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Conditional Blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Forgiveness, salvation, exaltation, eternal families, hope, overcome weaknesses, godly character/divine attributes, self control, guidance, comfort, joy, peace, strength, healing, etc.
To receive the conditional blessings of the atonement, we must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
· Faith- belief in, trust in, and commitment to obey Christ
· Repent- submit will to Christ and change behavior to follow Him; seek forgiveness and a change of heart
· Covenants- make/keep promises by priesthood authority to follow the example of Jesus Christ, such as baptism.
· Holy Ghost- receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, invite and follow His guidance
· Endure to the end- consistently grow our faith, repent, keep our covenants, and receive the Holy Ghost
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This lesson will focus on baptism, our first covenant.
Covenants
1. "Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance
prepare us for the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. An ordinance is a
sacred ceremony or rite that shows that we have entered into a covenant with
God. God has always required His children to make covenants. A covenant is a
binding and solemn agreement between God and man. God promises to bless us, and
we promise to obey Him. God sets the terms of gospel covenants, which we either
accept or reject. Keeping covenants brings blessings in this life and
exaltation in the life to come.... To keep our covenants, we must give up
activities or interests that prevent us from honoring those covenants. For
example, we give up shopping and recreational pursuits on Sunday so we can keep
the Sabbath day holy.... Covenants are usually made by means of sacred
ordinances, such as baptism. These ordinances are administered by priesthood
authority" (Preach My Gospel).
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Q Why is it important for us to make covenants with God? To keep these
covenants?
Q How do we "learn about and experience God’s power" as we make
and keep covenants with God?
2. "Verily I say unto you, all among them
who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite,
and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice
which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me" (D&C
97:8).
The Commandment to be Baptized
Q Why do we need to be baptized?
3. "When we place our faith in Jesus
Christ, repent, and are baptized, our sins are forgiven through the Atonement
of Jesus Christ.... The Lord said, “If thou wilt turn unto me, and … repent of
all thy transgressions [sins], and be baptized, even in water, in the name of
mine Only Begotten Son, … ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Moses
6:52)" (Gospel Principles,
Baptism).
4. "Jesus Christ was without sin, yet He
was baptized. He said His baptism was necessary “to fulfil all righteousness”
(Matthew 3:15). The prophet Nephi explained that the Lord told him, “Follow me,
and do the things which ye have seen me do … with full purpose of heart...
repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take
upon you the name of Christ, by baptism” (2 Nephi 31:12–13)" (Gospel
Principles, Baptism).
5. "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
the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then
cometh a remission of your sins... And then are ye in this strait and narrow
path which leads to eternal life.... 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" (2 Nephi 31:16-20).
The Covenant of Baptism
6. "All those who humble themselves before
God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite
spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all
their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having
a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that
they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins,
shall be received by baptism into his church.” (D&C 20:37).
7. When we are baptized, we covenant to be "willing
to take upon them the name of [Jesus Christ], and always remember him, and keep
his commandments... that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]"
(Moroni 4:3).
8. “All Latter-day Saints... covenant
to cease sustaining, upholding and cherishing the kingdom of the Devil and the
kingdoms of this world [when they are baptized].... They take a vow of the most
solemn kind, before the heavens and earth, … that they will sustain truth and
righteousness instead of wickedness and falsehood, and build up the Kingdom of
God, instead of the kingdoms of this world” (Brigham Young, Teachings of
Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 62–63).
Q What does your baptismal covenant mean to you? What blessings have you
received as you have kept this covenant?
Q In day to day living, how do we remember Jesus Christ? Take His name
upon us? Keep His commandments? Build the kingdom of God?
·
Put Jesus Christ first in our lives and
follow His example and teachings as we make decisions
·
Serve others, share the gospel and our
testimonies, and help others to live the gospel
·
Follow prophets and apostles instead of
other worldly voices or trends
·
Keep the Holy Ghost with us and follow
His promptings
Q What is the significance of the word "willing"?
Q How does the church help us to keep this covenant? How else is membership
in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a blessing?
9. " And after they had been received unto
baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost,
they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names
were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of
God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto
prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the
finisher of their faith. And the church did meet together oft, to fast and
to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their
souls. And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in
remembrance of the Lord Jesus" (Moroni 6:1-6).
