Baptism

Baptism must be performed by someone who has the proper authority. Baptism is the beginning of your journey to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. The Church is Their kingdom, and baptism and confirmation is how you enter it. When you are baptized, you are making a promise to take the name of Jesus Christ upon you and to represent Him well. You are promising that you will always remember Him and the great sacrifice He made for you. You are promising to do your best to obey His commandments.

Without baptism we can feel badly when we do wrong and try to do better. But it is baptism that opens the door to draw from the atonement of Jesus Christ. Once baptized and confirmed, Christ’s atoning power can lift your sins and weaknesses off you as you repent, and Christ will take them to Himself. Jesus Christ is always patient with you as you do your best. His love and mercy can always be felt, even when you are not at your best.

You will not become perfect in this life, but you can steadily improve. Sometimes it may seem like your best is not good enough. We all feel that way sometimes. But as you do your best, the grace of Christ will give you power to make your best become enough. And you will find that you will be given strength to always do better. And as you repent a wonderful thing happens. When Jesus Christ forgives, He also forgets. He said, 

42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. (D&C 58)

Think about it! Your sins are not only forgiven but they are forgotten. They will not be brought up again at some future day, but they are forever gone. You will never hear, “Remember when you…” As you repent, your past is forever forgiven and forgotten.

We all are at different places in the journey back to God. We all have different weaknesses and strengths. What’s important is to decide to do your best and know that you can be better through the grace of Christ. And that He will have unlimited patience as you steadily learn to be better. You will make mistakes and sin because you are mortal. He will always forgive you when you are doing your best to obey. Christ will mercifully give you more strength as you keep trying. And as you keep doing your best, the atonement of Christ will make up the difference between your best now and who you will someday be when living with Him.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you more than you can possibly understand. They want you to live with them again. They always see you as so much more than you see yourself. They will help you as much as you let them help you. They have restored the priesthood power of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Through priesthood power you can make eternal covenants with God, including baptism. Apostles and prophets are on earth again to lead and teach us. And through apostles and prophets the restoration of the gospel continues today. Jesus Christ is our Savior, and the only name by which we can receive salvation. I have felt the constant love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that they will mercifully guide me through whatever challenges this life will give me. As I gratefully and tearfully bow before our Savior someday, I hope to hear, “Well done,” when I report back to Him. 

Talk given by Ron Goodlad at baptism service on 11/16/2024