Baptism

[An Investigator]

Hi 

I've been investigating since September, attending Church for over 3 months, my kids attend, I go to RS and have made quite a few friends.   I had a bit of a wobble for a couple of weeks and really questioned if I should join the Church and my reasons for doing so.  After alot of study and prayer and talking some stuff through I now have a stronger testimony.  I'm considering moving my baptism to the end of this month as I just seem to be sat still at this point but I'm not sure if I can or should or if I should leave it till the end of may.  Does anyone have any Advice? 

[LeSellers]

Sooner is better. You get the Gift of the Holy Ghost all that much faster (an important consideration), and Satan has less time to putz around with your mind.

And please don't forget what I mentioned earlier: get some of your own family's names and start their temple work as fast as possible — the next day if you can manage it. The Temple is a powerful tool for you to use as a shield against the temptations that will surely come.

Lehi

[NeedleinA]

11 minutes ago, LeSellers said:

Sooner is better. You get the Gift of the Holy Ghost all that much faster (an important consideration), and Satan has less time to putz around with your mind.

I'll second that solid answer. 

[An Investigator]

32 minutes ago, LeSellers said:

Sooner is better. You get the Gift of the Holy Ghost all that much faster (an important consideration), and Satan has less time to putz around with your mind.

And please don't forget what I mentioned earlier: get some of your own family's names and start their temple work as fast as possible — the next day if you can manage it. The Temple is a powerful tool for you to use as a shield against the temptations that will surely come.

Lehi

Going to the temple hasnt been mentioned tbh except that once your baptised you have to wait at least a year so I'm guessing that isn't on the cards for me. 

[LeSellers]

8 minutes ago, An Investigator said:

Going to the temple hasnt been mentioned tbh except that once your baptised you have to wait at least a year so I'm guessing that isn't on the cards for me. 

You cannot go to the Temple for your endowment, but you can go (and are worthy to go, being newly cleansed of sin) to do baptisms for your kindred dead. Others may have to do the other ordinances (but you can hold on to them for a while, until you can do that work yourself), but you can be the proxy for the women in your line (and for others, too, if you ask around a bit) for both baptism and confirmation.

Lehi

[Guest]

33 minutes ago, An Investigator said:

Going to the temple hasnt been mentioned tbh except that once your baptised you have to wait at least a year so I'm guessing that isn't on the cards for me. 

What @LeSellers said was correct.

Speaking of which, are you close to any temples?

[An Investigator]

Hi,

I live about two hours away from one. It's definitely not been mentioned so maybe we don't do this as we are not in the US? Another convert has been in the Church 3 months and she hasn't been either. 

[Guest MormonGator]

8 minutes ago, An Investigator said:

Hi,

I live about two hours away from one. It's definitely not been mentioned so maybe we don't do this as we are not in the US? Another convert has been in the Church 3 months and she hasn't been either. 

 I am a convert, and try to focus more on getting adjusted to the LDS lifestyle, than focus on the temple. Believe me, it may be overwhelming at first. Heck, I've been here for a couple years and it's still overwhelming for me! 

[Guest]

31 minutes ago, An Investigator said:

Hi,

I live about two hours away from one. It's definitely not been mentioned so maybe we don't do this as we are not in the US? Another convert has been in the Church 3 months and she hasn't been either. 

No, in or out of the US, you should be able to.  It's just that most recent converts aren't aware of the "limited use recommend" which allows for baptisms for the dead.

[LeSellers]

6 hours ago, An Investigator said:

Hi,

I live about two hours away from one. It's definitely not been mentioned so maybe we don't do this as we are not in the US? Another convert has been in the Church 3 months and she hasn't been either. 

The High Priest Group leader may not know his job. He should be working with this sister (and you) to make going to the Temple a priority. The bishop should be pressing him to do so, as well.

The Temple is full of blessings for you. Ask about it, please.

Lehi

Edited April 7, 2016 by LeSellers

[An Investigator]

Oh, I'm probably not going to ask for one tbh.. I think like Gator said im probably better off just getting used to the ward and stuff x

[LeSellers]

9 minutes ago, An Investigator said:

Oh, I'm probably not going to ask for one tbh.. I think like Gator said im probably better off just getting used to the ward and stuff x

I don't want to sound too pushy, but I'll make this one, last, appeal: there is no better way to "get used to it" than to spend a few hours in a car with a couple of other Saints going to and coming from the Temple, and working together there. The Spirit is so sweet, the calm, peace of the Temple will reward you beyond anything you can imagine. It's well worth it, whatever it may cost in terms of time, energy, money, and effort.

