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(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