Baptism
Summary
An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of the Holy Ghost, sometimes called “baptism of fire.” According to JS’s history, in May 1829, John the Baptist appeared to JS and Oliver Cowdery and conferred upon them the authority to baptize. In June 1829, a revelation stated that baptism was for only those who had reached the “years of accountability,” later defined as eight years old. Baptism was required for membership in the church. An April 1830 revelation directed that all converts who had previously been baptized into other Christian denominations should be baptized into the “new and everlasting covenant.” During the JS era, some members were rebaptized for remission of their sins or for healing. Some previously excommunicated members were required to be rebaptized before being readmitted to the church. Beginning in 1840, JS directed church members to perform vicarious baptisms on behalf of those who died without being baptized.
Links
- History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]
- Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 8 April 1831
- Letter from Thomas Burdick, 28 August 1840
- Elders’ Journal, November 1837
- Elders’ Journal, October 1837
- Account of Meeting, 12 January 1841, as Reported by William P. McIntire
- Account of Meetings, Revelation, and Blessing, 5–6 December 1834
- Appendix 1: First Theological Lecture on Faith, circa January–May 1835
- Appendix 3: Statement on Marriage, circa August 1835
- Appendix 3: “Articles of the Church of Christ,” June 1829
- Appendix 4: Declaration on Government and Law, circa August 1835 [D&C 134]
- Appendix 5, Document 6. Blessing to Oliver Cowdery, 2 October 1835
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830 [D&C 20]
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Coltrin, Diary [D&C 20]
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Gilbert, Notebook [D&C 20]
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Hyde and Smith, Notebook [D&C 20]
- Authorization for John P. Greene, circa 6 May 1839
- Blessing to Alden Burdick, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Daniel Stephens, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Harrison Burgess, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Hazen Aldrich, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Hiram Winters, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Lewis Robbins, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Lorenzo Barnes, 3 January 1836
- Blessing to Nathan Baldwin, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Peter Buchanan, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Salmon Warner, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Solomon Denton, 1 March 1835
- Blessing to Willard Snow, 1 March 1835
- Classification of Scriptures, not before 17 July 1833
- Covenant of Oliver Cowdery and Others, 17 October 1830
- Deed to Samuel F. Whitney, 8 July 1838
- Discourse, 5 February 1840
- Discourse, 7 July 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
- Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 2 July 1839, as Reported by Willard Richards
- Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 2 July 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
- Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards
- Explanation of Scripture, 1830 [D&C 74]
- Instruction on Priesthood, between circa 1 March and circa 4 May 1835 [D&C 107]
- Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840
- Journal, 1832–1834
- Journal, 1835–1836
- Journal, 1839
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843
- Journal, March–September 1838
- Letter from Brigham Young and Willard Richards, 5 September 1840
- Letter from Brigham Young, 29 April 1840
- Letter from Brigham Young, 7 May 1840
- Letter from Elias Higbee, 9 March 1840
- Letter from Harvey Whitlock, 28 September 1835
- Letter from Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde, between 22 and 28 May 1838
- Letter from Heber C. Kimball and Others, 25 May 1840
- Letter from Heber C. Kimball, 9 July 1840
- Letter from Isaac Galland, 24 July 1839
- Letter from John C. Bennett, 25 July 1840
- Letter from John E. Page, 23 September 1840
- Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 6 November 1829
- Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 12 November 1830
- Letter from Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 1 May 1840
- Letter from Orson Hyde, 28 September 1840
- Letter from Richard Hewitt, 24 May 1840
- Letter from Robert D. Foster, 24 December 1839
- Letter from Samuel Bent and George W. Harris, 23 September 1840
- Letter from Wilford Woodruff and Jonathan H. Hale, 18 September 1837
- Letter from Wilford Woodruff and Others, 9 March 1838
- Letter from William W. Phelps, 7 July 1837
- Letter from William W. Phelps, with Appended Letter from Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 29 June 1840
- Letter to Edward Partridge and Others, 14 January 1833
- Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, 21 April 1833
- Letter to Church Leaders in Geneseo, New York, 23 November 1833
- Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson County, Missouri, 25 June 1833
- Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835
- Letter to Editor, 22 January 1840
- Letter to Frederick Kesler, 2 July 1840
- Letter to Hyrum Smith and Nauvoo High Council, 5 December 1839
