Quote Originally Posted by Columcille View Post
Purgatory is reserved only for the Christian. In regards to Tetzel and Luther, I think there is a large misconception by Protestants due to the embellishing stories and animousity between the Reformers and Catholics during that time. Indulgences should not be interpreted through the prism of the Reformers but by the context of how it is directly taught by the Catholic Church. Hence, the baptisms done by LDS is completely different than indulgences by the Catholic Church. Indulgences are to me no different than many Protestant churches' practice to pay for flowers out of respect for recently deceased members and placed in the santuary. Personally, I think that the idea of indulgences should be done as a means of offsetting the temporal effects of sins commited by the person while they were alive. David's sin in killing the husband of Bethsheba and his adultery with her caused a lot of family problems. Indulgences would be something that offsets the bitterness left behind after David's death. This is not the same purpose with which LDS baptisms for the dead are done.
I agree. There certainly were terrible abuses in Luther's time of indulgences,funding cathedrals, etc. compared to today. Paying for another's sins would be nice for those sinned against. Jesus did that for us, didn't He?

The LDS ordinances of Baptism for the dead require the LDS to complete the ordinances as if the dead were actually doing it for themselves. Almost finished. thanks, shoe