Baptism is the gate

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons we believe that baptism is the third principle and the first ordinance of the gospel that is essential in allowing us to live with God again. Thus, baptism is the gate to eternal life. Our fourth article of faith states, "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Baptism in our church is performed by priesthood authority--the authority to act in the name of God. The words for the ordinance are found in the Doctrine & Covenants: "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" (Doctrine & Covenants 20:73). In an earlier post, What does a Mormon baptism look like?, I described the details of a Mormon baptism.

With baptism by immersion, the person being baptized is lowered all the way under the water. Immersion symbolizes being totally clean, being buried under the water and then lifted up to a new life, and resurrection. Before baptism, repentance must occur so that the person is ready to follow Christ. Then after the cleansing of baptism, the person has no more sins until he/she sins again which happens almost immediately as we learn and grow in this mortal world. Being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins means that we are forgiven for our sins through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We then must continue to repent and be cleansed daily through the process of repentance.

Jesus Christ was baptized and He was perfect. He was baptized by John the Baptist to show us the way to return to our Heavenly Father and to be obedient. As we are baptized, we are showing Jesus and our Heavenly Father that we are committed to keeping the commandments. Baptism is an act of obedience that symbolizes and binds us on the path to return to our Father in Heaven.

The ordinance of baptism takes a couple of minutes but for every baptism I've witnessed, I'm filled with peace and joy and a sense that our Heavenly Father is pleased with the choice to follow Him.