Baptism

Baptism is an essential ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are commanded to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the proper priesthood authority.

Baptism is known as the gateway to salvation. We first must exercise faith unto repentance. Once we have faith in Christ and are willing to repent of our sins and mistakes, the Savior invites us to "Come Follow Me." The way we show the Savior and others our willingness to follow Him, we take upon us his name by being baptized.

2 Nephi: Chapter 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. About 559–545 B.C.

Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of new life just as the Savior died and rose again.

Christ taught us to repent and enter in at the straight and narrow gate that leads to eternal life.

3 Nephi 27:20,33
20Now this is the commandment: ^aRepent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be ^bbaptized in my name, that ye may be ^csanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand ^dspotless before me at the last day.

Enter ye in at the ^astrait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein

The first principles and ordinances of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are:

1. Faith in Jesus Christ
2. Repentance for the remission of sins
3. Baptism by immersion
4. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost

This coming week I will get to witness a couple of baptisms. My nephew will be baptized at the age of 8 and a friend of 25 years old will be baptized along with her son who just turned 8. As the Ward Mission Leader for my ward, I will be attending the baptism of Judith and Terrence Joe.