If You Are Baptized at 12-15

"12: How Do I Prepare People for Baptism and Confirmation?" Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2018), 205–14

Consider This

• What do I need to do to aid ready people for baptism and confirmation?

• How practice I behave an constructive baptismal interview?

• How is a spiritual baptismal service planned and conducted?

• How do I work closely with the bishop to ensure that converts are confirmed?

• Why is it important to complete baptismal and confirmation records?

Prepare People for Baptism and Confirmation

The purpose of your teaching is to help others develop faith in Jesus Christ and apologize of their sins. Equally Mormon taught, "the start fruits of repentance is baptism" (Moroni 8:25). The baptismal interview is the way established by the Church building to ensure that each candidate meets the Lord'south standards for baptism and is prepared to receive the souvenir of the Holy Ghost. Through this interview, baptismal candidates fulfill the scriptural requirement that they witness before an authorized representative of the Church that they have "truly repented of all their sins" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:37). The commitments that people make prepare them to make and keep the covenant of baptism, be confirmed a member of the Church building, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, enter the temple with a express-apply recommend, and receive the Aaronic Priesthood (for males of the appropriate age). People who take kept the commitments that you invited them to make will exist well prepared for the interview and for membership and activity in the Church.

Equally you lot teach people and fix them for baptism and confirmation, brand sure that they come across the qualifications for baptism. Every bit they embark on the covenant path, remember that path leads to the holy temple, where they receive blessings necessary for eternal life.

Qualifications for Baptism

Doctrine and Covenants xx:37:

• Humble themselves before God.

• Desire to be baptized.

• Come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits.

• Repent of all their sins.

• Be willing to take upon them the name of Christ.

• Have a determination to serve Christ to the cease.

• Manifest past their works that they have received the Spirit of Christ unto a remission of their sins.

First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve:

• Make sufficient changes in their lives to qualify every bit commanded in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37.

• Develop faith in Christ.

• Repent of transgressions.

• Live the principles of moral worthiness.

• Live the Give-and-take of Wisdom.

• Commit to pay tithing.

• Receive all the missionary lessons.

• Encounter the bishop.

• Attend several sacrament meetings.

  ("Statement on Missionary Work," First Presidency letter, Dec. 11, 2002)

When a person has set a firm baptismal date, schedule when you volition consummate all the events that pb to baptism and confirmation as listed in your daily planner. Carefully review the Teaching Record to ensure that you have taught the bones doctrine and that the candidates are prepared to address each question in the baptismal interview. Review this schedule with the person in your next meeting. If possible, the person should attend a baptismal service prior to his or her own baptism.

If yous feel that the person y'all are didactics needs boosted grooming, do not schedule an interview until he or she meets the standards. If the candidate is a minor, ensure that the parents or guardians have given permission, preferably in writing, for him or her to be baptized.

As you lot help people prepare for their baptismal interview, talk to them about the purpose of the interview. Teach them and bear testimony nearly the sacredness of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Explain that you want to brand certain they understand the principles you lot take taught and the covenant they will make. Also explicate that the interview is an opportunity for them to witness before the Lord's representative that they are ready for these sacred ordinances. As they keep the baptismal covenant, they will receive a remission of sins. Share the questions the interviewer will ask about their belief in important gospel doctrine, their repentance of past sins, and their willingness to covenant to obey Jesus Christ throughout their lives. Emphasize that baptism past water is incomplete without baptism by fire through the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Remind the person that immediately after baptism and confirmation, he or she is worthy and eligible to receive a limited-apply recommend to enter the temple to perform baptisms for deceased ancestors, and males of the appropriate historic period may also exist ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. This will help gear up the person on the path toward making temple covenants that open the door to eternal life.

Activity: Personal or Companion Study

• Read each of the following passages, and make a summary list of the scriptural qualifications for baptism and confirmation.

