question about Mormon baptism - Page 2

[seattlemamma]

That's actually not quite true. It is only true if it's within X years of that person's death (I don't remember how many.)

Sorry for the incomplete statement. My DH, who is a member, said it is 100yrs. He couldn't remember if it was from birth or death that they measured the 100yrs..he'll check.

[CorasMama]

I know that it's not more than 75 yrs, from doing Temple work. And that's counted from death. If it were from birth, then that'd not give some families very long.

[LemonPie]

You have to get permission for anyone born less than 95 years ago. It is strongly encouraged that you stick to your own family lines.

[jenneology]

I just want to stop in and comment that this has been a really respectful, and honest thread on the topic. I really appreciate the comments I've read. I've encountered this exact discussion before and it has not be so pleasant. I think that the principles that LDS believe on the topic of baptism for the dead by proxy have been explained really well.

On the topic of accountability by age 8, I've been pondering this myself lately. I greatly appreciate the preparatory years that give children time to learn the principles, to make mistakes without fear of eternal consequences and then when they are mature enough to handle increased responsibility, then become accountable for the outcomes of their actions in the eternal sense. The age of 8 is the customary age, but like others said, the decision is made by counseling together as parents, child, bishop and through prayer to God. It is a valid choice to postpone baptism until accountability in ensured. Not all members of the church are so deliberate in their preparation (treating the ordinance as more of a rite of passage than a convenant) but it is intended to be a prayerful decision guided by the Spirit.

[katieroo]

I currently live in a Predominately LDS area and it does seem to be an "age thing" or peer pressure because since almost everyone is LDS everyone is doing it, has done it, or probably will do it in the future.`

as for me I think it is a huge decision that can only be made by the person that will be baptized and i will have missionary s come do discussions with my children just like they would with a new convert.

[umsami]

So, if you're baptized at 8, are you held to all the LDS beliefs/requirements when you're older? For example, would an 8 year old tithe their allowance or something? Do they do something else when they are 18 or some other older age to further signify agreeing to LDS tenants?

I grew up Presbyterian, where we did infant baptism Then, at about 13 or so, one had the option of being confirmed into the church.

[CorasMama]

it is expected to uphold the commandments, including tithing. But nothing is forced. And when you're 18, you can go to the Temple to do certain ordinances there, which involve further covenants with God (among a whole bunch of other stuff, in the form of teaching and blessing and stuff).

[lovebug]

[akemt]

Mormon baptism

I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In relation to baptisms for the dead we've missed one aspect that should be clarified...there aren't always "second chances" strictly speaking when a wrong choice is made in full understanding of the consequences. There is repentance if one makes the choice, which is more of a "starting again" and rededicating than a total "do-over"...it is a bit deep and complicated though email me if you'd like to work through the concepts. (ETA: We can't turn back the clock, we can simply start new from our current position and do our best from that point on. We can be forgiven for our past actions or inactions, but we won't regain those previous opportunities. And simply stating we believe isn't enough --we must show it by the way we live.)

Baptism for the dead is done on behalf of those who did not have the option in this life for whatever reason --those who didn't get a chance. We cannot judge what constitutes a chance, that is for the Lord, we therefor make it available to all as we believe this ordinance must be completed on the earth.

Our understanding is that our spirit selves will be very much the same "us" as we are now. So, someone deliberately choosing not to follow the Savior when they know him as such likely won't accept the ordinances anyway unless they truly have a change of heart. We believe there are many good people who earnestly do their best and follow the truths they know. This is their chance to follow what we hold to be true if they should agree upon learning of it in the spirit world.

[CorasMama]

So, someone deliberately choosing not to follow the Savior when they know him as such likely won't accept the ordinances anyway unless they truly have a change of heart.

But part of why we say it's not ours to judge who got the chance is that even those who know Him as such can have something blocking them from accepting that. For instance, if you were abused in a religious context as a child, or have an underlying depression that makes you unable to accept Christ, even though it looks to all the world, and even yourself, like you are unwilling. But those things, even though they may appear to be an intrinsic part of you, do NOT follow you into the afterlife to prevent you from accepting the Gospel there. He heals us of those things.

[Bekka]

Yay Corasmama. I love the hope of the Lord. I love how you described this.

I was going to say (regarding the 8 year old thing) that sometimes I think it *is done* because it is the expected thing to do. However, it's not supposed to. I have specifically taught my children that they will be the ones to choose to be baptized; and I would be willing for them to wait if they needed longer to make the decision. When I was the "Primary President" (similar to a "children's pastor" in some churches) for a few years, I specifically used phrases like "when you choose to be baptized" instead of "when you get baptized" because this particular difference is very, very important to me.

I'm very into not taking any of my children's free agency--it's their greatest gift from God, and not my right to take it (of course, as a parent, sometimes we have to define parameters for spiritual, moral, or physical safety, which they *feel* takes their free agency away...).

Sometimes (young) people go on missions because it's "the thing to do," and end up with a crisis of faith when they start teaching and aren't actually sure exactly how much or what they believe. My children are being taught they get to choose, and that choice is their dearest possession, a gift from God.