CUP Undergraduate Research
Title
The Water, the Words, and a Little Bit More: An In-Depth Look at Christian and Mormon Baptism for the Purpose of Pastoral Care
Date of Award
Spring 4-1-2018
Document Type
Restricted Access Thesis
College
College of Arts & Sciences
Department
Religion
Degree Name
Theology, BA
First Advisor
Phillip L. Brandt, Ph.D.
Abstract
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints practices baptism in a very similar way to Christian traditions. They use water, just like Christianity, and they use the same words as Christian baptisms—both traditions will recite the phrase, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” However, as a pastor in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, I will baptize any LDS convert that joins my congregation. I will do this because the LDS Church, despite its similarities to Christianity, is not considered a Christian body.
Major key terms that need definition are: LDS Church, Mormon Church, vicarious baptism, liturgy, orthodoxy, denominations, traditions. The LDS Church and the Mormon Church are synonymous and are used interchangeably. Vicarious baptism is a practice in the LDS Church in which someone volunteers are baptized for a deceased person. Liturgy is the structure and organizational pattern for a church service. Canon is defined as the authoritative texts used by a religious group. A denomination is a recognized independent branch of the Christian Church. “Traditions” and “denominations” are used synonymously in this thesis.