Baptismal Interview
The following suggestions may or may not apply in all situations:
1. Hold the interview in a comfortable, private place where the Spirit of the Lord will be welcome (in the baptismal candidate's home, the meetinghouse, or some other convenient location). When interviewing a family, interview each family member individually. Interview the husband first, so that he will understand the procedure that you will use in interviewing his wife and children. Make the experience warm and friendly for the candidate, who may be nervous and uneasy. Show genuine love and concern.
2. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 to explain the purpose of the interview. You may also want to read Mosiah 18:8-10 and Moroni 6:1-4.
3. Ask the necessary questions to determine whether the candidate is ready for baptism. For example, you might ask questions such as these:
a. Have you prayed about the gospel? Have your prayers been answered?
c. What are your reasons for knowing (or believing) that Joseph Smight was a prophet of God?
d. Will you sustain the President of the Church as a prophet, seer and revelator and as the Lord's representative on earth?
e. Are you now living each of the Ten Commandments?
f. What is your understanding of the law of tithing? Will you live this law?
g. What is your understanding of the Word of Wisdom? Will you live this law by abstaining from tea, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful drugs?
h. What is your understanding of the law of chastity? Will you obey this law?
It is not necessary to ask for the details of past transgressions. The candidate should demonstrate that he has repented and is willing to keep the commandments. You should specifically determine whether the candidate has committed murder or other serious crimes, is living in an illegal marriage relationship, has been involved in an abortion, is a homosexual or lesbian, or fits into any of the categories mentioned in the General Handbook of Instructions, no. 21 (1976), pages 45-46 and 79. If any of these conditions exist, the candidate should be interviewed by the full-time mission president of the stake president.
If the candidate is of restricted lineage, you should explain the limitations concerning who may receive the priesthood. [NOTE: This passage, referring to the church's former ban on men of African descent from holding the priesthood, was deleted from the handbook in 1978. A comparable ban, within the LDS church, still applies to women of all races.]
Let the Spirit direct you at all times. Avoid the tendency to lecture, use the discussion that follows each question as an opportunity to teach and inspire.
4. Tell the candidate whether you feel he is prepared for baptism. If you feel he is, congratulate him on his diligence and on his desire to do what is right. Reassure him in his decision. Check the arrangements for the baptismal recommend. Describe what will take place at the baptismal service and how the baptism and confirmation should be encourage to attend a baptismal service prior to his own baptism.)
If for any reason you feel that the baptismal date should be postponed, share your concerns with the candidate. If a postponement is advisable to resolve questions that arose in the interview, you should discuss a tentative alternative date so that the candidate can still have a specific goal.
5. Bear your testimony and, if it seems appropriate, invite the candidate to share his feelings also.
