Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-12
Timely Article from the Pen Of
President Smith,
AN IMPORTANT ORDINANCE.
should be Attended TO nc Proper
Time Settlements should Have
Their own Fonts.

The following article from the pen O
President Joseph y. smith, ami pub
lished in the latest number OF the Ju
venile Instructor, is deemed worthy OIL
reproduction In these columns;
The practice OF administering the
Sacrament Of the Lords supper to the
children Of the Sabbath schools " gen
orally observed throughout the entire
Church. The children are entitled to
the Sacrament by reason OF the fact
that they have not reached the years OF
accountability, and a,e not, therefore,
under the same divine responsibility
that falls upon them when they have
attained the eighth year OF their age,
Sunday school authorities have, there
fore. been asked to urge upon the chill
daen the necessity OF baptism as soon
as possible after they reach the age OF
accountability; and In order that the
children may feel the Importance Of
baptism as soon as they are entitled TO
It, Instruction is given both In gem
eral way to the school and also in
classes.
Parents are to be commended who
take proper measures to prepare their
children for baptism ON their eighth
birthday. or as soon thereafter as pos
sble. There has grown up, however.
much carelessness among the Saints in
regard to the baptism Of their chill
dren, who often do not receive this Or
dinance for six months or a year after
they are entitled 10 II. Children may
very naturally ask, therefore, II II may
be postponed indiiferently for two
months, why may II not also be post
ponei six or even ~ months. &.
II is much more In conformity with
the rules of the Church and It's disci-
pine for children, as they reach the
age of > years. TO be baptized in order
that they may be fully entitled to the
privileges Of the Sacrament Where the
child Ia not responsible, Il has not been
the practice TO withhold the Sacrament
from him, and yet II is much more de-
sirable that he be baptized before par
taking OF the Sacrament after he has
reached his eighth year. The subject
OF baptism should be discussed In the
homes that children may look forward
to Il In the spirit and feeling OF salts
faction and duty. The ordinance Is a
most important event In the child's life.
and II the child Is made TO feel that
Importance. the ordinance win have q
greater effect and the solemnity Of the
occasion viii be impressed upon the
youthful mind.
The most common reason for post
poning the ordinance OF baptism IL the
inclemency OF the weather during the
winter season, There are perhaps not
more than. three or four months of the
year when the temperature of the wa
ter In our streams makes the ordin-
ance comfortable. Conditions, however,
are changing so rapidly that baptismal
fonts can be constructed without very
great expense. aud they are much to
be preferred, even during the summer
season over the common practice Of
baptising In the open streams, II Is
to be hoped that the day IL not far dis
tant when every town OF any consfier-
able size viii have its baptismal font.
and where there are small towns with
IN distance OF from six TO ten miles,
a font might be very properly located
at CENTRAL place for the accommoda~
ton OF all. Proper dressing rooms can
be arranged and convenlences may be
had for the performance Of the ordin-
snce Various deviees>may be arranged
for the heating Of water and the gem
eral comfort of the children who re-
ceive the ordinance and Of the parents
whose duty II Is 10 give II their per-
sonal attention. II baptismal fonts
We're generally provided throughout the
settlements OF the Church, day could
be set apart each month for the bap-
tism OF children.
The Saints are earnestly advised TO
give this matter their attention, and II
is 20 be hoped that the authorizes In
every Stake will realize the growing ne
cessity OF baptismal fonts and con-
struct them at their earliest possible
convenience.