There are four purposes in water
baptism:
1. To enter the church.
2. To receive a remission of sins.
3. To commemorate the burial and resurrection
of Christ.
4. To open the way to receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
. . . .
John the Baptist, the Savior, and
the apostles all taught the same doctrine:
1. Baptism is required.
2. Through baptism
we gain a remission of our personal sins.
3. By baptism we gain admission to
the church. (Mark E. Petersen, The Teachings of Paul [Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book, 1984], 38, 39, emphasis added)
