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Two days from now I'll be baptizing my youngest son. I had initially decided against doing so, but in the past couple of months my wife has literally begged me to do it. So, I told her that it didn't make much difference to me, but I wondered if my youngest would be disappointed if he were the only one of our six children I didn't baptize. I said I would talk to the bishop, as I wasn't sure he would want me to baptize my son. I spoke to the bishop a few weeks ago, and he said, "Are you planning on baptizing him?" I said I was, as long as that was OK. He said it would be a good thing. Frankly, I was surprised, but to me as long as it's OK with him, there's no reason for me not to do it.

I was thinking that some exmos might find my participating in the ordinance a violation of principle, while some believers might it disrespectful of the ordinance. But you know what? I don't care what anyone thinks. This is between me and my son and the bishop.

Runtu wrote:Two days from now I'll be baptizing my youngest son. I had initially decided against doing so, but in the past couple of months my wife has literally begged me to do it. So, I told her that it didn't make much difference to me, but I wondered if my youngest would be disappointed if he were the only one of our six children I didn't baptize. I said I would talk to the bishop, as I wasn't sure he would want me to baptize my son. I spoke to the bishop a few weeks ago, and he said, "Are you planning on baptizing him?" I said I was, as long as that was OK. He said it would be a good thing. Frankly, I was surprised, but to me as long as it's OK with him, there's no reason for me not to do it.

I was thinking that some exmos might find my participating in the ordinance a violation of principle, while some believers might it disrespectful of the ordinance. But you know what? I don't care what anyone thinks. This is between me and my son and the bishop.

As a believer I do not find it disrespectful and agree with you that it is between the 3 of you.

The Nehor wrote:As a believer I do not find it disrespectful and agree with you that it is between the 3 of you.

Thank you for saying that. I'm actually looking forward to it.

If you're willing to do it, and your wife wants you to do it, and the kid wants you to do it, I say do and screw what everyone else thinks.

You gotta do what you gotta do man.

But I know for me - there's no way in hell i'm baptizing my son. It's 9 months from now.

I don't want him to look back and wonder why i did so, while not believing in it. One day he'll understand why I didn't baptize him, and hopefully - respect me more for it.

I can see him asking me 10 years down the road, when he doesn't believe it anymore - "Dad, why did you baptize me when you didn't believe in it?"

But good luck man. I'm sure you've thought it all through, and are making the best decision for the both of you.

I think doing what you feel in your heart is in the best interest of your child and your family is the "right" thing to do.

I will say I am amazed that your bishop is allowing a non-believer to perform a baptism ... Wow!

Is this a new policy? I have never heard of such a thing.

:-)

~dancer~

Who Knows wrote:You gotta do what you gotta do man.

But I know for me - there's no way in hell I'm baptizing my son. It's 9 months from now.

I don't want him to look back and wonder why I did so, while not believing in it. One day he'll understand why I didn't baptize him, and hopefully - respect me more for it.

I can see him asking me 10 years down the road, when he doesn't believe it anymore - "Dad, why did you baptize me when you didn't believe in it?"

But good luck man. I'm sure you've thought it all through, and are making the best decision for the both of you.

Honestly, I don't worry about that. If he ever asks that question, I'll tell him exactly why I did that. I'd rather explain to an 18 year old why I did this than explain to a little boy why his daddy doesn't want to baptize him. Does that make sense?

truth dancer wrote:I think doing what you feel in your heart is in the best interest of your child and your family is the "right" thing to do.

I will say I am amazed that your bishop is allowing a non-believer to perform a baptism ... Wow!

Is this a new policy? I have never heard of such a thing.

:-)

~dancer~

There is no real policy. The Bishop has the keys. Anyone who has the Priesthood can do it with the Bishop's okay.

truth dancer wrote:I think doing what you feel in your heart is in the best interest of your child and your family is the "right" thing to do.

I will say I am amazed that your bishop is allowing a non-believer to perform a baptism ... Wow!

Is this a new policy? I have never heard of such a thing.

:-)

~dancer~

I haven't, either. Like I said, I was quite surprised.

Runtu wrote:

Who Knows wrote:You gotta do what you gotta do man.

But I know for me - there's no way in hell I'm baptizing my son. It's 9 months from now.

I don't want him to look back and wonder why I did so, while not believing in it. One day he'll understand why I didn't baptize him, and hopefully - respect me more for it.

I can see him asking me 10 years down the road, when he doesn't believe it anymore - "Dad, why did you baptize me when you didn't believe in it?"

But good luck man. I'm sure you've thought it all through, and are making the best decision for the both of you.

Honestly, I don't worry about that. If he ever asks that question, I'll tell him exactly why I did that. I'd rather explain to an 18 year old why I did this than explain to a little boy why his daddy doesn't want to baptize him. Does that make sense?

Umm, no, not really.

I'd say "Daddy isn't baptizing you because daddy doesn't go to that church. Daddy believes in different things than what they teach at church. Mommy likes going to church, so she wants you to get baptized. But mommies can't do baptisms. So if you want to get baptized, then another man who likes going to church will have to do your baptism."

Or something like that.