If you study the Gospel that was preached by the Apostles and the early "church fathers" you will find the doctrine of baptism for the dead to have been almost universally accepted. It wasn't until the late third and early fourth centuries that this and many other doctrines were done away with. Is baptism required for salvation? Yes. What is to become of those that have not been baptized through no fault of their own? Are they to be condemned to Hell? Can we really believe God is just and loving if that be the case? Proxy ordinances are found in many apocryphal writings, and were generally accepted by the jewish peoples long before Christ showed up on the scene. Some say Paul was not endorsing the practice, but when I use a practice to substantiate an argument of my own, I'm gonna use a practice that I believe in. To say he does not support the practice is ludicrous. Imagine Christ saying to His disciples, "Of course there's gonna be a resurrection. Why would the Egyptians embalm their dead and bury them with all their stuff if they weren't gonna resurrect? Geez, c'mon guys."
