Accepting an Offered Covenant

God extends covenants and mortals can either accept or reject them.

The Book of Mormon is a covenant book which was preserved by God to come forth in the last days in order to restore a covenant people.  It came forth by the power of God through Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1830.

It may be surprising to LDS Mormons today that the early Mormon converts never accepted the covenant offered by God through the Book of Mormon.  In fact, the early Saints were put under condemnation by 1832 for not taking seriously the things offered to them by God.

President Ezra Taft Benson reiterated that the Mormon Saints were still under this condemnation in the 1980’s. In his LDS General Conference address of April 1986 President Benson quoted from D&C 84:

“the Lord has stated in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants that the whole Church is under condemnation: “And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.” (D&C 84:56.) The Lord continues: “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.” (D&C 84:57.)

Raised Mormon during the time of President Benson this talk was a bit shocking and confusing to me.  I had assumed that the LDS Church was founded on the Book of Mormon as that was the book Joseph Smith had translated and which had begun the Church.  As I have learned more about LDS Church History it has been surprising to me to discover that it took Hugh Nibley campaigning in the 1960’s-1970’s before the leadership and membership of the LDS Church began to take the Book of Mormon seriously.

Recently I was speaking with a man named Paul Durham whose father was a leader in the Church Education Department (CES) in the 1960’s.  This man’s father was told by an Apostle of the LDS Church that because he believed in, loved and promoted the reading of the Book of Mormon he would never rise up in the CES department. He then went on to say that Hugh Nibley was tasked by the Lord to write Sunday School lessons based on the Book of Mormon, until that time there had never been any lessons based on this book.  Hugh would finish a lesson and send it in for approval and the lesson would be denied.  This happened over and over again.  Hugh became very frustrated and took his frustrations to the Lord. The Lord assured him that he needed to keep writing the lessons and that it would all be taken care of in time.  A short while later the apostle who was rejecting the lessons died and the apostle who took over chairing the lesson committee went on to approve them.

I grew up reading, studying and loving the Book of Mormon.  I am grateful for it and for the truths it has taught me.  Yet, I had no idea that it is a covenant book until just recently.  In March 2017, I attended the Doctrine of Christ Conference held in St. George, Utah.  During this conference it was put forth that the Lord was again ready to extend a covenant to a repentant people as long as they re-established His word through the scriptures.  Thus, a scripture project is underway to recover that which was lost through corruption and outright disregard for God’s revealed word in order that the Lord might once again offer a covenant to a repentant people.

“We are obligated to repent and return. We may not have created the problem, but we cannot expect God to accomplish the work of what He commanded for man to be do before. Others may have neglected it, but we cannot.

The first step in repenting is to gather the original covenant we were offered in the precise terms in which they were offered. That is a very difficult task that many people have been working to accomplish for over a year. There are lively efforts underway to research and find the right language.

Repentance requires us to first learn the actual language in the terms God provided when His restoration began. Our condemnation in 1832 was provoked by the failure to both “say” and to “do” what was expected of us when He spoke again and commenced the restoration.” Denver Snuffer Jr “Inquiry and Response” March 30, 2017

Today, the LDS Church promotes the Book of Mormon as “another Testament of Jesus Christ”.  While this is true (Jesus Christ is throughout the book), the Church does not teach that the book is a covenant book.  Even President Benson, when he said the church was still under condemnation, did not understand the exact nature of the condemnation.  The LDS Church is under condemnation because they have not remembered the new covenant, they have not even accepted the covenant nor do they even know about it.

In Isaiah’s day he stated, “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 24:5)  The LDS Church today has transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance and broken the everlasting covenant.

Let’s look at just a few of the laws and ordinances contained in the Book of Mormon which the LDS Church has broken:

1.   Baptism: Christ clearly sets out the words which are to be used for the baptismal prayer: “And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” (3 Nephi 11:24-25) In the 1830’s Oliver Cowdery changed the wording to “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ…” (D&C 20:73)

a.    In 3 Nephi 11:22-23 Christ sets out his Doctrine clearly, “And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you. Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.” Christ requires repentance and a desire to be baptized. That’s it!  Nothing more and nothing less. In the LDS Church today in order to receive baptism  one must agree to a list of demands such as committing to paying tithes, bearing “testimony” of the current President of the Church, etc. 

b.    Baptism by immersion is always the fruit of repentance.[1] Whenever a person desires to repent and turn to face God again baptism by immersion is a part of that process. This practice was done often in the early days of the Church.  Today it is taught that taking the Sacrament each week renews your baptismal covenant.  The only way you can be rebaptized by immersion is if you have been excommunicated from the Church and qualify yourself for baptism back into the Church. In fact, if you desire to be rebaptized while still a member of the Church after the manner practiced by early saints and as taught in the Book of Mormon you can be excommunicated. 

