Recently the Mormon Church find themselves in the headline for offending Hindus and Jews with the proxy baptism of Anne Frank and Mahatma Gandhi. While the church claims that they can’t locate Anne Frank in their baptism records a former member of the LDS church named Helen Radkey was able to locate the pacifist and revolution leader Mahatma Gandhi on their records. On March 1, 2012, The First Presidency of the LDS Church responded to the controversy with a letter to their church members reminding them once again that proxy Baptism for celebrities and Holocaust victims are unauthorized.
First of all I can see that proxy Baptism may be misunderstood especially if seen as a forceful conversion to Mormonism. Second I can see why this ritual can be misinterpreted. Considering that Anne Frank died for her faith but is all over sudden baptized by the LDS Church in order to be closer to God. That can be quite confusing.
But I don’t think that is what Mormons want to say with those Baptisms. Here is a beautiful written article about this ritual which might give a better understanding.
When a loved one dies, Christians are often comforted with the prospect of reuniting in heaven again assuming that the diseased knew Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The same desire is found in the LDS church according to my understanding as a non member. The anticipation of meeting and celebrating in heaven again with loved ones probably drives those proxy baptisms.
In addition the diseased can accept or reject the gift of Baptism according to his will.
Therefore their can be only one underlying cause of the Baptism of Anne Frank and Mahatma Gandhi and that is admiration and the wish to meet up in heaven some day.
The grandson of the revolutionary and ideological leader seems to agree. According to Fox 13 Arun Gandhi implied on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 that his grandfather promoted interfaith, peace and respected religion. He said that Gandhi would say:
“I’m a Hindu, I’m a Christian, I’m a Muslim, I’m a Buddhist, I’m everything, So in that spirit, I think he’d now say he’s a Mormon, too.”
In that spirit I think it’s time to put away our differences, respect each other theologies and theories and stop being easily offended especially if the reasons are noble, sincere and innocent.
For example I can tell you that I pray for you because I sincerely care or because I want to offend. I can wish you a “Merry Christmas” or a “Happy Holidays” because I truly mean it or because I want to make a point.
Faith only offends me if it is done with a superior attitude but not when it comes across as sincere and kind hearted. Discerning that difference doesn’t seem too hard to do.