my 8 year old daughter cannot get baptized because we are in active

[brandonberrett]

Why would the church not let my my daughter baptized? I was told we are inactive. And had 2 start going church before she can be baptized. I feel the church turn their backs on my 8my year old daughter. Help me

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

My best guess is that they are afraid that once baptized she wouldn't have enough support to continue in the church, but being a baptized member would still be accountable for a higher standard. In other words, baptizing her without support could be doing a disservice to her.

I'm curious, how is it that you value the church enough to want to have her baptised, but not enough to attend? What is the reason for getting her baptised?

[Jenamarie]

Perhaps they're concerned that she may not have an adequate testimony to be Baptised? It's not something that you automatically just do because you're the right age. Most inactive families I've known have been inactive in more ways than one: they haven't been attending church AND they haven't been doing much of anything at home spiritually (family prayer/scripture study/Family Home Evening/etc.) that build a Testimony. (not saying this is your family, but it's been my experience with inactive families)

Baptism is a Covenant and comes with responsibility. Your Bishop is likely just concerned that your 8 year old may not be prepared yet to take it on. Begin attending church, let her go to Primary, have FHE's and family scripture study (if you're not already) to prepare your daughter, and when the time is right she can be baptised. :)

[Guest Sachi001]

Your question is too vague and needs more answers. Is your 8 year old a child of record? That means existing in the church database showing a blessing was done at birth and having a record number. If not a child of record, that child would be considered a convert baptism. Then that child must meet the qualifications of a baptism interview first before proceeding.

[Jenamarie]

Your question is too vague and needs more answers. Is your 8 year old a child of record? That means existing in the church database showing a blessing was done at birth and having a record number. If not a child of record, that child would be considered a convert baptism. Then that child must meet the qualifications of a baptism interview first before proceeding.

Actually, unless things have changed since I was Baptised, a child of record would need to go through a baptismal interview as well. (I remember being sooooo nervous before mine, because I thought it was a "pass/fail" test. )

[Vort]

For baptism, a child of record is interviewed by the bishop. A convert, even a child convert, is interviewed by the missionaries.

I agree with what's been said. It's likely the bishop is concerned about an eight-year-old making a covenant she doesn't adequately understand and won't have the support at home to keep. The OP should talk with his bishop about the whys and wherefores.

[Guest Sachi001]

Actually, unless things have changed since I was Baptised, a child of record would need to go through a baptismal interview as well. (I remember being sooooo nervous before mine, because I thought it was a "pass/fail" test. )

That is still correct.

CHOI HDBK 1 16.3.3

The bishop or an assigned counselor conducts interviews for the baptism and confirmation of 8-year-old children who are members of record and 8-year-old children who are not members of record but have at least one parent or guardian who is a member. The full-time missionaries teach and interview 8-year-old children whose parents are not members and children who will be 9 years old or older at the time of baptism.

A bishopric member who interviews a child for baptism ensures that he or she understands the purposes of baptism. He also ensures that each child understands the baptismal covenant and is committed to live by it. As guided by the Spirit, he could ask questions similar to the first two that are asked in convert baptism interviews (see “Interview Instructions” on page 144). In asking other questions, the interviewer should bear in mind that children are accounted as sinless before God until the age of 8.

I would tend to think that the child does not nor the parents understand the importance of such a covenant.