Baptism

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Baptism is a holy ordinance through which we covenant with the Lord to accept Jesus as our Savior and to keep His commandments. In return, God promises to forgive us of our sins as we repent and to bless us with His Spirit.

Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance prepare you for baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ taught by example that everyone must be baptized of water and of the Spirit (the Holy Ghost) for the remission, or forgiveness, of sins. Through baptism by one who holds priesthood authority and through receiving the Holy Ghost, you will be spiritually reborn.

When you are baptized by one with the priesthood authority given by God, having repented you receive a remission of your sins ( Acts 2:38). You make a covenant, or promise, with God to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, to follow Him, and to keep His commandments. In return, He promises to forgive your sins and let you return to live with Him, provided you keep your covenants. You are briefly immersed in water, as Jesus Christ was baptized. Baptism by immersion is a sacred symbol of the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it represents the end of your old life and the beginning of a new life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

We must be baptized to become members of the restored Church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—and to eventually enter the kingdom of heaven. This ordinance is a law of God and must be performed by His authority. A bishop or mission president must give a priesthood holder permission to perform a baptism or conferral of the Holy Ghost.

Little children do not need to be baptized until they reach the age of accountability, which is eight years of age, as they are redeemed through the mercy of Jesus Christ ( Moroni 8:4–24; Doctrine and Covenants 68:27) .

Repentance

Repentance is the second principle of the gospel. Our faith in Jesus Christ and our love for Him lead us to repent, or to change our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that are not in harmony with His will and teachings. When we sincerely repent of our sins the Lord forgives us and remembers them no more.

Faith in Jesus Christ leads you to desire to change your life for the better. As you study the gospel, you will recognize that you have sinned, or acted against the will and teachings of God. Through repentance, the second principle of the gospel, you change thoughts, desires, habits, and actions that are not in harmony with God’s teachings. He promises that when you repent, He will forgive your sins.

To repent, you:

•Recognize that you have sinned and feel sincere sorrow for what you have done.
•Stop sinning and strive never to commit sin again.
•Confess your sins to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. If you have sinned against another person, you must ask that person for forgiveness.
•Make restitution. You should do everything in your power to correct any problems your actions may have caused.

•Keep the commandments. Obeying God’s commandments brings the power of the gospel into your life and gives you strength to abandon your sins. Keeping the commandments includes giving service, forgiving others, and attending Church meetings.
•Acknowledge the Savior. The most important part of repentance is the realization that forgiveness comes because of Jesus Christ. The Savior suffered for your sins so they can be put behind you, even the serious ones.

Cultivating a spirit of forgiveness in your home will help you find peace, comfort, and joy. When a spouse or other family member hurts your feelings, try not to hold a grudge. Remembering the wrong every time you become frustrated or upset with them can be very damaging to your marriage and family. Everyone makes mistakes and all of us need forgiveness. Jesus Christ taught that if we want to be forgiven of our wrongs, we must forgive others ( Matthew 18:21–35).

Even after you have accepted Christ and repented of your sins, you may fall short and sin again. You should continually try to correct these transgressions. In addition, you should continually strive to develop Christlike qualities, to grow in knowledge, and to serve more effectively. As you learn more about what the Savior expects of you, you will want to show your love by obeying Him. Thus, as you repent daily, you will find that your life will change and improve.

Repentance requires changes. It requires an increased commitment to live according to God’s will. As you change, you will recognize that you are a child of God and that you need not continue making the same mistakes. If you sincerely repent, your desire to follow God will grow stronger and deeper. You will feel God’s forgiveness and His peace in your life, and guilt and sorrow will be swept away, allowing you to feel the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance. When you pass from this life and are fully repentant, you will be more prepared to live with your Heavenly Father and His Son. Heavenly Father wants you to be happy and knows that sin makes you unhappy and brings unhappiness to those you love, for “wickedness never was happiness” ( Alma 41:10).

Faith in Jesus Christ

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. It is a principle of action that causes us to sincerely repent of our sins and strive to keep God’s commandments. It is also a source of strength to help us overcome temptations and meet life’s challenges.

