Baptisms at the Temple

[An Investigator]

Hi Guys!

Just wanting abit of advice here,  as most of you know I have a limited use recommend to do baptisms.   I have checked but you can't just show up here in the UK,  you have to book the font then find the priesthood leaders.  first time I went it was amazing,  my home teacher sorted it all out so we would have enough priesthood holders etc but now I want to go back and I'm struggling to find anyone to go with.   it's been suggested I go with the ysa but I don't know if I want to do that as technically the only thing that applies to me in that description is Adult.  I'm worried if I find it uncomfortable (I know no one) I might not want to go again.   Anyone have any advice?  

[zil]

Your home teachers don't want to go again?  (That would be my first approach, followed by asking friends if they think their husbands would be interested in doing baptisms - unless you have lots of youth / converts, I wouldn't think they'd get to do it that often...)  Just how many priesthood holders do you need for baptisms / confirmations? (I would think 2 oughta do it, but I haven't done those since I was a teenager.)

FWIW, nearly every time I go to the temple, the people who officiate are people I don't know.  The people around me are people I don't know.  And yet, I feel between us such happiness, welcome, and love, that it just doesn't matter.  These people around me are my brothers and sisters, and we're just so glad to see others there in the temple that it doesn't matter whether we know each other (at least, I assume everyone else is feeling something like that).  It's not like there's lots of socializing or chit-chat anyway - you quietly wait your turn, go into the font, get baptized several times in a row, then go alone to the dressing room...  That said, everyone's different, and for all I know, all the others are thinking things like, "Who let her in?!" Something to ponder, I guess...

(That said, a married person who's friendly with the YSAs might be greatly appreciated by said YSAs...)

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

The missionaries are encouraged to serve, maybe they could help?  

[An Investigator]

I'm just gonna keep praying on it.. trip is soon and still not sure what to do.   nope no one in the ward wants to do baptisms sadly, I think if I want to go again before being endowed,  I'm going to have to go with the youth.  

[An Investigator]

23 minutes ago, LiterateParakeet said:

The missionaries are encouraged to serve, maybe they could help?  

The Temple is out of mission boundaries I think 

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

Oh yeah.  Okay, maybe ask the Bishop to have them ask for volunteers in Elder's Quorum.  In my ward they have a paper they pass around every week for people to sign up for our ward's assignments for sealings.  Asking people to volunteer to do baptisms is the same idea.  I think once people realize there is a need someone would be happy to help.  

I love the temple, but I'm particularly fond of the baptistry!  

[Jane_Doe]

3 hours ago, An Investigator said:

The Temple is out of mission boundaries I think 

They might be able to get permission to go with you, depending how far it is.  Ask them.

(The "don't leave you mission area" is somewhat flexible, when it needs to be.  For example, my home ward was right on the edge of the mission boundaries.  The local hospital was across the line & technically in the other mission.  But the missionaries got permission to visit there when members/investigators/less-active/anyone needed visiting.)

[Jane_Doe]

Other options: 

1) As you said, going with the YSA.  No, I won't feel "weird" about it- just think of it as "my baptizer is young and strong and sure not to drop me!"

2) The temple might have a time where they have specific times in which they have baptizers there for open baptisms.  I have seen this at some temples.  It varies temple to temple, depending on local needs.  If you call your local temple, I'm sure they'd be able to provide the info.

[Sunday21]

I was trying to get a sister of mature years who has a limited term recommend into the temple. This is what they told me, but the rules may be different where you are. Mature members and the youth do not get wet together. Mature sisters without endowments cannot assist (which I think means hold the towels etc). But the non endowed sister can hang out with the youth, I suggested 'be a chaperone?' They said ok to this.

but you may want to call your local temple.

[zil]

47 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

I was trying to get a sister of mature years who has a limited term recommend into the temple. This is what they told me, but the rules may be different where you are. Mature members and the youth do not get wet together. Mature sisters without endowments cannot assist (which I think means hold the towels etc). But the non endowed sister can hang out with the youth, I suggested 'be a chaperone?' They said ok to this.

but you may want to call your local temple.

"youth" is not the same as "ysa" (aka "young single adults").  (Just in case that's not clear to anyone.)

[An Investigator]

No its not youth it's young single adults aged 21 to 30 although they are probably closer to the 21 age group.   I'm a 33 year old married mum with kids so kind of puts me off going that's all.  

[Blackmarch]

On November 29, 2016 at 2:47 PM, An Investigator said:

Hi Guys!

Just wanting abit of advice here,  as most of you know I have a limited use recommend to do baptisms.   I have checked but you can't just show up here in the UK,  you have to book the font then find the priesthood leaders.  first time I went it was amazing,  my home teacher sorted it all out so we would have enough priesthood holders etc but now I want to go back and I'm struggling to find anyone to go with.   it's been suggested I go with the ysa but I don't know if I want to do that as technically the only thing that applies to me in that description is Adult.  I'm worried if I find it uncomfortable (I know no one) I might not want to go again.   Anyone have any advice?  

Well id probably ask either the elders quorum president or relief society pres on how to go about it... I know that over here anyways they try to schedule ward temple trips every month. It might be more difficult to pull that off in smaller or mor spread out wards/branches tho. If they know that there are members in their ward who are itching to get to the temple then there would a good motivation to doing something like that on the official level. 

As for being uncomfortable, youll always have some anxiety right up to when you do the ordinances, at least until you are a regular..... But you will be glad that you overcame it and went, it is worth it.

One thing to keep in mind age (or culture) has little meaning in the temple.