Why do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put such an emphasis on being baptized? What's the big deal!?Well, Christ told us in John 3:5
"Jesus answered,
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."
So we HAVE to be baptized to enter in the kingdom of God! Everyone should want that. To be able to live with God again, what a blessing! But Christ himself said that we have to be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God to be able to live with God again. We desire EVERYONE to receive this blessing. THAT is why we want EVERYONE to be baptized so that they can live with God again.
And once we are baptized we are cleansed from all sin. We will be held
"guiltless before my
Father at the day
when I shall stand
to judge the world." 3 Nephi 27:16
Because
"no unclean thing can
enter into his kingdom." 3 Nephi 27:19
we need that cleansing power that comes from being baptized and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost to be found 'clean' to enter into God's kingdom!
Two people desired to show God that they were willing to obey His commandments and to follow the example of Jesus Christ and were baptized this weekend. They both said how clean they felt and how happy they are! There is only one way in this life to feel this way, and it is through baptism!
Stephanie Dobbins Justin Marquardt
