are
principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot
be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their
salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul
says concerning the fathers-that they without us cannot be made
perfect-neither can we without our dead be made perfect." The
Mormon church may agree to remove the names they already have,
but they will just create another list so the work they have already
done will not be lost. They will continue to baptize every person
who has ever lived on this planet, from Abraham through Jews living
today. Their attitude is: should they obey man's law or their
prophets' law? Obviously they feel they must obey their living
prophets because they believe their god speaks to the prophets.
I've discussed this with many people, including Jews, and my
advice is to let the Mormons know you are offended. This practice
is also offensive to God. Psalms 49:7-8 says, "None of them can
by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for
him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever:)" Let's continue praying for Mormons to have their eyes
and minds opened to the truth found in God's Word, the Holy Bible,
His final and infallible word in which we can trust completely.
May God grant you all a Blessed and Happy New Year.
Jim Robertson
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A Comparison of the LDS Articles of Faith with
the Bible - Part 5 by Lloyd Sharp
Article 9: "We believe all that God has revealed, all that
He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many
great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
" Mormonism claims to have a modern day prophet. This prophet
guides the LDS church and claims to be guided by divine revelation
from God. In light of this, Mormons are taught to keep their "eye
on the prophet - for the Lord will never permit His prophet to
lead this Church astray" (Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra
Taft Benson, pg. 142, published by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints).
The prophet (also known as the President) of the LDS church
can add to or change LDS scripture when "the Lord" reveals he
should do so. This is done in spite of the fact that God himself
says, "I am the LORD, I change not" (Malachi 3:6). This is best
seen with the doctrine of polygamy. According to the second LDS
President Brigham Young, polygamy is "a doctrine revealed from
heaven" (Young, Journal of Discourses 11:239). "You might
as well deny "Mormonism," and turn away from it, as to oppose
the plurality of wives" (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses,
5:203). Despite such claims, it was the "prophet" Wilford Woodruff
whose "advice" was to "refrain" from the doctrine of polygamy
in 1890 when "the Lord" told him to do so (Declaration 1 in the
Doctrine and Covenants).
The question must then be asked, which "prophet" are Mormons
to follow? The LDS church in Salt Lake City, Utah, excommunicates
anyone caught practicing polygamy. They consider other LDS sects,
such as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (FLDS) to be apostate for practicing polygamy. Yet the
FLDS claim only to follow the teachings of the "prophets" Joseph
Smith and Brigham Young.
Then we must consider that there are those "apostles" in the
LDS church who say that "Obviously the holy practice [of polygamy]
will commence again after the Second Coming of the Son of Man
and the ushering in of the millennium" (Bruce McConkie, Mormon
Doctrine, p. 578). Needless to say, the contradicting teachings
of such "prophets" and "apostles" show that these "prophets prophesy
lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them,
neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision
and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their
heart" (Jeremiah 14:14).
Mormons often point to Ephesians 2:20 to show that the Bible
supports their belief. "And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone."
Mormons tend to ignore the fact that Jesus Christ is the "chief
cornerstone" of this foundation. The cornerstone of ancient buildings
was the most crucial in laying a foundation. All other stones
were set to line up with the cornerstone. If the cornerstone was
off, the entire foundation would be off as well.
As the "chief cornerstone," Jesus taught "all the prophets and
the law prophesied until John [the Baptist]" (Matthew 11:13,
inserts and italics added). "The law and the prophets were until
John [the Baptist]..." (Luke 16:16, insert and italics added).
The point Jesus makes is clear. The coming of John the Baptist
marked the end of the Old Testament era.
The apostles of Christ fell in line with the "chief cornerstone"
and taught this same thing. Paul was clear that "For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians
3:11). Once a foundation is laid, you build a house on it. You
do not lay another foundation.
The writer to the Hebrews was very specific on this matter,
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time
past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2, italics added).
God once spoke to us through prophets. He now speaks to
his people through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the prophet
of prophets. Moses spoke of His coming (Deuteronomy 18:15,18).
The Jews of Jesus' day understood that a great prophet would come.
They asked John the Baptist if he was the prophet and he
said no (John 1:21). Mormonism fails to understand the supremacy
of Christ as the leader of His church over earthly prophets. As
a result, it attempts to rebuild the foundation that has already
been laid.
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In Defense of Those Who Leave Mormonism by
Judy Robertson
Here at Concerned Christians we mend broken hearts. We are also
in the ministry of reconciliation.
