#I remember when my baptism happened. 8 years old. common age for it as a mormon kid | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

freedomfighter2033 · 6 years

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Child Baptism

One of the most egregious practices within the JW faith is child baptism. Yes there are many other more pressing issues like their practice of covering up child abuse, shunning ex members, and deaths due to refusal to accept blood transfusions and these are all very important issues, however the reason I personally find child baptism to be so appalling is that it encompasses all of these negative aspects of the religion but forces children to deal with them.

Unlike most religions once one is baptized into the Watchtower organization there is no way to officially leave without being shunned by all who are members. This allows the organization to essentially blackmail their members with the threat of estrangement if they choose to leave the faith. Many individuals remain members of the organization even though they do not believe it’s teachings simply to avoid losing contact with their loved ones. Becoming a JW is unfortunately a lifetime contract with the WT organization and no matter how young you were when you got baptized they’ll still hold you to it. The following are quotes from the WT itself showing how common child baptism really is.

*** w70 11/1 p. 669 “Of Course You Can, Kayoko. I Did!” *** A young man with whom I had conducted a Bible study during his school years introduced his twelve-year-old daughter who was being baptized that day in symbol of her dedication of her life to God. *** w80 ‪1/15‬ pp. 24-25 Grateful that Jehovah Answered Our Prayers *** At our little school of about 120 pupils, often I was ridiculed because of my growing faith. All the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses came under pressure for refusing to share in idolatrous acts at school. These pressures eventually prevented me from gaining a higher secular education. This was a disappointment. However, my mother helped me to rely on Jehovah and to build up my relationship with him by prayer and further Bible study. The result? At 15 years of age I was among the 522 baptized on April 22, 1951, at the Quezon City national assembly. *** w87 4/15 pp. 13-14 par. 15 Gaining Peace With God Through Dedication and Baptism *** In modern times, a Christian named Jean was baptized when she was only ten years old. When asked years later if she really understood the step, Jean replied: “I knew I loved Jehovah, I appreciated what Jesus did for us, and I wanted to serve Jehovah.” *** w88 12/1 p. 30 We Turned to the Source of True Righteousness *** She told me that when she was 14 years old, she had studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses in Berlin and later was even baptized. When she was 18, she had to move far away because of her employment, and sad to say, she abandoned the way of the truth. *** w90 8/1 p. 14 pars. 19-20 Happy Youths in Jehovah’s Service *** 19 Baptism is a step that you take when you have firmly decided that no matter what happens in the rest of your life, you will serve God. It is a public sign that you have made a complete, unreserved, and unconditional dedication to Jehovah through Jesus Christ to do God’s will. One Christian elder remembers the day, almost a half century ago, when he realized: “I have to do something about it!” Michelle, a young Witness baptized in Newcastle, England, a few years ago, says: “At the age of 13, I realized I should dedicate my life and be baptized; there is nothing I would rather do than serve God.” 20 Tens of thousands of young people have been baptized recently. They had studied God’s Word and learned his ways, and then, by water baptism, they gladly joined many older ones in publicly symbolizing their dedication to God. They know that baptism is not an end but only a beginning to the truly dedicated way of life that they are determined to follow in Jehovah’s service forever. *** w92 10/1 p. 22 ‘Should I Get Baptized?’ *** The Bible encourages youths to ‘remember their Grand Creator in the days of their young manhood.’ (Ecclesiastes 12:1) In this regard, we have the example of young Samuel, who “was ministering before Jehovah, as a boy.” There is also the example of Timothy, who from infancy took to heart the truth his mother and his grandmother taught him.—1 Samuel 2:18; 2 Timothy 1:5; ‪3:14‬, 15. Likewise today, many young ones have dedicated their lives to serve Jehovah. Akifusa, a 15-year-old, said that a part on the Service Meeting helped him to make his decision to get baptized. Ayumi got baptized when she was ten years old. She wanted to serve Jehovah because she really came to love him. Now she is 13 and just had the experience of seeing her Bible student, who has also come to love Jehovah, get baptized at the age of 12. Ayumi’s younger brother Hikaru was also baptized at the age of ten. “Some said I was too young,” he recalls, “but Jehovah knew how I felt. I was determined to get baptized once I decided to dedicate my life to serve him with all I had.” Parental example is also a factor, as can be seen from the experience of one young sister. Her father prohibited her mother from studying the Bible with her and her brother and sister. He would beat them and burn their books. But because of the mother’s endurance and faith, the children could see the importance of serving Jehovah God. This young girl was baptized at age 13, and her younger brother and sister have followed her example. *** w92 10/1 p. 22 ‘Should I Get Baptized?’ *** Akifusa, a 15-year-old, said that a part on the Service Meeting helped him to make his decision to get baptized. Ayumi got baptized when she was ten years old. She wanted to serve Jehovah because she really came to love him. Now she is 13 and just had the experience of seeing her Bible student, who has also come to love Jehovah, get baptized at the age of 12. Ayumi’s younger brother Hikaru was also baptized at the age of ten. “Some said I was too young,” he recalls, *** w93 4/15 p. 17 par. 13 Youths—What Are You Pursuing? *** Have you made such a pursuit yourself? It involves more than simply attending meetings and accompanying your parents in the field service. One Christian woman confessed: “My parents raised me in the truth, and I was baptized at an early age. . . . I rarely missed a meeting and never missed a month of service, but I never developed a close personal relationship with Jehovah.” *** w96 10/1 pp. 27-28 Serving Jehovah as a United Family *** Our youngest, Janice, made her decision to serve Jehovah and was baptized at age 13. During her schooling, she served for a year as an auxiliary pioneer. Then, on September 1, 1993, she began as a regular pioneer in our congregation here in the city of Gaspar. *** w95 ‪2/15‬ pp. 24-25 Dominican Republic—Still Open to Discovery *** Indeed, young people, both those brought up in the truth and others, seem to take their worship of God seriously. For example, Tamar and her sister Keila were both baptized at the age of 10 and entered the full-time pioneer ministry by 11. Wendy Carolina was 12 when she symbolized her dedication by water baptism, and two years later, in 1985, she started regular pioneering. Today she is an effective teacher, still enjoying the full-time ministry. Young Jovanny, baptized at 10 and a regular pioneer at 11, is conducting four home Bible studies. *** w96 10/15 p. 32 “Jehovah Answered My Prayers!” *** WORLDWIDE, Jehovah’s Witnesses are conducting nearly five million home Bible studies with people who are interested in gaining accurate knowledge about God and his wonderful purpose for mankind. Even children among Jehovah’s Witnesses are having a share in this work. Consider, for example, a boy named Joel. He symbolized his dedication to Jehovah and was baptized at nine years of age. A year later he had this experience: *** w98 10/1 p. 28 Keep Making Spiritual Progress! *** One Christian sister, whom we will call Alexandra, came to realize this ‪ten years after‬ she was baptized at the age of 16. She was brought up in the truth and had always been regular in attending Christian meetings and sharing in the preaching work. She writes: “In the past few months, I realized that something was terribly wrong. I decided to take a hard, honest look at myself, what I feel for the truth, and why I am still in the truth.” What did she find? She continues: “I found that the reasons for my being in the truth were disturbing to me. I remembered that as I was growing up, meetings and field service were emphasized. It was as though habits of personal study and prayer would somehow fall into place. But as I analyzed my situation, I realized that this did not happen.”

