Doctrine and differences

Since having the opportunity to see a Catholic baptism last Sunday, I have been pondering the differences between how the Catholics practice their doctrine and how we Mormons practice. I really enjoyed Father Mercado's service. He was serious and tried his best to project the importance of this ordinance upon those in attendance. At one point in the service, the parents and God-parents are required to make a covenant with God in regard to the child being baptised. Those participating were rather shy in their response. The Father, in a humorous way, tried to help them understand they needed to be forceful in their response--at least respond as loudly as they are willing to sing their Karaoke at family gatherings! So he tried again, and the group was much louder in their response. The Father also explained the purpose of the God-parents and parents making this covenant for the child--because, of course, the child is too young to understand the covenant of baptism, so the adults are acting as 'proxy' for the child, and are under covenant to help the child live up to the baptismal covenant. Interesting...

In the Mormon church, we only baptise those who we believe are old enough to know right and wrong. This means parents wait until the child is at least eight years old to be baptised. Then, the child is baptised by immersion--actually taken completely under the water. This is to represent the death and eventual resurrection of the body from the earth. Little children do receive an ordinance--a name and a blessing. Much like the ancient Hebrews, who circumcised, named and blessed their children at eight days old, Mormons bring their new children to church to give them a name and a blessing (the circumcision for boys is optional, and done at a hospital).

In addition to the baptism, those of accountable age are given the Gift of the Holy Ghost after being baptised. Just as members anciently were baptised after the example of John the Baptist's baptism of Jesus, and then given the Holy Ghost, after the example of the gift given to the Apostles on the day of Pentacost, new members in the Mormon church are baptised, then in a separate ordinance, the Priesthood lays their hands on the head of the newly baptised and gives them the gift of the Holy Ghost. At that point, they officially become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I have always been interested in religion, having studied all the major religions--I am currently reading the Koran for the second time--and have found almost all religions to have been based upon great and profound truths. If people would actually practice what they preach, regardless of the religion, the world would be a much better place!