The Covenant of Baptism

 After seeing the influence of covenants on Captain Moroni in my own personal study of the war chapters I have been drawn to study and better understand the covenants I have made as a member of the church. We have access to the powers of heaven through our covenants starting with the baptismal covenant. Do we as members take these for granted and just go through the motions?  Hopefully after recent years of conference talks from President Nelson and the 1st Presidency as well as those of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we feel a greater sense to live up to our covenants we have made at each progressing phase of our membership and journey of discipleship in the church of  Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. 

The Power of 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. Covenants place us under a strong obligation to honor our commitments to God. 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. Our covenants remind us to repent every day of our lives. By keeping the commandments and serving others we receive and retain a remission of our sins.

               Covenants are usually made by means of sacred ordinances, such as baptism.

(*Writing in red describes the power given with this covenant of baptism)

Baptism Covenant -  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.

Covenant Conditions: Through the ordinance of Baptism we covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments.

Promised Blessing(s): God promises the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, a remission of sins, and being born again.

Through the ordinances of Baptism and Confirmation we learn about and experience God’s Power(D&C84:20)

Jesus taught that we must be baptized by immersion for the remission, or forgiveness, of our sins. He also taught that baptism is a rebirth.  When we are baptized, we begin the process of being born again and become the spiritual sons and daughters of Christ.

Mosiah 5:7-8 – 7 And now because of the covenant ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.

8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

Romans 8:14-17

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

Baptism is an essential ordinance of salvation. No person can enter the kingdom of God without being baptized. Christ set the example for us by being baptized.

Baptism by immersion is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior.  It also represents the end of our old life of sin and a commitment to live a new life as a disciple of Christ.

Before baptism we show our willingness to enter a covenant to keep all the commandments for the rest of our lives. After baptism we show our faith by keeping our covenant. We also regularly renew the covenant we make when baptized by partaking of the sacrament. Partaking of the sacrament weekly is a commandment. It helps us remain worthy to have the Spirit with us always. It is a weekly reminder of our covenant.

What is a daily reminder of our covenant?

See everything highlighted in yellow below.

Baptismal Covenant:

Mosiah 5:8-10

8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.

10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.

 

Mosiah 18:8-10

8 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;

9 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—

10 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?

(He already does give us his spirit as a part of the mortal experience, which is the light of Christ.)

Service to others(in and outside your own family), ministering(Comforting), defending the faith or bearing testimony in every place you are, even if it means risking your life will qualify you for redemption from your sins and also give you a place in the first resurrection. These are examples, including being obedient, serving God, and keeping his commandments, of how to remember your [baptismal] covenant daily.