  • 2 Nephi 9:23; 31:iv–13

  • Mosiah 18:8–10

  • Alma 7:14–15

  • 3 Nephi 27:thirteen–21

  • Moroni 6:1–four

  • Moroni viii:25–26

  • Doctrine and Covenants twenty:37

  • Doctrine and Covenants 22

  • Acts two:37–39

• In baptismal interviews, candidates are asked whether they are willing to take upon themselves the name of Christ. What tin yous do to help them understand this question? Equally you lot ponder this question, written report the following scriptures:

  • Mosiah 4–five

  • Mosiah 18:1–eleven

  • Mosiah 26:18, 21–27

  • 3 Nephi 27:i–ten

  • You may also want to look for other passages that help you lot empathize this principle.

How to Conduct the Interview

The person conducting the interview should use the baptismal interview questions with the guidance of the Spirit to determine whether the baptismal candidate meets the qualifications described in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. He should also accommodate the questions to the age and maturity of the candidate.

If a candidate does not qualify according to the baptismal interview questions, the baptism and confirmation should exist postponed. The person should receive additional education by the full-time missionaries and fellowshipping from ward members.

The commune leader or zone leader who conducts the interview should:

• Hold the interview in a comfortable, individual place, conducive to feeling the Spirit of the Lord. When interviewing a child, youth, or adult female, the interviewer'due south companion should be nearby in the bordering room, anteroom, or hall. If the person being interviewed desires, another adult may be invited to participate in the interview. Missionaries should avoid all circumstances that could be misunderstood (see "Preventing and Responding to Abuse," Starting time Presidency alphabetic character, March 26, 2018).

• Open with prayer.

• Assistance the candidate feel comfortable.

• Make the interview a spiritually uplifting experience.

• Make sure that the candidate understands the purpose of the interview.

• Ask the baptismal interview questions. Use follow-upwardly questions to get a feeling for the strength of the person's testimony and the sincerity of the person's repentance.

• Reply the candidate'due south questions.

• Invite the person to bear testimony and express his or her feelings.

• If the person has challenges with testimony or worthiness, explain that information technology would be best to postpone the baptism until he or she is improve prepared.

Baptismal Interview Questions

1. Practise you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Practise y'all believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the world?

2. Do you believe that the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Practice you lot believe that [electric current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?

3. What does it mean to y'all to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?

4. Have you ever committed a serious criminal offence? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? Have you ever committed a homosexual transgression?

5. You lot take been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What practise y'all sympathise nigh the following standards? Are you lot willing to obey them?

   1. The law of chastity, which prohibits whatever sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal wedlock between one man and one adult female.

   2. The law of tithing.

   3. The Word of Wisdom.

   4. The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to others.

6. When you are baptized, you lot covenant with God that y'all are willing to take upon yourself the proper name of Christ and continue His commandments throughout your life. Are you lot ready to make this covenant and strive to be true-blue to it?

At the conclusion of a successful interview, congratulate the candidate. Rejoin the other missionaries, and explain what will happen at the baptismal service.

Explain that the confirmation volition take place nether the management of the bishop in a sacrament meeting of the ward in which they reside.

When information technology is necessary to postpone a baptism, the commune leader or zone leader and other missionaries should handle the state of affairs sensitively and privately. Assure the candidate that he or she tin succeed, and explain that some transgressions require more time for thorough repentance. Explain that the sacred nature of the ordinance requires high standards of worthiness. Clinch the candidate that you and others will exercise all you can to support him or her. So faithfully follow through to go on your promise.

Baptism and Confirmation: Questions and Answers

Who conducts the interview for baptism?

Usually the district leader interviews baptismal candidates taught by missionaries in his commune, including candidates taught by his zone leaders. The zone leader interviews candidates taught by the commune leader. The mission president or one of his counselors must interview people involved in serious sins. District or zone leaders do not interview baptismal candidates outside their own district or zone unless the mission president assigns them to do and then.

What is the definition of a convert baptism?

Convert baptisms are baptisms of:

• Persons ages nine and older who accept never been baptized and confirmed every bit members of the Church building.

• Children age 8 whose parents are non members of the Church or whose parents are existence baptized and confirmed at the same time as the child.

Practise I need permission to cognominate a minor child?

