Because Mormonism completely rejects the doctrine of Original Sin, it has, since its inception, also rejected the practice of Christening and Infant Baptism. Mormonism teaches that all children are born innocent with no need of redemption.
Rejecting Infant Baptism and ordinances such as ritual circumcision, early Mormons nevertheless looked to the ancient cultures of the Bible for inspiration in developing an ordinance with which to celebrate the birth of a child. Because the ceremonial naming of a newborn was deemed to be an important feature in the culture of ancient Israel, early Mormons celebrated the birth of a child with a public ordinance in which the father laid his hands upon the infant’s head and, like an Old Testament patriarch, bestowed upon the child a name and blessings.
Since Reform Mormons hold that the power and authority to bless others resides in all people regardless of gender, both parents may name and bless their child. As Reform Mormonism is a home-based religion, it is suggested that the Naming & Blessing Ordinance take place in the family’s home amidst an atmosphere of celebration. Following the ordinance, the family may wish to have guests join them in a celebratory dinner or party.
As Mormonism also posits a radical understanding of human Free Agency (Free Will), it has traditionally rejected any sort ceremony or ordinance in which parents by proxy obligate their child to their religion. Mormons have traditionally believed that children must reach an “age of accountability” (that is, reach a certain level of emotional and intellectual maturity) before they can be expected to obligate themselves to any system of religion or morality.
Within the following Reform Mormon ordinance it is the parents who, by covenant with the infant, place themselves under obligation for the child’s welfare. Reform Mormons realize that biology alone does not a family make; that it is the conscious decision by adults to “parent” a child and their dedication to that decision that truly creates and sustains the family unit.
Naming and Blessing of Newborns
Family and friends gather together in the home.
In the room where the gathering takes place, a small table is set with a loaf of unbroken bread on a plate, a bottle or pitcher of wine, one empty wine glass, four unlit candles and matches or lighter.
When it is time for the ordinance to begin, the parents enter the room carrying the infant. All rise.
The parents, carrying the infant, take their place near the table while the guests sit back down.
The first portion of the ordinance is the lighting of four candles–one for each of the four principles of Reform Mormonism.
(Note: There are two sections of liturgy for the lighting of each of the candles. The first section is completely religious in nature, being an invocation in which Deity is directly addressed. The second is directed to guests, and while it draws upon imagery found in Mormon scripture and tradition, is completely secular in nature, containing no references to God, focusing instead solely upon life on earth and human relationships. The ordinance is arranged so that both can be used, thus making the liturgy meaning to all guests regardless of whether or not they have a belief in God. Some Reform Mormons may wish to drop the first explicitly religious sections of the liturgy while others may wish to drop the second secular sections. Each Reform Mormon family is encouraged to make whatever changes they deem necessary to make the ordinance truly meaningful to them.)
Lighting the First Candle: Faith
Before lighting the first candle, one parent reads or recites the following invocation:
Praise our Eternal Father and Mother, (1)
Who, before the foundation of the world, (2)
Amid intelligences eternal,(3)
In faith claimed us as heirs of their Glory, (4)
And ordained that the children of earth should (5)
Be known as the Children of the Most High!(6)
The first candle is lit. The other parent turns to the guests and reads/recites the following:
Brothers and Sisters! Mothers and Fathers!
Shout for joy and with the morning stars sing! (7)
To everything a season is given:
A time to be born and a time to die. (8)
In faith embrace your own mortality,
And with thanksgiving, your time upon earth!
Lighting the Second Candle: Knowledge
Before lighting the second candle, one parent reads or recites the following invocation:
Praise our Eternal Father and Mother
Who declared it good when earth brought forth life; (9)
Who put in our midst the Tree of Knowledge
That we, too — like Them — might bring forth much fruit! (10)
The two candle is now lit. The other parent turns to the guests and reads/recites the following:
Brothers and Sisters! Mothers and Fathers!
Take now; taste and eat the fruits of the earth! (11)
Leave your gardens with eyes newly opened!
With purpose, walk forth! See and comprehend;
For wisdom uplifts and knowledge exalts.(12)
The glory of all is intelligence! (13)
Lighting the Third Candle: Revelation
Before lighting the third candle, one parent reads or recites the following invocation:
Praise our Eternal Father and Mother!
No power in time or eternity
Can separate us from the love of God
Which, even in times of adversity,
Reveals itself everlastingly new
In the natural love of parent for child!
The third candle is now lit. The other parent turns to the guests and reads/recites the following:
Brothers and Sisters! Mothers and Fathers!
Let not adversity trouble your hearts.
There needs be opposition in all things.
By tasting of both the bitter and sweet,
The joys of life here on earth are revealed–
While in pain and seeming adversity
Is brought to pass the renewal of life.
Lighting the Fourth Candle: Restoration
Before lighting the fourth candle, one parent reads or recites the following invocation:
Praise the Eternal Father and Mother,
In whose image and likeness was born
This child whom we gather this day to bless! (8)
May the Spirit of Promises here made
Through time seal us–preserve us–as one,
And as we each lay morality by,
Restore us as one in eternity.
