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Show r THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY, JUNE IT, 1932 Church Department dhi hi TRUTH THE KNOW iiiirnniiriTrrif"ir f it' up iio r- A PECULIAR or Young Brig-Ao- huiliswit so her ousi version to tho doctHam of Mo Ihongh bom mdmibe ooveUBt, BAPTISM-CONFIRMATIO- aocopted as perBaptism X had natural. But a little study ot fectly Churches and creeds showed other me the wide dlvergenco on that asked why Bap point.? Then tism studied tho life of Jesus Christ He closely. I learned first that Himself sought baptism by Immersion In tho riser Jordan at the hands pf His cousin. John, the at the very outset of He Baptist, own ministry. Moreover, his dally teaching wan concerned with this symbolic entrance into his kingdom. And as He left Ilia Iiciplea, Uio parting Instructions were to administer this ceremony, those who believed and were baptised would be saved, those who rejected It would bo damaed. That disposed of the argument that baptism with or wss might be dispensed claimed options! as some creeds that "it was only the outward sign of an Inward grace." Baptism Symbolic. Baptism is a symbolic act.resur-It burial and typifies asChrist's well as a new birth for rection. the individual. And submergence In water was the only logical way to perform this symbol. Heuce the Insistence of the Savior upon this ordinance for Himself at the hands of John the Baptist. Symbols are a very part of all sentient life. From the highest intelligent group-lif- e to the lowest savage associations, symbols are imperative to communicate thought from one brain or Intelligence to another. Tho very am using are groups of words written or spoken symbols which who convey my Ideas to those read these words or hear them apoken. The Savior preached one doctrinal sermon. All the rest of hie teaching and preaching was through stories or assembled pictorial symbols called parables be easily comprewhich could hended by the 'common people" Who were the only ones who heard him gladly. No man may beown property, buy or sell. become a queath or orInherit, travel abroad without vote, X X X eitl-se- civic symbols to protect his rights, his life and his property. Hymbols may be very sacred or very silly. the symbol of baptism by imlut mersion is the vivid symbolic porthe trayal of the death burial, snd resurrection of the Havior of the World snd ss such 1 solemnly accepted its truth. fttrmls Reference. I read Paul's reference to the gymbolmm of the baptism of Jesus, Roman 6. 2. 2. 4. Coi 2.12, I Cor 14 2 "Hu shall we that are dead tn ain. live any longer therein? Know ys not, that so many of us as were baptised Into Jesus I'hnst were baptised into his are death? Therefore we burled 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 should walk in newness of life. For as we have been planted together n the likeness of his death, ae In the shall be also (lifted likeness of his resurrection." And again; "Buried with him In baptism wherein also are rsen with him through the faith of the opera tiou of him God, who hath raised from the dead And alt were baptised unto Mva in the cloud and in live sea." Another symbolic reference to baptism as given In the Mrnp-tuor reis that of That symbol could generation. never be applied to sprinkling or as every mother knows pout.ng The babe which comes to maturunder her heart is always ity in a liquid or birth fluid Bo. again. I found my good reasons for baptism by immersion. Now what are the ideas of other Christian sects on this vital point An elaborate article In the British Encyclopedia on baptism describes its ancient practioe and unknown origin as a part of Hebiew, Pagan. Egyptian. Grecian and even Malay rituals in various forms. This article notes that baptism for the dead was praoticed by the early Christians till Into tho fourth We are there told that centurysome sects discarded baptism alothers together. believer. leave it optional with the The ancient Hebrews practiced baptism from their earliest times. Kdershelm writes In The Ufa of n new-hirt- d Jesus "Proselytes to Judaism were Gentiles who were converts or addicted to Judaism, but had not formally joined that sect by circumcision snd worship the practice spread throughout the world and became firmly established among the heathen; with them, however. It accompanied by torture of the body In order to appease their goda Among the people of the Lord fasting was a means of subthe flesh to the spirit and thus drawing nearer unto ordinating God. David, the Psalmist, said; I humbled my soul with fastMooes prepared himself for his great ministry by a pro ing. KMJah, likewise, went forty days on longed fast of forty days, tho strength of food furnished by aa angel. The Savior placed upon thta practice the divine approval. Before entering his ministry he tasted forty days and ntghta There were la Israel certain set times for fasting, snd in times of tribulation It was ths custom for special general fasts, la oourse of timo this excellent and useful custom became abused. For that reason our gave definite