Baptism

Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and has its origins with the Jewish ritual of tahara. The word baptize derives from the Greek word βάπτειν (the infinitive; also listed as the 1st person singular present active indicative βαπτίζω), which loosely means "to dip, bathe, or wash". To some groups it is a matter of religious conviction to assert that baptism is precisely equivalent to, to plunge something entirely into the water, so that the water closes over it.

Latter Day Saint baptism

In the Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism), baptism is recognized as one of the four basic principles of the gospel, in addition to faith in Jesus, repentance, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. As with many other Restorationist faiths, baptism must be by immersion for the remission of sins (meaning that through baptism, past sins are forgiven), and occurs after one has shown faith and repentance.

Related Topics:
Latter Day Saint movement - Mormonism - Faith - Jesus - Repentance - Holy Spirit - Restorationist - Sin

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Latter Day Saint baptisms also must occur only after an "age of accountability," or the age at which a child begins to know right from wrong which Mormonism normally defines as the age of eight years. Mormonism strongly rejects infant baptism. In addition, Mormonism requires that baptism may only be performed with one who has been called and ordained by God with priesthood authority.

Related Topics:
Latter Day Saint - Infant baptism - Priesthood

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During the actual baptism ceremony, the priest performing the baptism says a prayer before immersing the baptisee entirely under the water. The form of this prayer has varied. In an early portion of the Book of Mormon, the prayer was as follows:

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:"I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world." (Mosiah 18:13).

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Later in the Book of Mormon, the prayer was given as follows:

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:"Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." (3 Nephi 11:25).

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Some time before 1835, the words "having authority given me" were changed to "having been commissioned." (D&C 20:73).

Related Topics:
1835 - D&C

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Latter Day Saints do not generally believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit occurs immediately after baptism; rather, the gift is given by the laying on of hands in a separate confirmation ritual after baptism.

Related Topics:
Latter Day Saint - Holy Spirit

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The process of repentance and sanctification continues by partaking of the Sacrament every Sunday which Latter Day Saints consider to be a renewal of one's baptismal covenant with God. They also believe that baptism is symbolic both of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection and of the baptisee's death and burial of the natural or sinful man and rebirth as a disciple of Jesus.

Related Topics:
Sacrament - Latter Day Saints - Jesus - Resurrection

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Baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest denomination of Mormonism, baptism and confirmation are only the first of several ordinances believed to be required for exaltation. Membership into the LDS Church is granted only by baptism whether a person has been raised in the Church or not. The church also practices baptism for the dead along with all other Church ordinances members of the LDS Church perform "vicariously" or "by proxy" in their temples for everyone who has not received these ordinances while living.

Related Topics:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Mormonism - Ordinances - Exaltation - Baptism for the dead - Temples

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Baptisms inside and outside the temples are usually done in a font although they can be perfomed in any large body of water. In the temples the fonts are usually laid out on the sculptures of twelve oxen representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Great care is taken in the execution of the baptism; if the baptism is not executed properly it must be redone. The person administering the baptism must recite the prayer exactly, and immerse every part, limb, hair and clothing of the baptisee. If there are any mistakes, or if any part of the baptisee is not fully immersed, the baptism must be redone. Two Priesthood authorities stand by as witnesses in part to make sure that the baptism is conducted properly.

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