We introduce ex-Mormons to our great Healer, Jesus. For only
He can right wrongs, mend deep wounds, and most of all, love us
unconditionally.
Today, a young woman who was born and raised Mormon (I'll call
her Jen), told of a blessing she received. A lady she had just
met asked if she could pay a whole year of college tuition for
Jen. She said yes with much gratitude to God.
A few weeks earlier Jen had told us,
"As a result of my leaving the LDS church, my parents took
away access to my education fund set up by my non-Mormon great
grandpa. They said they would not support me in any way because
I had 'turned my back on my Heavenly Father.' Being an excellent
student, and having nothing but the best intentions as a student
and daughter, nothing hurt me more than having my own parents
sit stone-faced and tell me they didn't support me.
"Soon after, my youngest brothers and sisters (age nine and
eleven) were told that they could not see me outside of my parents
home, as if I was a criminal. I was also not invited to Thanksgiving
dinner. My biggest wish is that my parents could love and support
me unconditionally."
Jen has been undergoing psychiatric treatment since she told
her parents of her decision to leave the church. Her psychiatrist
recommended she attend Concerned Christians for support.
This is not an isolated incident. Here are excerpts from just
a few of the letters we receive regularly.
From Kentucky: "Since leaving Mormonism, my entire family
will have nothing to do with me."
From Holland: "We lost the whole family, eight children
and twenty-four grandchildren."
From a grandparent: "They (son and daughter-in-law) won't
let us see our grandchildren. They're afraid we will influence
them to leave the church."
From a Mormon: "I'd rather see my son dead than leave
the LDS church."
 A
couple in Mesa was told that if they left the Mormon church they
would become sons of perdition and be in outer darkness for eternity.
Their teenage son was held down by several LDS friends, and egg
was smeared on his face. He was told, "You're taking the easy
way out. You're not strong enough to be Mormon."
When Mormons leave their church they are often shunned by family
and friends. Others endure physical and verbal abuse. Some lose
jobs.
Many of us here at Concerned Christians have experienced similar
hurts, but God has healed our wounds. Now we listen, validate
the hurts of others as real, then help them begin their journey
of spiritual healing as a result of the emotional trauma they
have endured.
Jesus warned us that when we choose to follow Him, we will alienate
others, "A man's enemies will be the members of his own household.
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me. Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not
worthy of me" (Matthew 10:36- 37).
We recommend these practical steps to assist ex-Mormons in the
healing process:
- Politely refuse to attend the LDS court since you've done
nothing wrong.
- Write a letter of resignation and ask to have your name removed
from the rolls of the LDS church. No excommunication is necessary
since this is your decision, not the church's. This will stop
unwanted visits by church leaders.
- Begin reading the Bible, and attend a Christ-centered church.
- Forgive those who've hurt you. We acknowledge this is difficult
but with the Lord all things are possible. When He was crucified
by those He came to save, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
- Become involved in a Concerned Christians support group and/or
hook-up through email with a nurturing Christian who knows about
Mormonism.
- Do something constructive to help those who've hurt you. Examples:
Pray for them. Fix a meal and invite them over or take a plate
of cookies to them.
- Acknowledge that Jesus "died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for
them and was raised again." Begin your new life in Christ. "Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:15,17).
Today, Jen is a "new creation" in Christ. When she first came
to Concerned Christians, Jen's face was sad and she hardly looked
any of us in the eye. Now her countenance is bright and cheerful.
She has made many friends here and considers us her "new" family.
"We are therefore, Christ's ambassadors, as though God were
making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf:
Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for
us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2
Corinthians 5:20-21).
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Dear Concerned Christians,
Thank you for everything that your organization has done for me
and all the others you have helped. The very existence of this
group has been an answer to my prayers. And an extra thank you
for helping me get my name removed from the LDS church. May God
bless you all.
Mesa, AZ
Dear Jim,
Thank you so much for your help with getting my name removed from
the LDS church records earlier this year. You made one simple
phone call and got it done. I had tried for a year and got no
results. I am forever grateful for your wonderful organization!
I have enclosed a copy of the letter I received from my Bishop
declaring my name has been removed from church records. I will
gladly support Concerned Christians through the purchase of tapes,
videos and books as a way of helping to fund your organization
and letting others know about the Mormon cult. Again thank you
for helping me and thousands of others like me free our names
from LDS records. I long to help other Latter-day Saints and other
former church members similar to the way you helped me.
