Gospel Principles
Unit 6: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Chapter 20: Baptism
Comments and Resources "Baptism is a sign to God, to angels and to heaven that we do the will of God, and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to him to be saved, and enter into the kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:555). During the study of this topic we will learn when baptism originated, the proper mode of baptism, what baptism means, and the blessings of baptism. Resources:
Gospel Principles: Chapter 20
A Marvelous Work and A Wonder, Chapter 10
Jesus the Christ, Chapter 10
The Articles of Faith, chapters 6, 7 Scriptures:
2 Nephi 31
"Nephi tells why Christ was baptized Men must follow Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved Repentance and baptism are the gate to the strait and narrow path Eternal life comes to those who keep the commandments after baptism.Between 559 and 545 B.C."
Mosiah 18
"Alma preaches in private He sets forth the covenant of baptism and baptizes at the waters of Mormon He organizes the Church of Christ and ordains priests They support themselves and teach the people Alma and his people flee from King Noah into the wilderness.About 148 145 B.C." 3 Nephi 11:19-41"Christ calls Nephi and others, sets forth the manner of baptism and gives them authority to baptize, give the gift of the Holy Ghost and teach the doctrine the Father has given Christ to teach." Moroni 6, 8:4-16
"Repentant persons are baptized and fellowshipped Church members who repent are forgiven Meetings are conducted by the power of the Holy Ghost.Between A.D. 400 and 421" Moroni 8:4-16
"4 And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you.
5 For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children.
6 And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently, that this gross error should be removed from among you; for, for this intent I have written this epistle.
7 For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter.And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:
8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God.Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!
13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God'saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent.Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." D&C 20:37 "And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church." Matthew 3 "John the Baptist preaches in Judaea Jesus is baptized and the Father acclaims him as his Beloved Son." John 3:1-5
"1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Acts 8:26-40"Philip baptizes an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians" Romans 6:1-16"Baptism symbolic of Christ's death and resurection"
Articles of Faith 1:4"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Topical Guide:
Baptism Bible Dictionary:
Baptism
Bethabara
John the Baptist
Jordan River
Regeneration
Symbolism Guide to the Scriptures:
Baptism, Baptize
Born Again, Born of God
Holy Ghost
Infant Baptism
Ordinances