Comments on: Do Mormons Pray To or For the Dead? http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/ "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men." -Joseph Smith Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:20:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Thaddeus http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-977 Thaddeus Fri, 14 May 2010 09:24:49 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-977 Becky, thank you for enlightening us on your beliefs and practices as a Catholic. I'd like to learn more about your idea of prayer and what it means. Why can a person in purgatory not pray for herself? Is a prayer for the dead a simple, heartfelt plea like, "Father, please comfort and sustain Suzie who is enduring purgatory. In Jesus' name, amen." ? Or is there more ceremony involved? And, I wouldn't go so far as to say that in the LDS Church, a prayer for the dead "doesn't actually do anything." A fervent prayer will always be heard and answered by the Lord. It's just that praying for the dead is not an essential saving ordinance or sacrament in the way that baptism and confirmation are. Be sure you understand what <a href="http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/04/baptisms-for-the-dead/" rel="nofollow">baptisms for the dead</a> are and how they differ from a <a href="http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/04/how-do-you-pray/" rel="nofollow">prayer</a> for the dead. Becky, thank you for enlightening us on your beliefs and practices as a Catholic. I’d like to learn more about your idea of prayer and what it means. Why can a person in purgatory not pray for herself? Is a prayer for the dead a simple, heartfelt plea like, “Father, please comfort and sustain Suzie who is enduring purgatory. In Jesus’ name, amen.” ? Or is there more ceremony involved?

And, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that in the LDS Church, a prayer for the dead “doesn’t actually do anything.” A fervent prayer will always be heard and answered by the Lord. It’s just that praying for the dead is not an essential saving ordinance or sacrament in the way that baptism and confirmation are. Be sure you understand what baptisms for the dead are and how they differ from a prayer for the dead.

]]> By: Becky http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-976 Becky Thu, 13 May 2010 20:36:21 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-976 As a practicing Catholic, I can tell you that the Roman Catholic church teaches us to pray for the dead. As they are in pergatory, a place for being purified (among other things), our prayers help them to become closer to God and give them strength to endure the pain they may be in ( and thus to move on to another place, other than pergatory). We can pray for them, and they can pray for us, but they cannot pray for themselves. I think it helps sometimes to know what other denominations believe and teach, so as to understand perhaps why a question is being asked. Since my church pretty much requires me to pray for the dead, it is interesting to know what other churches teach on the subject. I understand from the comments I read that it is pretty much up to the individual LDS believer if he wants to pray for the dead or not... that it doesn't actually do anything for the deceased person. As a practicing Catholic, I can tell you that the Roman Catholic church teaches us to pray for the dead. As they are in pergatory, a place for being purified (among other things), our prayers help them to become closer to God and give them strength to endure the pain they may be in ( and thus to move on to another place, other than pergatory). We can pray for them, and they can pray for us, but they cannot pray for themselves.
I think it helps sometimes to know what other denominations believe and teach, so as to understand perhaps why a question is being asked.
Since my church pretty much requires me to pray for the dead, it is interesting to know what other churches teach on the subject. I understand from the comments I read that it is pretty much up to the individual LDS believer if he wants to pray for the dead or not… that it doesn’t actually do anything for the deceased person.

]]> By: Willie http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Willie Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:20:35 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-848 In <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/12/31-32#31" rel="nofollow">Matthew 12:31-32</a>, the Savior talked about how all manner of sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven, "neither in this world, <i>neither in the world to come</i>." Evidently this implies that there are sins which may be forgiven in the world to come (after death). Peter, speaking of the Savior, says in <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_pet/3/19-20#19" rel="nofollow">1 Peter 3:19-20</a>, "He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient..." Why would the Savior go and preach to spirits in prison? Just to let them know that they were stuck there forever and that their fate was sealed? I don't think so. Christ said, "He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to <i>preach deliverance to the captives</i>, and recovering the sight of the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." [<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/luke/4/18#18" rel="nofollow">Luke 4:18</a>] Are those the words the Savior spoke that you were referring to? I believe in a God who is merciful and loves all of his children. "For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." [<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/matt/5/45#45" rel="nofollow">Matthew 5:45</a>] I invite you to study the doctrine that we believe. I think that you'll find it is quite coherent with all the scriptures. In Matthew 12:31-32, the Savior talked about how all manner of sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven, “neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Evidently this implies that there are sins which may be forgiven in the world to come (after death).

Peter, speaking of the Savior, says in 1 Peter 3:19-20, “He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient…” Why would the Savior go and preach to spirits in prison? Just to let them know that they were stuck there forever and that their fate was sealed? I don’t think so. Christ said, “He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering the sight of the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” [Luke 4:18]

Are those the words the Savior spoke that you were referring to?

I believe in a God who is merciful and loves all of his children. “For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” [Matthew 5:45] I invite you to study the doctrine that we believe. I think that you’ll find it is quite coherent with all the scriptures.

]]> By: Joseph http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-847 Joseph Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:01:29 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-847 You must receive salvation prior to physical death through the name of Jesus. After death your fate is sealed. There is no changing that fact. Read Jesus' words in the New Testament. You must receive salvation prior to physical death through the name of Jesus. After death your fate is sealed. There is no changing that fact. Read Jesus’ words in the New Testament.

