Baptism
2
Age of Accountability - (D&C 20:71; D&C 68:25, 27)
8 Illustrated in Symbolism - (JST Genesis 17:1; 1 Nephi 17:4-5; Mosiah 23:3-4; Ether 3:1)
08 – “There is no infant or child that has died before arriving at the years of accountability, but what is redeemed, and
is therefore entirely beyond the tormented of hell, to use a sectarian term. And any doctrine, such as the sprinkling of
infants, or any religious rite for little children, is of no effect whatever, neither in this world nor in the world to come.
It is a man-made doctrine, and therefore not ordained of God; and I will defy any man to find in any of the records of
divine truth any ordinance instituted for the salvation of little innocent children; it would be unnecessary on the face
of it, and the only thing that can be found is where Jesus took the little ones in his arms and blessed them, which is
and would be perfectly right to do according to the order of God. But the sprinkling of infants or the doctrine that
infants go to hell under any circumstances, is a doctrine ordained of man and not of God, and is therefore of no avail
and entirely wrong and displeasing in the sight of God..” (Wilford Woodruff, JD, 23:126)
Infant Baptism - (Mosiah 15:25; Moroni 8:8-11; D&C 137:10)
Established at the Council of Carthage XVI (418 AD)
(James E. Talmage, The Great Apostasy, pg.119)
09 – “They need no baptism and never will, for our lord has performed all the work necessary for them.” Will
automatically inherit the Celestial kingdom, [And exaltation - Bruce R. McConkie, MD, pg. 674] but must still
comply with the requirements. (Joseph Fielding Smith, DS, 2:54)
Authentic Authority - (D&C 13:1)
10 – “Baptism without divine authority is not valid. It is a symbol of the burial and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, and must be done in the likeness thereof, by one commissioned of God, in the manner prescribed,
otherwise it is illegal and will not be accepted by Him, nor will it effect a remission of sins....” (Joseph F. Smith,
JD, 19:190)
Administered Through Ordained Wording - (D&C 18:29-30; 3 Nephi 24-25; D&C 20:72-74)
Administered Through Immersion - (1 Peter 3:20-21)
Improper Baptism - (D&C 123:7-8)
Sprinkling was authorized by Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (248 AD)
(James E. Talmage, Articles of Faith, 486)
Administered Through the Laying on of Hands - (D&C 33:15; D&C 49:12-14)
Significant Symbolism Instituted With Respect to the Ordinance
Death, Burial, & Resurrection - (D&C 76:51; D&C 128:12-13; Romans 6:3-5)
Blood, Water, & Spirit/Birth - (1 John 5:6-9; Moses 6:59–60)
The Very Elements or Witnessing Parts of the Atonement = Blood, Water, Spirit
11 – “It is common among us to say that baptisms are performed in similitude of the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ, and that they should therefore be performed by immersion. This is true, but it is an
oversimplification and tells only part of the story. Baptism is a new birth; it is symbolical of our new life in the
kingdom of God, which new birth is a living reality because of the shedding of the blood of Christ, or in other
words because of his death, burial and resurrection. The new birth grows out of the atonement wrought by our
Lord; the newness of life comes to the repentant sinner because he has bowed to the will of the Lord; and has
been immersed in water by a legal administrator.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Promised Messiah, pg. 389-390)
12 – “Justification = The ratification or approval of the performances entered into.” (Bruce R. McConkie, MD,