Patte E, I don’t know how you “learned” those supposed requirements for admission to the temple, but it is one of the most entertaining fictions about Mormonism that I have ever heard. I’ll just address two items: 1. Access to the temple. In ancient Israel, gentiles (non Jews) were allowed only into the courtyards surrounding the temple, analogous to Temple Square, which is Utah’s #1 tourist attraction. Only Jews were allowed within the precincts of the temple itself, and only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, and then only on one day of the year and after intensive purification. A wise teacher makes sure her students understand algebra before she teaches calculus. In like manner, we invite, indeed we plead with all mankind to come unto Christ in his Holy Temple - after they have fulfilled the prerequisites. Although only faithful Latter-day Saints are admitted to any of our 128 temples, the general public is always welcome in any of our approximately 13,000 local houses of worship. Meeting times and directions to your nearest LDS meetinghouse can be found at mormon.org, “worship with us.” 2. Monetary requirements. Do you remember the lesson Jesus taught about the widow’s mite? Do you remember how Malachi condemned Israel for robbing God of tithes and offerings? The poor widow who faithfully tithes ten dollars out of her hundred is as worthy and acceptable unto the Lord as the rich man who tithes ten million of his hundred million. Tracy Hall Jr hthalljr’gmail’com

Sandbee54, I cannot choose between pumpkin or apple pie unless both can be had. Choice requires opportunity. Please indulge me as I summarize some of the principles that motivate our massive effort to “bake the pie” so that the dead can choose. (References are at scriptures.lds.org). We believe the Biblical teaching that baptism is required for admission to the Kingdom of God: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). We believe that baptism is a covenant between man and God that requires immersion of a mortal, physical body in earthly, physical water (neither of which is enjoyed by the spirits of the dead). We also believe, like Catholics (but unlike Protestants), that the covenant of baptism must be administered by someone duly authorized by God to administer it — it requires Priesthood authority from God. We believe that on May 15, 1829, John the Baptist came, as a resurrected being, to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the banks of the Susquehanna river and restored the authority to baptize. (Doctrine & Covenants 13) We believe that on April 3, 1836 (of possible interest to Jews: during Pesach / Passover), the prophet Elijah, who was taken to heaven without tasting death (2 Kings 2:11), came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland, Ohio Temple and restored the keys of of administering the ordinances in behalf of the dead. (D&C 110). (Baptism for the dead was also practiced by the primitive Christian Church: 1 Corinthians 15:29). We believe that when we die our spirit lives on (Book of Mormon, Alma 40:11) and can still exercise freedom of choice, which we call moral agency. And we believe that all covenants that are essential to salvation must be made before the day of resurrection, when all who ever lived will have spirit and body inseparably reunited, then to be judged of God for the deeds performed in the flesh. (Alma 11:43-45) The vast majority of all mankind, throughout all history, have died without ever having heard the Gospel of Christ. We believe that God provided, from the beginning, for proxy ordinances to be performed for and in behalf of the dead, so that all who have ever lived will have equal opportunity to accept or reject the saving ordinances of the atonement of Jesus Christ. If our enemies succeed in shutting down our temples or in otherwise preventing us from doing this work, we believe that God’s eternal plan of salvation for all of his children would be frustrated. Whether or not you accept our beliefs, I hope you can understand that from our point of view, preventing a proxy ordinance denies the spirits of the dead the choice to accept it or reject it. Thanks for reading. Tracy Hall Jr hthalljr’gmail’com

Not all Jews choose to react to Mormon traditions with hostility. For a wonderful example of tolerance read the personal account of Manya Brachear: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2008/11/should-mo… Tracy Hall Jr hthalljr’gmail’com

Ernest Michel knowingly misrepresents LDS teachings on freedom of choice. We neither believe nor represent that our proxy baptisms turn the dead into “Mormons.” It is a free-will offering of love that has neither validity nor meaning if not ratified by the free informed choice of the dead. In respect of Jewish sensitivities, the Church now actually discriminates against Mormons who have Jewish ancestry. Members with Jewish ancestry may submit ordinances only in behalf of direct-line ancestors, and these must be submitted to Church headquarters for pre-approval. It is actually those who seek to interfere with our private religious practices that want to force their will on the dead — by denying them ever any opportunity for choice. For more: http://hthalljr.googlepages.com/choice.html Tracy Hall Jr hthalljr’gmail’com