Water Baptism. Required for the remission of sins and membership in the LDS Church. Baptismal candidates must be eight years or older. A Mormon male who holds Melchizedek Priesthood authority immerses the candidate in water, usually at a local LDS chapel. A covenant with God is made at this time, with the promise to keep all of the commandments. Twelfth President Spencer Kimball explained in a general conference,  “Baptism into Christ’s true church by proper authority opens the doors for exaltation in the eternal kingdoms of glory, exaltation to be earned by repentance, by living righteously, keeping the commandments of the Lord, and service to one’s fellowmen” (“The Stone Cut without Hands,” Ensign (Conference Edition), May 1976, p. 7). It is done no earlier than eight years of age, as Apostle Bruce R. McConkie explains, “Baptism follows repentance and is for the remission of sins, and because little children cannot sin and have no need of repentance, the false practice of infant baptism is of no avail” (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, pp. 379-380). In Evangelical Christianity, water baptism is not a requirement for justification (salvation) but is one of two ordinances practiced by believers in response to their faith.

For more information on a verse commonly used in support baptismal regeneration (Acts 2:38), click here.

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