Circular to Temple Presidents, 20 May 1896
P.O.Box. B. Salt Lake City, Utah, .
To the Presidents of the Temples
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Dear Brethren:
In baptizing for the dead in the Temples we understand
that the form of words used is as follows:
"Having been commissioned
of Jesus Christ, I baptize you [blank] for and in behalf of
[blank], for the remission of your sins, and in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
We might go into explanations as to the reasons which
have caused this form of baptism to be adopted; but it is not necessary;
further than to say that baptisms for health and baptisms for the renew-
al of covenants, etc., have led doubtless to the adoption of this form
of ceremony to distinguish if from others.
We have had this matter under consideration from time to
time, and supposed that our views had been made known to the Presidents
of the Temples; but we understand that they have not been informed upon
this point, and that the form above given is still the onje used in
administering baptisms for the dead.
The form we think proper, and that we desire to have
used hereafter in administering the ordinance of baptism for the dead,
is as follows:
"Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you
[blank] for and in behalf of [blank], in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