The fourth candle is now lit. The other parent turns to the guests and reads/recites the following:
Brothers and Sisters! Fathers and Mothers!
Open wide the books of your remembrance!
Let the hearts of all parents and children
To each other in this hour be turned;
That one to the other might be restored
And all the families of earth therein blessed.
At the end of the invocation, the guests sit.
The Spoken Word, Readings, Music
At this time, the parents–or someone of their choosing–may wish to welcome the guests and offer an explanation of the ordinance. Scripture or other inspirational writings may be read at this time, a hymn or musical number might be sung. If there are other children in the family, this might be a good time to include them in the proceedings by acknowledging their presence or having them share their thoughts. In short, the parents may present any program they think will make this occasion memorable and meaningful–or they may choose to skip any sort of program whatsoever and simply continue with the ordinance as follows.
The Giving of the Name
At this time, the parents invite whoever they would like to stand with them in a circle. All who are invited, hold the infant in the center of the circle while both parents lay their hands upon the infant’s head.
One or both of the parents recite the following:
We accept this child with love and thanksgiving,
And laying our hands upon her/him,
Give to her/him the name
By which she/he will be hereafter known:
(Name of child) .
Amen.
The Blessing of the Child
At this time one of the parents lays hands upon the infant and blesses her/him. The blessing may take the following form:
The Parent addresses the child by his/her full name.
The Parent then pronounces blessings and gives counsel as she/he feels moved by the Spirit.
The Parent ends the blessing with the phrase: We seal these blessings upon your head, Amen.
Those in the circle return to their seats.
The Parents’ Covenants with the Child
The parents now prepare the extinguish the candles. The following covenant is read/recited directly to the child:
(Calling the child by his/her full name),
As we extinguish these candles
Which have given light to all here gathered,
We solemnly covenant that from this day forward
We will live so as to be a light unto you.
Extinguishing the First Candle
We covenant to give unto you
Our love as a light
That you might ever embrace
The future with joy and faith.
Extinguishing the Second Candle
We covenant to live lives of integrity,
That you might be strengthened
In always choosing those things
You deem just and true.
Extinguishing the Third Candle
We covenant that we will remain
Ever open to further enlightenment,
That by our example you may learn
To live a life of joyous expectancy.
Extinguishing the Fourth Candle
We covenant to always be mindful
Of your eternal, uncreated spirit
So that you might accept with confidence and thanksgiving
Those aspects of yourself which are unique.
Amen.
The Blessing & Breaking of the Bread
One of the parents breaks the bread while reciting the following prayer:
We break and eat this bread
As a token of our covenants
To nurture this child always
In mind and body.
Amen.
Each parent then eats a piece of the bread. A parent then addresses the guests and witnesses:
Brothers and Sisters: If, the name of that which you hold most sacred, you covenant to support us with your respect, your love and your prayers as we fulfill our obligations to this child, then we invite you to partake of this bread with us.
The bread is passed to all guests and witnesses.
The Blessing & Pouring of the Wine
One of the parents pours wine into a glass while reciting the following prayer:
We pour and drink of this wine
As a token of the Holy Spirit of Promise
Which seals us together eternally as family.
Amen.
Each parent drinks from the glass. One drop of wine from the glass is placed upon the lips of the infant. A parent then addresses the guests and witnesses:
Sisters and Brothers, if, in the name of that which you hold most sacred, you covenant to support us as we fulfill our obligations to this child, then we invite you to join us in drinking this wine as a symbol of that spirit which units and sustains us.
The wine is passed among the guests and witnesses.
The Presentation of the Child
The parents then hold up the infant so that he/she faces the guests and witnesses, and they say:
Brothers and Sisters, we present to you our daughter/son, Name of the child.
References to phrases and concepts found in
Mormon scripture and foundational writings:
(1) “O My Father” by Eliza R. Snow
(2) Job 38:4-7; I Nephi 10:18
(3) Abraham 3:22; Doctrine & Covenants 93:29-30; The King Follett Discourse by Joseph Smith
(4) Roman 8:17; Galatians 4:6-7;
(5) I Peter 1:20; Alma 13:3-9
(6) Psalm 82:6; Hosea 1:10; John 10:35; Acts 17:29; Roman 8:14-16; Doctrine & Covenants 76:24
(7) Job 38:4-7
(8) Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
(9) Abraham 4:20-31; Moses 2:20-31; Genesis 1:11-31
(10) The Reform Mormon Endowment; Moses 3:16-17; II Nephi 2:22-25, 27
(11) The Reform Mormon Endowment
(12) Psalm 37:30; Proverbs 3:13 & 4:5-13; Doctrine & Covenants 88:118 & 130:18-18; The King Follett Discourse by Joseph Smith
(13) Doctrine & Covenants 93:36