Preparing for Baptism and Confirmation

“All Latter-day Saints enter the new and everlasting covenant when they enter this Church. They covenant to cease sustaining, upholding and cherishing the kingdom of the Devil and the kingdoms of this world. They enter the new and everlasting covenant to sustain the Kingdom of God and no other kingdom. They take a vow of the most solemn kind, before the heavens and earth, … that they will sustain truth and righteousness instead of wickedness and falsehood, and build up the Kingdom of God, instead of the kingdoms of this world” 

-Brigham Young

“I propose that we should never start teaching about baptism until we have the end in mind. What’s the end? Eternal life.”

-Elder Don Clarke

References:

• D&C 20:37
• 2 Nephi 9:23; 31:4–13
• Mosiah 18:8–10
• Alma 7:14–15
• 3 Nephi 27:13–21
• Moroni 6:1–4
• Moroni 8:25–26
• D&C 22

WHO IS QUALIFIED FOR BAPTISM?

• Those who humble themselves before God
• Those who desire to be baptized
• Those who come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits
• Those who repent of all their sins
• Those willing to take upon themselves the name of Christ
• Those determined to serve Christ until the end
• Those who manifest by their works that they have received the Spirit of Christ
• First Presidency parameters:
• Make sufficient changes in their lives as outlined in D&C20:37
• Develop a faith in Christ
• Repent of transgressions
• Live principles of moral worthiness
• Live the Word of Wisdom
• Commit to pay tithing
• Receive all missionary lessons
• Meet the bishop/branch president
• Attend several sacrament meetings

THE BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW

Purpose: The purpose of the interview is to determine if they meet the qualifications for baptism. Whereas all people require baptism for their salvation, allowing someone to be baptized before they are spiritually ready to commit to the Gospel, or before they have a true testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored church, can be detrimental to their progress.

How to conduct: see Preach My Gospel, Chapter 12. Other interviewing skills include:

• Take time to get to know the person; don't dive right into the required questions.
• Ask open-ended questions (as applicable)
• Allow for a conversation-style, but don't lose control
• Listen, and listen CLOSELY. Help to resolve concerns as they come up
• It's okay to say that the candidate is not yet ready.
• Reference: http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelisrael/2012/04/14/8-tips-on-conducting-great-interviews/

CONDUCTING THE BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION

Don't make this harder than it needs to be. The most important things are to coordinate the effort with the ward/branch through the Ward Mission Leader, and to explain the process to the investigator so that he/she has a clear understanding of what to expect. 

EXTRA STUDY:

Read the talk by Elder Robert D. Hales, The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom

• "When we are baptized, we take upon ourselves the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Taking upon us His name is one of the most significant experiences we have in life. Yet sometimes we pass through that experience without having a full understanding.
  How many of our children—how many of us—really understand that when we were baptized we took upon us not only the name of Christ but also the law of obedience?"
• "By choosing to be in His kingdom, we separate—not isolate—ourselves from the world. Our dress will be modest, our thoughts pure, our language clean. The movies and television we watch, the music we listen to, the books, magazines, and newspapers we read will be uplifting. We will choose friends who encourage our eternal goals, and we will treat others with kindness. We will shun the vices of immorality, gambling, tobacco, liquor, and illicit drugs. Our Sunday activities will reflect the commandment of God to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We will follow the example of Jesus Christ in the way we treat others. We will live to be worthy to enter the house of the Lord."

Laws and Ordinances

“We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

-Third Article of Faith

"The Church also accepts the scriptural doctrine that following the resurrection each person—then an immortal soul—will be arraigned before the bar of God’s justice and receive a final judgment based on his performance during his mortal probation, that the verdict will turn on obedience or disobedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. If these laws and ordinances have been complied with during mortal life, the candidate will be cleansed from the stain of sin by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and be saved in the celestial kingdom of God, there to enjoy with God eternal life. Those who have not complied with the laws and ordinances of the gospel will receive a lesser reward."

-Marion G. Romney

References:

• D&C 13
• D&C 27:12-13
• D&C 4:3
• D&C 63:57
• D&C 84:19-20
• Hebrews 5:4

WHY DO WE HAVE LAWS?

"...everything in the universe, and the universe itself as organized by a divine Creator, is governed by laws, known as the laws of nature; and that we must have laws of the land, or of man, so that we might have order and protect the rights of mankind and punish those who infringe on the rights of others."

-N Eldon Tanner

“And again, very I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons;

“And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets.

“And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years. …

“The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God. …

“Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.” (D&C 88:42-45, 47)

THE LAWS OF NATURE, MAN, AND GOD

"So, regardless of whether or not we know or understand the laws of nature, they always operate the same. A child, though ignorant of the law, will get burned if he touches a hot stove. If we disregard the law of gravity, we may get seriously hurt. If we know and understand the laws of nature and live by them, we benefit thereby and can be free of the hazards facing those who ignore these laws or go contrary to them."

-N Eldon Tanner

“We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

“We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

“We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.” (D&C 134:1-3)

"Some seem to value God’s love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice, ² and those who obtain mercy are “they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment” (D&C 54:6)."

The Role of the Book of Mormon

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

-Joseph Smith (History of the Church, 4:461.)

"Combined with the Spirit of the Lord, the Book of Mormon is the greatest single tool which God has given us to convert the world. If we are to have the harvest of souls that [the President of the Church] envisions, then we must use the instrument which God has designed for that task—the Book of Mormon.”

-Ezra Taft Benson

REFERENCES

• Introduction to the Book of Mormon
• 1 Nephi 1:20
• 1 Nephi 6:4-6
• 2 Nephi 25:26
• Jacob 4:1-6
• Mormon 8:35
• D&C 20:9
• D&C 33:16
• D&C 42:12
• "The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use in our missionary work. It shows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It contains the words of Christ, and its great mission is to bring men to Christ. All other things are secondary." - Ezra Taft Benson
• "I cannot understand how any intelligent man could think that anyone without the help of the Lord could have produced the Book of Mormon, which has been before us now for more than a hundred years and has stood the test during all that period of time, notwithstanding the ridicule that has been brought against it, for one reason or another. " - Heber J. Grant

THE BOOK OF MORMON IS THE KEYSTONE OF OUR RELIGION

• Joseph Smith declared that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion: either it is true, and Joseph Smith was a prophet who restored the church, or it is false, and he was not a prophet.
• Witness of Christ
• Fullness of the Gospel; Contains the Plan of Salvation, confirmation of Christ's ministry
• Foundation of a personal Testimony
• Testimony of Christ

THE BOOK OF MORMON TEACHES OF CHRIST

• Convince all people that Jesus is the Christ
• Teaches the role of Christ in the Plan of Salvation
• Teaches our relationship with the Savior

HOW SHOULD WE USE THE BOOK OF MORMON TO TEACH:

• Scripture Mastery: KNOW THE BOOK AND WHERE ANSWERS ARE
• Read with others
• Read with a PURPOSE:
• Specific topic for research
• Context of current life setting
• Historical study
• Share what you know (testimony, social media)
• Ezra Taft Benson 1975 Talk on How to Use the Book of Mormon