Baptism — Sacrament meeting talk — Missionary Training Center
Baptism, Sacrament meeting talk delivered numerous times at the Provo Utah Missionary Training Center
Dear Elders and Sisters,
It is a privilege to share a few thoughts today regarding baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. To place the importance of baptism into perspective, I would like to share some details regarding the baptism of Wilford Woodruff in the early days of the Church. Two Mormon missionaries visited the town where Wilford lived in upstate New York, and arranged to speak concerning religion in a public meeting on December 29th. Pay attention to the date and the place. At the meeting, the elders preached concerning the restoration, bore fervent testimony, and then invited anyone in the congregation to respond. Wilford recorded in his journal, “I believed all that the elders said. The Spirit bore witness of its truth. Instantly, I found myself upon my feet. The Lord urged me to bear testimony to the truth of the message delivered by the elders. I exhorted my neighbors not to oppose them, for they were true servants of God. I bore witness that they had preached the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.” The next day, December 30th, Wilford recorded, “I began to read a copy of the Book of Mormon. The Spirit again bore witness to me that the record it contained was true. It opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to understand. It brought divine harmony to my soul.” Later that day, Wilford was present when the same two elders laid their hands on the heads of two women who were afflicted with grave diseases. They were both instantly healed. That same night, December 30th, Wilford requested baptism at the hands of the missionaries. The next day, December 31st, in upstate New York, Wilford recorded, “We made our way to the river for the baptismal service. The snow was three feet deep as we approached the river. The river was a mixture of snow, ice, and frigid water. The day was bitter cold. I did not feel the cold as I was baptized, but only the warmth of the Spirit.” The two women who had been healed the previous day were also baptized in that frigid river. It is a wonderful conversion story, but I draw attention to the actual baptism itself. Wilford saw his baptism of an outward expression of his acceptance of the gospel of the Lord, a bold and wonderful symbol of his conversion to a new life. The weather, the ice, the snow were unimportant in light of Wilford’s faith and humility and desire to join the Lord’s Kingdom. What were the elements of Wilford’s wonderful 3-day conversion? 1) He was a humble seeker of righteousness 2) He had been spiritually prepared by angelic ministration (described in Alma 13) 3) He had a contrite heart and a sensitivity to things spiritual 4) He received the truth, embraced the truth, and ACTED.
With Wilford’s incredible experience as a backdrop, let’s consider the baptism of the Savior himself and the eternal truths we learn from Him as he followed the will of the Father.
1) Matthew 3 tells us that Jesus left the Galilee and sought out John the Baptism who was baptizing in the River Jordan. That is a journey of over 100 miles. Why travel so far? Why not be baptized in the Galilee. There was an entire sea there, and there were many who would have been willing to perform the act. Rulers of synagogues, Scribes, Pharisees, and many others who considered themselves holy men could have been approached and asked to perform the ritual. Why not them? Because this wonderful event, wonderful ordinance required a duly authorized, properly ordained holder of the priesthood, one who was qualified in both spirit and truth to perform priesthood ordinances. The method, the authority, the sanctity of the baptism was prescribed by the Lord, not self-proclaimed zealots. Jesus sought out a man who was “called of God, by prophecy and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority, to administer in this ordinance of the Gospel.” Jesus “marked the path and led the way.”
2) When Jesus approached John the Baptist, John said to Jesus, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” John, in that statement, acknowledged Christ had the power to baptize, not only with water but with the Spirit. He thereby witnessed of Christ’s authority, priesthood, and power.
3) Why the River Jordan? Why a river at all? Wouldn’t it be much simpler to sprinkle or wash with water? No, baptism is symbolic of a burial, a burial of an old self, and coming forth out of the water with a newness of life, clean, refreshed, born again. Immersion was required as a proper, symbolic baptism. Jesus made this point plain and clear by traveling the long distance to the River Jordan, where John, an authorized priesthood holder, was baptizing by immersion.
4) As Jesus was about to be baptized, he said to John, “Suffer it to be so now, for it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Notice the Lord’s use of the word ‘us’. Jesus AND John were integral parts of this wonderful ordinance. What did the Lord mean when He said ‘to fulfill all righteousness’? The Book of Mormon answers that question. The Lord’s baptism fulfilled all righteousness in at least 4 ways, as Nephi explains in 2 Nephi 31. First, Jesus humbled himself before the Father. He in essence said, “Father, I acknowledge thy greatness and I gratefully submit my will to thy will. All those who desire baptism should have the very same attitude of humility and submission. Second, Jesus displayed strict obedience to the Father by keeping His commandments. He in essence said, “Father, I will do whatsoever thou asketh, precisely, exactly, willingly.” All who desire baptism should display a commitment to obey the Lord’s commandments in every setting and situation. Third, the Lord demonstrated, through His baptism, the straitness of the path that leads to salvation. He showed that work, effort, determination were necessary, and that trials, tribulations, and even afflictions would be lot of those desiring to follow Him. He showed that vacillation, indecision, hesitancy could not be a part of a disciple’s life, that a casual stroll down a broad, smooth, downhill path would not be the course we would find. His path is demanding, exacting, but the rewards are eternal. Fourth, He set the example and said “Follow thou me”. He in essence said to us, do what I do, say what I say, act like I act. Nephi said, “Can we truly follow the Lord save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?” Baptism is the way, and the way is well prescribed.
