RANDY - I have been participating on a Community of Christ discussion board for several months. The question keeps arising...."Why did Brigham Young force all the saints who went west to be rebaptized?"
Their position is that he forced them to be rebaptized so as to signify their membership in the "new" church...Brigham Youngs church. My response was that it was only done to signify a recommittment to the Lord...and to serve as a motivator for a people who had suffered so much.
So my question is...were these rebaptisms voluntary or forced? What would be the consequences for someone who felt they did NOT need to be rebaptized in order to recommit themselves to the Lord?

JOEL - I agree with your response. You have to consider the source when you hear things like this. I have never heard the accusation that Brigham Young forced rebaptism on the members.
In 1840 Brigham Young claimed that a revelation came to Joseph Smith confirming that "the Saints could be baptized and re-baptized when they chose." (Journal of Discourses 18:241, 23 June 1876)
But of course this is Brigham Young talking and the Journal of Discourses is not always that reliable.
But there are a few scriptures in the Book of Mormon that many interpret as a justification for the practice. For example:

"And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it." (Moroni 6:1)

If church protocol and order was correctly followed, anyone who was an elder, priest, teacher would have already been baptized at some point before, otherwise they would not hold any priesthood office.

There is also some evidence that Joseph Smith sanctioned the practice. A diary entry of one member states:

"Nearly All the Church have been Baptized again, for the Remission of their Sins, since they joined the Church, I have also, by the hands of Br. Joseph (as he himself has been,)" (Jacob Scott to Mary Scott Warnock, 28 February 1843.)

According to President Joseph Fielding Smith:
"There were various reasons for this action on the part of President Young and the leading brethren. They stated that it was for the 'renewal of their covenants.' ... After their arrival in this western land, they were free from molestation, and in humility they approached the Lord, not because of transgression, but because of thankfulness for their deliverance from wicked enemies, and knowing no better way to express their gratitude decided to make covenant with the Lord that from that time forward they would serve him and keep his commandments. As a token of this covenant they entered the water and were baptized and confirmed, renewing their covenants and obligations as members of the Church" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p.333-34).

So many members were rebaptized both in Nauvoo and in the Utah territory as an expression of recommitment to the church and gospel.
This also happened on various occasions such as preparing for marriage, entrance into the temple, entering into the United Order, or as an act of healing for someone who was sick. But members started misusing the ordinance, so it was discontinued in 1897.

President Smith also explained:
"It is unnecessary, however, to rebaptize persons merely as a renewal of their covenants every time they transgress in order that they may obtain forgiveness, for this would greatly cheapen this sacred ordinance and weaken its effectiveness. One baptism by water for the remission of sins should be enough, and there are other means by which sins may be forgiven for those who have made covenants with the Lord, provided they do not sin away their right to a standing in the Church" (p. 335)

I don't know of any reference that indicates that rebaptism was forced on the members, although considering Brigham Young's leadership characteristics, it may have been strongly encouraged. Although refusal may have been looked upon as less than supportive of the prophet, there would be no eternal consequences for those who may have chosen to not be rebaptized. Rebaptism, like the naming and blessing of children, was a nice thing to do but is not necessary for salvation. Once is enough, unless an excommunicated member wants to rejoin the church.

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