The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Having faith in Christ includes having a firm belief that He is the Only Begotten Son of God and the Savior and Redeemer of the world. It means believing that He is the Son of God and that He suffered for your sins, afflictions, and infirmities. When you have faith in Christ, you accept and apply His Atonement and His teachings. Heavenly Father blesses those who have faith to obey His Son.

It is important to note that faith in God is more than a theoretical belief in Him; it is a principle of action and power. To have faith in God is to be willing to act on your belief in Him. Heavenly Father requires that you act with hope and trust in Him before you see a final outcome (Alma 32:21).

Having faith causes you to try as hard as you can to learn about and become more like your Savior, doing all you can to bring about what you hope and pray for. Although you may still sin, you show your love for Him by striving to keep His commandments and avoiding sin.

You can pray in faith for strength to conquer temptation or to develop faith in a particular principle, such as the Word of Wisdom or tithing, by first believing in Jesus Christ strongly enough to obey His commandments. You can help your faith grow by hearing the word of God ( Romans 10:17) and by reading the word of God ( Helaman 15:7–8).

As you obey God, He blesses you. He gives you power to meet life’s challenges and helps you change the desires of your heart. Through your faith in Jesus Christ, He can heal you, both physically and spiritually.

Jesus Christ, Our Savior

Our loving Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to show us how to live meaningful and happy lives and experience eternal joy after this life.

Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to live in His presence after this life. His plan, called the gospel of Jesus Christ, will lead you back to Him if you choose to follow it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. It begins with faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is believing in Him, trusting Him, and depending on Him. Faith in Jesus Christ leads you to want to change your life for the better. Through repentance, you change those thoughts, desires, habits, and actions that are not in harmony with God’s teachings. Heavenly Father promises that when you repent, He will forgive your sins.

Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance prepare you for baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ taught that everyone must be baptized of water and of the Spirit for the forgiveness of sins. Through baptism by one who holds God’s priesthood authority and through receiving the Holy Ghost, you will be spiritually reborn. After baptism, God promises to give you the gift of the Holy Ghost, who will guide, comfort, and help you know and recognize truth.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through revelation from God to the Prophet Joseph Smith and other prophets. You can know for yourself that these things are true by asking Heavenly Father in prayer.

The Book of Mormon

A record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, brought forth by the grace and power of God in our day as a second witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and redeemer of all mankind.

As part of the Restoration of the gospel, God brought forth the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. By the power of God, Joseph Smith translated this book from an ancient record written on gold plates. The Book of Mormon is “a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon).

The Book of Mormon is a powerful witness of Jesus Christ. It helps us understand His teachings, including those in the Bible. Examples of Book of Mormon witnesses of Christ include:

•Nephi, who saw the birth and death of Christ in a vision ( 1 Nephi 11:13–15).
•The brother of Jared, who saw the Lord because of his great faith ( Ether 3:7–16).
•The prophet Samuel the Lamanite, who prophesied of Christ’s coming and gave the signs of His birth and death ( Helaman 13–14).

•Christ Himself, who, after His Resurrection, appeared to the people of ancient America and invited them to come forward one by one to see and touch Him until “they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves” ( 3 Nephi 11:13–17).

In the Bible, Jesus told His Apostles, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” ( John 10:16). Soon after He was resurrected, the Lord visited these “other sheep”—the inhabitants of ancient America. During this visit to the American continent (recorded in the Book of Mormon), Jesus Christ:

•Invited people to feel the wound marks in His hands and feet and side.
•Taught His gospel.
•Called twelve disciples to teach His gospel.
•Healed the sick.
•Prayed for the people.
•Performed miracles.

In September 1823, Joseph Smith was visited by a heavenly messenger named Moroni, in the same way that angels often appeared to Church leaders in the New Testament. Moroni informed Joseph that God had a work for him to do and told him that a record of the ancient inhabitants of the American continent was buried in a nearby hill. He stated that the record contained the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ ( Joseph Smith—History 1:27–34).

