Come on, enough already! Jewish leaders are incensed that the LDS Church supposedly baptized Anne Frank posthumously (Feb. 24, “Claim surfaces of Anne Frank’s baptism by LDS”). Here comes the Mormon Church, taking away their Jewishness. Since the LDS Church is the only organized religion that does baptisms for the dead as an important tenet of their faith, it stands to reason that all other religions including the Jews don’t believe in the need for or the validity of posthumous baptisms by the Mormons, why then should they break a sweat? If the Mormons are wasting their time and effort doing posthumous baptisms for Anne and others, why the concern at all?

Where’s the hurt? Anne Frank is not being forced to give up her Jewishness. If there really is an after-life and Anne is convinced the baptism for her via the LDS Church is necessary, she may choose to accept it or if she thinks the Mormons are wrong, she can reject it.

It’s her choice, not the choices LDS Church or the Jewish leaders. Just because a person was posthumously baptized does not automatically make them a Mormon. It simply affords them a choice. Either the LDS Church is right about that ordinance, or they’re wrong. If they are wrong, why break a sweat and get “incensed.” But if they’re right, well then…

Jeff Wadman

Farr West