Wilson, NC
Dear Friends in Christ,
We appreciate "The Cross" so much! We thank & praise the Lord
for your ministry. We praise the Lord that souls are being saved,
that people are coming to know the one & only Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mesa, AZ
Jim,
I just finished reading "Out Of Mormonism" by your wife and wanted
to tell you how much it has blessed me. I was born into a Mormon
family, as was my mother and father. My mother passed away when
I was 5 years old and my dad married another LDS woman. I attended
all the Mormon activities, but at the age of 17 I moved out and
didn't go back to the LDS church for many years. I met and married
my non-LDS husband and we started attending the Mormon church.
One year later we were married in the Dallas temple. However,
my husband and I decided never to go back to the church again.
We moved to Houston in 1994. A new friend invited me to go to
some activities at her Christian church. I actually took a job
there working with kids. They taught me more about God then I
was ever able to teach them. I started going to church there,
but not regularly. At an evening service, a gentleman I had become
friends with preached the sermon. It was powerful and I ended
up accepting Christ as my Savior. He baptized me shortly after
that. That same night, my husband who had said he would never
go to church again, also accepted Christ, as did our three daughters.
I thank God for opening our eyes to the truth.
Houston, TX
Dear Friends,
We want to let you know how much we appreciate your newsletter.
Our gift is small, as we are on a fixed income, but know you will
put it to good use. Our son has just come out of Mormonism and
we are so proud he finally saw the light! He had been a member
for twenty some years and couldn't believe how blind he had been.
We share the newsletter with him and he reads it cover to cover.
Thank you so much.
Preston, ID
Dear Friends,
Enclosed is my donation to your ministry. Thank you so much for
sending your monthly newsletter, "The Cross." I really appreciate
and enjoy it very much. It is always so full of wonderful and
useful information. God bless!
Riverside, CA
Dear Jim & Judy,
We received your newsletter announcing the fact that it was the
30th anniversary of Concerned Christians. It made me realize how
the time has flown. You may not remember us, but you counseled
our son who was about to convert to the LDS church in the early
80's. He came back to the true Christian faith and way of life.
We are still grateful and we thank you sincerely. We have frequently
spoken of you to others and always with the greatest of respect
and thanks for what you have done for us and others. The enclosed
check is to assist you in what your ministry can do for others.
Mesa, AZ
Dear Friends,
Thank you for all the good work you are doing. It is especially
important when I see what is happening to my grandson. When he
comes over to visit, the children across the street and next door
refuse to play with him because they are Mormon and he is not.
Again, thank you for helping people to understand that although
they call themselves Christian, their actions and their doctrines
say other wise.
Mesa, AZ
Dear Judy,
I'm writing to say thank you for writing "Out of Mormonism." I
was born in the LDS church 18 ½ years ago. Your book has changed
my life. I was able to relate to everything in the book. I have
recently joined a Baptist Church, but my husband is still Mormon.
He was raised in the same Baptist Church I'm now going to. It
is so hard going to separate churches and we have many arguments
about which one is true. We both finally agreed to not push each
others beliefs on the other. However, he keeps piling the guilt
trips on me all the time. I don't know how to talk to him anymore.
He has even mentioned the "D" word twice and has talked to the
bishop about it. I don't want my son going to the LDS church and
I want my husband to go to church with us. And I don't know how
to tell my parents that I have left the Mormon church. I need
good advice and I need lots of prayer to stay away from the LDS
church and to get us all back together. Thanks for opening my
eyes to the way t he Mormon church really is. I think everybody
needs to read your book. My mother-in-law read it and said it
was so sad you had to go through what you did. Again, thank you
for sharing your experience with others all over the world.
Tyler, TX
Hi Jim,
My name is Bobby and I'm a seventeen year old senior in High School
in the state of Maryland. During my junior year I became involved
with Mormonism and over a year of prodding by the elders and my
friends, I decided to join, but my parents would not allow it
to happen. God led me to the right mentors, who led me to the
right resources to learn about the true Mormonism. Among these
resources was the video "The Godmakers" and your wife's book,
"Out of Mormonism." After a long haul I gave up on Mormonism,
and in no small part thanks to you and what you have and are doing.
So thank you for all you are doing. I know God has a mighty call
on your life; a call which He has asked me to share in. So thank
you for being such a good example to me. Your willingness to display
Christ's light is an inspiration to all.
The state of Maryland
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