Hello beautiful people,
I come before you today bearing glad tidings and good news. Our dearest new friend, Amy has been interviewed, found worthy, and is absolutely ecstatically preparing for baptism on November 5! After a crazy day yesterday all the boxes are checked and she will be an official member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints this Sunday. It has been an overwhelmingly positive experience working with her. We have been guided by the spirit every step of the way from the time we laid our eyes on her in the chapel, until today. Ever since I heard her name from brother Weaver I knew she would be special but she has surpassed my expectations on every account. In honor of this good woman I thought we'd spend this week talking about my third favorite subject: BAPTISM.
If you've ever encountered any Mormon missionaries you've probably heard them teach about BAPTISM. That is because our purpose is to help others come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, BAPTISM, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. One of our modern day apostle further defined our primary purpose as teaching repentance and preparing converts for BAPTISM. We go out for 18-24 months to teach, preach, breathe, eat, sleep, and prepare people for BAPTISM. W love teaching about BAPTISM, inviting people to be BAPTIZED, and helping them prepare for their own BAPTISM. We love talking about BAPTISM so much we even have a fun role play contest we do to see how many times we can say the word BAPTISM or something directly linked to it (BAPTIST, BAPTISMAL, BAPTIZED) in one lesson. So why are we so focused on helping people learn about it. Let's talk about 3 important questions...
1. What is BAPTISM?
BAPTISM is a sacred ordinance we perform to show God we are committed to live his commandments and be like his son for the rest of our lives. An ordinance is an outward physical expression of an inward sacred commitment or covenant. BAPTISM cleanses us of our sins and gives us the opportunity to be filled by the Holy Ghost as we are confirmed by the laying on of hands afterwards. BAPTISM provides us a fresh clean slate, and the chance to repent everyday and become closer to Jesus Christ. We are commanded to be BAPTIZED by immersion, just as Jesus Christ was. When we are BAPTIZED we promise God to take Christ's name upon ourselves and serve him until the end. He promises us to forgive us of our sins, and strengthen us with the Holy Ghost as we continue to keep his commandments and make promises with him.
2. Why are we BAPTIZED?
Jesus Christ outlined all of the ordinances we need to participate in to return to him while he was on the earth. In John 3:5 Christ explains,
5 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.
He followed this counsel and direction himself. He walked for days in search of his cousin John the Baptist who had been given the authority to baptize the children of men to prepare them for Christ's coming. When Christ approached his cousin John was astonished and questioned Jesus. He knew Christ was perfect and didn't see a need for BAPTISM.
Christ taught him that he was to fulfill all righteousness. If Christ, a perfect sinless savior, had need to be baptized to return to God; how much more do we need to complete this step! Some people bash on ordinances no good works. They caution that works cannot save you, and we agree. We are not saved because we are baptized, we are saved because Jesus Christ completed the atonement for us. Jesus Christ and God ask us to complete these ordinances not to save ourselves, but to show outward expressions of inner commitment and change within ourselves. Grace and mercy are extended to everyone, baptism is another way we can fully access the power of Grace in our own lives.
3. What about after BAPTISM? Are we done?
In the Book of Mormon, baptism is referred to as the "gate". BAPTISM is one of the first steps in a long line of many that lead you down the path of righteousness every day. Accepting the saviors atonement through baptism allows you to constantly change and become more like him. As we go on in our lives we can make more promises with God every week at church through the sacrament or communion. We can make more promises with God in the temple, these promises will bind our families together forever! Once we are baptized, eternal progression is our goal. There is no standing still in the gospel, we are either moving forward with the Lord or being pulled back by darkness.
I have had the opportunity to help many people into the waters of baptism on my mission. I have seen Marilyn and Shane Wilson accept the gospel. Marilyn was fearless and even though her husband did not always approve, she fought to teach her son what was spiritually right and they are both growing spiritually. Barbara's life was changed when her friend invited her to talk to us and she made the decision to be baptized. She was scared and it's been a big commitment but she has continued to see blessings from her commitment to God a year later. Crystal wandered into our chapel almost 14 months ago and her life was changed by entering the waters of baptism. She found an eternal companion, has created a family that will be sealed together in the temple soon. Jason's life was totally turned around in Mt Vernon as we helped him down the path. He built a personal relationship with God. Shaun's life was changed when she entered the waters of baptism. She found new resources to cope with crippling emotional problems. Now Amy will get to partake of that same joy this weekend. She has seen the lords hand in her life even more as she has striven to follow him even more closely theses last few weeks. I remember each of these people, their struggles, their triumphs, their challenges, and their victories
on a daily basis. I remember what joy and peace I witnessed as they were baptized and I am humbled to be able to be a part of their spiritual journey as they continue to make promises with God today. The power of accepting God into your life, and being baptized by someone holding god's priesthood authority is real and it will change your life. This week think of ways your life could be made better if you were baptized, or has been made better if you have been baptized. Find ways to rekindle that joy and share that hope and possibility with others.
I love ya, I know the lord loves ya, keep your head up and stay happy ladies and gentleman!
✌🏻️Sister Reynolds✌🏻️
#baptismdayflashbacks #natureshot
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