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Q. If a person is baptized after death, in Mormon practice, can that person ever be counted as a member of the LDS? Please quote official church teachings. If the answer is "yes," how many such people do the Mormons count as members?

A. If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if we count as members of the Church, those for whom we perform baptisms for the dead. The simple answer is no. These names are never included in the membership records of the Church. We know that Jesus Christ suffered and died so that every person who ever lived, or will live, upon the face of the earth might have the priviledge of receiving eternal exaltation. Does this mean that every person WILL receive eternal exaltation? No. It is the choice of the individual. Baptism for the dead works in the same way. As members of Christ's church, Latter-day Saints perform baptisms for those who have passed on from this life never having had the opportunity to receive or accept the gospel message. We believe that the gospel message continues to be preached in the spirit world even after we die (D&C 138). Those who choose to accept this message can then enter into Christ's kingdom because their baptism has already been performed for them by proxy. If they choose to reject the gospel message, the baptism for them is of no value or consequence.

Let me know if you have further questions.