Well, it seems my extremely distant cousin was correct: "Baptism for the dead does not change anything for the person unless they choose to accept that ordinance. It simply makes it possible for the dead to accept baptism if they want it. It's entirely their choice."
It's not forcing dead people to accept Mormonism: it gives them a choice if they are dead.
Unfortunately, the most important fact about this topic seems to be left out: the polygamous sex in the afterlife! I hope that when they tell Rabbi Nachman of Breslau that he has been converted and he is sitting in hell that he has the option of spending the rest of eternity in hell, or spending it in a mormon heaven of blonde shiksas who will have polygamous sex with him.
I'm fairly sure the wise Rebbe would have no problem making up his mind as to what he would choose in that situation.
Anyway, this is a bit like Descartes belief on God, there may not be one, but it doesn't hurt to believe. So, Mormons may be way off, but I know what I'm gonna choose if they are right. How could you pass up polygamous sex in the afterlife with Marie Osmond and Debbie Fields if they are willing to do things that would make pornstars such as Juli Ashton blanche?
And God proves his love by giving me a chance to accept it after I've seen he's right.
Now, that's what I call Heaven!
A really good source on this topic is:
http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_BaptDead.shtml
So, don't knock it if they are baptising holocaust victims. Shouldn't they have chance at a heaven of polygamous sex with hot and horny shiksas?
