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From: "Carol W. Skydell" <>
Subject: re: Mormon controversy in Maine
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 2004 09:02:06 -0400


.....to quote an oft used phrase coined by the tv series "Dragnet"...
just the facts ma'am <g>
-----------
Chad writes: "But there is nothing malicious or underhanded going on here."

"Malicious"?....certainly not. "Underhanded"????...

Here's how the system gathers records.

A Memorandum of Understanding is presented to a custodian of records. The
one I have states as follows " In order to preserve and share
historical information of significant genealogical value, it is agreed
that: The Genealogical Society of Utah (Society) will microfilm the
following records for the time periods listed: (the specific records are
identified)

The Society includes the information that it will circulate copies of the
microfilmed data within its genealogical research system, but NOWHERE is
it mentioned that the GSU is actually the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. NOWHERE is the custodian of records informed
that the end result will be the 'posthumous', 'vicarious', 'proxy', or
the current , 'proffered' baptism of each and every one of the thousands
of names in those records.

Would you call that means of acquiring vital records an open disclosure of
intent.?
================

Kathy Flynn writes in part:

I understand that mistakes had been made in the past and the 1995 agreement
has stopped that but the IGI containing names simply abstracted from a
record does not mean a temple process was done or that the 1995 agreement
has been ignored.

Am I correct?
-------------------------
Sorry Kathy, not even close <g>. The 1995 agreement has stopped
nothing. Names of Holocaust victims were removed in 1995 as per the
agreement and those names recorded on a CD and presented to the various
groups who participated. Roughly half the names removed in accord with the
1995 agreement are already back in the IGI, some with ordinance dates as
recent as May 2004.

The agreement stated that no further Holocaust victims would be
posthumously baptized. Names of Ukrainian Jews murdered in 1942 are now
appearing with June 2004 ordinance dates.

The agreement stated that permissions of closely related Jewish family
members were to be requested. While one correspondent to this list stated
that a Brooklyn stake does request them, this is highly unusual. Even Don
Evans, church spokesman in Arizona said in February in an Associated Press
interview "permission should be obtained from an immediate family member
but, ordinarily, we have not asked for permission" .

And finally to clarify what the IGI actually is....it is an index of names
of people who have been CLEARED for, or already have been, posthumously
processed ....baptism, endowment, sealing to parents, spouses or children
and some even elevated to the level of Melchizedek priesthood. It might
be more accurate to call it an IBI - International Baptismal Index.

There is no question that the Church runs the finest genealogical library
in the world, and for this we, as amateur or professional genealogists must
be grateful. But in our enthusiasm for what is offered, let's not
ignore the facts about the true purpose behind this effort and the way in
which the records are acquired.

Carol Skydell,
Chilmark MA


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