Sacrament: We renew our covenants when we partake of
the sacrament. When we do so with faith in Christ and with a broken heart and a
contrite spirit, we receive anew the blessings of baptism.
Baptismal Interview Questions (from Preach My Gospel)
- 1. Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?
- 2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?
- 3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?
- 4. Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?
- 5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?
- a. The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.
- b. The law of tithing.
- c. The Word of Wisdom.
- d. The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.
- a.
- 6. When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?
Q What does each interview question
teach about how to keep the baptismal covenant?
Q How does growing our faith and repenting of our sins prepare us to successfully keep this covenant? (they help us practice keeping the covenant before we make it).
Q What advice
would you give to someone who is considering getting baptized, but is worried
about what is expected of them after they are baptized?
The Commandment to Be
Baptized
"We Must Be Baptized for the Remission of Our Sins
"When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, repent, and are baptized, our sins are forgiven through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
"From the scriptures we learn that John the Baptist “did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). The Apostle Peter taught, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Following Paul’s conversion, Ananias said to him, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).
"We Must Be Baptized to Become Members of the Church of Jesus Christ
“All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized … that … have truly repented of all their sins … shall be received by baptism into his church” (D&C 20:37).
"We Must Be Baptized before We Can Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost
"The Lord said, “If thou wilt turn unto me, and … repent of all thy transgressions [sins], and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, … ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Moses 6:52).
"We Must Be Baptized to Show Obedience
"Jesus Christ was without sin, yet He was baptized. He said His baptism was necessary “to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). The prophet Nephi explained that the Lord told him, “Follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do … 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” (2 Nephi 31:12–13).
"We Must Be Baptized to Enter the Celestial Kingdom
"Jesus said, “Whoso believeth in me, and is baptized … shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned” (3 Nephi 11:33–34). Baptism is the gateway through which we enter the path to the celestial kingdom (see 2 Nephi 31:17–18)" (Gospel Principles, Baptism).
Q How did you see
the blessing of remission of sin when you were baptized? How is this a blessing
to you now?
Q How is
membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a blessing?
Q What
differences did you see in your life before and after you received the gift of
the Holy Ghost?
Q Why is it
important to follow the example of Jesus Christ?
Baptism Gives Us a
New Beginning
"With baptism we begin a new way of life. That is why we call it a rebirth. Jesus said that unless we are born of the water and of the Spirit, we cannot enter the kingdom of God (see John 3:3–5). This principle was explained clearly to Adam:
“Inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten” (Moses 6:59).
"The Apostle Paul said that after our baptism we should begin a new life: “We are buried with him by baptism; … even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). One of the great blessings of baptism is that it provides us with a new start on our way toward our eternal goal" (Gospel Principles, Baptism).
Q How was your
baptism a new beginning?
Q What does it
mean to be born again? How does making and keeping the covenant of baptism help
us to receive this blessing?
The Correct Mode of
Baptism
"There is only one correct mode of baptism. Jesus revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that a person having the proper priesthood authority to baptize “shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism. … Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water” (D&C 20:73–74). Immersion is necessary. The Apostle Paul taught that being immersed in water and coming out again is symbolic of death, burial, and resurrection. After baptism we start a new life. Paul said:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:3–5).
"Baptism by immersion by a person having the proper authority is the only acceptable way of being baptized" (Gospel Principles, Baptism).
Q Why is
authority to perform a baptism important? Who has this authority and how do you
know?
"Immersion is symbolic of the death of a person’s
sinful life and the rebirth into a spiritual life, dedicated to the service of
God and His children" (True to the Faith).
Case Study
"And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.
"And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
"Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts" (Mosiah 18:7-11).
Q How do we keep
the covenant of baptism by mourning, comforting, witnessing, serving, and being
obedient?
"And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children. For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of the king's priests, and that it was he that believed the words of Abinadi and was driven out before the king, and therefore he was wroth with him; for he was subject to king Laman, yet he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters over them.
"And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God. And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death. And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
"And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage" (Mosiah 24:8-16).
Q How did making
and keeping the covenant of baptism invite the power of God into their lives?
Conclusion
"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" (Alma 7:14-16).
Please share your testimony of the principles covered in this lesson or share a favorite scripture or quote that wasn't included.
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