- Letter to Isaac Galland, 11 September 1839
- Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 March 1839
- Letter to J. G. Fosdick, 3 February 1834
- Letter to John Smith, 2 July 1833
- Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833
- Letter to John and Sarah Kingsley Cleveland, 24 May 1839
- Letter to Moses Nickerson, 19 November 1833
- Letter to Newel Knight and the Church in Colesville, 28 August 1830
- Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 12 February 1833
- Letter to Noah C. Saxton, 4 January 1833
- Letter to Oliver Granger, between circa 22 and circa 28 July 1840
- Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 15 December 1840
- Letter to Silas Smith, 26 September 1833
- Letter to Stephen Post, 17 September 1838
- Letter to Vienna Jaques, 4 September 1833
- Letter to William W. Phelps, 31 July 1832
- Letter to William W. Phelps, 22 May 1839
- Letter to the Church in Colesville, 2 December 1830
- Letter to the Church in Caldwell County, Missouri, 16 December 1838
- Letter to the Church in Thompson, Ohio, 6 February 1833
- Letter to the Elders of the Church, 16 November 1835
- Letter to the Elders of the Church, 2 October 1835
- Letter to the Elders of the Church, 30 November–1 December 1835
- Letterbook 1
- Letterbook 2
- Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835
- License for Christian Whitmer, 9 June 1830
- License for Edward Partridge, circa 4 August 1831–circa 5 January 1832
- License for Frederick G. Williams, 27 April 1835
- License for Gardner Snow, 19 January 1839
- License for Hosea Stout, 20 April 1840
- License for John Whitmer, 9 June 1830
- License for John P. Greene, 25 February 1834
- License for Joseph Smith Sr., 9 June 1830
- License for William Smith, 5 October 1831
- Minutes and Discourse, 13 January 1840
- Minutes and Discourse, 2 May 1835, as Reported by William E. McLellin–A
- Minutes and Discourse, 21 April 1834
- Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 October 1840
- Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 April 1840
- Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 October 1839
- Minutes, 1 October 1831
- Minutes, 1 September 1831
- Minutes, 12 April 1840
- Minutes, 16 September 1835
- Minutes, 17 August 1835
- Minutes, 17 March 1834
- Minutes, 19 February 1834
- Minutes, 2 May 1833
- Minutes, 20 February 1834
- Minutes, 23 March 1833–B
- Minutes, 25–26 October 1831
- Minutes, 26 September 1830
- Minutes, 26 April 1835
- Minutes, 28 November 1834
- Minutes, 28–29 September 1835
- Minutes, 3 December 1832
- Minutes, 3 May 1834
- Minutes, 30 April 1832
- Minutes, 30 January 1836
- Minutes, 4 April 1834
- Minutes, 8 March 1840
- Minutes, 9 February 1834
- Minutes, 9 June 1830
- Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 1 March 1835
- Mortgage to Peter French, 5 October 1836
- Note on Ordinations, circa 16 June 1831
- Pay Order to Newel K. Whitney for George Miller, 18 September 1840
- Pay Order to Newel K. Whitney for “Mrs. Young,” 15 June 1840
- Proclamation, 15 January 1841
- Questions and Answers, 8 May 1838
- Recommendation for Edward Partridge and Isaac Morley, 1 June 1835
- Recommendation for George A. Smith, 21 September 1839
- Recommendation for Heber C. Kimball, between 2 and 13 June 1837
- Record of the Twelve, 14 February–28 August 1835
- Report of the First Presidency, 4 October 1840
- Revelation Book 1
- Revelation Book 2
- Revelation, September 1830–B [D&C 28]
- Revelation, September 1830–D [D&C 30:5–8]
- Revelation, September 1830–E [D&C 30:9–11]
- Revelation, 1 November 1831–A [D&C 68]
- Revelation, 12 October 1833 [D&C 100]
- Revelation, 12 July 1843 [D&C 132]
- Revelation, 14 June 1831 [D&C 55]
- Revelation, 15 March 1832 [D&C 81]
- Revelation, 15 May 1831
- Revelation, 16 April 1830 [D&C 22]
- Revelation, 16 April 1830, as Recorded in Gilbert, Notebook [D&C 22]
- Revelation, 16 November 1835
- Revelation, 19 January 1841 [D&C 124]
- Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]
- Revelation, 23 July 1837 [D&C 112]
- Revelation, 25 November 1834 [D&C 106]
- Revelation, 27 February 1832
- Revelation, 29 August 1832 [D&C 99]
- Revelation, 4 February 1831 [D&C 41]
- Revelation, 4 November 1830 [D&C 34]
- Revelation, 5 January 1831 [D&C 39]
- Revelation, 6 April 1830 [D&C 21]
- Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52]
- Revelation, 6 May 1833 [D&C 93]
- Revelation, 7 December 1830 [D&C 35]
- Revelation, 7 May 1831 [D&C 49]
- Revelation, 8 July 1838–B
- Revelation, 9 February 1831 [D&C 42:1–72]
- Revelation, 9 December 1830 [D&C 36]
- Revelation, 9 February 1831, as Recorded in Gilbert, Notebook [D&C 42:1–72]
- Revelation, 9 May 1831 [D&C 50]
- Revelation, April 1830–C [D&C 23:4]
- Revelation, April 1830–D [D&C 23:5]
- Revelation, April 1830–E [D&C 23:6–7]
- Revelation, February 1831–A [D&C 43]
- Revelation, July 1830–A [D&C 24]
- Revelation, June 1829–E [D&C 17]
- Revelation, June 1829–B [D&C 18]
- Revelation, June 1829–C [D&C 15]
- Revelation, May 1829–A [D&C 11]
- Revelation, October 1830–B [D&C 33]
- Revelation, October 1830–A [D&C 32]
- Revelation, September 1830–F [D&C 31]
- Revelation, circa 8 March 1831–A [D&C 46]
- Revelation, circa June 1835 [D&C 68]
- Revelation, circa Summer 1829 [D&C 19]
- Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836
- Revelations printed in The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832–June 1833
- Vision, 16 February 1832 [D&C 76]
- Visions, 3 April 1836 [D&C 110]