instruction to his disciples: When ye fast" he aaid. be not as ths hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their facea. that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you. They have But their reward thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wuh thy face, ihat thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy Father which is In secret; and thy Father, which aeeth In secret, shall reward thee openly " When his disciples tailed to heal the youth possessed of a devil, the Lord aatd unto thorn In answer to their question This kind iroeth not out but by prayer and fasting ' IdOftff attended fasts for tho ordinary individual are not good They may have been necessary In ths case of Mooes. Klijah and thrlst. but the Lord does not require us to engage In such pra tlcea Fasting Is a peculiar custom among the Latter-daSaints The has said: Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye ehall continue In prayer and fasting from this time forth. The members of the Church are called upon to fast one day each month Fasting is Interpreted to mean abstaining from hoih food and drink from the evening meal te the evening meal of the following day. The equivalent of these meals may be given to the Bishop a.s "fast for the poor. During the fast the mind should offerings dwell on things spiritual and the people should assemble and teach each other and speak of the goodness of the Lord lo them. In testimony and humility of spirit vif baptism-Proselyte- of Xtighteousneas' were those who formally, and publicly entered the Jewish Church by such Htea. "For the admislson of 'Proselytes of Righteousness,' three circumthings were required: sacrifice cision. baptism and for the men; women were to be baptized and offer a heifer, a pair of turtle doves or young pigeons. Baptism waa by Immersion and Indispenof a sable for the making proselyte. The children of a female proselyte were regarded as Jews, even If the baptism of the father was doubtful. Every proselyte to Judaism was obliged to change his or her name to one of Hebrew denomination, by which were henceforth known they to to the synagogue and to the Jews- - "When a proselyte Ird y stepped out of the waters of baptism, he was taught that he waa a not in a moral or spiritual sense, but In regard to his former religion, race, country, name, Jiabits. famfriends. The ily relations and was first thlog he was taught new Into that, as he entered God of the with the relations new-bor- Hebrews he was to despise his former deity and to renounce allegiance to his counFurther, the proselyte try. was taught the natural bonds which had hound him to parents. wife, husband, children, kindred, friends and race, no his longer existed; and thatIt all never past was " as though had been The Roman Catholic church sc seven sacratm nts. knowledged which number, according to the Catechism of the council of Trent. Is established by tho Burlpturoa. by the tradition of tho fathers, snd the authority of councils of which baptism was the first. The saersment of Baptismas Is defined by the Church one instituted by Jeua Christ, in order o wash away original sin. and all those actual ones which in ny have been com to mitted. to communicate mankind the spiritual regen of Jesus eration and grace Christ and to unite them as member to their head hingmost essential pari of the The ceremony of baptism In the folCatholic church is as low At the church door the the god priest first asks father and godmother what child they present to the chu.ch- Whether or not they are its true godfather and If they be godmother to live and die in the true Catholic and Apostolic faith? And what name they intend to give It? All profane names, as those of the heathens and their gods must be rejected After the ukuu! questions have been asked, the priest makes an ezhoitation to the godfather and godto the mother, with rogar-devotion which ought to at company the whole performance The exhortation being ended, the pnext continues the and catling the ceremony: child by the name It U lo be given It. asks it as follows What dost thou demand of the church? To whlcp the godfather answers. Faith. The priest adds what is the Truit anof faith? The godfather swers, Eternal life. The priest ou are desirous continues, if of obtaining Eternal life keep Thou Goda commandment. shall love the Lord thy Cod wl'h all thy heart, etc After which he breathes three limes upon the child's face, and at the same time says. Iepart from this child, thou evil spirit. and make room for the Holy Ghost "This being done, with the thumb of hia right hand Kb makes a croae on tho child a foreead, and afterwards another on its breast, pronouncing these words: Receive the sign of the cross on thy forehead and m thine heart. off hia Whereupon he take cap. repeats a short prayer, and laying his hand gently on the child's head, prays for him a second time. This sec l or ANTING AbeUUeln from food tod drink, hu boon oboorvod among FASTING. no n religioua cxorekao to inoronoo humility and obtain favor from tho heavono. Kapeelalljr woo this custom followed