Who should name and bless a baby

[cchang]

[Moderator note: This post has been moved to a new topic in keeping with the Code of Conduct that requests that new topics be started in a new thread.]

On a side note, if another member (or family member) came up to you and asked you to give their child a baby blessing, would you obliged and do it? Or do you feel that the father should do it since it is their own baby they are blessing. We had a situation where the father didn't feel comfortable doing the blessing and asked another member to do it and they said "no" and now the father feels offended. Even though it's not a saving ordinance, people have different strong feelings about it.

[lajackson]

On a side note, if another member (or family member) came up to you and asked you to give their child a baby blessing, would you obliged and do it? Or do you feel that the father should do it since it is their own baby they are blessing.

I would always refer these situations to the bishop. If I was faced with this particular situation, I would say to the person who made the request, I would love to, but I would need permission from the bishop. Let's go speak with the bishop. I would then do everything I could to help the bishop have the father perform the ordinance.

If he is worthy, a father should name and bless his children. There are many ways a wise bishop can help a father understand and feel more comfortable with this situation and help the father be able to perform this ordinance. And whatever happens, whoever ultimately performs the ordinance still needs the bishop's permission, so there is an immediate way to get him involved if this type of request is made.

And now by popular request (okay, one person asked a while ago), a bedtime story from Uncle Larry. (Old timers will understand the reference.)

A young man was sustained in sacrament meeting to be ordained a teacher. The ordination was to take place in the bishop's office after the meeting. With the family and another friend assembled, the father, an elder who was worthy, said he did not want to perform the ordination. Part of the reason was that he did not speak English very well. He asked me to have the high priests group leader, a good friend who also was in the room with us, ordain his son.

I turned to the high priests group leader and said, I am going to ask you a question. The answer is no. Will you ordain his son? The high priests group leader, a quick study and wonderful friend of mine, said, I would love to, but no. His father should ordain him.

I turned to the father and said, You are worthy to ordain your son, and you should perform the ordinance. I will help you do it. We placed our hands upon his head, and I told the father how to ordain his son. Call him by name. The father did. Tell him you are using the authority of the priesthood you hold. He did. Tell him we ordain him a Teacher. He did.

Now, give him a blessing and then close in the name of Jesus Christ. You may do it in Spanish if you wish. The father looked at me; I smiled and nodded. He began speaking.

I do not speak Spanish, but the Spirit does. When the father had finished, we were all in tears. I told the son he should hug his mother, who was no longer able to speak. The mother and father kissed. The family left hugging and holding hands, their lives changed.

And now you know why a bishop cries when he is released.

As Elder Boyd K. Packer said, Fathers should bless their wives and children.

Uncle Larry

[russellhltn]

And now by popular request (okay, one person asked a while ago), a bedtime story from Uncle Larry.

Jesus taught by parables - which in my book is just a kind of story.

Good one.

[scgallafent]

If he is worthy, a father should name and bless his children.

<wisdom of lajackson omitted>

As Elder Boyd K. Packer said, Fathers should bless their wives and children.

Handbook 2, 20.1.2, gives bishops quite a bit of latitude to allow them to do exactly that.