*** w00 4/15 p. 25 Fishing for Men in the Aegean Sea *** Rezi came in contact with the sister who had given the magazines to her father, and soon she started studying from the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. At times, she asked to have a study three times during the same day! After two months she became an unbaptized publisher, and in March 1998, she was baptized at the age of 14. *** w01 6/15 p. 11 Look After Orphans and Widows in Their Tribulation *** . There Pedro shared with the family in conversation and relaxation. “These are memories that I cherish,” says Pedro, who started to preach about his faith at the age of 11 and got baptized at 15. Aided by those in the congregation, his older brothers likewise made much progress in a spiritual way. *** w02 5/1 p. 28 Implanting Love for Jehovah in Our Children’s Hearts *** We were touched when Hans Werner got baptized at the age of ten. Several considered him to be too young to dedicate himself to Jehovah, but at the age of 50, he told me how thankful he was to have been serving Jehovah for 40 years

*** w04 8/15 p. 11 Mexico’s Indigenous Peoples Hear the Good News *** “When I was six, my mother left us. During my teen years, my father started studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. One day a sister offered me a Bible study that included counsel for young people. As a teenager without a mother, I felt that this was exactly what I needed. I was baptized at age 15. *** w06 7/1 pp. 29-30 par. 16 Youths, Make It Your Choice to Serve Jehovah *** Take as an example a 23-year-old Witness in Western Europe. He recalls that getting baptized at the age of 13 motivated him to be careful not to be swept away by “the desires incidental to youth.” (2 Timothy 2:22) Early on, he set his sights on serving as a full-time minister. *** w07 4/1 p. 13 The Disciple-Making Work Has Shaped My Life *** At 15 years of age, I was baptized. Then as soon as I finished high school, I entered the full-time pioneer ministry *** w08 10/1 p. 28 How My Faith Helped Me to Face Tragedies *** Although I was only a young girl, Eliana suggested that I have my own study. Thanks to her help and my mother’s encouragement, I got baptized at the age of 13. *** w10 3/15 p. 32 Maintain “Purity of Heart” in These Critical Times *** Gabriele was baptized when he was 15 years old and immediately began pioneering *** w11 6/15 p. 5 Should Youths Get Baptized? *** A Witness in Greece said: “I was baptized when I was 12 years old. I have never regretted my decision. Since then, 24 years have passed, 23 of which I have spent in the full-time service. My love for Jehovah always helped me to face the difficulties of youth. At the age of 12, I did not have the Scriptural knowledge that I have now. But I knew that I loved Jehovah and wanted to serve him forever. *** w12 11/1 p. 29 European Court Upholds the Right to Conscientious Objection *** In 1996, he and other members of his family began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and when he was 16 years old, he was baptized. *** w14 3/1 p. 8 Finding Strength in My Weakness *** Yet, at the age of 14, I got baptized, determined to serve my heavenly Father the best I could. *** w14 7/15 p. 3 They Offered Themselves Willingly—In Micronesia *** KATHERINE grew up in the United States and at age 16 was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses….In July 2007, at age 26, Katherine moved to Saipan *** w14 12/15 p. 30 par. 14 Do You Appreciate What You Have Received? *** ‪14 Gener, who lives in Asia, was raised in a Christian family. He got baptized at age 12. As a teenager, though, he became attracted to the ways of this world. He says: “I wanted to experience the ‘freedom’ the world offers.” Gener began to live a double life.