The moment I put on the white jumpsuit on and looked down at my bare feet - I knew then, they were not my feet. It was my Lord and Savior carrying me to the waters of baptism. The more I looked down, while walking, I knew more and more, it was not me. It was indeed Him. That is how powerful I felt the Spirit around me. That is how powerful I knew He was there witnessing this big moment of my life.
Carl S. Hawkins shares his thoughts on baptism: The fourth Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares that "baptism by immersion for the remissions of sins" is one of the "first principles and ordinances of the Gospel. We believe that baptism is an essential initiatory ordinance for all persons who are joining the Church, as it admits them to Christ's church on earth (John 3:3-5; D&C 20:37, 68-74). It is a primary step in the process, which includes faith, repentance, baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, whereby members may receive remissions of their sins and gain access to the Celestial Kingdom and eternal life (Mark 16:15-16; 2 Nephi 31:13-21; D&C 22:1-4; 84:42, MD, pp. 69-72).
Baptism must be performed by one who has proper priesthood authority. The major features of the ordinance include the raising of the right hand, the reciting of the prescribed baptismal prayer by the one performing the baptism, and the complete immersion of the candidate (3 Nephi 11:23-26; D&C 20:71-74; 68:27). Baptism symbolizes the covenant by which people promise to come into the fold of God, to take upon themselves the name of Christ, to stand as a witness for God, to keep his commandments, and to bear one another's burdens, manifesting a determination to serve him to the end, and to prepare to receive the spirit of Christ for the remissions of sins. The Lord, as his part of the covenant, is to pour out his spirit upon them, redeem them from their sins, raise them in the first resurrection and give them eternal life (Mosiah 18:7-10; D&C 20:37).
The rich symbolism of the ordinance invites candidates and observers to reflect on its meanings. Burial in the water and arising out of the water symbolize the candidates faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the future resurrection of all people. It also represents the candidates new birth to a life in Christ, being born of God, thus born again of the water and of the spirit (Romans 6:3-6; Mosiah 18:13-14; Moses 6:59-60; D&C 128:12-13).
In addition to relying on information in the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants, Latter-day Saints follow the New Testament teachings on baptism. Jesus taught that baptism is necessary for salvation. He told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:1-5). He required baptism of to those who professed to become his disciples (John 4:1-2). His farewell commission to his apostles was that they should go to all nations, teaching and baptizing (Matthew 16:16). Paul, after his miraculous vision on the road to Damascus, was taught the gospel by Ananias who told him to "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16). To the penitent multitude on the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins" (Acts 2:38).
The authority to baptize was restored by John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on May 15, 1829 (JSH 1:68-72). From the early days of the restored Church, missionaries have been sent to "declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism" (D&C 19:31; 55:2; 84:27, 74). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned" (D&C 112:29). This is the central teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 11:31-40)." [close quote]
I know deep inside this is the way. It is through Christ. We are to learn from His example. Jesus walked on earth as a perfect human being - sinless - and still, he was baptized. Why? Why would Jesus do that? To fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). Jesus knew this principle. The moment I went under water and was raised up - I felt cleansed. Everything I did in the past was erased - gone! It's like it never happened. I believe that. I have been born again, through Christ, my Savior, Amen.
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