An early practice of the LDS was that of rebaptism, or the baptism of person who had already been baptized (and this for themselves, not proxy for the dead). Brigham Young described his encounter with Joseph Smith concerning the practice when he said:
"I know that in my traveling and preaching, many a time, I have stopped by beautiful streams of clear, pure water, and have said to myself, 'How delightful it would be to me to go into this, to be baptized for the remission of my sins.' When I got home Joseph told me it was my privilege. At this time came a revelation, that the Saints could be baptized and rebaptized when they chose, and then that we could be baptized for our dear [departed] friends" (JOD 18:241).
Some have speculated that this doctrine came from Brigham Young alone (many Mormons too overzealous to strip their religion of controversy attempt to blame Brigham for introducing innovations for which Joseph Smith was actually the originator and revelator). But there are other witnesses to this teaching having come from Joseph Smith, including the scriptural proofs Joseph employed. These remarks come from the remiscences of Daniel Tyler, an early Mormon, published in 1892 when he was about 76 years old:
"About the time the doctrine of rebaptism for members in the Church was first revealed in Nauvoo, Joseph, the great seer and revelator to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made some remarks on the subject. On one occasion he read, among other scriptures, Hebrews, 6th chapter, 1st and 2nd verses, as follow:
"'Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
"'Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.'
"The Prophet said the first verse should read: 'Therefore, not leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, etc.'
"This explanation not only made the entire subject of the two verses clear but reconciled them with other scriptures.... The inference is clear that if the foundation of repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands should be re-laid they would have to perform those works over again, as every careful reader of the text must see.
"This also corroborates a revelation to the Church of Ephesus: 'Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works.' All latter-day Saints know that the first works after repentance are baptism and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost. Here we find a presiding elder of a branch or ward of the Church commanded to perform these works over again, under pain of removal if he failed to obey the divine behest.
"Many more passages might be quoted to the same effect, but these are sufficient for my purpose. Joseph's translation not only reconciles the text with itself, but also with other scriptures, as already shown, and as was explained by the Prophet" ("Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith, "The Juvenile Instructor, 27 [1892], emphasis added).
The Joseph Smith Translation of Hebrews 6 preserves this minor change in wording that entails, as Daniel Tyler recollected, profound doctrinal implications:
"Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment" (Hebrews 6:1 – 2, JST).
In short, the inclusion of that little 'not' at the beginning shows that going on 'unto perfection' requires holding fast to the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but if they are to be refreshed then one would be under the necessity of 'laying again' the foundational ordinances too.
In searching the scriptures, we find that Daniel Tyler also recollected correctly the verses and context of the message to the church at Ephesus as found in the book of Revelation, wherein the Lord refers to the 'presiding elder' of each the seven churches at that time as candlesticks, and that if the saints at Ephesus did not lay 'again the foundation,' as Paul said above, that their candlestick would be removed by the Lord:
"Unto the servant of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:1 – 5, emphasis added).
This then explains the liberty that Brigham Young took in doing just these things, as Joseph Smith originally taught, when he had all the saints entering the Salt Lake Valley get rebaptized (by the end of his life, Brigham Young was said to have been rebaptized seven times):
"This is a representation of the feelings of some who have crossed the plains this season. My advice to you is, go and be baptized for the remission of sins, and start afresh, that temptation may not overcome you again; pause and reflect, that you be not overcome by the evil one unawares.
"In the first place, if you are rebaptized for the remission of sins, peradventure you may receive again the spirit of the Gospel in its glory, light and beauty; but if your hearts are so engrossed in the things of this world, that you do not know whether you want to be rebaptized or not, you had better shut yourselves up in some canyon or closet, to repent of your sins, and call upon the name of the Lord, until you get His Spirit, and the light thereof, to reflect upon you, that you may know the nature of your offenses, and your true condition; that you may realize and appreciate the blessing you enjoy in being here with the Saints of the Most High" (JOD 1:324).
Note: the LDS do not currently espouse the practice or doctrine of rebaptism.
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