In Mormon theology, why didn't John the Baptist baptize Joseph Smith?
Upvote:3
+1 for a great question!
I have not found any solid answer or doctrine of the church that refers to this. Perhaps in the Joseph Smith Papers you could find answers there www.josephsmithpapers.org, but I haven't searched there.
What you say is true is for today. One has to be baptized before they receive the priesthood, but if you look in the Book of Mormon, there is an instance where there was a 'joint' baptism:
13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
Hopefully this helps, I am not sure if it answers your question though.
I could give you some opinions I have as to why John the Baptist did not perform the baptism, but they are not suitable for this site because they are opinions.
Edit I did some searching in the JSP. I think the best answer you will find is that this is they way God needed it to work to re-establish his church.
Given this general lack of early records, it is not surprising that no contemporary document recorded visionary experiences that Joseph Smith later described as having taken place during this time. No surviving documents from 1829 describe the visitations from angelic messengers, hearing the voice of God, or other aspects of the restoration of divine authority. Information on these significant events, particularly the priesthood restoration, instead comes from later accounts. In his later history Joseph Smith explained that in May 1829, he and Oliver Cowdery inquired “of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins as we found mentioned in the translation” of the Book of Mormon. He then described an angelic visitation in response to their prayer for divine guidance on the subject. He indicated that their visitor conferred upon them “the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministring of angels and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.” Joseph Smith further recorded: “The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this priesthood upon us said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the new Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James, and John, who held the keys of the priesthood of Melchisedeck, whi[c]h priesthood he said should in due time be conferred on us.”
More post
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the special mediatorial position of the Pope, Cardinals, etc in the Catholic church?
- 📝 Is this about 'sehnsucht'; in which case, can God be Pleasure manifest or is he a being who is full of pleasure?
- 📝 What Bible verses deal with a man stealing bread and having to pay double?
- 📝 Dating the sacerdotal hierarchy
- 📝 In Catholicism, do the teachers more truly constitute the "church" than the hearers?
- 📝 What is the significance of the burning bush?
- 📝 Do any Christian denominations consider Pontius Pilate as a saint?
- 📝 How did Mary know after the Annunciation that she would be accepted as wife by Joseph?
- 📝 Can we tell when the Roman pontiff is speaking "EX CATHEDRA"?
- 📝 What does it mean for the Spirit to only speak of what he hears? (trinitarian perspective)
- 📝 Where does the Bible say along the lines of, "The weakest saint is stronger than the strongest demon?"
- 📝 Does the Church in general need to revisit and revise its strategy in maintaining the faith?
- 📝 Why do Premillennialists teach the 1,000 year reign of Christ will take place on Earth?
- 📝 How important is the historical verification of Biblical events to traditional Christian faith?
- 📝 Did John Calvin believe there was no salvation outside the visible church?
- 📝 Is there any quiz or tool that identifies the denomination which is closest to my personal beliefs?
- 📝 Does the New Testament disregard the Old Testament?
- 📝 Is the al-Hallaj of the Yazidi religion Jesus?
- 📝 What is the Evangelical view on tithing?
- 📝 Why is Satan called the prince of the power of the air?
- 📝 Do any non-Swedenborgian Christian denominations have a smaller biblical canon than Protestantism?
- 📝 In Catholic teaching, what specific actual sinful act did Adam and Eve commit, and what level of authority can be applied to this teaching?
- 📝 According to Protestant trinitarians, what is the significance of the father-son relationship between God and Christ?
- 📝 Clarification about "sons of God" who caused flood?
- 📝 What is an example of a deductive argument that Biblical Unitarians would present to prove that Jesus is not God?
- 📝 Do Evangelical leaders (televangelists, megachurch pastors, etc...) not consider themselves Protestants?
- 📝 Do all YEC believe flat earth?
- 📝 Is it possible to describe Christian lifestyle?
- 📝 God said in the Bible: ”I am who am!” What does that expression mean?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have an official position on domestic 'health passes' or 'vaccine passes' that could be used to control citizens' activities?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 In Mormon theology, why didn't John the Baptist baptize Joseph Smith?
- 📝 Why did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon into Jacobean English, not in use in 1830?
- 📝 Why were the golden plates necessary if Joseph Smith received his translation of the Book of Mormon by viewing a stone in his hat?
- 📝 John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery as a resurrected being. When was John the Baptist resurrected?
- 📝 How did Brigham Young become the most well-known Mormon leader (after Joseph Smith left the scene)?
- 📝 Why did Joseph Smith return the golden plates to the angel to be buried?
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist question the identity of Jesus?
- 📝 The Mormon Church teaches that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son. How do you reconcile this when the Bible says the Father cannot be seen?
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist exist? Did he have any purpose besides Baptizing Jesus?
- 📝 Why was it so special that John the baptist was not called Zechariah?
- 📝 Who sent John the Baptist to baptize with water?
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist compare the holy spirit with dove?
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist preach repentance through water baptism and specifically how is that different than repentance through ashes and sackcloth?
- 📝 Why does John the Baptist decide upon water and baptism as the form of repentance (Catholic viewpoint)?
- 📝 Why was John the Baptist not excited at seeing Jesus at Jordan?
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist not follow Jesus?
- 📝 Why did not Jesus praise John the Baptist before the latter's disciples?
- 📝 On what basis did Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith declare that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit cannot indwell a believer?
- 📝 Mormon prophet Joseph Smith stated one does not get the Holy Ghost after he is baptized. Acts 10:45 says Cornelius received the HS before baptism
- 📝 Why Does Herod Say He Had Beheaded John the Baptist When He Knows He's in Prison? (Mark 6)
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist say he wasn't a prophet?
- 📝 Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith claimed that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. How did he know it was really the Father and the Son?
- 📝 Why did John the Baptist "cry out in the wilderness"?
- 📝 On what Biblical basis did Mormon prophet Joseph Smith teach that the "Ancient of Days" at Daniel 7:22 is the first man Adam?
- 📝 Why did the apostle John call himself, "the disciple whom Jesus loved"?
- 📝 Was John the Baptist Elijah?
- 📝 What is the Book of Mormon equivalent of John 3:16?
- 📝 How did John the Baptist have the "spirit and power of Elijah"?
- 📝 How did the disciples of John the Baptist pray?
- 📝 Does Joseph Smith fail the test of a prophet?