In times of mourning, of distress and tribulation. That fasting had Its origin In revealed religion we cannot doubt, and from true m .... Author PEOPLE BY ICUi JWiUPH VIHLDING SMITH THK COUNCIL TDK TWKI.VK APOBTLK8 r Cato, a Daughter of Young cun.jniirii.ihnr'i'i'rytt f it tr it r r of different degrees 'ProseBfclUors sols am Jo the fourth of osi orUclo by tho lytes of the Gate were those Sua MAKE YOU FREE r f Why I Believe The Gospel Of Jesus Christ By AND THE TRUTH SIIALLl ond prayer being ended, the blesses the salt In case priest it was not blessed before, takes which being done, he a little of it, putt In the chllde these mouth, pronouncing wonts Receive the salt of a He then repeats third prayer, after which he PuLu on hm cap and exorcises the Prince of Darkness, commanding him lo come forth out of him who Is going lo be baptised At the end of the exercise he agaia makes Iho sign of the cross on the child's forehead, lays his hand on Its and repeats another head prayer. After thl fourth prayer, the prio.it lays the end of the stole upon the child, and adThe mit it into the church godmother engodlather and ter at the same time, and reApopeat with the priest the Lot d s stle' (teed and the toadvance as they Frayer ward the front, which having reached the prleM exercise the devil once again, and after the exorcism takes saliva trom his mouth with the thumb of his right hand With csrs this he rubs the child's touchand nostril. and. as he es hW right ear repeats a Hebrew word. "Ephphettaa " "Be thou which signifies opened." the same which Jesus man who to the Christ said was horn deaf and dumb The priest then asks whether he alt renounces the devil and etc hi works, the pomps. The godfather answers in the affirmative The priest then anoint the child between the shoulders in the form of a cross, snd after that lays snide hU violet stole, and puts on a whtte one. when the child again questioned with respect the to Id belief, to which godfAther make suitable in his name These preliminaries being ended, the priest take some of the baptismal water, which he pours th.ice on the childs head in a the form of a cross, and he pours It, says, "1 baptize thee, in the name of the Father and of the Bon. and of the Holy Ghost." taking care to pour the water at the same the time that he pronounces words This being done, he annotnt the top of the child s head with the Chriam (consecrated oil). In the form of a cross, lays a piece of white linen upon It head, to represent the white garment mentioned In Scripture, and put a lighted taper into the child's hand, or Into that of the godfather. The form for baptising adult is longer and more im! posing. (A secret name Copied given to the adult. from Encyclopedia of All Re1 W ligion! A . few sects practice the rite by Faith Faith in the reality of linni't, tbie divine law, vesta llie soul with the awful ene of accountability to a Moral Governor of the urthers. This abiding feeling of rconi-htlitj- r lo one who is just. true, and holy is the real monitor of th ooul. It is by the um rrmg guidance of this inner moral force it,., we are led oafetly past the reef of moral danger and pitfalls of lire. He who "endures a seeing film who Is Invisible' is kept by that very sense of the nearness of God. in harmony with the pure purpose of the Most High Faith lung range view of time, make eternity part of the present and give to our every though an act an eternal significnnee This efdeep wnu of the fect of our deed sobers u and puts us on our guard against the recklessness of the spirit. Out of the con arlousnen that f is not a swiftly paxsing Idle moment but an of limitless eternity come our deep sense possibilities of Moral Values The settled conviction that a vital eternal difference there between right and wrong is tho strong enduring armor of the soul. NEPHI JKNSKN I Both ( tfist and the Apoaih-foretold k great falling nwav. general apostasy, a long era of spiritual darkness which wan to bo succeeded by a new dispensation distinguished by the n ston-tioof the Gospel and the of the Church of Christ on earth for the last time The Kcripture affirm that the new disto comprise all the pensation of authority, power, and sift earlier dispensations, and Is for distinctively a time of restitution. reorganisation, and restoration It is appropriately turned tho tLost Ihsponsatlon. and the of Dispensation of the Fulness Times Jams K Ta Image o' the Council of the Twelve s n Our earth li V is but one stage in the course of the ooul eternal the Yfeogrem. a link connecting eternities post with the eternities yet to come. Tho purpose of our mortal probation ia that of educatrial. and test, tion. training. when bv wo demonstrate whether wo w'tll obey the commandments of the Lord our God and so lav hold of the houndless opportunities In the eternal of advancement worlds, or elect to do evil and for feit the boon of citizenship In tho kingdom of heaven. James K. Talmogk- - of tho Council of tho Twelve. Immersion, noticeably the Baptist who refuse to baptize infants, Allowing Adutta only to partake of the solemn rite. |