The Church's concern with respect to children is their electric current and time to come well-being and the harmony of their home surround. For their protection, the following conditions must be met earlier you lot can baptize a minor child under legal age, as divers by local laws:

1. You lot must obtain permission from both parent(south) or legal guardian(s), and they must understand the doctrine that a baptized child will be taught and the covenants he or she will exist expected to make. Y'all may ask for this consent to be in writing if you feel information technology will help prevent misunderstandings.

2. You lot take discerned that there is clear evidence that the child understands the baptismal covenant and volition make every effort to keep it through obeying the commandments, including faithfully attention Church meetings.

3. The kid's primary residence is not with parents who are polygamists. If one or both of the child's parents are polygamists, you must contact the mission president for additional information.

4. The baptism is not prohibited by local laws and culture.

Do I demand permission of the spouse in order to baptize a husband or married woman?

Yeah. Do not cognominate a married person without the consent of his or her spouse.

If a parent in a family is non ready for baptism, should I cognominate the family or expect until the parent is ready?

If a parent of a family is not ready for baptism and confirmation but other family members are, you may tell the parent you prefer not to baptize the family unit without him or her considering the Church building respects the wishes of the parents and because family members will progress in the gospel all-time as a family unit. If the parent continues to decline, you may baptize and ostend other family members with his or her consent.

Is it a good idea to ordain a father to the Aaronic Priesthood immediately after baptism so that he can baptize other family members?

No. The father must be confirmed in a sacrament meeting and, after an interview with the bishop, be sustained to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. Baptisms of family members should not exist delayed and so that the male parent can receive the priesthood and perform the baptisms himself.

May I teach and baptize a person who has been excommunicated?

Baptisms of excommunicated persons are non convert baptisms, and missionaries practice not interview such persons for baptism. Yous may work with such persons but under the shut supervision of the mission president and bishop.

What if a person has a scheduled baptismal date but is not keeping all of the commitments?

If yous feel that someone y'all are teaching needs boosted preparation, practise not schedule a baptismal interview until he or she is keeping the commitments and meets the standards.

What exercise I do when people desire to be baptized but are living together without being married?

Baptismal candidates who accept been living with a person of the opposite gender out of union must either marry or stop living together before they can exist baptized.

Question 4 in the baptismal interview asks if a person has ever committed a serious crime (if and then, are they on probation or parole), participated in an ballgame, or committed a homosexual transgression. What should I do if someone confesses such a sin?

1. Instructions for teaching missionaries. Sometimes a person may volunteer information about such sins equally you teach most the commandments and invite them to make commitments. However, if they do not say anything but y'all remember they may have a problem, fix them for the baptismal interview by asking them if they have been involved in whatever of these sins. If you become enlightened of a serious sin, practice not ask well-nigh the details of the sin. Do not schedule a baptismal date or make whatsoever promises about whether they volition be cleared for baptism and confirmation. Express your love and review the principle of repentance and forgiveness. Kindly explain that these sins are serious and that a person with more maturity and experience (your mission president or someone he assigns) volition talk with them and assistance them with these matters. Always provide hope in Christ's Atonement. Then send a baptismal interview asking direct to the mission president.

2. Instructions for the person conducting the interview for baptism. If the missionaries have properly taught the candidate before the baptismal interview, these issues, if they be, should have been directed to the mission president. However, if they arise during the interview, express your dearest and review the commandments and the principle of repentance and forgiveness. Kindly explain that these sins are serious and that a person with more than maturity and experience (your mission president or someone he assigns) will talk with them and help them with these matters. Always provide promise in Christ'south Atonement. And so forward a baptismal interview asking directly to the mission president.

Action: Personal Report

Recollect about how you might feel if you were existence interviewed. Consider the following questions:

• What aspects of the interview might be foreign to you? What could the interviewer practice or say to put you at ease?

• How would you desire the interviewer to interact with y'all?

• How would you want the interviewer to reply if you expressed doubts or misunderstandings or if yous confessed serious sins?

Write your answers to these questions in your report periodical.