Lehi

[An Investigator]

11 minutes ago, LeSellers said:

I don't want to sound too pushy, but I'll make this one, last, appeal: there is no better way to "get used to it" than to spend a few hours in a car with a couple of other Saints going to and coming from the Temple, and working together there. The Spirit is so sweet, the calm, peace of the Temple will reward you beyond anything you can imagine. It's well worth it, whatever it may cost in terms of time, energy, money, and effort.

Lehi

I'm really glad you feel that way. I'm not even sure if I want to be endowed in the near future.   I will obviously up hold the commandments as best as I can to be worthy of a recommend, I'm sure the holy ghost will tell me when I should go and I don't feel that its going to be a soon thing.   This doesn't bother me, my husband isnt in the Church so we or my children can't be sealed and whilst my mum passed away five years ago I would rather wait until I feel comfortable to go. 

[Guest MormonGator]

13 minutes ago, LeSellers said:

I don't want to sound too pushy, but I'll make this one, last, appeal: there is no better way to "get used to it" than to spend a few hours in a car with a couple of other Saints going to and coming from the Temple, and working together there. The Spirit is so sweet, the calm, peace of the Temple will reward you beyond anything you can imagine. It's well worth it, whatever it may cost in terms of time, energy, money, and effort.

Lehi

My old ward was filled with truly wonderful people, so this isn't about them-it's about the temple. 

Being LDS is an adjustment in itself. If you were always LDS, you can't understand the adjustment. Sure, some are like "Oh, it's easy to adjust" and for them it may well be-for some of us, it isn't. It's a big time commitment, a big lifestyle change-eveything. 

It's best to take things slowly. The Spirit is sweet and calm-but you don't need the temple to feel that way. 

[Sunday21]

Dear Investigator,

I normally never disagree with the super adorable Gator, but as a convert I strongly suggest going to the temple to do baptisms as soon as possible...especially if things start going wrong in your life. Things in my life were really going wrong so I stopped waiting for my lovely, but highly disorganized ward to find someone to escort me. I made the 4 hour trip myself! Got the temple recommend 1st of course.

 

[Guest MormonGator]

47 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

I normally never disagree with the super adorable Gator

I'll allow it because you said I'm adorable. This time. 
 

[Guest MormonGator]

47 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

I normally never disagree with the super adorable Gator

I'll allow it because you said I'm adorable. This time. 
 

[zil]

I'll add my support for the idea of going to the temple.  The feeling of welcome there (welcome from the Lord, that is (as well as the people there)), is powerful.  The blessings which come from serving your own family are powerful - enabling them to work on your behalf from the spirit world.  Data shows that those who go to the temple shortly after baptism are more likely to remain in the church.  I believe this is because of the strong spirit we feel there, and those in the spirit world, grateful that you have given them a gift and enabled them to progress.

And anyway, everyone should have the experience of getting "dunked" multiple times in quick succession...

[LeSellers]

I find it powerful that the only scripture in all five standard works (Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants [six times], and The Pearl of Great Price) is Malachi 3:4~5. Gabriel quoted it (poorly) to Zechariah, Jesus Himself to the Nephites and to Joseph, and Joseph to the Saints, and Moroni to Joseph. Joseph related it directly to baptism for the dead.

We must turn our hearts to our fathers, and we cannot be saved without them. There is no better way to do that than doing Family History research and the Temple work for those of our kindred dead who have waited decades, centuries, even millennia for us to do for them what they cannot or could not do for themselves. It is a sacred obligation, one I believe we covenanted with them to perform if they came first, while the Gospel was not on the earth, so we could come when it is here.

While I strongly advocate that new converts go to the Temple as soon as possible, it is not just the Temple experience that matters: it is also the finding of those ancestors and connecting to them through the ordinances of the Priesthood that forges those links and that makes us, we here/now and they there/then, an integrated people holy to the Lord.

Preach My Gospel explains that this is one way for missionaries to find and help people see the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it suggests that helping converts (not to mention the rest of us) find those who have gone before us is one way (I say the best way) to cement our testimonies and our faith into a solid foundation.

