“It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.”
– Fatherly advice
Nicolas Ulmer is a little upset. Due to God’s Folly, The Internet, he discovered that one of his relatives was posthumously baptized by The LDS Church. Even more infuriating, LDS officials refuse to provide him with a sufficient explanation:
Carrying out online research into my family, I was surprised to learn from LDS posts that my direct ancestor, Johannes Ulmer, also of Steckborn, was posthumously “baptized” Mormon. I have repeatedly written to many Mormon authorities, including Brigham Young University and LDS headquarters, asking by what theological or legal right they presume to change my ancestor’s faith to theirs, but have gotten no substantive reply whatsoever.
Read the complete letter here.
When I was a young Mormon boy, I was baptized by proxy for many, many, many, many, many deceased individuals (all male, BTW. It’s important to God that in proxy baptisms, the genitals match).
At the time, I sincerely believed I was doing those people a great favor; giving them the gift of God’s salvation. Seeing it from their perspective now, I see just how offensive it could be.
I also have to accept the knowledge that I will have various posthumous LDS rituals performed on my behalf, though I make it clear that I would not approve of those actions. Regardless of my wishes, however, one of my relatives, no matter how close or distant, will eventually put my name on one of those little slips of paper.