Complete the Baptism and Confirmation Form (Catechumen)

The missionary who conducts the interview should fill out a current Baptism and Confirmation Class (Catechumen), except the information about confirmation. He should explicate that a membership record is created from the Baptism and Confirmation Class (Convert) and will contain of import information most the new members and the ordinances they take received. The missionary should ask the candidate to verify the data on the course during the interview. The missionary who conducts the interview should bring the Baptism and Confirmation Form (Catechumen) to the baptismal service and give it to the person who is presiding.

The bishop ensures that a Baptism and Confirmation Form (Catechumen) is filled out for each candidate co-ordinate to instructions on the grade. Whenever members move, the membership record is forwarded to the new unit so that their new bishop can provide fellowship and assistance.

Activity: Personal or Companion Study

Study Mosiah 6:1–iii and Moroni 6:1–4. How do these passages relate to your responsibility for keeping accurate records of baptisms and confirmations?

The Baptismal Service

The Spirit is manifest strongly as the sacred ordinances of baptism and confirmation are performed. The baptismal service and subsequent confirmation should exist spiritual highlights for new converts. You and the ward mission leader should do everything you tin to ensure that the baptismal service is organized, inspiring, and memorable. These services should strengthen the new converts in their delivery to remain active.

Invite a fellow member of the bishopric, quorum and auxiliary leaders, and ministering brothers and sisters (if assigned) to attend the baptismal service. Encourage the person existence baptized to invite his or her friends and relatives (for example, by creating an event on social media) to attend the baptismal service and the sacrament meeting where the confirmation will have place. Consider inviting other people you are teaching to attend. These experiences will help them experience the Spirit and set up them to accept an invitation to learn more than about the gospel. Work with the person being baptized and the ward mission leader to invite the person's friends and relatives to nourish. Then follow through later on the service to hash out their experience and invite them to larn why their friend chose to be baptized.

The missionaries who taught the person being baptized coordinate with the ward mission leader to organize the service. If a baptismal service is scheduled on a Sun, information technology should be held at a time that minimizes interference with regular Sunday meetings. Explicate to the person being baptized what is planned and why. Discuss proper clothes, including how the person will be given white clothing to wear for the baptism. Concord on the place and time for the baptism. A member of the bishopric or the ward mission leader normally conducts the service. Following are essential items to plan and organize.

A baptismal service may include:

1. Prelude music.

2. A brief welcome by the priesthood leader who is conducting the service (a fellow member of the bishopric should preside, if possible).

3. An opening hymn and prayer.

4. One or 2 short talks on gospel subjects, such as baptism and the Holy Ghost.

5. A musical option.

6. Performance of the baptism.

7. A time of reverence while the people who participate in the baptism change into dry clothes. This could include interlude music or singing well-known hymns and Primary songs. It could too include a brief gospel presentation past the full-time missionaries for nonmembers who may be nowadays.

8. An opportunity for new converts to behave their testimonies, if desired.

9. A closing hymn and prayer.

10. Postlude music.

Confirmation

A person receives the ordinance of confirmation afterwards he or she has been baptized (run across Doctrine and Covenants 20:41). A new convert is considered a member of the Church only afterward the ordinances of baptism and confirmation are both completed and properly recorded (see John 3:five; Doctrine and Covenants 33:xi). Converts are confirmed in a sacrament coming together in the ward where they alive, preferably on the Sunday following their baptism. Converts are non confirmed at the baptismal service. The bishop is responsible for seeing that confirmation occurs equally shortly equally reasonable afterwards baptism. At least one member of the bishopric participates in the confirmation. The bishop should invite missionary elders who helped teach the convert to participate in the confirmation. Piece of work closely with the bishop and the ward mission leader to make sure this essential ordinance is performed. The bishop does not conduct a split interview for this ordinance.

After the confirmation, the bishop or ward clerk completes the confirmation information on the Baptism and Confirmation Form (Convert). The ward clerk and then returns two copies of the grade to the missionaries. The missionaries ship one copy to the mission role for the cosmos of a membership record.

