Baptism

This week I had the chance to choose the topic of baptism. Here are the questions we were asked:

1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing: 

(1)     What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

(2)     What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

(3)     Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

(4)     What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

(5)     According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

(Part 1)

(1) Before baptism can occur we need to discontinue our sins and prepare ourselves for the blessing of baptism.

(2) Baptism is a very symbolic thing for the resurrection. When a person is baptized, they are led into the water, lowered into the water and completely submerged, and then they come out of the water pure and clean. This is the same with death and the resurrection and after the resurrection we will be able to rise up in perfection.

(3) A person cannot be baptized by sprinkling because the symbolism is so significant. In order to be baptized a person needs to be fully submerged underwater so that they can be made completely clean. Just being sprinkled is not enough.

(4) In order to maintain the “newness of life” we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and we are able to use the Holy Ghost to keep ourselves on the right path as we endure to the end. If we do the things that we’re supposed then we will have the power to forsake sin.

(5) I think that the part of us that is supposed to “die” at baptism is the natural man and instead we need to become like a child. A child is submissive, humble, meek, patient, full of love, and willing to submit to the will of the Father. If we do this then we are able to more fully understand and follow the gospel and the teachings of the Lord.

(Part 2) We are taught that we are the servants of whom we obey. If we give into sin and we follow in that path then we are servants to sin and all of the bad things that come with it and it is our choice to be a servant of it. If we forsake sin and if we follow in righteousness then we will know that we are servants of good and righteousness. If this is the case then we need to seek the righteousness so that we can follow Heavenly Father and receive the blessings that he has to offer us.

The true source of freedom is the agency that we have from Heavenly Father to choose to be righteous.