re: Mormons Taking Over Central Florida

bfniiii,

Perhaps I did not make myself clear. You need these ordinances to be saved. Christ himself said so. What the LDS church does is perform the ordinances vicariously for the dead. In the afterlife, they'll have a chance to hear true doctrine and accept it or reject it. If they accept it, they will have their baptism because someone performed the work for them when they died. If they reject the gospel, the baptism provided for them vicariously is of no effect.

As far as being rebaptized, yes we view this as essential. We believe that God restored his church here on the earth with his priesthood power. Any ordinance performed without the proper authority is not valid. Now, I know this idea may be controversial, but is it really far fetched? So many different Christian religions out there and not a one of them can agree on doctrine. Each offer their own baptism. Is it far fetched that they may lack proper authority to perform said ordinances?

Scriptures tell us that the House of God is a house of order. In my mind, it makes no sense to me that two religions teaching separate doctrines that conflict with each other could both possess the proper authority to perform these ordinances. We believe the Priesthood was restored through the Lord's church. Obviously we believe that the LDS church is God's church here on the earth, possessing all authority to perform these ordinances.

Hope that helps.