Baptism

====Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints====
[[File:Mormon baptism circa 1850s.png|thumb|right|upright=0.8|A Mormon baptism, circa the 1850s]]
{{Main|Baptism in Mormonism}}

In [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), baptism is recognized as the first of several [[Ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]] (rituals) of the [[gospel]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Bruce D. |last=Porter |author-link=Bruce D. Porter |date=October 2000 |title=The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2000/10/the-first-principles-and-ordinances-of-the-gospel |access-date=March 24, 2009 |journal=[[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]]}}</ref> In [[Mormonism]], baptism has the main purpose of remitting the [[sin]]s of the participant. It is followed by [[Confirmation (Latter Day Saints)|confirmation]], which inducts the person into membership in the church and constitutes a [[baptism with the Holy Spirit]]. Latter-day Saints believe that baptism must be by full immersion, and by a precise ritualized ordinance: if some part of the participant is not fully immersed, or the ordinance was not recited verbatim, the ritual must be repeated.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/duties-and-blessings-of-the-priesthood-basic-manual-for-priesthood-holders-part-b/priesthood-and-church-government/lesson-5-performing-priesthood-ordinances?lang=eng |title= Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B |chapter= Performing Priesthood Ordinances § Baptism |year= 2000 |pages= 41–48 |publisher= LDS Church }}</ref> It typically occurs in a [[baptismal font]].{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In addition, members of the LDS Church do not believe a baptism is valid unless it is performed by a Latter-day Saint one who has proper authority (a [[Priest (Latter Day Saints)|priest]] or [[Elder (Latter Day Saints)|elder]]).<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/baptism-baptize?lang=eng |title= Guide to the Scriptures: Baptism, Baptize § Proper authority |website= churchofjesuschrist.org |publisher= LDS Church }}</ref> Authority is passed down through a form of [[apostolic succession]]. All new converts to the faith must be baptized or [[rebaptism (Mormonism)|re-baptized]]. Baptism is seen as symbolic both of Jesus' death, burial and [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]]<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/baptism?lang=eng |title= Baptism |work= [[LDS edition of the Bible|KJV (LDS)]]: [[Bible Dictionary (LDS Church)|Bible Dictionary]] |publisher= LDS Church |year= 1979 }}</ref> and is also symbolic of the baptized individual discarding their "natural" self and donning a new identity as a disciple of Jesus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints |title=Baptism |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/article/baptism |website=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints}}</ref>

According to Latter-day Saint theology, [[faith]] and [[repentance]] are prerequisites to baptism. The ritual does not cleanse the participant of [[original sin]], as Latter-day Saints do not believe the doctrine of original sin. Mormonism rejects [[infant baptism]]<ref>[[Book of Mormon]], {{Mormonverse|Moroni|8:4-23}}</ref><ref name="EoM Infant Baptism">{{citation |last= Parsons |first= Robert E. |contribution= Infant Baptism: LDS Perspective |contribution-url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/3795 |page= 682 |editor1-last= Ludlow |editor1-first= Daniel H |editor1-link= Daniel H. Ludlow |title= Encyclopedia of Mormonism |location= New York |publisher= [[Macmillan Publishing]] |year= 1992 |isbn= 0-02-879602-0 |oclc= 24502140 |title-link= Encyclopedia of Mormonism }}</ref> and baptism must occur after the [[age of accountability]], defined in Latter-day Saint scripture as eight years old.<ref>{{Mormonverse|D&C|68:25-27}}</ref><ref name="EoM Accountability">{{citation |last= Warner |first= C. Terry |author-link= C. Terry Warner |contribution= Accountability |contribution-url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5446 |page= 13 |editor1-last= Ludlow |editor1-first= Daniel H |editor1-link= Daniel H. Ludlow |title= Encyclopedia of Mormonism |location= New York |publisher= [[Macmillan Publishing]] |year= 1992 |isbn= 0-02-879602-0 |oclc= 24502140 |title-link= Encyclopedia of Mormonism }}</ref>

Latter-day Saint theology also teaches [[baptism for the dead]] in which deceased ancestors are baptized vicariously by the living, and believe that their practice is what Paul wrote of in Corinthians 15:29. This occurs in [[Temple (Latter Day Saints)|Latter-day Saint temples]].<ref>{{citation |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/baptisms-for-the-dead?lang=eng |title= Gospel Topics: Baptisms for the Dead |website= churchofjesuschrist.org |publisher= LDS Church }}</ref><ref name="EoM Baptism for the dead">{{citation |last= Burton |first= H. David |author-link= H. David Burton |contribution= Baptism for the dead: LDS Practice |contribution-url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5502 |pages= 95–97 |editor1-last= Ludlow |editor1-first= Daniel H |editor1-link= Daniel H. Ludlow |title= Encyclopedia of Mormonism |location= New York |publisher= [[Macmillan Publishing]] |year= 1992 |isbn= 0-02-879602-0 |oclc= 24502140 |title-link= Encyclopedia of Mormonism }}</ref>