Why can’t we baptize ourselves?
Question
Gramps
Being a convert to the Mormon Church I would like to know: Since Adam and Alma baptized themselves, why is it not possible for a convert to baptize her/himself. Wouldn’t it be just the same?
Curtis
Answer
Dear Curtis,
Adam was baptized by the Holy Spirit, and Alma baptized himself and another under the direction of the Lord because he was the only person at the time with the authority to carry out this sacred ordinance. In the organized church authority to baptize is a requirement, and candidates for baptism do not have that authority. Even the Savior, whose authority we invoke when performing baptisms (the ordinance is performed in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost), submitted himself to John to be baptized, which John held the Aaronic Priesthood.
Gramps
Alma didn’t baptize himself. He was a priest of King Noah who were all inactive members of the church. He was wicked, yes, but had already been baptized and had authority to baptize. His going under the water with Helam was simply an act of humility before God.