2.   Sacrament: Christ clearly sets out the emblems that should be used for the Sacrament in 3 Nephi 18: bread and wine.  Bread in remembrance of His body; Wine in remembrance of His blood.  As if to reinforce the correct emblems, in 3 Nephi 20 Christ again performs the sacrament for the people, this time providing the bread and wine miraculously.  Christ instructs the people that doing the sacrament with these emblems is a commandment from the Father.  In the LDS Church today wine has been replaced with water and if a person desires to partake of the sacrament in the way commanded by the Father they lose their temple recommend at best, membership at worst.  Not only has the Church changed the emblems of the sacrament they have also changed the words of the sacrament prayer from the word “wine” to the word “water”.

3.   Tithing: Tithing is supposed to go to the poor and the needy, not for the building of fine sanctuaries. (2 Nephi 28:13, 2 Nephi 13:14-15, 2 Nephi 20:2,30; 2 Nephi 26:20; Alma 1:27; Alma 5:55; 3 Nephi 13:1; Helaman 6:39; Helaman 4:12; Mormon 8:37)  Tithing was not obligatory but rather voluntary, it was based on how much money you had and the poor were exempt from paying it: “And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.” (Mosiah 18:27-28 as well as Mosiah 4:24,26; and Alma 1:27)

Today in the LDS Church tithing is mandatory for a temple recommend and is 10% of your income, no matter how much or how little money you earn, even if you cannot provide the basic necessities for your family.

4.    Marriage: Jacob 2 clearly teaches that polygamy is an abomination in the eyes of God and that no man should have more than one wife and that no woman should have more than one husband. Yet in the LDS Church, polygamy began being practiced secretly by Brigham Young and other members of the 12 and the Church.  Joseph Smith was not a polygamous nor did he teach the practice, however, as soon as Joseph died those secretly practicing it began doing so openly and then spread false rumors and lies about learning it from Joseph Smith Jr. The LDS Church has since abandoned the practice of polygamy, however, they continue to besmirch the character of Joseph Smith and many people in the Church believe that the practice of polygamy will be reinstated one day because Brigham Young taught that it was necessary for salvation in the highest degree of glory (Celestial Kingdom).

5.   Priestcraft: The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that there shall be no priesthcraft: “He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.” (2 Nephi 26:29) “But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.” (Helaman 13:27-28)

Those who labored to preach repentance to the people as priests unto them were to also labor for their substance: “And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.” Alma 1:26

King Benjamin said, “And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day” (Mosiah 2:14)

In the LDS Church today all of the general leadership, as well as mission presidents, receive financial benefits in addition to other “club” perks. It was recently reported that an LDS apostle received a yearly salary of $120,000.[2] These men are seen as a light to the world and they do not seek the welfare of Zion.  By the Book of Mormon’s own definition priestcraft is rampant in the LDS Church today.

These are just a few of the ways that the LDS Church, which claims to have the fullness of the gospel, to believe in and follow the teachings in the Book of Mormon, has corrupted the laws and ordinances in that sacred book of scripture.

I believe in the Book of Mormon.  I believe it means what it says.  I desire to be considered by God a repentant gentile and to enter into and strive to keep any covenants offered by Him including the covenant of the Book of Mormon.

Denver Snuffer Jr stated: “But if even a tiny few gentiles are willing to accept the covenant, God will receive them and accomplish His work through them. It was always the Lord’s expectation that “few” would receive it and walk in a straight and narrow path. Almost all others will reject it and walk in a broad enough path to accommodate every other false religious idea, false promise, incomplete and damning path that competes with the Lord’s invitation to come to Him. But if even a few will accept it, those who do will become at that time part of the covenant people of God, numbered with the remnant, and entitled to inherit this as their land. In turn, God will protect them. If they abide the covenant, He will establish a New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge. His glory and terror will be there, and the wicked will not come unto it.”[3]

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[1] 2 Nephi 31:13, 14, 17; 3 Nephi 7:24, 26; 3 Nephi 11:32-40;Moroni 6:1, 4; Moroni 8:10, 25

