I have a problem with Baptism, especially in the Mormon faith. I am not a Mormon, nor a very religious person. I have prayed, but not for myself. Those moments I feel closest to a deity is when I am out in nature, never in a church, temple, or chapel. When I was much younger, I remember walking into St. Patrick’s Cathedral and whispering, “oh, my God” at the magnificence of the interior. My ears were dutifully boxed by my father! (I did not press charges as no permanent damage was sustained.) So, as for baptism in the Mormon faith it occurs when the child is 8 years old and said child has shown faith and repentance. Repentance of what? What has a child of 8 accomplished, good or bad, that he or she must repent? And does an eight year old have faith? Or does he/she attend church/temple because his/her parent says he/she must? (I’m getting tired of this he/she business. From now on I will use the female gender only because, well, I like my female gender to come with a little sin!) The reason I single out the Mormon’s is only because I have recently been witness to a baptism where the daughter was immersed (no sprinkling of a little holy water for the Mormons but a tiny pool where the father dunks his sinful child under and holds her there for the balance of the prayer). This is one of the nicest 8-year-old girls I have ever met. Has she sinned? Told a lie? Probably. But is any lie evil enough to warrant her being forced to bathe in front of friends and family? (OK, she is totally dressed so it’s not like she’s really bathing. I just wanted to make sure you were paying attention). And she’s dressed in white for goodness’ sake. Isn’t white the universal sign of innocence? If she is innocent, has she sinned? Must she be immersed under water and ruin her hair do? I don’t know. I just have so many unanswered questions!

(If you, too, have questions, please visit me at Photos By Emilio where I have lot’s of answers. I just need someone to ask the questions!)