Using an LDS-owned website
I have just gotten into researching my family's genealogy. There are numerous websites dedicated to genealogy research. Some of these websites are owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On many of these websites one can create an account to store and gather information as well as create family trees. However, I am troubled by something I read in the "licenses and rights granted to us" section under "Rights and Use Information" on one such site, familysearch.org, Basically, in exchange for an account, one allows the site owners unrestricted access to all of the genealogy information one has collected and placed on their site, including family trees, sources, etc. I understand that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is interested in family trees and those that have passed away, but for what or to what extent I do not know. So my question is this: is creating an account on LDS owned or affiliated websites okay, or is making an account in some way enabling or approving of the LDS church and their beliefs?
Mormons are interested in genealogies and Web sites that contain genealogical data because that supplies them with information to be used for their baptisms of the dead.
“The teachings of Mormonism state that non-Mormons will enter spirit prison after physical death and wait for Judgment Day. Those in spirit prison have the opportunity to convert to Mormonism, but they cannot eternally progress unless they are baptized. Such spirits must receive baptism vicariously through a living person on earth since they do not have a body that can be baptized. The work of baptizing for the dead (or redeeming the dead) happens only in the temple. Faithful Mormons will carry out this important temple work as a means to further their divine potential. This is the primary motivation behind the extensive genealogical research carried out by the LDS Church. Mormons will refer to this activity as doing family history work.” (From Truth in Love Ministry)
Using an LDS-owned or affiliated Web site will provide information that can be used in a religious ceremony—a ceremony that is entirely void of truth and consequence. If supplying that information bothers you, I would not submit it. If you do not want the Mormons to have more names for their baptism of the dead, I would not utilize the Web sites. If your approach is: “I’m interested in my family history and it doesn’t bother me what a church does with the names of family members because the souls of those family members are beyond the reach of that church,” then go ahead and make use of those Web sites. (You see that conscience is a factor here.)
If you are interested in learning more about Mormonism, visit the Truth in Love Ministry Web site.