When the Savior was crucified in Jerusalem the Book of Mormon tells about the terrible destruction that occurred among the Nephites. Those who survived were those “who received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints, who were spared”.
When the Savior descended from heaven he called on the prophet Nephi and others and taught them what hey should do and teach. He warned them about disputations and contention concerning doctrine. He then taught them saying:
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. (3 Nephi 11:32 – 41)
As we begin this new year, I hope that each of us will desire to understand what the Savior taught. The gospel of Jesus Christ in its simplicity is taught in these verses.
I believe our spiritual well being in this life and our opportunities in the next life are determined and shaped by the attention we give to the doctrine of Christ as taught in these verses.
I’ll suggest a method of study using these verses. No matter how much you know about the doctrine of Christ, I suggest you take the key words contained in these verses, and using just the Book of Mormon to start with, read all the verses where the key words are found to review your knowledge and understanding of the basic doctrines.
I’ve prepared a quiz that you might find helpful. So far, over three hundred people have taken the quiz and the results are a little disappointing.
You might want to take the quiz before starting your research on the key words and then again after doing your research. This way you will be able to measure what you’ve learned.
After taking the quiz, if you agree or disagree with the test results, please let me know. I hope to refine the quiz’s questions and answers based on your input. If you provide me with your email address I will send you the sources for the test answers. My email address is [email protected].
Please answer a 6 Question Survey to let me know what you think.
Q.1
What is the primary purpose of baptism?
To witness publicly witness unto God that you have already entered into a covenant to serve him all the days of your life and have received a remission of your sins (see D&C 20:37.
Q.2
The ordinance of baptism is for past and future sin.
Not applicable – see Q1.
Q.3
When do baptized members receive a forgiveness of sins?
When they repent with real intent
Q.4
When do baptized members receive a remission of sins?
When they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (The actual answer is when the Holy Ghost burns their sins from their souls; this happens as many times as they sin and repent with real intent, even with all their heart, might, mind, and strength – the same as for the unbaptized [ see Helaman 5:40-45)
Q.5
According to the prophets, what is the most important thing a church member can do in this life?
Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
Q.6
Church members are specifically taught to seek for all the following except:
All of the above are taught.
Q.7
The atonement of Christ pays for the sins of all mankind.
False – it does not pay for the sins of the sons of perdition.
Q.8
The more influential the church calling, the greater access one has to the Spirit.
False
Q.9
Repentance and reformation are synonymous terms.
False – reformation occurs once in the scriptures, and the word used in the Greek has nothing to do with repentance.
Q.10
Suffering for our sins brings forgiveness.
False
You say you are disappointed with the results. I’d say much of the problem lies in the vagueness of the questions and available answers. For example: Q2 – (True or False) The ordinance of baptism is for past and future sin.
What do you mean by FOR FUTURE SIN? Some denominations believe that once you “confess Christ” and you are saved, that future sin is covered by Christ’s atonement. Does baptism cover future sin in this way? Of course not. On the other hand, we don’t have to be baptized more that once if we remain a member of the Church, so our one baptism puts us in a different position relative to future sin, making the sacrament and repentance our avenues to forgiveness.
Also, you may need to clarify how you differentiate between FORGIVENESS of sins (Q3) compared to REMISSION of sins (Q4). I see remission of sins as the cleansing or purifying action of the Holy Ghost (not the GIFT of the Holy Ghost) whereas forgiveness of sins is a status of accountability before Christ. I’m not sure, however, how an individual would have one without the other, or how they are obtained differently (in both cases through the repentance process).
Central Texan-
I appreciate the fact that you’re interested enough in the doctrine of Christ to state your opinion and offer suggestions. I plan on responding to you Sunday after my meeting. Please check back.
Central Texan-
Regarding the questions and answers. I’m sure they could be improved. I’m open to suggestions.
The ordinance of baptism is for past and future sin?
