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.