Jesus Christ
taught that baptism
is essential to the salvation of all who have lived on earth
(see
Additional Information
Jesus Christ said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Even Jesus Christ Himself was baptized (see Matthew 3:13-17).
Many people have lived on the earth who never heard of the gospel of Jesus Christ and who were not baptized. Others lived without fully understanding the importance of the ordinance of baptism. Still others were baptized, but without proper authority.
Because He is a loving God, the Lord does not damn those people who, through no fault of their own, never had the opportunity for baptism. He has therefore authorized baptisms to be performed by proxy for them. A living person, often a descendant who has become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is baptized in behalf of a deceased person. This work is done by Church members in temples throughout the world.
Some people have misunderstood that when baptisms for the dead are performed, deceased persons are baptized into the Church against their will. This is not the case. Each individual has agency, or the right to choose. The validity of a baptism for the dead depends on the deceased person accepting it and choosing to accept and follow the Savior while residing in the spirit world. The names of deceased persons are not added to the membership records of the Church.
The New Testament indicates that baptisms for the dead were done during the time of the Apostle Paul (see 1 Corinthians 15:29). This ordinance was restored with the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Scripture References
Church Magazine Articles
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“The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus”
By identifying our ancestors and performing for them the saving ordinances they could not themselves perform, we are testifying of the infinite reach of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
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“The Savior’s Visit to the Spirit World”
What Jesus did during the hours between His death and Resurrection provides the doctrinal foundation for building temples.
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“Comparing LDS Beliefs with First-Century Christianity”
Latter-day Saints reject the doctrines of the Trinity as taught by most Christian churches today. These creeds were canonized in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. and do not reflect the thinking or beliefs of the New Testament church.
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Questions of general gospel interest answered for guidance, not as official statements of Church policy.
“The Redemption of the Dead”
“The Spirit of Elijah”
Additional Study Materials
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"Temples"
True to the Faith, 170-74 -
"Baptism for the Dead"
Encyclopedia of Mormonism -
"Family History Work and Genealogy"
True to the Faith, 61-64