[2] https://mormonleaks.io/newsroom/2017-01-09-mormonleaks-releases-4-documents/

[3] Teaching, Denver Snuffer, Jr March 24, 2017

Malachi 3, conclusion

Malachi 3:16

16 ¶Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

The Lord wants us to gather together often, “…to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death…”[1]  The Lord has promised us, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”[2]

The book of remembrance is referenced several times throughout scripture and is also known as the Lamb’s Book of Life. Scripture cautions that in order to withstand the coming judgments your name must be written in this book.[3] Joseph Smith, Jr. taught, “…whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world…”[4] 

The apparent question then is how does one get ones name written in this book? 3 Nephi 21:6 states: “For this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.”[5] Denver Snuffer states in, Preserving the Restoration, that this will not be fulfilled except through the correct doctrine and baptism performed by those God has given power to baptize.  Baptism has been and will always be the way a person can be washed clean of their sins and reconnect with Christ. In Matthew 3 (KJV) we learn that John was baptizing in the river Jordan all those who had come to him confessing their sins.  Jesus Christ came to John to be baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness.  Nephi teaches us to, “do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter.”[6]  If one is trying to reconnect to God, baptism unto repentance, by immersion, by one who has authority from God, in living waters is a very good place to start. 

Baptism as an infant is not baptism unto repentance as all children are innocent before God until the age of accountability.[7]  Moroni 8: 8 states: “Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me…”  According to Doctrine and Covenants 68:27 children should be baptized for the remission of sins at the age of eight years old.

Viola and Barna propose that in the first century water baptism was the outward confession of a person’s faith and was the way someone came to the Lord.  Baptism marked a complete break with the past and a full entrance to Christ; it was simultaneously an act of faith as well as an expression of faith.[8]  In 3 Nephi 11 Christ appears to the people who have been spared the destruction of their civilization.  These people were spared because they had received the prophets and been baptized previous to his appearance.[9] It is interesting to note that one of the very first things Christ teaches these people is the correct ordinance of baptism and commands them all to be baptized again[10]. The invitation to be baptized, immersed in living waters, by one who has authority from Jesus Christ has been extended to us again today.[11]  “Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.”[12]  “Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.”[13]

Many people make the argument that they have no need of baptism because they have accepted Jesus in their hearts[14]; they were baptized as an infant or a young child; or that they were baptized as an adult.  Baptism is a gift God has extended to us which can be accepted through-out our lives, whenever we feel the necessity of turning from our old selves and facing Him, repenting of our sins and reconnecting with the Lord we can be baptized.  Baptism is the fruits of repentance.  

It is often argued that there is only one Lord, one faith and one baptism[15], therefore the necessity of being baptized more than once is a false concept.  What if “one baptism” is referring to only one mode of baptism which is acceptable to the Lord? Denver Snuffer, Jr. in his post titled “Baptism is Mandatory” (Aug. 25, 2015) states:

Baptism must be by immersion. (3 Ne. 11:26: “then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.”)

To baptize, a man must have been given authority by Jesus Christ. Christ taught that in the baptismal prayer He required to be recited by anyone performing the ordinance. It establishes the condition that He first directly gives them authority to baptize: “These are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” (3 Ne. 11:24-25.)

Catholics baptize by sprinkling. This is not accepted by the Lord as His because it does not comply with the required pattern.

Baptists may immerse, but do not have authority to baptize given to them by Jesus Christ. This is not accepted as His.

All the denominations are presently astray. But God still offers baptism.

There are some few authorized by Christ, performing baptism with His authority, teaching the doctrine of Christ, and giving freely an ordinance to any willing to accept the Doctrine of Christ and repent.

The LDS Church does not offer an acceptable baptism any longer….The baptism offered by LDS Church missionaries is based on an adulteration of Christ’s doctrine, is not effective, and will no longer be accepted by Christ as His.[16] He does, however, require baptism. The acceptable means was outlined in my talk in Phoenix and can be read as a paper on this blog, or the talk can be downloaded here or streamed on YouTube.

Baptism is necessary. A record is likewise necessary. Baptism is offered freely, without obligation, and without initiating you to follow another man or men. You are free to thereafter worship as you see fit. But it is essential. A record is kept by a central recorder. The website is www.recordersclearinghouse.com. It is a necessary process.

