Information concerning the baptisms of the Presidents of the
Church
1. Joseph Smith: The
Prophet Joseph was baptized on Friday, May 15, 1829 (age 23 years 5 months) by Oliver Cowdery in the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Joseph was rebaptized on April 6, 1830, the day the church was organized, to signify official
membership in the new Church of Jesus Christ.
2. Brigham Young: President Young was baptized on Saturday, April 14,
1832 (age 30 years 10 months) in
his own millpond near Mendon, Monroe County,
New York, by Eleazar Miller, one of the early missionaries of the
Church.
3. John Taylor: President Taylor was baptized on Monday, May 9, 1836 (age 27 years 6 months) in Black Creek near Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. He and his wife were baptized by Elder Parley P. Pratt, a
member of the Quorum of the Twelve.
4. Wilford Woodruff: President Woodruff was baptized
on Tuesday,
December 31, 1833 (age 26 years 10
months) in an icy stream near Richland, Oswego
County, New York. He was baptized by Zera Pulsipher, an early missionary
for the Church (see D&C 124:138).
5. Lorenzo Snow: President Snow was baptized on Friday, June 3, 1836 (age 22 years 2 months) in the Chagrin River near Kirtland, Lake County, Ohio. He was baptized by Elder John F. Boynton, a member of the
Quorum of the Twelve.
6. Joseph F. Smith: President Smith was baptized on Friday, May 21, 1852 (age 13 years 6 months) in City Creek, Salt Lake City, Salt
Lake County, Utah. He was baptized by Heber C. Kimball, who at the time was
1st Counselor in the First Presidency and was married to Joseph's mother.
7. Heber J. Grant: President Grant was baptized on Thursday, June 2, 1864 (age 7 years 6 months) in a wagon box rigged up as an
outdoor font behind Brigham Young's school in Salt Lake City, Salt
Lake County, Utah
8. George Albert Smith: President Smith was baptized
on Thursday,
June 6, 1878 (age 8 years 2
months) in City Creek in Salt
Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, by James Moyle.
9. David O. McKay: President McKay was baptized on Thursday, September 8,
1881 (age 8 years 0 months) in
Spring Creek near Huntsville, Weber
County, Utah, by Peter Geertsen.
10. Joseph Fielding Smith: President Smith was
baptized on Saturday, July 19, 1884 (age 8 years 0 months) by his father, Joseph F. Smith, in Salt Lake City, Salt
Lake County, Utah. The records do not say exactly where President Smith was
baptized, but since it was a hot summer day, he was probably baptized outdoors
in City Creek.
11. Harold B. Lee: President Lee was baptized on Sunday, June 9, 1907 (age 8 years 2 months) in Bybee Pond, an old limekiln near
Clifton, Franklin County, Idaho, by Lester Bybee, the owner of the
limekiln.
12. Spencer W. Kimball: President Kimball was
baptized on Saturday, March 28, 1903 (8 years 0 months) by his father, Andrew Kimball, in the
hog-scalding tub that was also used as the family's bathtub. This occurred in
Thatcher, Arizona. His father stood outside the tub, which some people felt
was not a correct way to baptize. To be sure that Spencer was properly
baptized, he was baptized again on October 5, 1907 (age 12 years 6 months) in the Union Canal in Thatcher, Arizona, just one block away from his home.
13. Ezra Taft Benson: President Benson was baptized
on Sunday,
August 4, 1907 (age 8 years 0
months) in the Logan River Canal near his home in Whitney, Franklin County, Idaho.
President Benson was baptized by his father, George Taft Benson. This
information was obtained from Sarah Benson Eveleth, President Benson's sister.
14. Howard W. Hunter President Hunter was baptized
on Sunday,
April 4, 1920 (age 12 years 5
months) in the Natatorium, a large indoor swimming complex in Boise, Ada
County, Idaho.
15.Gordon B. Hinckley:
President Hinckley was baptized on Monday, April 28, 1919 (age 8 years 10 months) by his father, Bryant S. Hinckley,
in the swimming pool of the old Deseret Gymnasium, located north of Temple Squard, in Salt
Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.
16. Thomas S. Monson: “I recall the
time I approached baptism, when I was eight years of age. My mother talked with
me about repentance and about the meaning of baptism; and then, on a Saturday
in September of 1935, she took me on a streetcar to the Tabernacle baptistry on
Temple Square. At the time it was not as customary as it is now for
fathers to baptize their children, since the ordinance was generally performed
on a Saturday morning or afternoon, and many fathers were working at their
daily professions or trades. I dressed in white and was baptized. I remember
that day as though it was yesterday and the happiness I felt at having had this
ordinance performed.” Ensign, May 2007, “Tabernacle Memories”
(Most of this information was obtained from
The Friend, August 1997, pages 42-43)
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