Some presiding authorities grasp this and some do not, this is evident in how some place more (even exclusive) emphasis on the form than on the function (although, this is not an argument to be lackadaisical about the form) when the two are in seeming conflict. So, I would disagree with temple presidents that won’t allow left hand to the square ordinances, for example.

A minor example: I have seen some bishops require a young Priest to repeat the sacrament prayer over and over again (not just 2-3 times) in order that it be word perfect. And, I have seen others validate a prayer that had minor errors in order to spare the young man further embarrassment.

Fascinating to read (#64) President Kimball was originally baptized in a bathtub, however large, with the officiator outside. SURELY someone, at the time, must have wondered about that. Lovely to read President Hinckley’s words of wisdom on the under-age baptism (#52). I’ve come across that story before and hope it is true. Such GOOD sense!

On the issue of a missing right arm–I asked the temple president this morning about that. He said that the ordinances in the temple had to be performed correctly, by one who could do so, and that we make allowances for patrons who can’t do certain things, but temple workers have to be able to do the ordinances correctly. His opinion was that baptisms for the living should be done likewise.

Sincerity doesn’t make the ordinance valid–if the authority to do it isn’t there, it’s invalid. Perhaps one of the projects during the millennium will be correcting ordinances incorrectly, but sincerely done, which the witnesses failed to correct.

#63–I have interrupted sealers more than once when a mistake was made and they were glad for it–witnesses are to make sure the ordinance is done correctly, and, thus, should be familiar with the ordinance being performed.

My dad said that when he was baptized, they all went up the canyon to s secluded spot, where his uncle stripped to his garments and took him into the river and baptized him. (There were no women present.) He didn’t have on white clothing as such was not available in Bluewater, New Mexico, in 1918. We aren’t in such primitive conditions now.

It seems to me that once the witnesses give their OK and everyone goes home, the baptism by definition has been done properly. However, Spencer W. Kimball was rebaptized at age 12 because there was some question raised about the validity of his original baptism. He was baptized at age 8 in a large bathtub, and the officiator was not in the water with him. The scripture (and the handbook) does say that the officiator should be in the water, although the handbook does not list that as a reason for repeating the ordinance.

These recent converts had apparently been paralyzed, unable to know what to do. Do we really interrupt a temple ceremony to correct the sealer?

They still got eternally hitched and all was well.

There is no reason why the prayer shouldn’t be stated correctly and why a person being baptised should not be fully emerged

I think there are bigger problems than needing to redo the ordinance if the person does not emerge from the water. 8-)