The only condition for baptism is to accept the Doctrine of Christ, set out by Christ in His own words. Christ commanded it be done, and has reiterated that it is to be done anew in our day. We will be disappointed at His coming if we fail to obey.

The Doctrine of Christ is recorded in 3 Nephi 11. Once we have accepted the gift of baptism that is freely offered through authorized servants of Christ we must record our names in the book that is being kept as an earthly record in order that our names should be found in the heavenly record. [17] The Lord requires the names of those baptized to be recorded. No other information, personal or otherwise should be collected.  The Lord requires only your name.  Baptism does not need to link a person to any legal church organization.  The Lord wants us to be baptized in the way that He has set forth and He allows us the privilege of worshiping Him according to the dictates of our own conscience, we should allow all men the same privilege, let us all worship how, where, or what we may.[18]

Malachi 3:17-18

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.[19]

 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

What great love and mercy the Lord extends to us if we but do His will.  In order for Him to return there must be a place prepared to receive Him.  In order to establish Zion we must be of one heart, one mind and there must be no poor among us. We must all know the Lord.  We must repent and be baptized.  We must record our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  We must fellowship together to support each other, to teach each other, to lift each other and to encourage each other in our desire for redemption.  If we can succeed the Lord’s promise is great indeed:

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself. And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy; And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch.[20]

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[1] Mosiah 18:9

[2] Matthew 18:20 (Holy Scriptures, Inspired Version); Matthew 18:20 (KJV)

[3] Exodus 32:33; Psalms 69:28; Malachi 3:16; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:1-6; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20: 11-15; Revelation 21:27; Alma 5:58; Doctrine and Covenants 88:2; Doctrine and Covenants 128:6-9

[4] Doctrine and Covenants 128:8

[5] 3 Nephi 21:6; emphasis added

[6] 2 Nephi 31:17

[7] Doctrine and Covenants 18:42; 20:71; 137:10

[8] Viola and Barna Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices, 2012, Pages 188-189

[9] 24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water.

25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.

26 And there were many in the commencement of this year that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pass away.

(3 Nephi 7:24–26)

12And it was the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints, who were spared—

13 And they were spared and were not sunk and buried up in the earth; and they were not drowned in the depths of the sea; and they were not burned by fire, neither were they fallen upon and crushed to death; and they were not carried away in the whirlwind; neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and of darkness.

(3 Nephi 10:12–13)

[10] 3 Nephi 11: 18 And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth. 19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet.  20 And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And he arose and stood before him.  21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven. 22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you. 23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. 24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: 25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. 26 And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water. 27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. 28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.

[11] Read all of Denver Snuffer’s writings on Baptism and Rebaptism at this link: http://denversnuffer.com/?s=baptism

This is a website where you can learn more and submit a request for baptism: https://bornofwater.org/

[12] Moroni 7:34 

[13] 3 Nephi 27:20

[14] Sinner’s Prayer; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinner%27s_prayer

[15] Ephesians 4:5

[16] The LDS Church has declared more and they have declared less in regards to the doctrine of baptism. 3 Nephi 11:40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them

LDS Baptismal Interview Questions from the missionary manual Preach My Gospel, page 206

The Missionary Will Ask the Following Questions...

1.Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?

2.Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?

3.What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?

4.Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?

5.You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards.  What do you understand of the following standards?  Are you willing to obey them?

 a.The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman?

b.The law of tithing.

c.The Word of Wisdom.

d.The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.

6.When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life.  Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?

*If you answer yes to any of the questions entailed in point four, the missionary conducting the interview will refer you to the mission president to determine if you qualify for baptism.

[17] Doctrine and Covenants 128:8; http://www.recordersclearinghouse.com/

[18] Smith, Joseph “Article of Faith 11”

[19] Luke 17:34-40  (Holy Scriptures, Inspired Version)

[20] Genesis 9:21-23 (Holy Scriptures, Inspired Version; Joseph Smith Translation Genesis 9:21-23)

Baptism, Rebaptism and the Doctrine of Christ

Baptism, rebaptism and the Doctrine of Christ

I was baptized at the age of 8 years old.  I don’t remember the actual ordinance, nor the blessing afterward where I was confirmed a member of the LDS Church and instructed to receive the Holy Ghost.  But, I do remember my aunt, who was the Primary President, giving me a gift, a 5x7 framed postcard picture of the Salt Lake Temple.  I remember feeling that it was a magical day.

