Baptisms for the Dead

"Jesus Christ taught that baptism is essential to the salvation of all who have lived on earth (see John 3:5). Many people, however, have died without being baptized. Others were baptized without proper authority. Because God is merciful, He has prepared a way for all people to receive the blessings of baptism. By performing proxy baptisms in behalf of those who have died, Church members offer these blessings to deceased ancestors. Individuals can then choose to accept or reject what has been done in their behalf. "

Mormons believe in a very significant connection between life and the after life. Your thoughts, desires, and goals in this life will remain constant in the next. Therefore, one's ability to choose in the next life whether or not they are to accept the saving ordinance of baptism, is in his/her favor. Should he/she not have had the opportunity to be introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it existed in his day and as it has been restored to exist in our day, and he/she would have accepted it, he/she will have the opportunity to accept it after he/she has died, through proxy baptisms performed in LDS temples. Should he/she not have desired the saving ordinance, he/she has the equal opportunity of rejecting the ordinance performed by worthy members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.