In a book for a young audience to understand the importance of baptism, we read the following fictional dialogue between two kids who are about to be baptized and their parents:
Sister Jensen had not said much
during the evening, but when prayer was spoken she joined in the conversation.
“When Jesus was on earth,” she
said, “he prayed to his Father very often. He also taught the people to pray.
As he did so, he told them to ask the Lord to forgive them of the wrong things
they did.
“This refers to baptism too,” she
said. “Daddy, tell the boys about forgiveness of sin.”
“I will be glad to,” he said. “It
surely is a part of baptism.
“When older people join the
Church, they also must learn to live right. They may have many habits which are
not good, just as some children do. They must change them, and begin living
right.
“They know that when they sin
they displease God. They ask his forgiveness. Forgiveness means that the Lord
will not hold our sins against us if we stop doing the things that are wrong.
“When an older person joins the Church,
he is baptized just like you boys will be, and then, the Lord forgives him of
his sins, if he stops doing wrong. It is in baptism that God grants this
forgiveness. That is why it is spoken of as baptism for the remission of sins.
“We must be clean and free from
sin when joining the Church, for no unclean person can come into God’s house.
“We have done things that are
wrong, and I guess we will do more in the future. But we must always try to do
better.
“Now you boys think of the bad
habits you may have, and then try to overcome them before you are baptized, so
that you will be forgiven by the Lord as you come out of the water.” (Emma
Marr Petersen, About Baptism: A Story of the Meaning and Purpose of Baptism
[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, Inc., 1957], 56-57, emphasis added)
“There are two parts to baptism.
One is called baptism in water, and that is that we told you about last week. The
other is called baptism of the Spirit.
“Listen carefully while I explain
this, as it is very important. When we repent of our sins, we receive forgiveness
of them in the waters of baptism. That makes us clean in the sight of God.
“He has told us that if we do
what is right our bodies may be a dwelling place for his Spirit, which really
comes upon us.
“But he says that his Spirit will
not enter an unclean tabernacle or house. He speaks of our bodies as
tabernacles, or dwelling places for his Holy Spirit.
“As we are cleaned of sin in
the waters of baptism, we are made ready to receive his Spirit.
“The way we receive his Holy
Spirit is that the elders of the Church lay their hands upon our heads, after
we are baptized in water, and bless us and say, ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’ (Ibid.,
61, emphasis added)
This is a teaching found in her other writings:
Forgiveness of sins comes by
baptism, which also admits us into his Church as members. (Emma Marr Petersen, The
Church that Jesus Christ Built [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft Inc., 1971], 6)
The Lord taught that baptism is
essential to salvation. He told Nicodemus, a Jew who came to him at night
during the Lord’s mortal ministry, that without it, a person cannot even see
the kingdom of heaven. (Emma Marr Petersen, The Prophet's Story For Young
People [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, Inc., 1973], 19)
[Speaking of those early Saints who were baptized prior to
April 6, 1830]:
Although a number had been
baptized prior to this time, they were now baptized again, this time to become
members of the Church. Their first baptisms showed an acceptance of the
teachings of Joseph, and provided for them the remission of sins. They could
not be baptized into the Church then because it had not yet been organized. Now
that the Church was organized they were baptized again — this time into the
Church. (Ibid., 61, emphasis added)
Further Reading:
Baptism Does Cleanse Us from Our Sins
