Why Baptism?

How can we live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?  What must we do to return to Heaven?  What step must we take?  Romans 6 tells us what we must do to be with Christ:

 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

 7For he that is dead is freed from sin.

 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul teaches us that our old man must die.  We must die with Christ and then we will be raised with Christ also.  So how is this done?

If we look at the verses before, he teaches us how it is done.

 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

We must be baptised!  This is how we die and live with Christ.  This is the first steps back to our Heavenly Father.  In Christ's own words he said, "He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do."(2 Nephi 31: 12)  Not only does Christ say it is important, but even our Heavenly Father spoke on the matter, "Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son."(2 Nephi 31: 11)  This is a very important doctrine.  So important that without it we can't make it back to Heaven!

So why is baptism so important, and how should we be baptized?

First is the why.  Well, first and foremost we are commanded by God!  Baptism is a special thing.  It is a outward manifestation of our inward commitment to serve God.  The act itself is symbolic, as we have already read from Paul.  When we are baptized we make a sacred promise, or covenant with God.  God in return makes sacred promises with us if we are faithful to what we have promised.  We promise: to always remember Him, keep His commandments, and to take his name upon us.  The last basically means that we will stand as a witness of Him at all times.  In return God makes some great promises with us.  He promises that: our sins will be washed away, we can have His Spirit to be with us, and, if we stay faithful, we can return to live with Him again.  This is why baptism is so important.

Next is the how.  We need to be baptized by immersion, which basically means to go completely under the water.  This is how Christ was baptized.  It is also very important to be baptized by the proper authority.  Heavenly Father is a God of order.  We must be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood.  This is the power of God given to man to act in his name.  This is what Christ gave His apostles before he sent them out to teach the people.  Luke 9: 1-2 reads, "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick."  This same power has been restored in these days to Joseph Smith.  John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and laid his hands upon his head and gave him the authority to baptize.  This was lost from the earth, but now has been restored.  The only place this Priesthood power is found is in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I know that baptism is very important.  I know that this is the way back.  I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feel very strongly on this subject.  I know this because I have learned it from reading the scriptures.  I encourage all to read about this subject and ask God yourself to know if it is true.  He will answer!

Images found at:

http://lds.org/hf/art/0,16812,4218-1-2,00.html
http://lds.org/hf/art/0,16812,4218-1-4,00.html