Confession….after my baptism at 8 it was impossible to stay perfect.  I tried my utmost to do so, to the point I gave myself an ulcer at the tender age of 12.  I was a pretty obedient child and my sins were not evil or malignant, rather more common place and boring.  But, I did have sin, nonetheless which I knew I was in need of repentance.  In the LDS Church we are taught that taking the sacrament weekly “cleansed” us again and renewed our baptismal covenants. Even though we are taught that, I never felt that it was true.  I could not connect sacrament with being cleansed by the waters of baptism.  Over the years as I have attended convert baptisms I would find myself being jealous and wishing that I had not been baptized until I was older and cold be washed clean again.  At one such baptism I remember feeling that I should be grateful for my baptism at 8 as it had helped me to grow up with a small measure of the Holy Spirit which had kept me out of more serious sin and sorrow, yet I still longed for baptism.

A few years ago my husband and I began purchasing the books being produced by the Joseph Smith Papers project.  While studying those books we stumbled on some church history that we had previously been unaware of: rebaptism in the early days of the Church.  Historically, many members were rebaptized as an act of rededication and repentance. This was first practiced in Nauvoo and was continued in the Utah Territory. On some occasions, the Saints were rebaptized as they prepared for marriage or entrance into the temple. Early members were also rebaptized for their health, to cure some of the sick among them.  Practices of rebaptism were discontinued in 1897.

My husband and I had decided years ago that whenever the members of the Church lose a privilege or practice it is never a good thing.  We began studying the scriptures to see if there was any scriptural basis for rebaptism. What we discovered was that not only is there scriptural basis, but that it is an essential part of repentance.  In a nutshell, you cannot fully repent of anything without being baptized by immersion.  This is what is known in the scriptures as the Doctrine of Christ.

I want to speak to you about the doctrine of Christ and to sound a voice of warning and a voice of repentance.  I have been quiet for too long, more worried about losing the love and respect that some may still have for me instead of crying repentance.  Following the Savior has been a very difficult journey these past few years, I have lost much and I have suffered much and it has caused my natural shy tendencies to become more so.  I have pulled away from life and sheltered my battered soul. In some ways I have been acting as one ashamed of Christ.  I am trying to reverse that.  I have prayed and attempted several times to speak with others in this effort, but many have turned a blind eye or deaf ears to me, some with fear and others with pride. The time is now at hand to give you warning, for those who have been warned are required to warn their neighbors.

The Doctrine of Christ is simple, it is free and it is available to everyone.  Christ declared His Doctrine in 3 Nephi 11:32-40.  It came from His Father and is a commandment unto the entire world:

32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

 33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.

 35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

 36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

 37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

 38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

 39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

 40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

If a person believes the Doctrine of Christ, then they are required to be baptized and to then declare Christ’s Doctrine to others. If you believe the Doctrine of Christ, you are required to be baptized and then declare Christ’s Doctrine to others.

I believe in the Doctrine of Christ. After serious study of scriptures and serious prayer, I began to realize that what Christ offers us is a gift to be used whenever we feel the need to repent because He loves us!  Repentance means no more and no less than turning to face Christ. Some may argue Exodus 4:5 which states, “One Lord, One Faith, one Baptism”.  This scripture is true: One Lord…means quite literally that Christ is our Lord and that we have no other Lord.  One Faith…only our faith in Christ will save us.  And one baptism…there is only one mode or manner of baptism that Christ recognizes.  One baptism does not mean a one and done baptism.  It means that whenever we repent and are baptized to show fruit of that repentance it is to be done in the exact manner the Lord revealed in 3^rd Nephi 11.

After the scriptures were opened to me by the Holy Spirit I knew I had never been baptized unto repentance.  Therefore, I asked my husband to pray for authority from God and to baptize me according to the manner Christ taught the people in 3^rd Nephi 11, using the words Christ commanded us to use (3^rd Nephi 11: 24-25: And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.), by one having authority from God, not man.  

I have been baptized in living water, in this manner.  Christ has declared today that the only way to be numbered as His, to find shelter from the coming storm is to repent and be baptized.   This is the sign He asks to demonstrate faith in Him.  Faith requires action or it dwindles away and is lost.  The importance to the Lord that we act on His Doctrine cannot be overstated.  Repentance and baptism are directly related to salvation and cannot be left undone.

