Baptism
When Jesus was ready to begin His ministry, He went to the Jordon River, where His cousin John was performing baptisms. He asked John to baptize Him. John protested, knowing Jesus was perfect. He said that he was the one in need of baptism by Jesus, not the other way around. Jesus insisted, however, because God commanded all of us to be baptized, and that included the Savior Himself. We learn from the gospels that God spoke from Heaven when Jesus was baptized, confirming Jesus’ status as God’s Son, and God’s pleasure in how Jesus had grown up. The Holy Ghost was also present at this moment, appearing as gently as a dove.
Jesus was baptized by complete immersion in the river. This means He was helped completely under the water, nothing remaining outside of it, for just a moment. The Bible explains the symbolism of this method:
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6
We are first “buried” under the water for a moment, and then we “rise.” This symbolizes the Savior’s death on our behalf and His resurrection from the dead. It also represents the death of our sins and our rebirth as a follower of Christ.
This is why Mormons are always baptized by immersion, rather than by sprinkling. They are following the example of the Savior when He was baptized, and also remembering the symbolic meaning of the ordinance. A person who chooses to become a Mormon is baptized even if they were previously baptized into another religion.
The baptism is performed by one who has specific authority from God to do so, a priesthood holder. This is why Jesus asked John to baptize Him. He needed someone with authority from God to carry out the ordinance. A specific prayer is said-one of the few where exact words must be used, and then the person is taken under the water for a moment and brought back up. The baptism is witnessed by two official witnesses, who make sure the prayer is said correctly and the person goes completely under the water.
Once baptized, the person is completely free of sin. He has already undergone the repentance process for previous sins, and at the moment of baptism, those sins are washed away and the person is perfect for that moment. It’s a fresh start.
Of course, God knows we won’t remain perfectly. No matter how much we want to be perfect, we won’t be. He has prepared ways for us to continue to have our sins forgotten. Anyone who follows a sincere process of repentance is forgiven and God forgets the sin. The repentance process requires that the person acknowledge the sin and experience sorrow for having strayed from God’s teachings. He must ask forgiveness of anyone he hurt as a result, including God. He must also make restitution for the sin, as far as he is able to do so. Then he must forsake the sin and never do it again.
At baptism, we also take upon ourselves covenants. A covenant is a two-way promise between ourselves and God. We take upon ourselves the name of the Savior and commit to live His teachings, representing His name well. God promises that if we do so, our sins will be forgiven and we can return to live with Him someday.
Each Sunday, when we attend church, we can renew these covenants by taking the Sacrament. The Sacrament is similar to communion in many other churches. Members take a small piece of bread and a sip of water (which is often wine in other religions) to represent the body and blood of Christ. As it is being passed to the congregation, members use the time to reflect on the Savior.
Children do not need to be baptized. The atonement of Christ covers them should they die before they reach the age of accountability. Because they are too young to be baptized or to make real choices, God does not hold them responsible for their mistakes. Children can’t sin. At age eight, God holds them accountable for the choices they personally make. They are responsible for the things they know about and can control. Their parents are responsible for the choices that are beyond the control of the child and for making sure the child is taught the truth and allowed to live the truth.
