Baptized twice?

[Ojkanaeholo]

When I was younger I got into a relationship with a guy and got baptized into his church, only reason I did it was to be with him, I still did my own thing drinking, smoking etc. we had broken up a few months later and I went on with my life, now a few years later I've been speaking with the missionaries and being an active member in the church is something I want in my life, I just wish I hadn't "wasted" my baptism for nothing and I'd really like a fresh start at my new life... What does the church say as far as being baptized twice?

[skippy740]

That's what the sacrament is for - to renew the covenants we make at baptism. Ask your missionaries more about that. :)

[pam]

It's what repentance is for as well.

[dahlia]

I would think a lot of converts have been baptized twice - many when they were a baby and had no say in the matter. It won't stop you from being baptized LDS.

[Ojkanaeholo]

I was baptized when I was 19 into lds, now I'm 25 and just wanting to start over

[NightSG]

That's what the sacrament is for - to renew the covenants we make at baptism. Ask your missionaries more about that. :)

If multiple baptisms worked, I'd just take my snorkel and live in the font. Problem solved.

[bytor2112]

I was baptized when I was 19 into lds, now I'm 25 and just wanting to start over

[bytebear]

There is precedence for LDS folks being re-baptized. Early church members were sometimes re-baptized to commemorate various events. In fact, when the church was organized in 1830, everyone who was baptized for the remission of sins were re-baptized to become members of the church (which is also why baptism is required after excommunication). Talk to the missionaries or your bishop. He would have to approve it, but it's not out of the question at all. But, yes, taking the sacrament is the all that is really needed, which is why we no longer do re-baptisms generally.

[LDSVALLEY]

In our ward we had an investigator get baptized then admitted she had been baptized years earlier but had wandered away from the church.

Everything was put on hold until it went before the Leaders in Salt Lake. In the end her 2nd baptism was null and void and her records reflect only her original.

So I would think you would not be allowed to be re-baptized. And doing so is pointless in the eyes of God anyway. You are already a member.

[MarginOfError]

When I was younger I got into a relationship with a guy and got baptized into his church, only reason I did it was to be with him, I still did my own thing drinking, smoking etc. we had broken up a few months later and I went on with my life, now a few years later I've been speaking with the missionaries and being an active member in the church is something I want in my life, I just wish I hadn't "wasted" my baptism for nothing and I'd really like a fresh start at my new life... What does the church say as far as being baptized twice?

One thing you should understand about baptism is that your actual baptism did next to nothing to remove your sins. Through baptism, you enter into a covenant that IF you will repent of your sins, THEN the Lord will forgive those sins.

It is vital to understand that what actually resulted in the washing of your sins was not the water, but the repentance that came before you entered the water. You don't need to be baptized again because you've already made the agreement with the Lord. Now, if you want to have your sins removed, you need only live up to your side of the agreement--repent.

I understand that there is an emotional and psychological component where if we do something significant, it is easier to feel like we are starting fresh. And I'll agree, it's hard to make a mental break. But life isn't about phases. It's about progress. It's about today being a little bit better than yesterday, and tomorrow being a little bit better than today.

[brycematheson]

The covenant of baptism is a two-way deal. We keep our end of the deal, and God keeps His. From the point of your baptism, it sounds like you had a hard time keeping your end of the deal. But now that you're ready to do that, God will accept that as long as you're willing to repent. So don't worry about the past. Don't worry about being "re-baptized." Work hard, change, repent, partake of the Sacrament, and move forward. That's ultimately what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about.

Yes, the physical act of baptism is, to a lot of people, 'the start.' And you feel like you didn't really accept your 'start' as you would have hoped. Unfortunately, being re-baptized a second time is very rare and most likely won't happen again. But speak to your Bishop. He's going to be your best source for counsel.