 At this point you may be thinking that you have been baptized and therefore you are safe.  Unfortunately, the baptism that any church offers today does not fulfill this commandment of the Lord and will not have the power to save from the coming destruction.  Most religions have added to or taken away from the Doctrine of Christ. If you are LDS there are reasons your baptism at 8 years of age, or your convert baptism, does not have the power to save:

1.  The LDS Church has added to and taken away from the Doctrine of Christ mainly by giving a list of items that one needs to commit to or refrain from in order to be baptized; it does not follow the Doctrine of Christ which simply states that one must repent and be baptized in His name. That’s it!

 2. Baptism at 8 years of age fulfills the law found in Doctrine and Covenants 68:25, but does not fulfill baptism unto repentance.

3. Baptism was never meant to be a “one and done” type of baptism.  The scripture “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism” refers to the mode and manner of baptism, not the number of times. Baptism is the fruits of repentance and is offered freely, by the Lord, whenever we feel a desire to turn from anything that is keeping us from the Lord and face Him.  Baptism is inexorably linked to repentance.  One cannot have repentance without baptism by immersion:

2 Nephi 31:13

13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

2 Nephi 31:14

14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.

2 Nephi 31:17

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

Moroni 6:1

1 And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it. (This scripture also helps understand that baptism is meant to be done as often as you feel the need to repent, elders, priests and teachers would have previously been baptized before receiving a call to be elders, priests and teachers)

Moroni 6:4

4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

Moroni 8:10

10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.

Moroni 8:25

25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

Doctrine and Covenants 19:31

31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.

Doctrine and Covenants 33:11

11 Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.

Doctrine and Covenants 39:6

6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.

Doctrine and Covenants 107:20

20 The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments.

When Christ appeared unto the people of the Book of Mormon in 3^rd Nephi the first thing he taught them was the mode and manner of baptism, even though these people had been spared the destruction precisely because they had been baptized as seen in 3^rd Nephi 7:24 “there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water”; that is how important baptism is to Christ! 

If we want to repent and be baptized in order to open the gate unto salvation, we must be baptized in the manner Christ revealed in 3 Nephi 11.  We cannot afford to deviate any longer.  The end of the gentiles has come.  The land we live upon is a covenantal land and if the gentiles living upon it fail to repent and turn to Christ destruction will come.  This is the entire message of the Book of Mormon! Repent and be baptized and serve God and God alone.

As the people in the Book of Mormon became more wicked, as the time for Christ’s 1^st coming drew near, Nephi and other men preached baptism and repentance in earnest:

3 Nephi 7:

24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water.

 25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.

 26 And there were many in the commencement of this year that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pass away.

In 3 Nephi 8 the destruction comes, destruction so terrible that the entire face of the land was changed.  The people were left in darkness for 3 days and nights.  Many of the people were destroyed. Those who were spared the destruction heard a voice coming from heaven declaring Christ’s divinity and inviting men to come unto Him and be Saved.

In 3^rd Nephi 10 we learn that it was the more righteous part of the people who had been spared the destruction.  What qualifies a person as “more righteous”? REPENTANCE!  If this qualification was good enough to spare the people of the Book of Mormon is it good enough to spare us the coming destruction?  YES!

It is no more and no less than Jesus Christ, himself.  Christ is the rock that will shelter us from the coming destruction.  To begin to be numbered as His, we all need to repent, turn and face Christ and be baptized as a little child.

This mode of baptism is not becoming part of a new institution, nor does it demand that you leave whatever institution you currently are a member of.  It simply means that you accept nothing more and nothing less than the Doctrine of Christ. That you desire to repent from everything and anything that is keeping you from Him.  That you desire to repent of those things and turn and face Christ.

I testify that the Savior is real.  He has visited me.  He is teaching me and slowly I am beginning to understand Him and His strange acts.  The greatest commandment is to Love God with all your heart, and the second is like unto it, to love your neighbor as yourself.   We live in a time when men’s hearts have grown cold.  The prophecies in scripture are being fulfilled.  It is a great time and an awful time.  Persecution and suffering abound for those who love the Lord. Come unto Him and be baptized.

I know that you are probably filled with more questions than this post answers. If you are interested in this baptism that Christ offers I found a website that links you to people authorized by Christ to perform it. https://bornofwater.org  My heart is being filled with Christ and his love for all of his children; what I have done and am trying to continue to do is to repent, to serve Him and Him alone.  The Savior is the only means whereby man can be saved.  As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.