One of the beliefs of Mormonism is that baptism is the gateway to salvation.  After we have faith in Christ and have repented of our sins, baptism is the next step, and the first ordinance, in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus commanded His apostles to teach and baptize all nations.  Thousands of Mormon missionaries are sent throughout the world to fulfill this commandment.

Mormons are not baptized before the age of eight, since they do not believe that children are accountable for their choices before eight.  Of course, converts can be baptized much later than eight.  Before either an eight-year-old child or a convert can be baptized, they must have an interview with a Mormon bishop to make sure they are ready.

The Mormon Church practices baptism by immersion – complete submersion in water. This symbolizes the death and burial of the sinful person and a rebirth as a disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of His Church. Like many Christians, Mormons believe that a person who repents and is baptized is completely cleansed of all prior sins. Life can begin fresh.  Where Mormons are different from most Christians is that they believe that one must be baptized by someone who holds the priesthood.  The priesthood is God’s authority, and, in the Church, can be traced from the first Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, back through the Apostles to Jesus Christ.

To be baptized into the Mormon Church is to become part of a community. The Savior commanded His disciples to mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that need comfort, to serve each other, and to love each other.  Mormons believe that their church is God’s Church on earth.  As such, they’re expected to be aware of and care for each other.

After baptism, the new Mormon is given the gift of the Holy Ghost.  In order to be clean and worthy for the Holy Ghost to dwell with us we must first have our sins washed away through the waters of baptism.  The Holy Ghost is given by the laying on of hands upon the head of the newly baptized person.  A special blessing is pronounced, and the person afterward has the continual companionship of the Holy Spirit to guide, warn, protect, and comfort him or her. If the person sins, the Holy Ghost leaves.  But when the person repents, the Holy Ghost returns.

Baptism cleanses the baptized person from sin, but everyone sins after baptism. The sacrament is a sacred ritual shared by many Christian churches and consists of blessed bread and water – which represent the body and blood of Christ.  One of Mormon beliefs is that taking the sacrament renews the promises of baptism and cleanses the partaker, again, from sin.  They take the sacrament weekly – but the cleansing that the sacrament brings must also, like baptism, come after repentance. 

As baptism is the gate to salvation, Mormons believe that everyone should have the opportunity to be baptized.  They practice baptism for the dead – which means that someone is baptized on the behalf of someone who is dead.  Baptism for the dead has to take place in a Mormon temple – and allows the departed spirit to accept the baptism or not and become part of the Mormon Church after death.