ldsmumof3 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Just finished watching the movie Joseph: Prophet of the Restoration on BYUTV (again) and was struck by something that I'd never considered before - the movie shows Oliver Cowdery baptizing Joseph Smith Sr. As it was produced by the Church, I assume this fact is true but I cannot confirm it anywhere (or for that matter, confirm who baptized Joseph Smith Sr).All that I've been able to find is material that indicates Joseph Smith Jr was on the bank of the river and when "Joseph Jr. saw Joseph Sr. come up out of the water, he is reported to have cried, "Oh! My God I have lived to see my own father baptized into the true church of Jesus Christ!"" So if Joseph Jr did not, in fact, baptize his own father, does anyone know why he did not and was it Cowdery who actually did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rameumptom Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 On the day the Church was officially started, Oliver Cowdery, as the 2nd Elder of the Church, performed the majority (if not all) of the baptisms. This would include JS Sr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzie Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 I assume this fact is true but I cannot confirm it anywhere (or for that matter, confirm who baptized Joseph Smith Sr).Yeah, it's kind of confusing and the details are sporadic. Some say it was Oliver and some say it was Joseph. One of the neighbors of the Smiths recalled seeing the baptisms being performed by Joseph Smith Jr. By the other hand, Benjamin Saunders (a good friend of JS) recalls the baptism being performed by Oliver Cowdery (he said this when he was already on his 70's so keep that in mind). When Joseph Smith 9 years after the Church was organized tried to re-write history, he didn't add who baptized his mother or father. So all I know is Lucy Mack and Joseph Smith Senior were baptized the same day the Church was organized, right after the meeting on April 6th, 1830. Martin Harris and a few others were also baptized the same day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarginOfError Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 So if Joseph Jr did not, in fact, baptize his own father, does anyone know why he did not and was it Cowdery who actually did?My first guess--the water is pretty darn cold in northern New York in early April. Cowdery was already in the water. Why bother getting in and freezing your--well, you get the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordorbund Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 My first guess--the water is pretty darn cold in northern New York in early April. Cowdery was already in the water. Why bother getting in and freezing your--well, you get the point.Freezing your sins off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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