“And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.”
The purpose of baptism is to follow Christ’s example. (John 10: 27, John 14: 15.) It symbolizes the death of the old man of sin, and the resurrection into a new life in Christ. (Romans 6: 4.) That symbol cannot be mirrored by sprinkling. It must involve immersion.
In immersion we are placed below the surface of the water, in the same way as the dead are buried below ground.
In immersion the breath of life is cut off while under the water, and restored anew when you “come forth again out of the water.”
In the case of the officiator, they are the one who immerses and then brings the recipient up out of the water. Performing this ordinance puts the officiator in the role of the Lord who holds the keys of death (Rev. 1: 18) and resurrection (2 Nephi 2: 8).
Those who are baptized, and those who officiate, enact, by symbol, some eternal truths regarding the plan of salvation. In the very moment the ordinance is performed there is a renewal in symbol of life, innocence, forgiveness and resurrection. The earth itself is blessed by such things as baptism and other ordinances. The earth itself is defiled when the ordinances are not kept exactly as prescribed. (Isa. 24: 5; Moses 7: 28.)
The earth knows that God ordained the ordinances of heaven and earth. (Jeremiah 33: 25.) As regular and reliable as the movements of the sun and moon are, so too should the ordinances of the Lord be kept in their appointed ways. (Jeremiah 31: 35-36.)
The baptism ordinance, like all those that follow after, is intended not merely to fulfill an initiation rite. It is intended to communicate light and truth into the mind of the individual who is performing and receiving the ordinance. It is meant to enlighten.
I have discussed previously the meaning of “come forth” used by Christ in restoring life to Lazarus (John 11: 43) and therefore won’t repeat it again here. It is no accident the Lord employs the same meaning here as there. We are rising from the tomb of sin which imprisons us into the new life awaiting us in Christ.
The Lord is more than brilliant. He is filled with light and truth. The closer you draw to Him, the more light and truth you begin to receive from Him.
Denver? For real…. You’ve gone back to the basics. Feels like the Sunday School class I get up and walk out of….
What happened?
This post refers back to Thursday’s (62) entries. I am interested in the book listed and then mentioned by the woman who wrote of her testimony of Jesus Christ.
-Teachings of the Doctrines of Eternal Lives (author anonymous)
-Further Light and Knowledge (author anonymous)
I have searched the internet and can’t find them. Anyone, please suggest where I might find or borrow. Thank you!
Also to the anonymous woman who wrote. Your words were most comforting, for I am also a woman and you have given me hope. I agree with your words about how we as women are existing in such a so called fairy tale world. I have read your words over and over and I am interested in your thoughts about the temple and would love to write you about my feelings that I need direction in….if you are willing. graciously, I thank you.
Anon at 7:17 am. I’d have to respectfully disagree. To me these are old things becoming new. The gospel is so incredibly simple and yet so complex and deep. The depth of the simple temple symbols for example. Did not Moses teach that the power of godliness is made manifest in these simple ordinances? What could be more deep and interesting than the power and mystery of God himself? And the idea that through these ordinances, one can be sanctified as to be able to behold the face of God. If I were to suggest in Sunday School that none of our baptisms were of any greater worth than a Catholic’s baptism by sprinkling, I would expect people would be walking out too, but not out of boredom. I’d be tempted to add a Paul Dunn quote: “Mormons make fun of Catholics, but we make the best ones”. Think about all of our signs and symbols that we perform, knowing nothing of them, out of habit. Of course quoting Paul Dunn would cause people to walk out too ;). Hang in there my fellow anonymous sister or brother. Denver knows what he’s doing.
Yours,
Bishop Anon
I am also looking for these publications.
If they are available may I please be included?
-Teachings of the Doctrines of Eternal Lives (author anonymous)
-Further Light and Knowledge (author anonymous)
Thank you.
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