Baptisms for the Dead

This ordinance has come under particular scrutiny because many people believe that this ritual actually makes the deceased individual a member of the Church. LDS doctrine holds that for a person to go to the highest level of heaven (Celestial Kingdom) they need to be a member of the LDS church and one can only become a member if they are baptized in the flesh. LDS doctrine also holds that individual freedom of choice is of the utmost importance. Though a person's choices impact their eternal development, their relationship with God, and eligibility for blessings you cannot force them to follow a particular path. So faithful members of the Church are baptized in the name of the deceased, giving them the option to join the Church in the afterlife. Other rituals are also performed on behalf of the deceased, including giving them the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Sealing married individuals. As discussed above, these rituals are performed to give the deceased choices and are not meant to force any particular choice on them.