The LDS Daily WOOL© Home Page
(9/28/04)
"Our faith in the Lord moves us to the third principle of the gospel,
which is 'baptism by immersion for the remission of sins' by one who
has priesthood authority. (A
of F 1:4.) The Savior commanded that we all must be born again:
'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God.' (John
3:5.) Latter-day Saints accept baptism as an essential saving
ordinance that is required of all people. Through baptism we covenant
to take upon us the Lord's name and honor it by keeping His
commandments. He, in turn, promises us the guiding and enlightening
presence of His Spirit." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Christians
in
Belief and Action," Ensign, November 1996, p. 72
(9/29/04)
"Our faith in the Lord moves us to the third principle of the gospel,
which is 'baptism by immersion for the remission of sins' by one who
has priesthood authority. (A
of F 1:4.) The Savior commanded that we all must be born again:
'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God.' (John
3:5.) Latter-day Saints accept baptism as an essential saving
ordinance that is required of all people. Through baptism we covenant
to take upon us the Lord's name and honor it by keeping His
commandments. He, in turn, promises us the guiding and enlightening
presence of His Spirit." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Christians
in
Belief and Action," Ensign, November 1996, p. 72
(9/30/04)
"...we should not assume that the desires of our hearts can serve as a
substitute for an ordinance of the gospel. Consider the words of the
Lord in commanding two gospel ordinances: '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.' (John
3:5.) And in respect to the three degrees in the celestial
glory, modern revelation states, 'In order to obtain the highest, a
man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and
everlasting covenant of marriage].' (D&C
131:2.) No exception is implied in these commands or authorized
elsewhere in the scriptures." - Dallin H. Oaks, "The
Desires
of Our Hearts," Ensign, June 1986, p. 67
(10/1/04)
"The Savior here laid down the mandate of baptism that applies to
every son and daughter of the Lord that is born in the flesh, that if
they expect entrance into the kingdom of our Heavenly Father they must
be born of the water, or baptized of the water, born of the spirit or
baptized of the spirit. This declaration was so important that the
Savior himself submitted to the ordinance of baptism." - Joseph L.
Wirthlin, "Conference Report," April 1945, Second Day-Morning Meeting
p. 68
(10/2/04)
"Men are here upon the earth then that they might have joy. Is there
anything more desirable than happiness or joy? We are all seeking it;
we all want it. How is it to be obtained? It can only be obtained
through the Church and Kingdom of God. How may one get into this
Church and Kingdom of God? The answer is: he must be born into it. He
was born into the world to begin with, and now if he comes into the
kingdom of God he must be born into it. Christ said to Nicodemus upon
one occasion: 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom
of God. Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot
enter into the Kingdom of God.' (John
3:3-5.) So that it becomes in a sense a real birth. Baptism by
water and the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost
is the door that leads into the Church and Kingdom of God." - Rudger
Clawson, "Conference Report," October 1928, Afternoon Meeting p. 46
1/8/17
The
baptismal covenant includes three fundamental commitments: (1) to be
willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, (2) to always
remember Him, and (3) to keep His commandments. The promised blessing
for honoring this covenant is “that [we] may always have his Spirit to
be with [us].” Thus, baptism is the essential preparation to receive the
authorized opportunity for the constant companionship of the third
member of the Godhead.
“Baptism [by] water … must be followed by baptism of the Spirit in order
to be complete.” (Bible Dictionary, “Baptism.”)
As the Savior taught Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – David
A. Bednar, “Always
Retain a Remission of Your Sins,” Ensign (CR) May 2016