Baptism

I was baptized like many active young LDS at the age of eight. I was part of a stake youth baptism day and I believe I had three or four other children accompany me that day. I remember being happy, but mostly because I felt I had made my parents proud. I can honestly say though that even having followed all the steps and participated in primary and family home evenings, I did not fully understand what I was committing to that day. My husband and I have often conversed over our feelings on baptism at such a young age. I will try and say this carefully. While I have faith that the age of accountability set by prophets cannot be inappropriate, I feel that they are not at an age where they can understand the scope of what they are doing.

Baptism by immersion is a representation of death of our sinful selves and rebirth as followers of Christ. It is a symbol of the death and resurrection of our Savior. Just as you cannot be partially dead, or partially alive, you cannot be a partial servant of the Lord. We are either slave to our own passions and sins or allow ourselves to be servants to a higher law. I don't know that at eight years old we can really understand what that means.

I think at times I'm looking at this commitment retrospectively. From the point of view of someone who has gone on to make more covenants. Taking that first step is what puts us on a path that leads to the temple and eternal marriage and eternal family. Is it necessary that the first step be taken at a young age? I know many people that have taken it with huge success at later stages in life. As my own children near the age to be baptized, it's something that my husband and I will have to pray over. Not necessarily if they should be baptized or not, but how we can prepare them in a way that will help them make their own decision. Help guide them in a manner that will allow them to see the context and scope of their actions. I hope and pray that it's a path they continue on as they grow, only time will tell. I do know however, that as I've taught others in the past, baptism is the gate and in order for them to become disciples of Christ, it has to be opened.