‬ *** g71 4/8 p. 23 Christian Togetherness in Brazil *** In Goiânia, a girl eleven years old was among the seventy-seven baptized *** g85 11/22 p. 27 From Riches to Rags—And Happiness *** My daughter, who is 16 years old now, was baptized on March 12, 1983. *** g86 2/8 p. 12 Thirty Years of Love and Devotion *** When Joan underwent baptism at the age of 16, Josephine was present and heard the speaker say that a baptized person is “truly one of Jehovah’s large family.” *** g88 ‪1/22‬ p. 22 She Reached Her Goal *** IN ABOUT a month I will be 14 years old…….I got baptized in June when I was 12 ½ years old. In the summer of that year, I again shared in the full-time ministry, *** g90 4/8 p. ‪17 Am‬ I Ready to Get Baptized? *** Consider, for example, a young girl named Cindy. She writes: “At the age of 14 I was baptized. I know how it is to be reluctant about doing so. But I want to say that it is the most wonderful thing you could do. *** g90 8/22 p. 30 From Our Readers *** When I was baptized at age 14, I did not have a close personal relationship with Jehovah. I now know what it means to have a close relationship with God. That truly is the key. *** g91 1/8 p. 22 “Jehovah’s Witnesses From the USSR—Brighter Days Ahead” *** Women in a state of advanced pregnancy, families with small children, grown-ups and youths. The youngest baptized was 11 years old, the oldest almost 80.” *** g92 8/22 p. 23 I Kept My Promise *** Now Cézar serves as a Christian elder, and his wife is a regular pioneer. Their son was baptized in 1990, when he was 11 years old. *** g94 12/22 p. 25 Why Should I Obey My Parents? *** John was baptized as a Christian at the age of 11. “But the truth wasn’t really in my heart,” he admits. “I did it because my family expected me to do it. *** g98 8/8 p. 30 From Our Readers *** When I was baptized at the age of 11, my earnest desire was to praise Jehovah as a public speaker. *** g00 3/22 p. 23 Whatever Became of Little Peter? *** Peter was baptized at 15 and became a regular pioneer (full-time evangelizer) at age 18. *** g04 5/22 p. 27 A New Face for Mailyn *** Mailyn, now 11 years old, has undergone 20 surgeries to reconstruct her face. Although she has been helped greatly, it is still impossible for her to open her mouth completely. However, she has always had a courageous, positive attitude. She has also shown much appreciation for spiritual things. Since the age of six, she has been enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School at our local congregation, and she was baptized on April 27, 2003. (that means she was ten when she got baptized) *** g04 8/22 p. 30 From Our Readers *** R. G., United States It has not been long since I began studying the Bible. But the little I know, I try to pass on to my loved ones, who are not believers. Since I am only 16 years old, my family has not permitted me to get baptized, but I hope to do so someday. *** g 4/07 p. 29 From Our Readers *** I was baptized at age 14 and am now 40 years old. Beginning a short time before my baptism, *** yb73 p. 206 Guatemala *** Their oldest child, now eleven years of age, came with them and was baptized at this notable assembly.

*** yb81 p. 205 Upper Volta *** His next child, Matthias, 12 years old, said he will never forget this assembly because he was baptized there that Saturday morning. *** yb92 p. 137 Kenya and Nearby Countries *** In 1987 she had the joy of seeing both her girls, one 14 years old and the other 15, baptized at a circuit assembly. *** yb02 p. 110 Curaçao *** He was baptized at the age of 13 and works very hard in the congregation, preparing well for all assignments. *** yb02 p. 110 Curaçao *** In Bonaire, six-year-old Renzo was invited to the Kingdom Hall and enjoyed it very much….Renzo, now eight years old, was baptized at a circuit assembly in Bonaire *** yb02 p. 46 Worldwide Report *** A pioneer brother began to study the Bible with Kandole, who made fine progress and was baptized at 14 years of age. Now he is 17 *** yb11 pp. 58-59 Preaching and Teaching Earth Wide *** As soon as she learned to read and write, Paola enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School and became a publisher. Because of her love for Jehovah, she got baptized at the age of seven. When asked why she attends the meetings and preaches so zealously, even without her family’s support, Paola, who is now ten, *** yb11 p. 54 Preaching and Teaching Earth Wide *** Now ten years old, Persis is baptized and is serving as an auxiliary pioneer while in school. *** yb11 p. 148 Papua New Guinea *** I was baptized at the age of 15. Two years later, I started pioneering *** yb12 p. 199 Rwanda *** Deborah did become a publisher, got baptized at the age of ten, and now serves with her mother as a regular pioneer.

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