Does it Matter?

[_The Mighty Builder]

My neighborhood Mormon Ward recently had a Missionary return home for a sin he committed before his Mission and was extradited for criminal proceedings and found guilty. I have since learned that he personally Baptized several gullible people into Mormonism.

Do the baptisms count? If so how? If not what has to be done to ensure that the recipients were baptized by one in Authority (personally worthy) to do the ordinance?

[_RockSlider]

Nosey Nellie here wants to know what the crime was.

[_The Mighty Builder]

Sex abuse of a Minor

[_Quasimodo]

My neighborhood Mormon Ward recently had a Missionary return home for a sin he committed before his Mission and was extradited for criminal proceedings and found guilty. I have since learned that he personally Baptized several gullible people into Mormonism.

Do the baptisms count? If so how? If not what has to be done to ensure that the recipients were baptized by one in Authority (personally worthy) to do the ordinance?

Interesting question. It brings to mind all of those baptisms by Catholic Priests that have now been convicted of child molestation. I wonder if those still count.

What a drag to get to the pearly gates and find that you are denied entrance due to a technicality.

[_Racer]

This is a hard question to answer. It's always a slippery slope anytime you deal with rituals that involve fake magical powers.

[_kairos]

the rc church has dealt with this and other issues eg can a priest/bishop being in a state of mortal/grave sin baptize, confirm , perform a valid marriage, carry out any sacramental duties such as consecrate the bread and wine- the answer- the clergy's state of sinfulness has no effect on the sacrament's validity. where priests get into real trouble is, for example, commiting sexual abuse of a minor or having illicit sex with a man or woman then granting absolution to the other party for the 'sin committed" - rome will usually take his collar away for that one- i would rather they call the police!

bottom line :state of grace of the missionary/priest etc is not important. for example a missionary masturbating his brains out one night baptizes six people the next day- valid baptisms- i thk so!!!

just sayin

k