"Is it necessary for
preachers and members of other churches to be baptized anew in order to enter
your church and be saved?"
"The voice of God is to all
people, without exception, re- pent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost and shall know that you have received the truth and that God
and Jesus Christ His Son have manifested themselves in this age of the world,
and can be approached as of old, and that the blessings and gifts enjoyed in
former days may be had in their fulness in these days. This is the only way of
salvation and in this church is the only divine authority to administer the
ordinances of salvation. They who receive this gospel and endure unto the end
will be saved; they who wilfully reject it will be condemned."
"Is it necessary that
baptism should be administered by total immersion? Will not sprinkling or
pouring water upon the candidate be sufficient?"
"Baptism means immersion. It
is a burial in water and afterwards the coming forth into a new life. It is
symbolical of death and the resurrection. Paul said: 'Therefore we are buried
with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For
if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also
in the likeness of His resurrection' (Roman vi: 4-5.) The believer becomes dead
to sin by repentance; he is buried from the old life by baptism. Coming from
the womb of water into the air, he is born of water. Through remission of sins
given in baptism, but proceeding from the atonement, he is born of the water
and is thus prepared as a new creature in Christ Jesus to receive the Holy Ghost
and thus be born of the spirit. Jesus said when on earth, 'Except a man be born
of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God' (John
iii:5.) He set the example. He was baptized by John, His forerunner, in the
river Jordan. When 'He came up straightway out of the water the heavens were
opened and the spirit of God descended like a dove and lighted upon Him.' Thus
He was born of the water and of the spirit and left us an example that we
should follow in His steps. All other forms of baptism are inventions of men,
and are not recognized of God; nor is this form accepted of heaven unless
administered by one who has the divine right to do so, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Lord accepts only such
ordinances as are performed by His authority and according to His
commandment."
"Would you baptize infants
by immersion?"
"We would not baptize
infants at all. That would be a mockery in the sight of God. Faith and
repentance must precede baptism. Infants cannot believe and they have nothing
to repent of. Jesus did not baptize little children, but laid His hands on them
and blessed them, saying, 'Of such is the kingdom of heaven' (Matthew xix:v13-15.)
We give names to infants and bless them after this pattern, but do not baptize
children until they come to years of accountability, are able to understand
right from wrong, to believe in Christ and repent of their sins. We baptize no
children less than eight years of age." (“An Interview in the Atlanta
Constitution on the ‘Mormon Faith,’ with Ben E. Rich, of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, From the Atlantic Constitution, March 26,
1899, pp. 13-14, repr. Tracts from Southern states mission, Chattanooga,
Tenn. [1899], [62-63])