Would I have to get re-baptized?

[Ts82177]

After my baptism I had to to move, at the same time I had to deal with a lot of criticism from my family about it, so I decided not to go back. I never received the laying on of the hands either. So I was wondering if I would have to get rebaptized? If so, would I have to go through the missionary lessons again as well?

[applepansy]

You need to talk to the Bishop of the ward in which you live. You can find that LDS Meeting House locator.

I don't know the answer. But there needs to be a record of your baptism.

What do you mean by the laying on of hands? Did you not receive the gift of the Holy Ghsot when you were baptized?

[Ts82177]

Oh sorry for the confusion. I always thought it was called the laying on of the hands. Where after baptism they lay their hands on your head to receive the Holy Ghost. Which I was also skeptical about, so I guess that leads to another question.

What does baptism mean, vs the (in my terms) "laying of the hands?"

[Guest]

Maybe it would be advantageous to talk to the missionaries again.

[applepansy]

To be baptized you go into a baptismal font wearing white and a Priesthood holder puts you under the water after a very specific prayer. There are two witnesses.

After baptism for a convert, on the following Sunday during Sacrament meeting, a group of Priesthood holders lay their hands on your head and give you the "Gift of the Holy Ghost." We're talking about the same thing. Sorry for not understanding. Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost isn't commonly called the laying on of hands. Priesthood holders "lay on hands" whenever they give a blessing or set a person apart for a calling. Any time the priesthood is used to bless a person it is done with hands laid upon the head of the person receiving the blessing.

Edited July 16, 2011 by applepansy

[Ts82177]

ok, I will not refer to it as that anymore lol.

Yeah, all the lessons would be beneficial, even know I know them, I still do not follow everything, and I want to just start all over.

[LDSVALLEY]

The records of your Baptism are kept for a time, usually a year, but they are not sent (usually) to Salt Lake for Church records until you are confirmed and have the Holy Ghost. Depending on the span of time and the operation of that particular Ward and Missionaries there may simply be no record of the Baptism at this point.

After you are baptized you receive new member lessons which are the same lessons, ,hopefully taught by members and not Missionaries, plus one additional one.

If your original Baptism is on record where you were baptized then that is your baptism date. A person in our Ward had left the church after baptism and holy ghost but got baptized again without telling the new ward, it caused major paper chase issues and resulted in the new baptism being discounted.

[Blocky]

ok, I will not refer to it as that anymore lol.

Yeah, all the lessons would be beneficial, even know I know them, I still do not follow everything, and I want to just start all over.

If they have a record of your baptism then you will not need to be re baptized. It makes sense to keep learning about the gospel. We all keep learning, but right after baptism, there's probably lots to learn more about in depth. As far as just wanting to start over, remember that when you take the sacrament you are renewing your baptismal covenants. This means that with repentance and the sacrament it's like we start over every week, clean and pure and forgiven.