The choice is up to each person, of course, but the prophets and Apostles have told us that Family History work, including Temple worship, is one of the most important of our duties, and one of the most powerful ways to insure our faithfulness.

Lehi

 

Edited April 6, 2016 by LeSellers

[Sunday21]

Call or write your elderly relatives as soon as possible! Get the names and dates for them and their family. Don't let them shuffle off this mortal coil before you get round to contacting them. No better time than now. Pick up the phone. Send a letter!

Edited April 10, 2016 by Sunday21

[flameburns623]

Reading Jesus the Christ, The Holuse of the Lord, and/or The Articles of Faith, all by Talmage; or The Holy Temple by Packer are good ways to focus on the First Princples of the Gospel, or to learn a bit about the Temple.

All are likely available in  your ward library.

All are good resources to help yourself deepen and broaden your faith and develop a  perhaps gain a greater love for Temple ordinances. 

I am a resigned member, although strongly considering a return.  I fell into inactivity after a few years due to a variety of circumstances, and eventualy left to attend a different church.

I actually left once, under pressure from anti-Mormon critics. Years later I came back and things went well until a job change coincided with the splitting up of my ward and creation of a new ward.

The new job kept me from attending Sunday services regularly, the members in the newly created ward were mostly strangers to me, and inactivity became an easy option.

Although I eventually was able to attend a non-LDS Church, I have frankly missed being a Latter-Day Saint.

I urge you to stay on track and eventually gain the strong testimony of Jesus and of His restored Gospel which will make you WANT to be a full member of His Church.

I encourage you to stay active and to not allow any discouraging forces in your life--family, friends, or spirits of darkness--to deter you from making spiritual progress towards baptism.

I have never been to a Temple. So what follows is based partly on what I have heard from others and partly on personal speculation.

In the States, Missionaries are being encouraged to help investigators and the newly-baptised to do some preliminary genealogical work and then submit those names and do ordinances in behalf of those ancestors.

This program is being rolled out worldwide as a way of encouraging new members to stay active. I can think of several reasons this is effective:

A. It is a good way to be introduced to some aspects of the uniqueness of Mormonism.

These ordinances are not something done by other Christian religions. You will come to appreciate the specialness of your newfound faith as you reach out to help your departed family members.

B. It encourages the new Saint to maintain worthiness.

It is easy to fall back into old habits and/or flag in one's zeal once one passes the 'goalpost' of baptism.

But holding a Temple Recommend in one's hand, attending a temple, are tangible and real experiences which help affirm to oneself that great progress has been made.

And to motivate oneself to further progression.

C. One doesn't feel oneself cut out of the "clique".

As other members talk about their temple experiences, it is easy to feel 'left out', as 'second-class'.

If one experiences the Temple one one's own, this sense of exclusion is minimized.

D. The Temple is a different encounter from a ward meetinghouse.

It is, by all accounts, quieter, less "busy", and more conducive to experiencing the Spirit. Don't deprive yourself of the chance to incorporate this into your life.

E. Going to the Temple with ward members can help you to form ties and gain acquaintances.

Again, once baptised, the feeling of a convert that you really don't know anyone else in the ward can be discouraging. Riding with other members and interacting with them can help offset this.

You won't hit it off with everyone just because you accompany them on a ward Temple trip: but over time you'll bond with more ward members and feel more a part of a family.

I hope this is helpful for you. Please know you are in my prayers.

[Guest]

13 hours ago, MormonGator said:

I'll allow it because you said I'm adorable. This time. 
 

Wait a minute.  Gator, you allowed it twice! 

[Guest]

13 hours ago, LeSellers said:

While I strongly advocate that new converts go to the Temple as soon as possible, it is not just the Temple experience that matters: it is also the finding of those ancestors and connecting to them through the ordinances of the Priesthood that forges those links and that makes us, we here/now and they there/then, an integrated people holy to the Lord.

@An Investigator,

As a way of easing into it, I'd highly suggest getting into family history and indexing (you can get more details on that from your resident family history buff).  As you do this simple task, I think you'll find the "Spirit of Elijah" as we call it begin to motivate you to want to go to the temple.

[An Investigator]

OK well temple stuff aside I'm going to get baptised next weekend. 

[flameburns623]

4 hours ago, An Investigator said:

OK well temple stuff aside I'm going to get baptised next weekend.