Baptism and Confirmation
"Amulek taught that the Savior’s sacrifice would 'bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance (Alma 34:15)." (D. Todd Christofferson, "Born Again," general conference, April 2008).
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"For our turning to the Lord to be complete, it must include nothing less than a covenant of obedience to Him. We often speak of this covenant as the baptismal covenant since it is witnessed by being baptized in water (see Mosiah 18:10). The Savior’s own baptism, providing the example, confirmed His covenant of obedience to the Father. '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' (2 Nephi 31:7). Without this covenant, repentance remains incomplete and the remission of sins unattained" (D. Todd Christofferson, "The Divine Gift of Repentance," general conference, October 2011).​
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How do we prepare for baptism through faith and repentance?
"Increasing your faith and trust in Him takes effort...The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe" (Russell M. Nelson, "Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains," general conference April 2021).
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"Having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ allows me to better understand His sacrifice for me and the sadness my sins have brought Him. As I come to love him more completely, being so thankful for His love for me, and the amazing gift of His father to send and sacrifice His Son for me, I find the strength and courage to turn from the things that keep me from being more like Him" (Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, 146).
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Study:
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Ponder:
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How do we receive forgiveness and become forgiven for our sins?
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We are saved from our sins by Jesus Christ after all we can do. According to the prophet Alma, what is "all we can do"?​
"Repentance is not an event but a way of life, something we embrace for all of mortality. In our desire to become more like the Savior, we never stop repenting. Repentance requires a constant broken heart and a contrite spirit, along with daily efforts to obey the commandments, keep our covenants, and always remember Him. As we do, we will feel His approval even in our imperfections. We will know that we are in the process of becoming clean, that our sins are being forgiven, and then we are being prepared to live with Him" (Neil L. Andersen, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, 144).
What does baptism by immersion represent?
"Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This important imagery helps us see the symbolism of our own spiritual rebirth when we are baptized. As Jesus Christ rose from the dead to new life, we should also 'walk in newness of life' when we come up out of the waters of baptism (Romans 6:4; see also verses 3–11)" ("Baptism," Topics and Questions Study Guide).
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Study:
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Ponder:
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After we are baptized, how can we "walk in newness of life"?
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What other symbols to you see in the ordinance of baptism?
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What is the baptismal covenant?
Study:
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Ponder and discuss:
What do the scriptures teach is the covenant we make when we are baptized?​
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“The baptismal covenant is a public witness to Heavenly Father of three specific commitments: to serve God, to keep His commandments, and to be willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. The other facets that are frequently mentioned that we bear one another’s burdens, that we mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, are fruits of making the covenant rather than part of the actual covenant. These facets are important though because they’re what a converted soul would naturally do” (Dale G. Renlund, “Stronger and Closer Connection to God through Multiple Covenants,” BYU-Idaho Devotional, October 26, 2023).
Ponder and discuss:
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How might the physical ordinance of baptism teach us about the spiritual covenant we are making?
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In what ways can we prepare to commit to serve God and keep His commandments?
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How can we show each day that we are willing to take Jesus Christ's name upon us?
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"As we are baptized, we symbolically die and are born again into the family of Christ and we show we are willing to take His name upon us. We ourselves embody that covenant symbolism. In the New Testament we read, 'For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.' With our baptism we symbolically put on Christ" (Sister J. Anette Dennis, "Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ," general conference April 2024).
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What are confirmation and the Gift of the Holy Ghost?
"The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. 'For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift' (Doctrine and Covenants 88:33). As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed 'receive the Holy Ghost' and its attendant spiritual gifts" (David A. Bednar, "Receive the Holy Ghost," general conference October 2010).
Study:
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Ponder and discuss:
Why do you think incrementally receiving the Holy Ghost is compared to a baptism of fire?​
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“We need the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. We desire it, yet we know from experience that it is not easy to maintain. We each think, say, and do things in our daily lives that can offend the Spirit. The Lord taught us that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion when our hearts are full of charity and when virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:45)" (Henry B. Eyring, "The Holy Ghost as Your Constant Companion," general conference October 2015).
"When you seek to cultivate a companionship with the Holy Ghost, you will sense what things need to change in your life" ("Gift of the Holy Ghost," Topics and Questions Study Guide).
Study:
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Ponder and discuss:
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What are some of the ways the Holy Ghost can bless us and help us on our journey back to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
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How can we incrementally work toward receiving a fulness of the Holy Ghost?
Learning Activity:
Make a list of ways you plan to seek the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost this week.