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Post by Heart on Mar 26, 2017 11:37:13 GMT
the thread about the niece leaving for her mission reminded me of a current situation I would like help with:
I work at an assisted living facility (old folks' home) and we have been blessed to have sister Missionaries come to visit us once a week.
I mentioned in passing once that my mom is adopted and I don't know much about my family history. The girls were incredibly enthusiastic about their Family Information Center and invited me to come- several times. Nicely, but definitely emphatic in their invitation.
I am very interested, but cautious due to the custom of baptism after death I've heard LDS folks sometimes practice.
I don't want my mom (who is dead) or her relatives (also deceased) to be baptized by default if I go and use the center.
Is this a thing I legitimately should be concerned about, or am I borrowing trouble?
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Post by refugeepea on Mar 26, 2017 11:50:23 GMT
I was a bad Mormon. I never went to a Family Information Center. It honestly seemed (to me) at the time most who went were retirees or if you were given a church calling. You could go online to ancestry.com, but it's owned by Mormons (not by the church though if I remember right) too. I think you are kind of screwed once your information is out there. If I remember right, you can request that relative not be baptized, but it isn't organized very well. Many deceased people have been baptized numerous times (once is all that is needed). There's a good chance some obscure 4th or 5th cousin who is related to you has had your relatives work done.
Maybe some of the non Mormon peas can help you that are into family history.
ETA: Maybe a LDS pea can chime in, but I don't think non Mormons will know if work has been done on their relatives. I thought you had to have a special ID assigned by the bishop to see these things. A different type of computer program at a Family Information Center?
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carhoch
Pearl Clutcher
Be yourself everybody else is already taken
Posts: 3,115 
Location: We’re RV’s so It change all the time .
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Post by carhoch on Mar 26, 2017 11:52:00 GMT
I would not do it if I was you and I really wish that the LDS stop with that incredibly disrespectful practice.
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Post by Tasha on Mar 26, 2017 13:01:14 GMT
I am LDS, although not very informed about family history. I do know that only relatives can request that someone be baptized. But the pp is right, it could be requested by an obscure relative. However, they must be deceased for a specific amount of time. I'm not sure the length, but my mind goes to maybe 70-100 years.
I would speak to the missionaries about your concerns. They will be upfront and have more info.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Mar 26, 2017 14:42:02 GMT
If i wanted the information i wouldn't be worried about being baptized by the LDS. It's not like i chose to do it and God has me checked off on his list as LDS.
I think it's a disrespect practice, but doesn't affect me in any way.
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Post by bc2ca on Mar 26, 2017 16:03:39 GMT
My atheist father has completed our family history as far back as he can and made heavy use of the local LDS Family Information Center. He has nothing but positive things to say about "the Saints" as he calls them and the help they gave to him in his research. His experience is that the volunteers in the centers have a true passion for genealogy and were able to point him to other resources and answer any questions he had.
He did discover some distant relatives in one family line were baptized and was told that it could only be done by/or at the request of a direct line relative. Given that it was a very clear line, I wouldn't be worried about the LDS deciding to start baptizing your relatives just based on you using their resources.
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Post by Karene on Mar 26, 2017 16:46:55 GMT
If you are talking about their Family History Centres, I have used them for years. I order microfilms from them that come up to my local centre for me to look for family info. They are very nice in the centre and would help people who need it. They never saw any of what I was researching, and never asked. It is a great resource for finding out about your family. Nowadays, I try to find as much as I can online on their site, but not everything is digital yet. They have expanded so now local libraries also can order the microfilm for you. You need to look on their site to see what public library closest to you can order microfilm. I can order through the LDS centre which is a 1/2 hour from me or a public library in a town a 1/2 hour the other way. I chose the public library last year because they are open every day and the LDS centre is only open 2 afternoons and 2 evenings a week.
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Post by Heart on Mar 26, 2017 22:53:09 GMT
thanks to all of you for the information. I posted a while ago about trying to find information on my dad (which is still a possibility), but finding background information on my mother would also be a bonus.
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Post by femalebusiness on Mar 26, 2017 23:09:25 GMT
I am a heathen/non-believer but have made many trips to the Family History Library and also ordered films through the local centers. I cannot tell you how wonderful and helpful the people who work there are. I have never encountered any proselytizing or preaching of any kind. I know about their practice of baptizing the dead but don't see what the big deal is. It certainly doesn't hurt the dead person. Of course I'm not religious so I couldn't care less about baptizing.
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