In September 1827, Joseph received the record, which was written on thin plates of gold. Joseph translated the book into English by the inspiration of God and called the book the Book of Mormon.

It is named after Mormon, an ancient prophet who compiled the sacred record. The book verifies, as another testament of Christ, the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ. It is, then, a second witness that affirms the truth of the Bible.

Since its publishing in 1830, the Book of Mormon has blessed the lives of millions of people through its powerful message about Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Patriarchal Blessings

I am really excited because this Sunday my wife and I met with our Bishop and received our Patriarchal Blessing recommend. I am really looking forward to receiving this blessing as is my wife. I now need to do my best to prepare myself to hear and understand my blessing.
My wife and I are doing everything we can to get to the Temple and be sealed and receive our Temple Ordinances. We are going to be starting our Temple preparatory classes soon so we can prepare ourselves. I am so excited, it will be wonderful to finally go to the Temple and be sealed as a family forever and to receive the blessings of the Temple.

Membership in Christ's Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized to perfect and bless the lives of God’s children.

Jesus Christ is the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The central purpose of the Church is to help all people come unto Christ (see Moroni 10:32). To fulfill this mission, the Church is organized according to the pattern revealed by the Lord “for the perfecting of the saints, . . . till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” ( Ephesians 4:12–13); see also verse 11.

The family is the fundamental unit in the Church. No other organization can take the place of the family. As The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow, its purpose will always be to support and strengthen families and individuals in their efforts to live the gospel.

Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides many opportunities to help others come unto Jesus Christ. Church members:

Donate their time and resources to help the needy and the afflicted.
Serve as missionaries across the world to teach God’s children the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Perform saving ordinances (such as baptism) for themselves and for those who died without knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored by God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. You can know for yourself that these things are true by asking Heavenly Father in prayer.

Jesus Christ established his Church

Prior to His death and Resurrection, the Savior established His Church again on the earth, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Himself as the chief cornerstone.

Holy Bible, Ephesians 2:20

A few hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, people had fallen into apostasy. When the Savior began His mortal ministry, He restored His gospel and established His Church again on the earth. He built His Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, He himself being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

Jesus Christ called twelve men to be His Apostles—including Peter, James, and John—and laid His hands on their heads to give them priesthood authority ( Matthew 10:1; John 15:16; Matthew 28:19-20). Before the Savior’s death and Resurrection, He gave His Apostles priesthood authority to teach His gospel, perform the ordinances of salvation, and continue to establish His Church in the world.

The Savior's coming fulfilled prophecy. He set a godly example and showed men what Heavenly Father was like. Yet He was rejected of men and crucified. He made the Atonement by suffering for the sins of all men. After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ guided His Apostles through revelation, making the Church of Jesus Christ a church led by God and not by men ( Acts 10; Revelation 1:1).

In addition to the Twelve Apostles, Christ appointed other leaders to assist the Apostles in the work of His Church. These included:

Seventies (missionaries)
Evangelists (patriarchs)
Pastors (presiding leaders)
Elders
Bishops
Priests
Teachers
Deacons

These officers were given the authority (or priesthood) necessary to do the work of Christ’s Church. They did missionary work, performed ordinances such as baptism, presided over congregations, and instructed and inspired Church members. As long as those who had the priesthood were alive, the Church grew and prospered.

When His followers asked Jesus Christ what kind of people He wanted them to be, His answer was simple: “Even as I am” ( 3 Nephi 27:27).

Jesus showed you by His example and His teachings how you should live to be able to return to your Father in Heaven. Although you make mistakes, as you sincerely repent of your mistakes and try to follow the example of Jesus Christ, your life will be filled with peace and inner joy, regardless of the circumstances around you.

From the beginning, God has called special witnesses, known as prophets, and commanded them to keep records of His dealings with His children. Both the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon are such records. The Holy Bible contains a record of Jesus Christ’s dealings with and ministry to the people in the Holy Land. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a record of Christ’s dealings with and His appearance to the people of ancient America. Both books teach about our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and of Their love for us.