5) What else do we learn from the Savior’s example? The scripture records that Jesus came straightway up out of the water. That sounds very much like immersion, doesn’t it, proclaiming the proper method of baptism. Also, the Spirit of the Lord descended and the voice of the Father was heard, stating his love for and pleasure in His Son. Could there be a more profound demonstration of the individuality of the members of the Godhead? The Father speaks from above, the Spirit descends to sanction the ordinance, and Jesus is in the river fulfilling the will of the Father. What could be more clear?
6) In the book of Matthew, it states that the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Who was the Father addressing as He made this pronouncement? We know at least one person that he was addressing, that being John himself. Can you imagine how John felt as he heard the Father’s voice? In essence, the Father was bearing witness of His Holy Son, proclaiming boldly that He indeed was His Son, that this Son was loved, and that He was pleased with this magnificent Son. In the book of Mark, it states that the Father said, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Can you imagine how the Lord felt to hear His Father make that statement? Whichever of the statements if accurate, the sweetness and intimacy of the moment must have been overwhelming. That same sweetness and intimacy is very evident as we participate in baptismal services now. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost love those who accept them and enter the waters of baptism now.
7) Doesn’t this experience serve as an incredible expression of how our Heavenly Father feels, not only about His Son, but about the ordinance of baptism? Think of the few times that the Father has been seen or heard. There are a few manifestations in the Old Testament, His appearance to Joseph Smith, His voice introducing the resurrected Savior to the Nephites, and here at the baptism of Jesus. The Father, The Son, The Holy Ghost, all present to witness this solemn, transcendent ordinance and event in the life of the Holy One of Israel. The sanctity and importance of this ordinance cannot be overemphasized.
Think about the simple yet profound baptismal prayer that we use today, and how it reinforces all the beauties of Christ’s baptism. The person to be baptized is called by name, evidence of the personal, individual love that the Lord has for his followers. The baptizer states that he has been commissioned of Jesus Christ, just as John the Baptist was chosen and appointed by the Lord, meaning authorized by, sanctioned by, entrusted by, as a worthy priesthood holder. The ordinance is performed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the same three members of the Godhead who all actively participated in the Savior’s baptism — the Father with His blessing, the Savior with His submissiveness, the Spirit with His witness.
Think of the incredible event that occurred on the banks of the Susquehanna River when it was time for Joseph and Oliver to receive the ordinance of baptism. They had retired to the woods to seek guidance regarding baptism, a wonderful model for those today seeking inspiration. The essential elements of this important ordinance were once again present. The proper authority for this ordinance necessitated the visitation of a duly authorized priesthood holder. The authority had to be conferred, not merely assumed. How symbolic and wonderful that the same obedient servant that baptized Christ was sent to ordain and then instruct Joseph and Oliver in the proper performance of this rite. No sprinkling, no washing, but again immersion with all of its beautiful symbolic significance. Can we even imagine how Joseph and Oliver felt during this appearance, and just as importantly, how they felt and what they said after he left, and how they basked in the majesty of this occurrence? How seriously must the Lord regard this holy ordinance, as we think about the care He has taken to reveal and personally participate in the rite?
Baptism is incomplete without the subsequent bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost, again by proper priesthood power. True To The Faith points out four hallmarks or characteristics of those who humble themselves, are baptized, who receive the Holy Ghost, and who firmly plant their feet on the path to salvation. First, they desire to only do good. King Benjamin’s people, after their conversion, experience a mighty change in their hearts, and they no longer had a desire to do evil, but to do good continually! Second, they do not rebel, but they submit their will to God’s will, and always seek His face! Third, they share the gospel. The joy that they experience daily as a disciple of the Lord becomes the motivation to share light and spiritual freedom with others. Fourth, they are filled with love, charity, the pure love of Christ. As described in 4 Nephi, the followers of Christ had no contentions among them, no envyings, strife, or lying, and surely there “could not have been a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.”
Such are the blessings of all follow the Savior’s example of laying their all on the altar, entering the purifying waters of baptism, and living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and his ordained leaders.
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