The Ordinances of Baptism and Confirmation

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the ordinance of baptism is performed by immersion, and the ordinance of confirmation is performed by the laying on of hands for the bestowal of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Both of these ordinances are required for admission into Church membership or, in other words, entrance into the Kingdom of God on the earth. Interestingly, these most basic of ordinances are at times misunderstood in their particulars by members of the Church as is also their proper relationship one to another often misunderstood. These two common errors are the subject of this writing.

After attending baptismal services for a major portion of my life, it is clear that a general pattern for these events exists. Typically, talks are given on the meaning or purposes of the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. A speaker addresses the subject of baptism. It is assumed that the remarks will conclude that if the candidate for baptism is properly prepared to receive this ordinance having submitted themselves to the steps of repentance, their sins will be washed away through baptism by immersion. This ordinance allows them to leave the font forgiven of their sins and with an opportunity to begin a new life. A speaker then addresses the subject of confirmation by outlining how by the laying on of hands the candidate for membership in the Church will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost meaning, the new member will have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in their life as long as they are living worthily.

Thus the speakers tend to neatly bundle the importances of these two ordinances into two separate packages. By means of a proper baptism, we are forgiven of our sins, and by the laying on of hands, we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost to direct and enlighten us in our forward journey through life. If the speakers take this approach, a gospel error is taught to those present which has the effect of reinforcing a mistaken notion already accepted by many. The words of the Prophet Nephi are instructive here. “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; . . .” (2 Nephi 31:16-18).

These two ordinances may not be separately bundled for they are unobstructively bound one to another. If forgiveness of sins is to be realized upon entrance into the Kingdom, it will be because an efficacious confirmation followed an efficacious baptism, and the sins were blotted out through the baptisms of both water and fire. So it is, the ordinance of confirmation is required for the forgiveness of sins as well as the receipt of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

The other common error of perception concerns the notion that baptism is more important than the ordinance of confirmation. While the sources of this misperception must be numerous, possible reinforcement of this mistaken idea may be received in our temples. Young Aaronic Priesthood holders and the young women of corresponding ages as well as adults who have been members of the Church less than one year are encouraged to go to the temple as proxies to participate in the ordinances of baptism and confirmation on behalf of our kindred dead. The font area of a temple baptistry is large and imposing. A font of generous size rests on the backs of twelve oxen that represent the twelve tribes of the House of Israel. There is a viewing area for patrons and observers. There are places designated for the officiator and the two witnesses to perform their duties. There is room to spare for others to work who assist the bothers and sisters entering and exiting the font. These font rooms are tastefully decorated. The rooms in which the confirmation ordinance is performed are small and austere by comparison. Ten persons in such a room would constitute generally a crowd. From the sheer visual impact or lack thereof, it is possible to improperly perceived that the baptism ordinance is of greater importance than the ordinance of confirmation.

But this is clearly not the case according to the gospel. If either one of the two ordinances being performed for a single individual is deemed to be invalid, then both of the ordinances are worthless. The Apostle Paul understood this principle clearly. “ . . . Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:1-6).

Given the interrelatedness of these two ordinances, it would be well for us, Latter-day Saints, to more carefully recognize this relationship as we teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in every setting. For both of these initial ordinances must be performed properly if they together are to be honored in the world to come, and so it necessarily follows that neither one of them is inherently more important than the other.