The Power of Baptism

D&C 84:20-21 "Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;"

In the ordinances the power of godliness is manifest. Lets all bring the power of godliness into our personal lives, into our families, and into our communities. Receive authority from God's voice (Jst Gen 14:28-29) (3 Nephi 11:21), and perform the ordinances. God says we will have the power of godliness if we do so. He gives us a way to be sanctified and receive His Spirit (Moroni 4:3, 5:2) and power through the ordinances.

Alma went to the church in Gideon to preach. Notice that these people are already members of the church (Alma 6:8). These are people whom he trusts have faith (Alma 7:6). He gives them a commandment to be born again. Notice the power of God being manifest according to the ordinance being done by one having authority.

Alma 7:14-16 "Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism. And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me."

These members of the church set up in that land already had the requisite of baptism to enter into the church. Alma is preaching these words unto them "according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word." The Lord gave Alma the charge to preach repentance to them, commanded them to be born again, and to receive baptism. When a prophet is sent to preach repentance, he invariably preaches repentance and baptism for the remission of sins.

We all sin and continue to sin because we lack knowledge. Through the ordinances of baptism and partaking of the emblems of the Lord's flesh and blood it turns us from our sins and unto Him. Only an Anti-Christ would tell someone not to be baptized for a remission of their sins. We all need it. The Lord commands the Nephites in 3 Nephi chapter 11 to repent and be baptized. Nephi gives us the same information. Alma says it also, and all the holy prophets who are given the charge to preach repentance.

In the account of Mosiah ch. 18, these people desired to become a Zion like community; To bear one another's burdens, to administer to the poor, give comfort to those that stand in need of comfort, etc... They were baptized not for the remission of sins, but to enter into a covenant with God and with those present. 

"And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart. And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world. And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit."

When a man is filled with the Spirit, does he have any desire for sin? When we dwell on our sins, it doesn't help us. I believe we are missing the mark when we do so. The mark is Christ. I believe if we keep our eyes focused on Him, and partake of the power of the ordinances, we will be filled with the Spirit, and our desire for sin will fade. We will become new creatures in Christ.

I invite all to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. I testify to all that the words written in the Book of Mormon by these prophets speaking the words of Christ are commandments to us. We are commanded to repent, and be baptized. We will be filled with the Spirit as the Holy Ghost ministers to us. We will become new creatures in Christ as he purges us with fire. We will be able to speak with the tongue of angels, and they in turn will notice we are speaking their language and will minister to us. We will be brought into His presence as we obey His commands.

The Doctrine of Christ

At 15 years old, I remember praying, kneeling next to my bed after reading the account of the Brother of Jared's experience of beholding the Lord (Ether 3). I knew at that young age that God is no respecter or persons. I wondered why not me also? So I knelt in prayer asking God if I have the necessary faith as the Brother of Jared did. Nothing happened, but I know heaven took notice. From that moment until now, I have been seeking the Lord's face. Not until a few years ago did the Brother of Jared's experience become more real to me. I knew that I could have the same experience. It is something that I hope for. I use the word hope in a sense of something I know will happen if I follow the process, or the map if you will. The map is in the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon. I believe with all of my heart that any one of us can and should ask the Lord to put us on a route so we may come into His presence in the flesh.

I would like to relate the Doctrine of Christ as given by both the Lord and by Nephi. I believe this is the most fundamental teaching in following the map of receiving angels, and the Lord.

 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel."

These are the prerequisites for baptism. I was baptized at the age of 8 years old. I still find that baptism to be true and of worth in my life. But, at 8 years old I was still clean. There was no need to repent, I was still a child. I believe it was necessary for me to be baptized to enter into the gate. Thing is, I have been taught that I don't have need for baptism anymore. It was done, kind of like a check on the list of things that need done, now endure to the end. I had often wondered if the fruits of my baptism were present. Did I receive the Holy Ghost after baptism? Have I been baptized by fire and of the Holy Ghost? Do I speak with the tongue of angels now?

 "But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me. (He is not speaking of a child who just entered into baptism. one must sin against knowledge for Him to use this kind of language) And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved. Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. 

