One of the biggest themes I took away from my reading was it talked a lot about baptism and the importance of it, so I will stick to this one subject alone this time. Please also feel free to read the talk I wrote for my friend Jake in another post I have published.
I am at a baptism today for my niece Marley. Thinking about baptism is right in line with my life right now and with current media events.
In 2nd Nephi 31:4-10 we learn how Christ was perfect and yet he set the example for all of us by being baptized. To be baptized you first need the the willingness to be humble and obedient to the laws of God, then be baptized by his authority.
He then it talks about how Christ received the Holy Ghost in 2nd Nephi 31:4-9
I want to talk a little bit about Jesus Christ and Baptism.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, at age 30, by John the Baptist. He was one who had the church's priesthood lineage of that day and he was also cousins to Christ. The direct quote from the scriptures 2nd Nephi 31:5 "and now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!"
Christ shows us the way by submitting himself to the rules and laws of God. He didn't need to be baptized because he was without sin. He wanted to be faithful to his father's commandments and show us the way.
In verse 7 it says; "Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
Something of note to point out that although he didn't need it, he was humble. He did it to show obedience in all things.
In my faith we don't believe that children are born in sin (original sin) we believe that they are innocent for much longer. We don't baptize until 8 years old or older. It's not a magical number, it's not innocent until eight and a half and then you are sinful. We believe that around eight is the first time you are of your own mind enough to start to choose right and wrong for yourself if you have been brought up inside our religion. For us it's a commitment and a responsibility. We at baptism decide to take on the name of Christ (meaning we try to be like him) and we are held to a higher standard.
In 2nd Nephi 31 vs 13 it says
"Wherefore my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-yea, by following your Lord and Savior down into the water according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel".
It also talks about those who go against their covenant of baptism, it says in 2nd Nephi 31 vs 14
"...and after this (you) should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me."
God doesn't want us to take the covenant we make with him lightly and neither does the LDS presidency. In some instances it asks prospective members to wait until they are 18 years of age if they live in a household that teaches contrary to the beliefs of the church.
For me, I know being a member of the church is a great blessing but it's quite a challenge at times. I love the Lord very much but many members of my family are not of my faith. I know that the Lord loves them too, we after all are his children. I don't have all the answers but I rely on that knowledge of his great kindness and mercy and that is only through the Savior Jesus Christ. Getting to know him helps me feel more of worth and gives me the faith to trust in his timing.
I want to talk a little bit about Jesus Christ and Baptism.
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, at age 30, by John the Baptist. He was one who had the church's priesthood lineage of that day and he was also cousins to Christ. The direct quote from the scriptures 2nd Nephi 31:5 "and now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!"
Christ shows us the way by submitting himself to the rules and laws of God. He didn't need to be baptized because he was without sin. He wanted to be faithful to his father's commandments and show us the way.
In verse 7 it says; "Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
Something of note to point out that although he didn't need it, he was humble. He did it to show obedience in all things.
In my faith we don't believe that children are born in sin (original sin) we believe that they are innocent for much longer. We don't baptize until 8 years old or older. It's not a magical number, it's not innocent until eight and a half and then you are sinful. We believe that around eight is the first time you are of your own mind enough to start to choose right and wrong for yourself if you have been brought up inside our religion. For us it's a commitment and a responsibility. We at baptism decide to take on the name of Christ (meaning we try to be like him) and we are held to a higher standard.
In 2nd Nephi 31 vs 13 it says
"Wherefore my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-yea, by following your Lord and Savior down into the water according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel".
It also talks about those who go against their covenant of baptism, it says in 2nd Nephi 31 vs 14
"...and after this (you) should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me."
God doesn't want us to take the covenant we make with him lightly and neither does the LDS presidency. In some instances it asks prospective members to wait until they are 18 years of age if they live in a household that teaches contrary to the beliefs of the church.
For me, I know being a member of the church is a great blessing but it's quite a challenge at times. I love the Lord very much but many members of my family are not of my faith. I know that the Lord loves them too, we after all are his children. I don't have all the answers but I rely on that knowledge of his great kindness and mercy and that is only through the Savior Jesus Christ. Getting to know him helps me feel more of worth and gives me the faith to trust in his timing.
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