Baptized Unworthily question

Sliver · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 04:04 AM

I have a friend who was a recent convert to the church. A few days ago they came to me and told me they were baptized unworthily. They wanted to know what to do, and what would happen. I unfortunately didn't have any answers. They have been to the bishop and told him that they were unworthy, and went through the repentance process but didn't tell him they were baptized unworthily. What should I tell them? Will they have to be re-baptized? Does this mean their patriarchal blessing doesn't count? They are trying to make things better, so any answers that I could give to them would be great

Lbybug · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 05:48 AM

i'm not sure i understand what you mean by baptized unworthily? when you are baptized, your sins are "washed away". do you mean maybe they went to the temple unworthily?

tomk · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 07:48 AM

This is a speculation question. We cannot answer because we are not in full possession of all the facts, nor do we possess any form of priesthood stewardship over these people. Only the Lord knows their hearts and motives and what needs to be done. He will answer through their Bishop, but it sounds like they sinned again by not giving their Bishop a full disclosure.

I would tell them to go back to their Bishop and this time, tell him everything.

john doe · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 09:16 AM

If they have any concerns about their worthiness, they need to consult their bishop again. He is the one with stewardship over them.

tubaloth · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2008, 09:49 AM

I have not heard of the act of being baptized be void because the person didn't repent fully. Thats not to say it couldn't happen, but I kind of doubt it. Like it has been said already, the person needs to share these concerns with the bishop. Not just about repenting, but about lying about being worthy to get baptized.

I assume the bishop well then take care of the worthiness issue at this time. There is no re-du in the case of the PB type of stuff.

rayhale · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2008, 10:09 PM

Sad to say there are missionaries that are too anxious for an investigator to be baptized that some of the most important questions are missed or haven‘t been completely resolved, like whether or not they smoke, drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I have seen several people that have said that they have quit smoking, but in fact, they are still smoking; it only feels that they have stopped since they have reduced their intake from 2 packs a day, to 2 cigarettes a day.

Then there are sins that are illegal, like stealing, murder, rape, and any other illegal activity that, when asked, most people won’t admit it. Not very many people like being caught; they want a safe place to confess without repenting, our church does not do this. Bishops, and missionaries, are required to report illegal confessions to the police if the person does not go first.

ZionWoman · #7 (**permalink**) 11-16-2008, 10:13 PM

Um... you cannot be re-baptized for yourself unless you are exed and repent and come back. Sorry. There is no discussion on this one. Whether you were ready or not, the baptism happened and it is recorded on Earth and therefore is recorded in heaven (D&C 127:7, 128:8). The ordinance happened. That's it. The end. If the "unworthy" means something that they should be exed for, then a council will have to be held for them.

pam · #8 (**permalink**) 11-16-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayhale

Sad to say there are missionaries that are too anxious for an investigator to be baptized that some of the most important questions are missed or haven‘t been completely resolved, like whether or not they smoke, drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I have seen several people that have said that they have quit smoking, but in fact, they are still smoking; it only feels that they have stopped since they have reduced their intake from 2 packs a day, to 2 cigarettes a day.

Then there are sins that are illegal, like stealing, murder, rape, and any other illegal activity that, when asked, most people won’t admit it. Not very many people like being caught; they want a safe place to confess without repenting, our church does not do this. Bishops, and missionaries, are required to report illegal confessions to the police if the person does not go first.

Missionaries don't have the final decision. The mission President does. My understanding anyway.

Wingnut · #9 (**permalink**) 11-16-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pam

Missionaries don't have the final decision. The mission President does. My understanding anyway.

This is true, however, if a pair of missionaries is too gung-ho, they may not be thorough enough to find anything that needs to be brought to the attention of the mission president.

In the case of the OP, however, the person would need to discuss the issue(s) with the bishop at this point.

Alana · #10 (**permalink**) 11-17-2008, 12:39 PM

He just needs to go to his Bishop and be honest. Also was thinking, when I was 9 and got baptized, I had never repented before. I was a kid and wasn't really paying attention to the fine print

My baptism is still valid. Of course, this is different than if I'd been smoking before baptism and had no intention of quitting and then continued afterward. Either way though, the baptism happened.