 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts? Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do. Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

Nephi is speaking in plainness. Have faith, repent, take upon yourself the name of Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, baptism by fire and of the Holy Ghost, speak with the tongue of angels, do all things the Holy Ghost tells you to do. No more doctrine given until Christ manifests Himself unto you in the flesh, then do all things He tell you to do. This is the Doctrine. There is no other Doctrine! We call other teachings and learning doctrine, but in reality there is only one doctrine. It is Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost, then receive Christ. Here... Now...

I have a question, how do we speak with the tongue of angels? When God took Moses from the Israelite's midst along with the Holy Priesthood (D&C 84), what did he leave them with? The Aaronic Priesthood was left which holds the keys of the ministering of Angels. It is their job to bring you into contact with the Lord. When you speak with the tongue of angels, you are able to commune with them. They are the servants spoken of in scripture. It is their job to help administer light and truth. When you speak with the tongue of angels, you are in essence speaking a heavenly vibration which will bring you into the presence of the Lord.

I would like to quote the Lord on baptism.

"And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven. And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you. Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them." 

Invariably for a man to repent, he needs a servant from the presence of God to preach repentance. Repent, then desire baptism. Nowhere here does it say a man must sustain another man to be baptized. The Lord does not say you must sustain this man as a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to be baptized. It is so simple! The Lord is speaking in plainness as Nephi did. Nephi condemns us in these latter days. We are so chuck full of pride because we are the sons of the pioneers that we fill ourselves full of darkness. God says, believe in me, repent, and be baptized!

 "And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water. And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them."

When you are a child, there is not need to become as a little child. He is speaking to the Nephites who have been baptized already! They are the righteous remnant who did not die from the calamities from His death. These people are being commanded to be baptized AGAIN! BECOME AS A LITTLE CHILD, IN MEEKNESS, IN HUMILITY, AS ONE WHO KNOWS NOTHING, AND RELIES ON THE LORD FOR EVERYTHING, AND BE BAPTIZED!

 "And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them. Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth."

The Holy Ghost WILL come to all who come into the waters of baptism as a little child. The Holy Ghost WILL elevate you to speak with the tongue of angels. You WILL commune with them, and with the General assembly and Church of the Firstborn. If your heart is in the right place and you are baptized in the name of God, He WILL baptize you with fire and of the Holy Ghost.

A few months ago I was prompted that a renewal of baptism was needed. Over the past year, as the Lord has directed my life, I have been placed in very humbling circumstances. He broke me. He made my spirit contrite through very difficult things I and my family have had to go through. He made me as a little child. I take no glory unto myself though. He is an amazing teacher. He has taught me in my own language. I knew that I had been prepared to be baptized again. I was baptized by a man whom I love in Mesa, Arizona. Baptized by one who has been given authority by the voice of Jesus Christ. I have a deeper desire to become as my Savior is. Religion should be deeply individual to all of us.

I know some who read this will be troubled. Because we are told to be baptized once in the LDS Church. I do not believe it is so. Christ and the prophets have always spoken of baptism in the present tense. When we partake of the emblems of the Lord's flesh and blood, it is to have His Spirit to be with us. Baptism and the sacrament are two different ordinances which will bring us unto the Lord, so we can speak with the tongue of angels. I also urge all to partake of the emblems often. Not just on Sunday.

We are nearing much which has been given through prophecy. We need to connect with the Powers of Heaven and speak their language. We need baptism. We need the sacrament on a regular basis.

I and my family will be worshiping the Lord on the weekend of the equinox with baptism and of course with the emblems up Spanish Fork Canyon. Those who wish to participate, please email me.

Anthonyrichmond501@gmail.com

I love my Lord Jesus Christ. He is a reality to me. He has spoken in plainness to me and has filled me with His love on many occasions. I hope what has been spoken does not offend.

My reasons for creating this blog

A few years back I was installing carpet in someone's basement. The love of God entered into me and it filled my being with love and with peace. I said "Thank You Lord" and asked if there was something He wished to tell me. I was told that He would like me to proclaim my love for Him to the world. I thought to myself how is this possible for a little nobody like me to do that. The inspiration came to proclaim my love, and the things I have been taught through the internet. I am now in a place where I am comfortable in doing so. Not that I wasn't before, it's just that sometimes we need to wait for the right timing. I feel like it is now time.

I love my family and many friends dearly. I hope for Zion.