Around 100 New Zealand teenagers recently learned about genealogy at a family history camp in Hamilton.
The youth, all young women from the Auckland New Zealand Harbour Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, participated in a number of activities leading up to and during the camp.
Watch a video about the family history camp here:
Read why Mormons are interested in genealogy and watch a video about why Mormons build temples.
With respect to baptisms for the dead, Mormon Newsroom states that: "Jesus Christ taught that “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). For those who have passed on without the ordinance of baptism, proxy baptism for the deceased is a free will offering. According to Church doctrine, a departed soul in the afterlife is completely free to accept or reject such a baptism — the offering is freely given and must be freely received. The ordinance does not force deceased persons to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or “Mormons,” nor does the Church list deceased persons as members of the Church. In short, there is no change in the religion or heritage of the recipient or of the recipient's descendants — the notion of coerced conversion is utterly contrary to Church doctrine."
Read more.