Michael

I am not a member of the Church, but have been reading about it, studying the BOM for about 25+ years now. This should be understandable since I am an avid genealogist and have been for about the same amount of time. I spent literally hundreds if not thousands of hours in our local Family History Center scouring books, Microfiche, microfilm, etc. I have traveled thousands of miles in this pursuit, spent countless hours in court house record areas, scouring church registries, corresponding with clergy, etc. in Europe, Eastern Europe and the list goes on. I did also tap into Ancestory in its early days and in fact uploaded GEDCOM files early on. It is virtually impossible to avoid encountering the Church in such a pursuit. At times I have felt mission driven almost as if being called upon by ancestors to record their lives so their memories are not lost. So, here is my question, silly as it may seem. Unless things have changed I know it is/was possible to load ones data on a specially designated computer in the FHC locally and run down each ancestor to determine whether or not they have had any or all possible ordinances completed. My major interest, and the basis for this enquiry, is whether it is possible for a non-member such as I to arrange for someone else (Church member with valid recommend) to actually do proxy baptisms for those ancestors eligible? Thinking maybe young missionaries in return for some assistance with their mission expenses? Also, would wonder if such activities are limited to simply direct line ancestors or are collateral line predecessors eligible as well. You might find all of my interest rather odd. I don’t think so really. Although I have not been “moved” to attend the local stake, explore conversion, etc., after reading the BOM several times and researching quite a bit about the history, traditions, and beliefs of the LDS Church, I think “why take a chance?” Proxy baptisms do seem sensible to me and would seem to offer “spiritual insurance” in a sense. An effort to look out for those who have gone before us. So, is such a thing possible? If so, what would be the process to affect such temple work? Michael