In cases where people are baptized for
their health, we see no impropriety in using the words “for the restoration of
your health” in the ceremony. There is a difference between baptism for such a
purpose and baptism for admission into the Church. One is an ordinance of
salvation—the door provided by the Lord through which his children must enter
into his Church, and become entitled to the blessings of the new and
everlasting covenant; the other, while it may be termed in some respects an
ordinance, is not imperative upon the members of the Church. If they have faith
and believe, when they have some ailment, that the administration of baptism in
that form will be beneficial to them, the privilege is granted to them. But
there is a clear distinction between that form of baptism and the form of
baptism which the Lord requires His children to obey to become members of His
Church.” Signed by the First Presidency. (May 8, 1896: Journal History, in Minutes
of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951
[rev. ed.; Salt Lake City, 2020])