]]> By: jancisco http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-488 jancisco Fri, 15 May 2009 20:24:33 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-488 I thought I would just chime in here-- The only time I ever pray for the dead is when I am doing their ordinances for them in the temple. And in that case, it isn't a "please save their souls" prayer, it is a "please let them be open to this so they can be happy" prayer. That is just me, though. Personally, I agree with Thaddeus. We can't do much to save them but they are probably doing a lot to help us. I thought I would just chime in here–

The only time I ever pray for the dead is when I am doing their ordinances for them in the temple. And in that case, it isn’t a “please save their souls” prayer, it is a “please let them be open to this so they can be happy” prayer.

That is just me, though. Personally, I agree with Thaddeus. We can’t do much to save them but they are probably doing a lot to help us.

]]> By: Thaddeus http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Thaddeus Fri, 15 May 2009 19:08:03 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-487 I agree with Dave here. Praying for the dead isn't institutionalized by the Church. If you pray for the dead, it's just because of your own personal concern. I might pray for a dead relative at a funeral, or when preparing to perform their proxy baptism. But it's hard to know what they need, since we haven't seen each other in a while. I think prayers probably generally flow more in the opposite direction. Prayers from my loving grandparents on my behalf. I agree with Dave here. Praying for the dead isn’t institutionalized by the Church. If you pray for the dead, it’s just because of your own personal concern.

I might pray for a dead relative at a funeral, or when preparing to perform their proxy baptism. But it’s hard to know what they need, since we haven’t seen each other in a while.

I think prayers probably generally flow more in the opposite direction. Prayers from my loving grandparents on my behalf.

]]> By: dave http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-486 dave Fri, 15 May 2009 18:56:03 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-486 Katie, Thanks for your question. Maybe to clarify: I don't think prayer for a deceased person is really an integral part of Mormonism, (like doing ordinances for the dead is). I might be wrong, but even if it is, it's just a personal subject of prayer like any other. I don't think that I have ever done it myself, or heard anyone else do it (except maybe at a funeral, but even then I can't think of any specific instance.) But, as Megan pointed out, there really isn't any reason why you shouldn't, I just don't think it's that common. So in the question of who you would pray for I wouldn't think that it would matter much. We do perform ordinances vicariously for the dead (like that baptisms for the dead article) in temples, and that is a different story. A lot of times I've heard this described by non-mormons as "praying for the dead," but I wouldn't really call it a prayer to God on behalf of the departed. Maybe close, in the general concern for their welfare. In the case of ordinances for the dead, there are rules about who you can and can't perform those ordinances for. Because part of the ordinance is baptism and confirmation as a member of the church, we try to stick to just family members, for legal reasons. Every once in a while, someone's descendants get mad that we've given them a mormon baptism and confirmation. (I've heard someone did it for Obama's grandmother, and it caused a small ruckus?) On that subject, I can understand why people would dislike the idea of their dead grandparents getting baptized into the Mormon church, but it's a funny situation logically. obviously if you don't think Mormonism is true then you shouldn't believe the baptism really means anything anyway. Your question makes me wonder, though. I'm interested in hearing from mormons out there: do you regularly pray for the welfare of your dead family and friends? Katie,

Thanks for your question. Maybe to clarify: I don’t think prayer for a deceased person is really an integral part of Mormonism, (like doing ordinances for the dead is). I might be wrong, but even if it is, it’s just a personal subject of prayer like any other. I don’t think that I have ever done it myself, or heard anyone else do it (except maybe at a funeral, but even then I can’t think of any specific instance.) But, as Megan pointed out, there really isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t, I just don’t think it’s that common. So in the question of who you would pray for I wouldn’t think that it would matter much.

We do perform ordinances vicariously for the dead (like that baptisms for the dead article) in temples, and that is a different story. A lot of times I’ve heard this described by non-mormons as “praying for the dead,” but I wouldn’t really call it a prayer to God on behalf of the departed. Maybe close, in the general concern for their welfare.

In the case of ordinances for the dead, there are rules about who you can and can’t perform those ordinances for. Because part of the ordinance is baptism and confirmation as a member of the church, we try to stick to just family members, for legal reasons. Every once in a while, someone’s descendants get mad that we’ve given them a mormon baptism and confirmation. (I’ve heard someone did it for Obama’s grandmother, and it caused a small ruckus?)

On that subject, I can understand why people would dislike the idea of their dead grandparents getting baptized into the Mormon church, but it’s a funny situation logically. obviously if you don’t think Mormonism is true then you shouldn’t believe the baptism really means anything anyway.

Your question makes me wonder, though. I’m interested in hearing from mormons out there: do you regularly pray for the welfare of your dead family and friends?

]]> By: Katie http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/05/do-mormons-pray-to-or-for-the-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Katie Fri, 15 May 2009 17:53:20 +0000 http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/?p=1301#comment-484 I have what probably will sound like kind of a dumb or naive question. When praying for the dead, do you only pray for deceased family members -- or do you pray for deceased friends, as well? What about people you never knew (perhaps a historical figure, a friend of a friend, etc.)? Thanks! I have what probably will sound like kind of a dumb or naive question. When praying for the dead, do you only pray for deceased family members — or do you pray for deceased friends, as well? What about people you never knew (perhaps a historical figure, a friend of a friend, etc.)?

Thanks!

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