Later on the Baptism and Confirmation

Nether the direction of the bishop, missionaries should go along to fellowship new members. Go along to teach them and review what has been taught. Encourage and support them, read the Book of Mormon with them, and help them share the gospel with family members and friends. Every bit appropriate, continue throughout your life to communicate with those whom yous have taught and to encourage and back up them.

After the confirmation, teach all five missionary lessons once again. Continue using the Didactics Tape to record progress. Work closely with the ward mission leader and ward leadership to assist the new convert stay agile, build trusted relationships with local members, receive a limited-utilize temple recommend, and be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood (for males of the advisable age). Back up new converts and assist them receive all the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Remember This

• Properly prepare baptismal candidates for the interview for baptism and confirmation.

• Make sure candidates meet the requirements for baptism and confirmation.

• Assistance ensure that baptismal services are spiritually uplifting.

• Use baptismal services and confirmations every bit finding opportunities.

• Accurately consummate the Baptism and Confirmation Class (Convert).

Ideas for Study and Application

Personal Study

• Make a list of the challenges that a baptismal candidate might run into. Why is it important that candidates feel the love and friendship of Church members?

• Study Moroni 6 and Doctrine and Covenants 20:68–69. What practice yous acquire from these verses nigh preparing people for baptism and confirmation? Write what you acquire, and share your thoughts with your companion during companion study.

Companion Study

• President Henry B. Eyring explained why high standards are important. Discuss this counsel with your companion and evaluate how yous feel nearly boldly helping people run across these standards. "The Lord sets His standards so that He tin bless the states. Recollect about those blessings: He promises those who meet the standards the help of the Holy Ghost. He promises personal peace. He promises the run a risk to receive holy ordinances in His house. And He promises those who suffer in living His standards that they will have eternal life. … Because we love the people nosotros serve, all of u.s.a. want to practise better in lifting our Heavenly Male parent's children to the faithfulness and purity they need to have all the blessings of the Lord. … Y'all begin past holding up the Lord's standards clearly and without apology. And the more the world drifts from them and mocks them, the bolder we must be in doing that" ("Standards of Worthiness," Offset Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, January. 2003, 10–11).

• Share with your companion what you have learned from this chapter about preparing people for baptism and confirmation.

• Review the last baptismal service you attended. Compare it with the guidelines in the section titled "The Baptismal Service." What went well? What could have been improved? Discuss how you will make sure that the services you lot plan will be spiritual and uplifting.

• Practice how you lot would prepare a specific person for the baptismal interview.

• Review the baptismal interview questions. Consider how you would handle dissimilar situations, such every bit the following:

  • The candidate didn't tell you that he is on probation for a crime previously committed.

  • The person has non received a strong respond to prayer that Joseph Smith was a prophet.

  • The candidate smoked a cigarette 2 days ago.

  • The candidate isn't sure whether she has received an reply to her prayers.

  • The family felt pressure from friends and aren't sure whether they are ready for baptism.

• Review the Baptism and Confirmation Grade (Catechumen). How can yous ensure that the information you provide is correct and complete?

District Council, Zone Conferences, and Mission Leadership Quango

• Review the importance of the baptismal interview. Talk over how missionaries should set up people for the interview.

• Talk over how to utilise baptismal services and confirmations equally finding opportunities.

Mission President, His Companion, and His Counselors

• Work with local priesthood and auxiliary leaders to ensure effective apply of the Progress Record.

• Teach district leaders, zone leaders, and sister training leaders how to ready people for the baptismal interview. Invite mission leaders to train other missionaries to prepare people for the baptismal interview.

• Teach district leaders and zone leaders how to conduct baptismal interviews.

• Instruct the members of the mission presidency and priesthood leaders how to acquit baptismal interviews for baptismal candidates who accept committed serious sins.

• When possible, attend baptismal services for new converts. Take some time to talk with the new converts and larn their conversion experiences. Share what you learn with your companion and with other missionaries.

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Source: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/how-do-i-prepare-people-for-baptism-and-confirmation?lang=eng

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