Born of the Water, and of the Spirit

Elder David E. Bednar said,

"Following our baptism, each of us had hands placed upon our head by those with priesthood authority and was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Holy Ghost was conferred upon us (see D&C 49:14). The statement “receive the Holy Ghost” in our confirmation was a directive to strive for the baptism of the Spirit.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, 5:499). We were baptized by immersion in water for the remission of sins. We must also be baptized by and immersed in the Spirit of the Lord, “and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost” (2 Ne. 31:17)."



David A. Bednar, “That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” Ensign, May 2006, 28–31

Quote of the Day: Spencer W. Kimball

President Spencer W. Kimball

“If we spend our mortal days in accumulating secular knowledge to the exclusion of the spiritual then we are in a dead-end street, for this is the time for man to prepare to meet God” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 390).

No Man Taketh This Honour

In commenting on Looney's blog, I posted the following scripture:

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. " Hebrews 5:4

I wanted to write a little further about what this scripture means. I think it is helpful to back up and read more of the chapter.

1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. Hebrews 5:1,4

In this chapter, Paul is talking about how men are called to serve, and ordained to the Priesthood. He taught that men must be called of God as was Aaron, but how was Aaron called? For an answer to this question, we can go back to the Old Testament. In Exodus 28:1 we read what the Lord said to Moses,

"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons."

Moses was the mouthpiece of the Lord at that time. Through Moses, the children of Israel were led out of Egypt. Another word for a "mouthpiece of the Lord is "prophet". Moses had received the Priesthood under the hands of his father in law Jethro. He had the authority to give the Priesthood to whomever God chose. And in this case, God chose Aaron and his sons, and his posterity after him.

From these scriptures we learn that there are some necessary things in order for a man to receive the Priesthood, and serve as a Priesthood leader. First, he must be called of God by someone who has the Priesthood authority to pass on to him. Second, Aaron did not decide for himself that he should have this position. There is no jockeying for position in the church of God. God calls whom he will. Elder N. Eldon Tanner said,

"The authority of the priesthood cannot be assumed or arrogated to oneself, but must be delegated by God through one having authority. One of the reasons for confusion in the churches today is that man has assumed this authority without proper delegation from the Lord. A man would have no more right to arrogate this priesthood authority unto himself than would one citizen or another decide to be a representative of the king or the parliament or the president of the United States. In fact, if one began to sign papers as their representative, without having been properly appointed, he would be accused of forgery and handled by the law. ...Only by the authority of the priesthood can the ordinances of the gospel be received or administered. Without it one cannot baptize, confirm, ordain, officiate, or hold any presiding office in the Church" N. Eldon Tanner, “The Priesthood of God,” Ensign, Jun 1973, 3

Baptism for the Dead

My neighbor's daughter brought this news story to my attention. It was reported here.


Obama's Mother Baptized Into LDS Church, Grandmother Going On Hajj

Thursday, May 7, 2009 @09:46am CST

(Salt Lake City, UT) -- "President Obama's mother, who died in 1995, has been posthumously baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

According to a "Salt Lake Tribune" report, the church's ritual of "baptism for the dead" was performed on Stanley Ann Dunham, Obama's mother.

The practice of baptizing the dead without family consent has drawn sharp criticism from many religious groups.

Meanwhile, there's word that President Obama's paternal grandmother, Sarah Obama, will be performing the ritual of Hajj this year.

All able-bodied Muslims are required to undertake the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime."

My neighbor's daughter was outraged at this. But I think part of her outrage comes from not understanding what baptism means, nor baptism for the dead.
BAPTISM
Baptism is an ordinance that symbolizes new birth. It symbolizes putting off the old person, and becoming a follower of Christ. It symbolizes spiritual washing, or repentance. This ordinance is part of a covenant that the person makes with God. When a person is baptized, they are covenanting with God that they will keep His commandments. A covenant is a two way promise. We promise to keep the commandments, and God promises in return that when we repent, He will forgive us.

BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD
Baptism for the dead is just the same as baptism for the living, except that the dead person cannot do this ordinance for themself. It requires someone else to act as proxy for them. Spiritually, the covenant is still being made between that person and God, but the living person acts on their behalf to receive the ordinance.

In our religion, we do geneology to research our ancestors so that we can do temple ordinances for them. We submit names of family members. It is against church policy to submit the name of someone who is not a family member. And in fact, if there are still living family members, we are required to get their permission in many cases before doing the ordinance.

But here is the part that many people don't understand. Even though the work is done here on Earth, the deceased person still has the right to refuse it. If they don't want to make that covenant with God, they can reject that ordinance. If they reject it, it is null and void. The covenant is between them and God. If they reject it, the promises are void.

Baptism for the dead was an ordinance that was practiced in ancient times. Paul, in teaching some who didn't believe in a resurrection taught, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" 1 Corinthians 15:29 His point being that the people were doing baptisms for the dead BECAUSE they would some day be resurrected.

Some might not understand the importance of baptism, but the Savior was very clear on this point. In John 3:5 he said, "...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Baptism is requisite to inherit the kingdom of God. Why would it be requisite? Because God only allows those who have made the covenant with Him to inherit the kingdom of God. Baptism is being "born of the water". It is a spiritual rebirth. After a person is baptized, they recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. This is the baptism of the Spirit that is spoken of.

Should President Obama be offended that his grandmother was baptized? I believe no, because if she doesn't want that baptism, she has the free will to reject it.

I have posted this link before, but here is a great article that discusses the practice of baptism for the dead, and whether or not it is ethical. Click HERE to read it.

Day of Faith, Personal Quest for Purpose

This is a really wonderful interview with an LDS student at Harvard. She was part of a panel for a special, "Day of faith, personal quest for Purpose" presentation. The Mormon girl interviewed is a typical (although well spoken) LDS girl. She answers some great questions that I think many people have wanted to ask. It's about a 15 minute video, but I think it is well worth watching. Click here to watch the video.

In the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses

In 2 Corinthians 13, 1 we read,"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." The idea that there should be more than one witness to establish the truth of something is a principle that was in practice ever since Old Testament times. We believe that the Book of Mormon stands as a second witness, with the Bible, that Jesus is the Christ. My thanks goes to Ross for sharing these references with me that he used in a talk in church recently.

From the Bible we read:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" John 11:25

From the Book of Mormon we read:
"And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." Mosiah 3:17

"7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary." Mosiah 3:7-8

"10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Alma 7:10-12

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Love for the Book of Mormon expands one's love for the Bible, and vice versa... We are indebted to martyrs who gave their lives so that we could have the Bible. It establishes the everlasting nature of the gospel and of the plan of happiness. The Book of Mormon restores and underscores biblical doctrines such as tithing, the temple, the Sabbath day, and the priesthood."

Nephi, one of the prophets in the Book of Mormon recorded:
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. 2 Nephi 29:7-9

In Ezekiel 37:19 we read, "Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand." In this verse, the word, "stick" refers to scriptures. The scriptures or "stick" of Joseph would be the scriptures brought forth by the tribe of Joseph. The scriptures or "stick" of Judah would be the scriptures brought forth by the tribe of Judah. The people of the Book of Mormon were descended from the tribe of Joseph. The Book of Mormon is the set of scriptures brought forth by them. The Jews, of course were of the tribe of Judah, and the Holy Bible was the set of scriptures brought forth by them. These two sets of scriptures work together to testify of Jesus Christ. Today they are truly, "one" in our hands to testify of the gospel. They stand as co-witnesses that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I invite you to study them together, and pray for guidance as you do so.

Mormon Messages: How Can I Find Happiness? A Message of Hope