Luther and Calvin Disagree.—Luther sided with the immersionists, and sought, against the tendency of the times, to restore immersion; but Calvin held that the mode of baptism was of no consequence. Even he admitted, however, that the word "baptism" signifies immersion; and he said: "It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient Church."
Methods in Various Churches.—Pouring is the present practice in the Roman Catholic church; sprinkling in the Church of England, and in the Methodist church. A choice of modes is permitted by the Presbyterians, though sprinkling is the regular form. The Baptists, as their name implies, are strong advocates of immersion. The Quakers repudiate baptism altogether.
It was the custom in early ages to immerse the candidate three times—once for each name in the Godhead; but heretics took advantage of this practice to argue against the unity of the Trinity, and the three-fold immersion was abolished.
Authorized Practice.—The practice of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in baptism is indicated by the following passages from the Book of Mormon:
"Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them: behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name ye shall baptize them.
"And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying,
"Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
"And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
"And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name, for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
"And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there hath hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there hath hitherto been;