Baptism ideas
These are ideas that I have pulled off of the LDSPrimary Mailing List.
SEND ME your baptism ideas!

One thing our ward does is we're sure to be there (as the Primary Presidency) on each child's baptism day.  I take a photo of them with their dad (or whoever is baptizing them) just before baptism right next to a picture of Christ that is hanging in the hall of the Stake Center. I make sure to keep a program for the child.  Then I have a scrapbook page I designed (gotta love it that it's free!) that has their name, baptism date, etc., and the words to the song, "When Jesus Christ was Baptized" (complete with credit for whoever wrote the song) :)   with a congratulations from the ward primary presidency.

Then the next day (Sunday) in primary, we call the child(ren) up and present them with their scrapbook page.  I put it in a plastic sleeve cover with their picture attached to it, and a copy of their program in the back.  Then we sing a baptism song for them.  They love it!  And it gives them something from the Primary Presidency to put in their scrapbooks and they can continue with their own family pictures,  baptism certificate or whatever they like.
-P.D.

I made a Baptismal Font out of a oatmeal container.  I covered it in paper on the sides and wrote baptismal font on it.  Then I put blue paper on the top for the water.  I cut a slit in the top.  I cut out about 10 or 12 pictures of boys and girls in baptism clothes on white paper, and taped them up around the room.  On the back of each child, I wrote a situation that was either portraying the things that you should or shouldn't do to be baptized.  If there were doing the right thing...they got baptized.  If  they were not choosing the right...they had to tell me what they had to do  to choose the right, and then they got baptized. The children got to go around the room and pick a child off the wall and tell me if that child was doing what they were supposed to, to be baptized.  Then they got to "baptize" the children. I included the requirements too, such as, I had one situation say I am 7 and 1/2 years old.  And they were not fooled...they had to be 8. :)

I had the attention of every child in that sharing time, and we have about 75 just in junior primary alone.  They loved being able to put that paper child in the baptismal font.  (Hint:  if they didn't go all the way in
I asked if they were baptized...and the child got to put them in again) It was really fun and the kids loved it!!

Julie Cameron
West Jordan, UT

I used a chalkboard and likened chalk marks to 'sins' we commit.  I talked about repentence and how it 'wipes' the slate clean and erased the 'sins'.  It seemed to work ok, and I gave the mini chalkboard & a piece of chalk to the girl to help her remember this principle.
In our ward when a child gets baptized we do 2 things:
Dear (child's name), This is such a special day for you! Heavenly Father is so pleased with you for making the right choice to become baptized. He loves you very much. Now you will always have the Holy Ghost with you to help you in your decisions. Remember to listen carefully for his still small voice. We hope this picture helps you to remember the special day when you followed Jesus' example and were baptized.
Love, The Primary Presidency
We wrap it up and give it to the child after the baptism.
Before each child gets baptized, my presidency and I go to his/her home and orient him/her on Gospel in Action, Scouting or Achievement Days.  We also present them with a pair of socks with a poem attached to wear while they are baptized.
My Baptismal Socks

I am making some important Covenants
  on my Baptismal Day.
I'll wear these socks to remind me
  that I'm choosing the right way.
As I go into the Waters of Baptism,
  these socks will be first to enter in.
Just as these socks are clean and white,
  I too will be cleansed from sin.

FRENCH:
Mes Chaussettes de Baptême

Voici mes chaussettes de baptême
elles seront les premieres à rentrer dans l'eau.
Elles sont blanches et toutes propres
comme moi quand je sortirai de l'eau.
Ces chaussettes me rappelleront toujours
l'alliance importante que j'ai contracté en ce jour.

Special thanks to: Irantzu Lerminez from Paris East Stake, France

BAPTISM BAG


We try to treat the baptism day much like a wedding day - it only happens once in a lifetime and it should be filled with as many happy, positive, uplifting memories as possible.  One thing that we try to do (mainly me because if we depended on the men to get it done we would still be waiting) is to make a special program for the baptism.  We either buy the program covers from the bookstore or make our own from clip art, coloring books, etc.  While the child or adult is changing after the baptism, we pass a program around and have everyone, even the little children, to sign the program and write a word or two of praise and encouragement.

I guess it isn't that fancy a thing, but I know that all of those who have received the signed baptismal program covers have loved them.  They said it was awesome to have a visual remembrance of veryone who was there that day.  The missionaries always try to get a picture of the child with whoever baptized them just before stepping into the font.

-Mary-Margaret


The previous presidency started giving the children a color copy and laminated picture from the friend.  I don't know which one but the picture has  "BAPTISM" at the top and then it lists:  Each person promises-  &  God promises-.  Below this there is a picture of beautiful mountains and a waterfall with a man being baptized.  The president also put a picture of John baptizing Christ in the middle.  It will withstand all the punishment an 8 yr old can give it.  In my opinion it is a wonderful visual to help the children recall more full the reason for their baptism.

--Sue in California