“When converted persons are baptized for the remission of sins, the sacred baptismal ordinance is designed to free them from past and future sins. Those sins committed after baptism are forgiven whenever members of the Church, by full compliance with the law of forgiveness, again get themselves in the same state of righteousness and purity previously attained in connection with their baptisms.” Mormon Doctrine, p. 296.
Note: the sacrament allows us to renew our covenants. We couldn’t meaningfully partake of the sacrament without first being baptized.
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When do baptized members receive a forgiveness of sins?
“But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.” ( Moroni 6:8)
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When do baptized members receive a remission of sins?
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 31:13
This verse states that when we repent and are baptized “then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost”. Note what it says comes next: “yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the the Holy Ghost.” There are two separate experiences pointed. Read on to verse 17 and it defines that a remission of sins is given when one is baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost.
“We sometimes speak of baptism for the remission of sins. The remission, if you will read the scriptures carefully, comes through the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.” Boyd K. Packer, “The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know”, Ensign, Aug. 2006, 46-52.
Forgiveness and remission of sins are different but related events. Elder Bednar speaks about the necessity of having a testimony but is quick to say that in addition we need to be converted. Once again, a two step process.
Click Here for a three part discussion on this topic.
“This verse states that when we repent and are baptized “then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost”. Note what it says comes next: “yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the the Holy Ghost.” There are two separate experiences pointed.”
McConkie contradicts you, again in Mormon Doctrine (p. 53, second edition)
Baptism of Fire
(Baptism of Fire )
See BAPTISM, BORN AGAIN, GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, HOLY GHOST,
SANCTIFICATION, SANCTIFIER.
To gain salvation every accountable person must receive two baptisms. They are baptism of water and
of the Spirit. (John 3:3-5.) The baptism of the Spirit is called the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.
(Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:16; 2 Ne. 31:13-14; 3 Ne. 11:35; 12:1-2; Morm. 7:10 D. & C. 20:41; 33:11; 39:6.) By
the power of the Holy Ghost – who is the Sanctifier (3 Ne. 27:19-21) – dross iniquity, carnality, sensuality,
and every evil thing is burned out of the repentant soul as if by fire; the cleansed person becomes literally
a new creature of the Holy Ghost. (Mosiah 27:24-26.) He is born again.
The baptism of fire is not something in addition to the receipt of the Holy Ghost; rather, it is the actual
enjoyment of the gift which is offered by the laying on of hands at the time of baptism. “Remission of
sins,” the Lord says, comes “by baptism and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.” (D. & C. 19:31; 2 Ne.
31:17.) Those who receive the baptism of fire are ‘filled as if with fire” (Hela. 5:45.)
There have been, however, exceptional and miraculous instances when literal fire has attended the
baptism of the Spirit. After the baptism of the Nephite disciples, “they were filled with the Holy Ghost and
with fire. And behold, they were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came down from heaven, and
the multitude did witness it, and did bear record.” (3 Ne. 19:13-14.) Similar manifestations occurred on the
day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) and among a group of Lamanite converts. (Hela. 5; 3 Ne. 9:20.)
The doctrine of fire and the Holy Ghost has not been fully developed.
I find the best source of doctrine on this subject in the following statement by the prophet Joseph Smith:
“There is but one baptism; it takes the baptism of water, of the Holy Ghost, and of fire to constitute one full baptism.” (Daniel Tyler statement. They Knew the Prophet, Hyrum L. Andrus, p51. Also, The Words of Joseph Smith, P. 354, Andrew F. Ehat)
In addition, the Book of Mormon teaches the same in the account of king Benjamin’s people. You just have to do a little deductive reasoning to see it.
So we are left to decide for ourselves how we understand this subject. But we must be careful not to get carried away to the extent we forget that one doesn’t have to understand the doctrine to experience it.
We’ve had this discussion before. I disagree with you, but hey, maybe I’m wrong; I don’t think so, though (D&C 20:41). But hey, you’re right that we don’t have to understand; we don’t even need to know the doctrine to experience it (Helaman 5:40-45; Moses 6:64-66).
In fact, I’m almost sure nobody understands the doctrine before experiencing it.