It is vital that we be baptized! Christ himself stated that fact in today's scripture mastery--John 3:5:
Not just any baptism will will do however. We must be baptized in the way that Christ himself was. That is, by immersion. And not just anybody can perform the baptism. It must be done by someone who has the Priesthood. (See my previous post that discusses the priesthood, and another where I discuss baptism)
Here are a few other scriptures that teach us about what we need to do to be baptized
First, here is a revelation on what we need to do to qualify for baptism, as found in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37:
Joseph Smith taught the church about baptism for the dead in Section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants. I won't quote the entire section here, but if you are interested, you can read it in it's entirety here. Here is the summary of what is in that section:
Now, one final note. Many do get offended by the idea that we do baptisms of people who have passed away. After all, how do we know that they would want to become a member of our church??? Well, the short answer is that we don't know. But the beauty of it is this: God will never take away from any person his or her ability to choose for him/her self. We do perform the baptisms for those who have passed away, though it is up to the person to accept or reject that baptism. We can not, nor do we want to force anybody to be a member of our church. It is a gift freely given, in the same way that Christ has freely given the gift of the Atonement to the world--it is up to each of us to accept or reject his wonderful gift, and likewise it is up to each individual accept or reject the baptism performed for them if they have passed away without a valid baptism while they were living here on earth.
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.Christ was very blunt there. We cannot enter into the kingdom of God without baptism!
Not just any baptism will will do however. We must be baptized in the way that Christ himself was. That is, by immersion. And not just anybody can perform the baptism. It must be done by someone who has the Priesthood. (See my previous post that discusses the priesthood, and another where I discuss baptism)
Here are a few other scriptures that teach us about what we need to do to be baptized
First, here is a revelation on what we need to do to qualify for baptism, as found in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37:
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.Joseph Smith received this revelation on how to perform baptisms as well. It is very specific, and is found in Doctrine and Covenants 20:72-74
But what of the people who have not had the opportunity to be baptized with the proper authority, or in the proper manner? What of those millions of people who may not even have heard of Jesus Christ, and have passed away? Are they doomed? God loves all his children, and has provided a way for all his children to receive baptism in the proper way.73 The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Joseph Smith taught the church about baptism for the dead in Section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants. I won't quote the entire section here, but if you are interested, you can read it in it's entirety here. Here is the summary of what is in that section:
1–5, Local and general recorders must certify to the fact of baptisms for the dead; 6–9, Their records are binding and recorded on earth and in heaven; 10–14, The baptismal font is a similitude of the grave; 15–17, Elijah restored power relative to baptism for the dead; 18–21, All of the keys, powers, and authorities of past dispensations have been restored; 22–25, Glad and glorious tidings are acclaimed for the living and the dead.What I think I like most about baptism for the dead is that it shows us that God does indeed love all of his children. As Peter stated in Acts 10:34, God truly is not a respecter of persons.
Now, one final note. Many do get offended by the idea that we do baptisms of people who have passed away. After all, how do we know that they would want to become a member of our church??? Well, the short answer is that we don't know. But the beauty of it is this: God will never take away from any person his or her ability to choose for him/her self. We do perform the baptisms for those who have passed away, though it is up to the person to accept or reject that baptism. We can not, nor do we want to force anybody to be a member of our church. It is a gift freely given, in the same way that Christ has freely given the gift of the Atonement to the world--it is up to each of us to accept or reject his wonderful gift, and likewise it is up to each individual accept or reject the baptism performed for them if they have passed away without a valid baptism while they were living here on earth.
So important to realize that we need to constantly improve on living our baptismal covenants.
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