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The Initiatory
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Baptism for the dead
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[Baptism for the dead represents the Saints' response to the doctrinal dilemma: if, as the Saints believe, baptism is essential for salvation, what becomes of those who never had the opportunity to receive baptism? Joseph Smith resolved the dilemma by preaching that the living could be baptized vicariously for the dead, who then had the opportunity, in the spirit world, to accept or reject the ordinances performed on their behalf. Not only baptism, but every ordinance believed by Latter-day Saints to be necessary for salvation (including the endowment and temple marriage) can be performed vicariously in temples. The Saints' famous zeal for genealogy grows out of their quixotic mission to perform vicarious ordinances for every person who has ever lived.]
BAPTISM
[Baptisms for the dead are performed underground, in the basement of
the temple, as a similitude of the grave. Traditionally, the baptismal
font rests on the back of twelve oxen, like the molten sea in Solomon's
temple.] 
[The officiator and the proxy stand together in the water. The officiator raises his right arm to the square and pronounces the following words.]
Brother _________,
having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize
you for and in behalf of _________, who is dead, in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
[The officiator then immerses the proxy completely underwater.]
CONFIRMATION
[The officiators lay hands on the proxy's head. The officiator who is acting as mouthpiece pronounces the following words.]
Brother _________, in the name of Jesus Christ, we lay our hands upon your head for and in behalf of _________, who is dead, and confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and say unto you: Receive the Holy Ghost. Amen.
ORDINATION 
[The officiator lays hands on the proxy's head and pronounces the following words.]
Brother _________, having authority, I lay my hands upon your head, and confer upon you the Melchizedek priesthood, and ordain you an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for and in behalf of _________, who is dead, and seal upon you every grace, gift, and authority appertaining to this office in the holy Melchizedek priesthood, for and in his behalf, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NOTES
- See D&C 128:13 and 1 Kings 7:23-26.
- Males are vicariously baptized and confirmed for males, females for
females. (The officiators are invariably male.)
- Before a deceased male can be vicariously endowed, he must be vicariously
ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood. This rite is normally performed
just before the initiatory. Women do not receive ordination.