The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsTalmage, James E. (James Edward)
Religion
The Articles of Faith: A Series of Lectures on the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Talmage, James E. (James Edward)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
=12. A Repetition of the Baptismal Ordinance= on the same individual
is allowable under certain specific conditions. Thus, if one, having
entered the Church by baptism, withdraws from it, or is excommunicated
therefrom, and afterwards repents and desires to regain his standing
in the Church, he can do so only through baptism. However, such is a
repetition of the initiatory ordinance as previously administered.
There is no ordinance of "re-baptism" in the Church distinct in
nature, form, or purpose, from other baptism; and, therefore, in
administering baptism to a subject who has been formerly baptized, the
form of the ceremony is exactly the same as in first baptisms. The
expression, "I re-baptize you," in place of "I baptize you," and the
additions "for the renewal of your covenants," or "for the remission
of your sins," though such have been used by officiating elders and
priests of the Church, are not authorized. The dictates of reason
unite with the voice of the presiding authorities of the Church in
discountenancing any erratic departures from the course prescribed by
the Lord; changes in ceremonies given by authority can be effected
only by authority, and we must look for direction in these matters to
those who hold the keys of power in the Church.
=13.= A "re-baptism," that is, a repetition of the simple ordinance as
at first performed, may be allowed under particular circumstances,
which seemingly warrant this extraordinary step. Thus, in the early
days of the Church in Utah, its members having come hither through
much tribulation, long and toilsome journeyings, accompanied in many
instances by prolonged suspension of Church gatherings and other
formal religious observances, it was wisely suggested by President
Young that the members of the Church renew the witness of their
allegiance to the cause of God, by each one seeking baptism. Then, as
other companies of immigrants continued to arrive, the same conditions
of long travel and rough experience applying in their cases, and
further, as many of them hailed from foreign branches of the Church,
still incompletely organized, through which circumstances the actual
standing of the members could not be readily proved, the same rite of
a second baptism was allowed to them. However, it was never intended
that such a practice should become general; far less that it should be
established as a permanent rule of action in the Church. The
Latter-day Saints do not profess to be Anabaptists.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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